Comments on: Angry Birds on a physics exam http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162755 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162755 the page isn't slanted, there's two pages held together with a stapler, and the corner with the staple is folded. if you hold a page like that and lift the top page up in the air to take a picture of the second page, that's what it looks like -_____- the page isn’t slanted, there’s two pages held together with a stapler, and the corner with the staple is folded. if you hold a page like that and lift the top page up in the air to take a picture of the second page, that’s what it looks like -_____-

]]> By: S2 http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162760 S2 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162760 As a cautionary tale, our high school physics teacher would tell us the reason Wile E. Coyote lived alone in a cave in the desert was because he aced all his theory classes, but failed all his labs. "You've been warned." (What a great guy -- there were two ways to take his exams: you could attempt to get as many correct answers as possible and take your exam grade from the curve, or you could answer <i>every</i> question incorrectly and receive an A for the entire semester.) As a cautionary tale, our high school physics teacher would tell us the reason Wile E. Coyote lived alone in a cave in the desert was because he aced all his theory classes, but failed all his labs. “You’ve been warned.” (What a great guy — there were two ways to take his exams: you could attempt to get as many correct answers as possible and take your exam grade from the curve, or you could answer every question incorrectly and receive an A for the entire semester.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1165833 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1165833 I don't think so.. That slant could have been part of a photocopy. I don’t think so.. That slant could have been part of a photocopy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163286 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163286 But it's not impossible. I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home, and they're not much bigger than two meters! But it’s not impossible. I used to bull’s-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home, and they’re not much bigger than two meters!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163293 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163293 Yes like Atomizer said. theta = 30.67 degrees V0 = 25.58 m/s Wow brought back memories from Physics 101! Yes like Atomizer said.

theta = 30.67 degrees
V0 = 25.58 m/s

Wow brought back memories from Physics 101!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1165090 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1165090 Epic fail. The teacher. Awful pseudocontext. He/she has a ~5m diameter angry bird and pig. That's bigger than an elephant. Launched at like 50mph? And yet, it's wimpy little slingshot and rubber band that launches it?!? This is how to do real physics with Angry Birds: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/physics-of-angry-birds/ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/does-the-angry-blue-bird-multiply-its-mass/ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/is-the-launch-speed-in-angry-birds-constant/ Epic fail. The teacher. Awful pseudocontext.
He/she has a ~5m diameter angry bird and pig. That’s bigger than an elephant. Launched at like 50mph?
And yet, it’s wimpy little slingshot and rubber band that launches it?!?
This is how to do real physics with Angry Birds:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/physics-of-angry-birds/
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/does-the-angry-blue-bird-multiply-its-mass/
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/is-the-launch-speed-in-angry-birds-constant/

]]> By: jacob_ewing http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163057 jacob_ewing Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163057 Reminds me of a great teacher I had for physics in high school, Robert Pickett. One of our tests used chickens in every question. I remember one with two chickens tethered by a rope, one of them hanging over the edge of a cliff with a frictionless pulley. Reminds me of a great teacher I had for physics in high school, Robert Pickett. One of our tests used chickens in every question. I remember one with two chickens tethered by a rope, one of them hanging over the edge of a cliff with a frictionless pulley.

]]> By: Dread Pirate Robert http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162818 Dread Pirate Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162818 My physics teacher used to ask questions about throwing rocks from the top of buildings, given initial velocity of so many meters per second, add gravitational acceleration, and ask how far the rocks would travel into little Billy's head if his skull had a friction coefficient of whatever. Always interesting, I miss Mr. Patterson. My physics teacher used to ask questions about throwing rocks from the top of buildings, given initial velocity of so many meters per second, add gravitational acceleration, and ask how far the rocks would travel into little Billy’s head if his skull had a friction coefficient of whatever.

Always interesting, I miss Mr. Patterson.

