Random

A lot of people use the word "random" to describe an event that the did not expect (I'm guilty of this). However, this is the very definition of random - something that you could not predict the outcome for. The human mind actually has a lot of difficulty with randomness. Many people confuse randomness with evenness. If you ask someone to pick a random number from one to ten, chances are they will pick a number near 5, and usually it wont be an even number (try this on your friends). The most common number is seven, because people say the number seven "feels" random.

Next time someone tells you to pick a random number between 2 numbers, pick one of the numbers they said. That will throw them off.

;)

How to Download the marking schedules

I see a few people are having trouble download the stuff here.
Here's how:
1 Click the link. it will take you to another page.
2 On the right hand side of the page, there is a button that says "Download file." Click this.
3 You will have to enter a combination of letters and number to prove that you are not an automated trawler. Then click "get file" and save the document onto your computer.
Hope this helps (Jacinda)

Mechanics question

Hi everyone, (especially Harley).
I have had one or two questions about the exam. I'll just post the explanations here, and you can have another go.
2006 Paper, question 2 (e)
They want you to label the diagram with all the information that you know. This includes:
The acceleration - gravity = -10 m/s^2
The velocity at the top of the flight is 0 m/s
They tell us that the initial upward velocity of the ball is 19m/s
Also, because gravity acts at the same rate all the time, we can assume that the ball will reach 19m/s on it's way down as it passes the exact height of the helmet.

2 (f)
So now we have to calculate the time from the ball first hitting the helmet to hitting the ground. They want you to assume that the ball bounces up vertically; there is not horizontal motion.
We can separate the motion into three parts: The hit to the top, the top to the height of the helmet, and the height of the helmet to the ground.
Doing vi=, vf=, a=, d=, t=, for each of these three parts, and adding the times for each together, will result in the correct time.

Good luck!

Oh and also for Harley: Waves with a lower frequency are able to diffract more. This means that they can be heard over a longer range of distances, and around and over more obstacles. The actual physical reason has to do with the amount of energy that is required per meter of travel. If you think about it, a wave which has a high frequency means its moving a lot of particle per second, whereas a low frequency is moving fewer particles per second. This allows it to travel further.

Hey,
Here is the link to a study planner for NCEA that I created. It may help you orginise your time, and more orginised time is always more productive time.
Have fun :)

http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189927

Year 12 Physics Marking Schedules

Hey Guys,
Here is the links to the marking schedules that go with the exams I handed out.
2008: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189882
2007: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189891
2006: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189892

Hope they help.
If any of the links stop working, send me an email, and I will reupload them.

Happy Studying!

Marking schedules for year 13 Calc internal exams

Hey Guys,
Here is the link to download the marking schedules for the internal exams I gave you.
2008: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189862
2007: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189863
2006: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189864
2005: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=189865

Hope they help!
Let me know if any are not working, and I will put them up again.

How to get hold of practice exams

If you are a year 11, 12 or 13 student, wanting to get hold of some practice exams, then head over to http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/for-students/exams/index.html

This site allows you to search for past exams, and their marking schedules.
For exams, enter your year level, and subject (e.g. physics), and the drop down arrow should say "exams & exemplar"
For the marking schedules, same as above, but the drop down arrow should say "reports & schedules"

It's best to have a go at these in exam conditions, and then mark them yourself.

Happy studying!