996

Check out this public advisory for Tropical Storm Noel. See how low the central pressure is? How does that compare to fair weather at sea level?

000 WTNT31 KNHC 312032 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM NOEL ADVISORY NUMBER 17 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL162007 500 PM EDT WED OCT 31 2007 ...NOEL LINGERING ALONG THE CUBAN COAST...TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST... AT 5PM EDT...2100Z...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF OCEAN REEF TO JUPITER INLET FLORIDA. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF SANCTI SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA...CAMAGUEY...LAS TUNAS... GRANMA...HOLGUIN...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...AND GUANTANAMO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NOEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.8 WEST OR ABOUT 190 MILES...305 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF NASSAU AND ABOUT 240 MILES...385 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF MIAMI FLORIDA. NOEL HAS BEEN STATIONARY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS...BUT A GENERALLY NORTHWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB...29.41 INCHES. ABOVE NORMAL TIDES ARE LIKELY WITHIN THE WARNING AREAS.

Office hours this afternoon

I will have office hours in Starbuck's in the central campus bookstore, 1-4 PM today. Drop by for any reason.

SSG bonus points

For those of you who attended special study groups, I have not added in your 2 bonus points yet. They will be in a separate line of your My Grades page. It is a chore I will get to maybe this afternoon. No worries.

Section 0001 sketches UP

OK, you guys in section 0001, at 9:30 AM, I just pushed the PDF of our sketching from Monday into the blue mailbox area, "Deluxe lecture files." I hope you find it useful.

Exam 3 scores are now up.

I got your guys' exam 3 scores this afternoon, as I hoped. I just set them up in Webcourses, and you can view your scores on your My Grades page.

Average scores were:

• Section 0001, 33/45
• Section 0002, 31/45

Sketching lecture UP

Last uvision, visual podcasting announcement of Fall 2007

The podcast of today's lecture is now up on the Uvision podcasting site. The visual track uses the diagrams from the 10:30 AM lecture. The full scale scan files of section 0002 are now in the blue mailbox, "Deluxe lecture files," for each section.

Early section: If you want the files from section 0001, we will be getting them scanned in tomorrow, and I will slip them into "Deluxe lecture files."

Day off from lecture

I think that nearly everyone worked their you-know-what off to get ready for midterm 3, so I am giving everybody the day off from lecture.

In the meantime here are a few things you can work on:

1. Scout ahead in the textbook:
   
   17. Light
   20. Electricity
   
   I specifically like the "Physics On Your Own" blurb on p. 341, with two pencils and a small mirror. You can try this out. And if you have another small mirror or two, you can make your own retro-reflector like the Apollo astronauts placed on the moon, which is diagrammed on p. 344.


2. View the two new movies on the Uvision site, both about the electromagnetic interaction, our last big topic of the semester.

See you again on Monday!

Be ready with calculator!

Last brain-burner, midterm, think announcement of Fall 2007

Today's midterm exam has some true-false questions and several basic calculations, in addition to the usual one or two brain burners.

So we want to start ultra-fast, minimum possible delay.

Have your calculator ready to go as soon as you sit down. The calculations themselves are not tricky, but we want to do them as rapidly and accurately as possible so that you have time to THINK!

Also: I am only going to make two time announcements: 15 minutes to go and 5 minutes to go. This will cut down on distraction.

Pitiful question submissions

I am surprised that so few people in section 0001 have proposed questions for inclusion in midterm 3. Most semesters we have a ton of questions. I am disappointed.

S.I. this week

Gaby asked me to provide the following announcement:

1. There is SI tomorrow afternoon after the test.
2. SI is cancelled this Thursday (Oct. 25th).

Study guide from CPS is UP

Last CPS, Gaby Guide announcement of Fall 2007

Gaby's CPS study guide from Monday's lecture is now up and ready for viewing, in the CPS Hideout. It is in PDF and should be helpful for preparing to CRUSH my midterm exam tomorrow.

Heat exchange combo homework, #18 = GO FOR LAUNCH

I just finished the next homework assignment, and it is a combo assignment, all about one heat exchange process. It has a brain burner and a cranium crusher.

Naturally, I cannot tell you what is going to be on the exam Wednesday, but you MIGHT find it helpful to study this combo HW and know it cold! :)

Don't forget to look over the Enigma machines.