]]> By: rrh http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163075 rrh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163075 If you fired it very very fast, you could just point it almost straight at the pig. Or you could fire up into the air and it comes down on the pig 30 seconds later. Or fire more slowly at a 45 degree angle. Knowing the time of flight means you know the launch speed. If you fired it very very fast, you could just point it almost straight at the pig. Or you could fire up into the air and it comes down on the pig 30 seconds later. Or fire more slowly at a 45 degree angle.

Knowing the time of flight means you know the launch speed.

]]> By: DAN_III http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163331 DAN_III Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163331 I knew I'd find the answer here! Nice problem BTW I knew I’d find the answer here!
Nice problem BTW

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163604 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163604 Nope, that just a shadow from a photo copy machine where the prior pages are flipped over at the stabled corner. Nope, that just a shadow from a photo copy machine where the prior pages are flipped over at the stabled corner.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1164118 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1164118 the answer to the question is 31 degrees 9 minutes 17.52 seconds if acceleration due to gravity is taken as 10 m/s2 or 30 degrees 40 minutes 32.33 seconds if it is taken as 9.8 m/s2 :) by the way, my students' physics professor (myself, that is :P) has already clearly established his hatred towards the game so it will be a cold day in may before they can expect such a question in a paper I set... :P pocket tanks on the other hand is a different issue... or questions on projectile motion based on trebuchets from AOE2 are more MY choice :P the answer to the question is 31 degrees 9 minutes 17.52 seconds if acceleration due to gravity is taken as 10 m/s2 or 30 degrees 40 minutes 32.33 seconds if it is taken as 9.8 m/s2 :)
by the way, my students’ physics professor (myself, that is :P) has already clearly established his hatred towards the game so it will be a cold day in may before they can expect such a question in a paper I set… :P
pocket tanks on the other hand is a different issue… or questions on projectile motion based on trebuchets from AOE2 are more MY choice :P

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162584 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162584 < John_Cleese_burn_the_witch > <b>sue them! sue them! sue them for copy-write IP violations [crossed-eyes] sue them!!</b> < John_Cleese_burn_the_witch > sue them! sue them! sue them for copy-write IP violations [crossed-eyes] sue them!!

]]> By: Atomizer http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163100 Atomizer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163100 The answer should be 30.7º. The answer should be 30.7º.

]]> By: tyger11 http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162591 tyger11 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162591 I prefer Hunt the Wumpus or Scorched Earth, thanks. I prefer Hunt the Wumpus or Scorched Earth, thanks.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163878 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163878 now add a headwind... now add a headwind…

]]> By: pimlottc http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162605 pimlottc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162605 Since when did Hunt the Wumpus involve parabolic trajectories? Since when did Hunt the Wumpus involve parabolic trajectories?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163889 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163889 WTF!!! YOU GET MORE THAN ONE SHOT!!!!! WTF!!! YOU GET MORE THAN ONE SHOT!!!!!

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163132 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163132 Atomizer is correct. The only quibble I have with the problem is that the student must assume the gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s**2 to get that answer, and it is not made explicit that this is taking place at the surface of the Earth. Atomizer is correct. The only quibble I have with the problem is that the student must assume the gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s**2 to get that answer, and it is not made explicit that this is taking place at the surface of the Earth.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163660 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163660 Your answer places the bird correctly in X but not in Y. If you work out your number in the Y direction: y = V_0*sin(theta)*t - 1/2*g*t^2 Using t = 2.5s (problem constraint) and your theta and V_0 places the bird at an altitude of y = 33.59m instead of the intended 2! You must have solved for x but not y? Your answer places the bird correctly in X but not in Y.
If you work out your number in the Y direction:

y = V_0*sin(theta)*t – 1/2*g*t^2

Using t = 2.5s (problem constraint) and your theta and V_0 places the bird at an altitude of y = 33.59m instead of the intended 2!

You must have solved for x but not y?

