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I should give up more often

By Alan W Collins on Friday 25th January 2008 17:17 / 7 comments

This is what I like to call a “pen and paper” post, given that I wrote this out in full on paper before even thinking of touching a computer. Why? Well thankfully I don’t have to do this too often. However, the school network was down in the library – including the wireless connectivity, meaning I couldn’t even use my laptop.

Instead, it has been hectic as I used the time to polish off many small cuttings of unfinished work (whilst listening to songs by artists such as Delirious?, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman on my stylish new pink iPod Mini – but that’s another story altogether!).

For exampl, I cycled through my folder to find a Spanish translation text due in yesterday (I wasn’t in the lesson due to exam revision, and so was given an extension until Tuesday) and that I still needed to write the final sentence. I even finished off a past exam question on PROgramming in LOGic (or Prolog) for Computing.

But the majority of the time was spent scratching my head over the Physics homework. We were given a question to find out the distance a geostationary satellite is from Earth when we know the period (T) and the universal gravitational constant (G). Well in order to do this, the given equation (derived from Kepler’s third law) had to be re-arranged – so I worked through various parts of the equation at a time (forgetting to square the period etc.).

$Kepler's Law$
Period (T) is proportional to the radius of the orbit (r)

Anyway, each time I brought the results of the various parts together, the answer was wrong (the expected answer could be found elsewhere in the book). So, after half an hour, I just gave up and put the whole equation into my calculator. The cube root. And, lo and behold, the correct answer of 4.2×10⁷m (or 42Mm) was staring back at me.

So what’s the moral of the story? I should give up more often! That, or command logic in solving problems, rather than look for the most complex solution.

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7 Comments

Rob says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 19:59

Maybe, its cause your rubbish at Physics!

Haha!

Pink?!?

Why?!?!
Alan Collins says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:34

Maybe I used to be – but unlike you, I can explain that the universal gravitational constant, G, is equal to 6.67×10^-11N m² Kg^-2.

I can further explain that a geostationary sattelite has a period, T, of 24 hours (or 86400s), that the mass of the earth, M, is roughly 5.97×10²⁴Kg and, using the equation in the post above to calculate the orbital radius, r, must have a distance of 42Mm from Earth.

Finally, I can explain that the pink of my iPod is a stylish pink!

And all that can be derived from attending this morning’s Physics lesson with the most boring and uninspiring cover teacher ever !
Rob says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:37

I can explain it as well. I’ve read the textbook, and thats all that bloke does. He jsut reads out the book and copies it up word for word.

I could do that, and not get confused when Girl says things (he seems to struggle with this).
Alan Collins says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:43

Rob, you said:

“I could do that, and not get confused when Girl says things (he seems to struggle with this).”

She was too busy falling asleep today to ask any questions – but James May was asking away as usual!

I, on the other hand, was busy copying Girl’s notes (as the cover guy decided, in his infinite wisdom, that he would block my view of the board!).

And that (^^) was the knowledge that emerged from the lesson and head scratching this afternoon!
Rob says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:48

You was “head scratching” around Girl eh?

Well Well Well, intersting! *Nudge Nudge*

If he was askign questions then I’m glad I wasn’t here. I would love to lay-eth the Smack-eth Down on him.
Alan Collins says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:52

Now, now, Rob let’s not get personal about Mr. James May Esq.!

And, Girl? Excuse me? Do you not think I have some standards?

Besides, the head scratching was this afternoon – well after the lesson and well away from Girl!!
Rob says:

Friday 25th January 2008 at 20:53

She ain’t that bad, but that’s enough of that.

Oh let’s please do. Sigh. Just thinking fo him makes me want to put something through a table.