Special study groups now open for EVERYONE, both sections

Okay, I just opened up the special study groups signup areas for EVERYBODY in both sections.

Remember, it is first come, first served. And we only have a few study groups, unfortunately, so get your spot quickly.

New Enigma Machines

Last study tool announcement of Fall 2007

There are two new Enigma machines to study with, one by Ashotn and another by Lenni Jo.

1. Ashton's Assortment, (Chapters 11 and 12)
2. Lenni Jo's Labyrinth

GO FOR IT! These will help you prepare for the midterm 3.

Section 0002, 10:30-11:20 AM, you can select your SSG now.

I just opened up special study group (SSG) sign ups for the first wave of students in section 0002. GO FOR IT!!

There are a few more groups to activate, but for now, there are a bunch of SSGs ready to go. Check later if you need a different time and place.

If you are not in the first wave, then you will not be able to sign up yet. Sunday evening, though, I will open the SSGs for anybody to sign up on.

Jeopardy S.I. review

The Jeopardy Review for the third test will be this Sunday (October 21st) from 1-3 PM in HPA 112. Gaby hopes to see you there!

Section 0001, 9:30-10:20 AM, you can sign up for SSG now

If you want to sign up for special study groups, you can do so now if you are in the early section, 0001, 9:30-10:20 AM. Click the SSG icon on the home page. If you are part of the first wave of students activated for signups, you will see the SSG3 signups page. First come, first served. If you can't see the SSG3 signup page, then you are in the second wave; I will turn you guys loose on Sunday evening for signups.

There are still 3 SSGs in section 0001 that might open up. The leaders have not accepted my offer yet. But when they do, section 0001 will have those SSGs to join, as well.

Section 0002: I am still waiting for more SSG leaders to respond. Maybe later on Saturday afternoon we will get signups open for the first wave.

Liquids mixing exercise 15, ch. 13 is UP

The exercise I worked on in lecture today, #15 from chapter 13, with mixing of two liquids at different temperatures, is now laid out in a blurb page for you. Look in the blue mailbox, deluxe lecture files, on the course home page.

Special study groups, SSG

I have sent a course mail message to a handful of students in each section who have done well, about 90% or more, on midterm exams 1 and 2. This course mail message is the call for special study group (SSG) leaders. Those of you who receive it, make your decision today! We want to activate SSG signups this weekend.

Homework so handy, so fine

Homework 17 has a bunch of questions, and it is ready for you to work on. You might want to read a bit in chapter 12 as you go. The first two questions change each time you take it.

Office hours revision

Remember: I have revised my office hours to Wednesday afternoons.

So this week, it will be 1:00-4:30 PM, in Starbuck's in the UCF Bookstore.

Homework 16 is up: cranium crusher included

I have set up homework #16 for you all to work on. It includes a cranium-crusher about densities.

Before tackling HW16, though, you might want to read through the metals blurb page, which is linked in the HW page for section 0001 students.

Not for section 0002, though! The section 0002 HW page is behaving slightly weird right now, and I will try to fix it up, but if HW16 and the metals blurb page do not show up in the yellow pickup truck, then look in the Assessments page for the homework and in the Weblinks page for the metals blurb page.

Meningitis alert from UCF Health Services

Recent alert from UCF Health Services concerning meningitis alert

Submitted for: UCF Health Services Subject: Meningitis Alert The Orange County Public Health Department (OCPHD) has informed UCF Health Services officials that a senior in the UCF Nursing program -- who lives in a house off campus with family members -- has a confirmed diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis, a type of bacterial meningitis. On behalf of the entire UCF community, our strongest hopes for a complete recovery go out to the student. OCPHD already has identified and contacted the closest contacts considered at risk, all of whom have received the antibiotic CIPRO. UCF Health Services staff has been working closely with OCPHD health officials to assist them in identifying those individuals who may have had exposure to the illness. The student is a senior in the UCF Nursing program, and Nursing students in the student’s classes (Adult Health on Mondays and Mental Health on Wednesdays) were informed of the situation Friday evening and advised to receive the antibiotic at UCF Health Services if they felt they were in close enough contact to be high risk. Exposure that imparts risk for transmission involves close contact with an infected individual. Close contact is defined as persons who shared a household with the student or had direct contact with oral secretions (kissing, sharing a drink, sharing food from the same plate, sharing a cigarette or being coughed on from very close proximity). Those persons who have had close exposure within the past seven days benefit from the use of preventative antibiotics. Classic symptoms of meningitis include high fever, confusion and neck stiffness. Those symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take one to two days. Other symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to lights and seizures. Persons with such symptoms should seek prompt medical attention. Previous vaccination for meningitis does not necessarily protect persons from acquiring this illness (because the vaccine is not 100 percent effective in protecting against the various strains of bacterial meningitis). Vaccination would not be the appropriate intervention for those persons who have had close contact. Anyone who has not had close contact and desires vaccination, or anyone who has other questions or concerns regarding meningococcal meningitis, can call the UCF Health Center during normal hours of operation at 407-823-2701. UCF Health Services Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on UCF Health Services, go to www.hs.ucf.edu.

