Visual Python

from visual import *
cylinder(pos=(0,0,0), radius=2, height=40, length=10, color=color.cyan, opacity=0.1)
cylinderA=cylinder(pos=(9,0,0), radius=2, heigth=40, length=.02, color=color.green)
cylinderA.velocity=vector(-5,0,0)
ball=sphere(pos=(1,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.red)
ball.velocity=vector(25,10,15)
ball1=sphere(pos=(2,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.orange)
ball1.velocity=vector(50,10,15)
ball2=sphere(pos=(3,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.yellow)
ball2.velocity=vector(10,30,40)
ball3=sphere(pos=(4,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.green)
ball3.velocity=vector(5,10,15)
ball4=sphere(pos=(5,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.blue)
ball4.velocity=vector(13,32,50)
ball5=sphere(pos=(6,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.red)
ball5.velocity=vector(1,5,4)
ball6=sphere(pos=(7,0,0), radius=.1, color=color.orange)
ball6.velocity=vector(22,15,34)
deltat=.003
t=0
ball.pos=ball.pos+ball.velocity*deltat
while t<1000:
rate(50)
if ball.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball.velocity.x=-ball.velocity.x
if ball.pos.x<0:
ball.velocity.x=-ball.velocity.x
if (ball.pos.y**2)+(ball.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball.velocity.y=-ball.velocity.y
ball.velocity.z=-ball.velocity.z
ball.pos=ball.pos+ball.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball1.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball1.velocity.x=-ball1.velocity.x
if ball1.pos.x<0:
ball1.velocity.x=-ball1.velocity.x
if (ball1.pos.y**2)+(ball1.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball1.velocity.y=-ball1.velocity.y
ball1.velocity.z=-ball1.velocity.z
ball1.pos=ball1.pos+ball1.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball2.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball2.velocity.x=-ball2.velocity.x
if ball2.pos.x<0:
ball2.velocity.x=-ball2.velocity.x
if (ball2.pos.y**2)+(ball2.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball2.velocity.y=-ball2.velocity.y
ball2.velocity.z=-ball2.velocity.z
ball2.pos=ball2.pos+ball2.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball3.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball3.velocity.x=-ball3.velocity.x
if ball3.pos.x<0:
ball3.velocity.x=-ball3.velocity.x
if (ball3.pos.y**2)+(ball3.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball3.velocity.y=-ball3.velocity.y
ball3.velocity.z=-ball3.velocity.z
ball3.pos=ball3.pos+ball3.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball4.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball4.velocity.x=-ball4.velocity.x
if ball4.pos.x<0:
ball4.velocity.x=-ball4.velocity.x
if (ball4.pos.y**2)+(ball4.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball4.velocity.y=-ball4.velocity.y
ball4.velocity.z=-ball4.velocity.z
ball4.pos=ball4.pos+ball4.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball5.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball5.velocity.x=-ball5.velocity.x
if ball5.pos.x<0:
ball5.velocity.x=-ball5.velocity.x
if (ball5.pos.y**2)+(ball5.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball5.velocity.y=-ball5.velocity.y
ball5.velocity.z=-ball5.velocity.z
ball5.pos=ball5.pos+ball5.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat
if ball6.pos.x>cylinderA.pos.x:
ball6.velocity.x=-ball6.velocity.x
if ball6.pos.x<0:
ball6.velocity.x=-ball6.velocity.x
if (ball6.pos.y**2)+(ball6.pos.z**2)>(2**2):
ball6.velocity.y=-ball6.velocity.y
ball6.velocity.z=-ball6.velocity.z
ball6.pos=ball6.pos+ball6.velocity*deltat
t=t+deltat

Hand cranked induction generator

In the hand cranked induction generator, a coiled wire was attached to a crank that was surrounded my magnets. When a person cranked the generator, they altered the angle of the coiled wire thus inducing a voltage. In an inductor, a change in current (in this case by altering the the current and thus the magnitude of the magnetic field) induces a "back" voltage to halt the change in current. The inductor always wants to be in a state of equilibrium and it does so by creating a "back" voltage. The induced current created by the "back" voltage powers the light bulb.

Solar Panel Exhibit

The solar panel consists of N and P type silicon. In the solar panel exhibit, light from the sun creates holes in silicon. The N form of the silicon possesses extra electrons, and those electrons want to move from the negative side of the silicon to the positive side of the silicon where there are more holes to fill. As the electrons rush to the holes, the positive and negative charges exert a repulsive force on each other thus creating voltage.

Lemon Battery

Today, we dealt with a different theme of physics: electricity. In the lemon battery, a chemical reaction takes place, and the copper penny's valence electrons move to the better conducting zinc screw. This change in electric potential creates a voltage. The current flows from a positive voltage, approximately 0.2 V, to a negative voltage, which is about zero.

Stirling Engine

Day 4:
Our Stirling Engine is starting to take shape. We need to connect the elbow to the base of the engine, and we need to RTV the two pillars as well. The two pillars will hold up the crankshaft.


Day 5:
Richard took the Stirling Engine home and glued the displacer and pressure valve in place. He also RTV'd the pillars and elbow to the base. We've placed a balloon on the elbow and have attached the balloon to the crankshaft. We need to check for leaks and find a way to attach the crankshaft to the pressure vessel.

Day 6:
Richard has leaked test the engine numerous times in his pool. We've applied tons of RTV to the places where bubbles appear during the leak test. Hopefully, all the leaks will be covered in time for the 3.5 floor deadline.

Day: 7
Richard purchased Sterno, so hopefully that large amount of fire power will provide a sufficient amount of energy.

Day 8:
The Stirling engine is not quick working. There is probably a leak. Additionally, things are starting to fall apart. My dad and I reconnected the crankshaft to the pressure vessel and tried patching up even more holes by applying RTV to every possible spot.

Day 9:
Stirling Engine doesn't want to seem to work. Dr. Philhour has told us to stop working on it. Despite the setback, we've have learned valuable collaboration skills for the future.

J-B Weld is the BOMB!!!

Day: 3
It's been two weeks since we've worked on the project, so we were dying to get our hands dirty and make some progress. Richard pierced both the displacer and the pressure vessel, and I, using good, old J-B Weld, glued the threader to the displacer and the nut / bolt to the pressure vessel.

I used the file to grind down the PVC elbow so that it shaped the surface of the body. This was a tiresome act that required a great amount strength.

What you can expect the next day...
We want to finish the "inside" of the Stirling engine and connect the PVC elbow to the body. We also want to connect the flywheel to the crankshaft. We hope our endeavors with amount to a working engine.

Where's center?

Day 2:
Richard and I are getting things done. We have the body, the legs, the displacer, the displacer cap, and the pressure vessel all ready. What we need to do now is pierce both the displacer cap and the pressure vessel with a needle. But here's the catch: we need to pierce both objects directly at their center.

Here's how we solved the problem:
We "blew up" the image on the white board using the overhead projector. We then drew two chords and two perpendicular lines at each of the chords' midpoints and found the center (where the two lines intersected). We then used the "blown up" picture to find the exact middle on the can. It was a tremendous success; we now have a pierced displacer cap.



What lays ahead the next day we work:
We need to pierce the pressure vessel and weld it together with a piece of strong tin and a bolt. That way, the needle will be secure between the tough tin and less likely to unloosen and disconnect the displacer cap to the pressure vessel. We are a long ways to the end, but I feel confident in our endeavors.