Dot Physics

Everyone knows, or should know how much I like MythBusters. Here is the problem. Below is a picture of Adam analyzing the motion of a an exploding water heater.

Actually, I applaud Adam for his creative use of the vernier caliper. Really, it is an example of “making things work”. However, in [...]

Last night I saw the newest episode of MythBusters. One of the myths they revisited was the exploding water heater. Well, it turns out that I had an analysis of this first explosion, but I didn’t move it over when I switched software. So, here it is.

In case you never saw the [...]

This is for commenter JimP. How do you take into account uncertainty when using video analysis? A great question. The first thing to think about is where does the uncertainty come from? My first guess would that it would be from the user. Where does the user click? Is [...]

I don’t really know what that title actually means. So, I have been having problems with my PASCO projectile launcher devices. I will just call them launchers (they are really cannons). In my previous post, I looked at the launch speed from a launcher shot horizontally and vertically. The problem was [...]

The last time I looked at this projectile motion lab, I was confused. My different methods for measuring the launch speed of the ball were not even close to being consistent. So, I am bringing out the big guns – video. I made a video of the ball shot both horizontally off [...]

I was shocked. After installing Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Tracker Video Analysis didn’t work. This is one of my favorite programs for blogging.

It appears that the problem is with 32 bit Java vs. 64 bit. I don’t really understand why one doesn’t work, but Tracker doesn’t work with 64 bit Java [...]

I think we are entering a new era. An era where it is quite simple to find and get great videos. Oh, just saw a great tackle on the TV? In the old days, you would have to get that video off the TV yourself. Not anymore. Welcome to the [...]

Maybe this is a little old (in internet age), but it is a great example. Here is the Loop-the-loop stunt from the show Fifth Gear.

I like this. First, it is a bold stunt. But also, there is some good physics here. Though, most importantly, the Fifth Gear producers were kind enough [...]

I saw this video on digg or reddit. I can’t remember which.

I was in awe. Then I started thinking. I wonder how fast that water was moving up right after the explosion. Too bad the video doesn’t have a scale. Well, it kind of does – there is that ship. [...]

I have previously compared Tracker Video Analysis and Logger Pro – check that out here. Really, the only advantage Logger Pro has over Tracker is that maybe it is easier to use for simple things and maybe students are already familiar with it from other analysis.

There are other video analysis programs out there. [...]