Irridescence

Here is a phenomenon that looks similar to a sun dog.  A sun dog has a clear arc-shape to it.  This, however, doesn't have a defined edge to it. So, it is just an area of irridescence, where sunlight is scattered in many directions, creating an area of multiple colors. Taken January 22, 2015.

Pileus Cloud

Here is a picture of a Pileus cloud taken over Ormond Beach on Aug 23, 2014.

Distrail

Here is a distrail taken March 2, 2013 during the Daytona Beach 5k Mutt-Strut along the beach.

PHY 1020 and PHY 1007 tactics

I've been thinking of how I want to teach the PHY 1020 course next semester and, when it comes, the 1007 course in summer 2017. My biggest challenge is that these courses are supposed to teach physics, but not be super math intensive (a contradiction in my mind...). So, what if I teach them how to read an equation more than how to use it? For example, the equation for the forces between two charges says that as the distance increases, the forces decreased at a rate of 1/r^2.

I came up with the following idea. Divide the course into 4-6 segments. In each segment, I'll use the following pattern:
... Basic Principles
... Equations and examples
... Demonstrations
... Class activities
... Quiz/Exam/Summary...Whatever means of testing

In theory, this method gives the students the information they need and the organization to not get lost in the course.

Rainbow - Wed, Sep 2, 2015

Driving across town, I spotted this rainbow. I don't see rainbows very often here, though that may be my fault for not being in the right place at the right time. Regardless, this is one of the most fantastic rainbows I have seen on a while. It even sported a secondary rainbow.

PHY 1054 - Polarization Lab

Here is the setup that I worked on for a Polarization lab.

PHY 1054 - Lab 12 - Optics

​Images of some equipment for General Physics 2 Optics lab (Lab 12).

     

Thunderstorm on June 24, 2015

A thunderstorm rolled in the other day. Here are a few shots. The cloud on the left has a second cloud on top. This is what we call a Pileus cloud (seen better in the fourth picture).

Also, the cloud on the right has a bright spot on its lower-right corner. This was a spot of very bright iridescence. Unfortunately, the camera couldn't catch it right, so it isn't as visible in this shot.

Also, we don't often think of it, but the big cloud on the right is really the underside of a big anvil (cumulonimbus) cloud.

Lenticular and Cirrocumulus

If you look closely, you can see that this cloud is made of Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus clouds. But because of the upper winds, they form in a wavelike manner, forming into lenticular form.

2nd Balloon Launch - May 2, 2015

Launch #2:  May 2, 2015, at around 8:00am EDT.

This launch was totally successful.  A few changes I made to the setup:

• I attached the new recovery system as shown in the previous post.
• Launched in a more open area.
• I added a second spool of line, giving a total of nearly 500 yards (about 450 m).

Here are some pictures from the launch:

 

 

  

 

Before I show the figures, let me describe the conditions at launch.  The winds were absolutely calm at the ground.  There was not a cloud in the sky.  And when I released the balloon, the sun had only been up for half an hour at most.

When the balloon rose, it drifted a long ways away, showing strong winds.  Usually, when that happens, it is because we are in an inversion layer...cold air sinks to the surface, and warm air rises, causing still wind below and strong wind above.  In the pictures above, you can see fog still present over the bodies of water.  It was most definitely an inversion.

Here are the resulting plots from the launch:

Notice that, unlike the first launch, the temperature rises over time.  This is most definitely the sign of an inversion.  The relative humidity also dropped with height, which was a result in the increased temperature (increased saturation vapor pressure).

Also, the temperature vs. altitude plot shows the same.  The temperature rose with height.  The inversion layer was definitely strongest at the surface (shallow portion), and weaker at higher altitudes (steeper portion).  The lapse rates I am calculating are around 100*C/km and just under 10*C/km.  The second number is believable, but the first seems a little excessive.  It would definitely be a large number, but I am a little suspicious of this number... Something to look into.

Here's the balloon after recovery.  It was tempting to run the program a second time and get a second set of data, but I needed to call it a day.