http://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/ Still searching for a tagline that's not lame Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-133 Thu, 30 Mar 2006 17:02:08 +0000 https://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-133 Absolutely! I loved learning about Newton’s rings my freshman year…I’d never known why slides stuck together appeared to have those banded patterns.

]]> http://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-131 Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:48:33 +0000 https://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-131 In addition to the point about how reflection works, I also wanted to make the point about applying what was learned in class to the outside world. There is physics out there if you look for it.

]]> http://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-130 Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:10:15 +0000 https://cyclequark.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/everyday-physics-driving-in-the-evening-when-it-is-wet/#comment-130 One way you could have brought the demonstration into the classroom without having to rely upon the weather would be to paint a piece of board with black oil paints. Then, when it’s dry, brush varnish onto half of it. That is a dramatic demonstration of how the apparent darkness of the paint depends upon the finish you put on it. Black surfaces appear only a fairly dark gray when they dry to their natural, specularly reflective matte finish–you have to put on a glossy varnish to bring out its full luster.

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