]]> By: querent http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162894 querent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162894 I once ran out of gas on my way back from lunch (yeah, we got to drive off campus for lunch when I was in High School). So I was late to AP physics. My teacher cracked up when I explained why I was late and sweaty when I got back (Mississippi...it was a hot walk). Every test after that featured a question that started something like, "Say Will runs out of gas while traveling at .4C...." Rick Gardner, wherever you are, thanks for recognizing that I was good at that stuff. Working on my PhD in mathematical biology, right now. I once ran out of gas on my way back from lunch (yeah, we got to drive off campus for lunch when I was in High School). So I was late to AP physics. My teacher cracked up when I explained why I was late and sweaty when I got back (Mississippi…it was a hot walk).

Every test after that featured a question that started something like, “Say Will runs out of gas while traveling at .4C….”

Rick Gardner, wherever you are, thanks for recognizing that I was good at that stuff. Working on my PhD in mathematical biology, right now.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162650 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162650 This is just silly. Everyone knows that you'd get more points for hitting the bit of wood under the pig. This is just silly. Everyone knows that you’d get more points for hitting the bit of wood under the pig.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163933 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163933 ask ROVIO who sells and markets Angry Birdsdroppe ask ROVIO who sells and markets Angry Birdsdroppe

]]> By: jer http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162654 jer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162654 The page is slanted but the text is not. Obvious fake? The page is slanted but the text is not. Obvious fake?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1164191 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1164191 My calculations show that angle is ~30.58°. My calculations show that angle is ~30.58°.

]]> By: jer http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162915 jer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162915 I didn't mean slanted as in the italics you would get from the workings of perspective, but the slight angle at which the page is shown (look at the top right corner) compared with the exactly straight text. Of course it is possible that the page wasn't printed or photocopied straight onto the paper. I didn’t mean slanted as in the italics you would get from the workings of perspective, but the slight angle at which the page is shown (look at the top right corner) compared with the exactly straight text. Of course it is possible that the page wasn’t printed or photocopied straight onto the paper.

]]> By: jphilby http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1163172 jphilby Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1163172 @lyndon: The way solving problems like this is taught is to ignore complicated (real-world) questions like the (changing) acceleration of the (elastic) slingshot (assumed to be finished at the origin) and messy stuff like air friction (assume a vacuum). These birds would be in vacuum suits. The point is that you can get to reasonably in-the-ballpark accurate answers by making simplifying assumptions. Because, well, 100% correct answers are impossible. @lyndon: The way solving problems like this is taught is to ignore complicated (real-world) questions like the (changing) acceleration of the (elastic) slingshot (assumed to be finished at the origin) and messy stuff like air friction (assume a vacuum). These birds would be in vacuum suits.

The point is that you can get to reasonably in-the-ballpark accurate answers by making simplifying assumptions. Because, well, 100% correct answers are impossible.

]]> By: Zadaz http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162665 Zadaz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162665 My physics teacher was a bowler, so every physics problem had to do with bowling. So I would have jumped at a question like this. Except I would have pointed out that the red bird can't hit the green pig because the whole thing is black and white, and then lost 7 points. My physics teacher was a bowler, so every physics problem had to do with bowling. So I would have jumped at a question like this.

Except I would have pointed out that the red bird can’t hit the green pig because the whole thing is black and white, and then lost 7 points.

]]> By: Palefire http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162666 Palefire Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162666 I don't think the page is slanted. I think the pages were staple together and what you see in the top left corner is the previous page pulled back. My question is, do you get to post multiple answers based on the number of birds you have? Could be the first multiple answer question. I don’t think the page is slanted. I think the pages were staple together and what you see in the top left corner is the previous page pulled back.

My question is, do you get to post multiple answers based on the number of birds you have? Could be the first multiple answer question.

]]> By: LegendofPedro http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/angry-birds-on-a-phy.html#comment-1162667 LegendofPedro Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1162667 Obvious photocopy. Obvious photocopy.

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