Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hello
i have to make a project on physics applying maths.
i have checked your sites wizards and havent really found a topic which suites me. could you please suggest me some topics ? i am in grade 9 .
my teacher had mentioned something about geometrical figures and physics, but i don't seem to know how that is related to one another.
i have also found somne information on boomerangs so, do u think that will be suitable ? as in does it involve maths and physics ?
thank you,ragini

Hi Ragini,

Boomerangs do involve a lot of physics! The force of lift is the main "physics" that comes into play. See:

http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/boomerang.htm/printable

hi
thanks for that information on boomerangs , but after reading that i'm feeling a little confused whether i should choose it as my topic . it seems to involve a lot of physics , but no maths. if u feel it involves maths could u please specify to me how, so i should change my topic and secondly , if i change my topic... im considering skiing as my topic instead , do u think that involves maths ....i know it involves a lot of physics !!
thanks alot
ragini

Actually, physics itself does involve a lot of math as the laws of motion, for example, are explained by the language of mathematics. Jog down a few things about the motion of boomerangs that interest you and talk to your science teacher.

Regarding skiing, there's also a lot of math involved. What grade are you in? Skiing down an incline, for example, involves the coefficient of friction, the angle of the incline, normal force, weight (which is a force, not to be confused with mass), etc.

hello!

to quote, lord kelvin once said : if you can express something in a number you really know something about it!

physics i guess is what this has to mean. in physics, science concepts are expressed in numbers (maths equation for example is applied to explain gravitational pull; if you can compute how gravity becomes 9.8 m/s, then you know something about gravity aside from memorizing the concept!)

how about a replication of newtons' law using different material?
or even a simple experiment on force is science with numbers. unless mathematics has different defination with you.

regards,

julie