Enigma machine

Ashton, our early class TA, has set up a new Enigma machine as an extra study workout on rotational concepts and ideal gas model ideas. Click the Enigma icon (right) to try it out.

Donuts, pencils and molecules - HW 15 is ready

The next homework assignment is ready, HW 15.

Being as how the ideal gas law is so important to understanding donuts, I included a brain-burner on there that concerns itself with donuts, pencils and molecules. :)

Three new problems on Uvision podcast

There are three exercises visually podcasted now on the Uvision website. These are three of the exercises that I like in chapter 11. I have a few more to publish but these will hold you for now.

BONUS points questions for exam 3

Last discussions announcement of Fall 2007

There is a new set of discussion areas in Webcourses, prep for midterm exam 3. One discussion area is for chapter 8 angular momentum concepts and another is for chapter 11, 12 and 13 concepts on the states and properties of matter.

A third discussion area is "BONUS points questions for exam 3" and I have already posted a sample question there. 2 bonus points for you if I choose your question!

Troubles with Internet Exploder

If you use Internet Explorer to access Webcourse, take a look at this alert.

Notice this afternoon from UCF Course Development and Web Services, regarding Webcourses login

Dear Faculty, Yesterday morning, CDWS began to receive reports that Internet Explorer users attempting to log in to Webcourses@UCF via myUCF were receiving an error. The problem was escalated to our server admins and reported to Blackboard, but we do not have a solution yet. Until we have a fix, please use a browser other than Internet Explorer to access Webcourses@UCF via myUCF, or log into Webcourses@UCF directly using your NID at http://webcourses.ucf.edu Thank you for your patience while we resolve this issue,

Exam scores are UP

Your examination 2 scores are up in Webcourses now. Look in your My Grades page.

If there was a problem with your scantron, it reads "no score" and we will have to dig out your scantron to grade it by hand.

Monday's lecture podcast ready.

The Monday lecture is now available for podcast viewing.

No office hours today

Due to illness, I will not hold office hours today. See you on Wednesday!

Matching homework on angular momentum

More homework is up and running for Wednesday, HW 14. It contains a matching item about the two kinds of angular momentum.

Friday's lecture and movie are up now.

Check the Uvision website. The Friday lecture on angular momentum is now UP. Also the special movie on angular momentum is now available.

Angular momentum homework is set.

There is a new homework set to work on, HW 13, covering some basic angular momentum concepts and calculations. Look for it in the yellow pickup truck on our Webcourses home page.

Remember to read through all of chapter 8 for Monday.

Exam scores, no asking

The exams are now in the hands of the test scoring center. For the next 48 hours, no one may ask me about his or her exam score. Failure to comply will be penalized by a small gravity experiment at the Acme Institute of Lower Technology, with Wile E. Coyote (super genius). :)

Enigma machines

There is a new study tool, an Enigma machine, which can help you prepare for examination 2. It is like a sideways version of jeopardy, with questions arranged left to right. It is not for points on homework or any other part of your semester grade, but many students find the Enigma machines to be helpful prep for exams. This one is called "Energy, momentum, force mental workout."

Its web link is located on our home page in Webcourses. Look for the Enigma icon (above left). You can do the game any number of times you like, and I encourage you to study it with friends. Enjoy!

Ashton the T.A. now will have office hours

You guys in section 0001, 9:30-10:20 AM, can check in with Ashton, our mighty T.A., during her office hours. She will announce them in the Webcourses discussion area, "Ashton's Annex." I think whe will have hours Tuesday, Oct. 2nd, in the afternoon. Please look in Ashton's Annex for the exact specs.