Center of Mass (CM)

What exactly is the center of mass?

From what I have learned, motion can be divided into two types; translational motion and rotational motion. Translational motion is any motion that does not involve spinning or rotating. Moving in a straight line is translational. Moving along a parabolic curve is also translational. Rotational motion, as the name implies, is spinning motion. For rotational motion, we studied objects rotating along fixed circle, with a fixed radius and axis of rotation.

So how does translational and rotational motion relate to the center of mass?

In real solutions, an object seldom goes through pure translational motion; objects can also move and rotate at the same time (planets, for example). Observations indicate that even if an object rotates, or several parts of a system of objects move relative to one another, there is one point that moves relatively similar to the path of pure translational motion. This point is called the center of mass (CM).

The CM coincides with the center of gravity (CG) of a particular object (CM and CG are the same point), but there is a conceptual difference between the two.

There is a formula for calculating the CM of a system of objects, but it would be tiring to state it here...

Click the link if you're willing to know more. Watch the video and see how the formula is applied to determine the CM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teynoIDTlSU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_mass

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

This is the 911 GT2 RS, the latest addition to Porsche's stable of the iconic 911 range. And a significant addition this is, because what you see here is the most powerful Porsche you can buy, when it goes on sale some time later. This beast has a 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged engine, producing 620 horses, propelling this car from naught to century in a mere 3.4 seconds. 205 mph top speed. Will take you around the nurburgring in 7 min 18secs. That means fast. 620 horsepower means a whooping 90 horsepower increase from the previous generation GT2, and not to forget its also lighter than the previous GT2 by 154 pounds. Imagine that.

To me, the strongest pulling factor for this car is the crazy amount of supercar horsepower that you can get, from a relatively small 3.6 litre engine. The 245,000 dollar price tag buys you all that power and 'the most powerful Porsche' title, but you can't put a price on the iconic status of the 911. It has a limited production run of 500, and certainly enthusiasts would not delay even a second in getting their hands on a piece of Porsche history in the making.

Back From the Jungle

If I could recall clearly, I've been away from at least three things. I've been away from home; I've been away from family...one more thing. What is it? It's on the tip of my tongue...Yes; I've been away from this blog.

Well, I'm at home now. Been studying my head off in the middle of a jungle in a disclosed secret location called Tronoh. I've been through two mind-squeezing tests and one major exam. I have learned a year's worth of Physics, Chemistry, and Advanced Maths, all in the span of roughly four months. But all that doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm home now. Home sweet home.

Alhamdulillah.

Sometimes, in life, there comes a time when you have to sacrifice what you like the most, in order to gain something else, for the greater good. I had to sacrifice caring for this blog in order to gain the time needed to concentrate on my studies.

Take your eyes of the thick books, and you're sure to get lost in a sea of equations, formulas, laws, concepts... I had to unlearn what I have learned in high school, keep my mind open to new ideas and concepts, and accept new knowledge that is alien and previously unimaginable to my logic.

So I put The Axiom on hold.

Since I'm officially on a week-long holiday starting today, its best I spend this week that I've got wisely; revise studies, keep up with the real world, keep up with mates in Alor Star, keep this blog fresh. What else?

I hope you remember that the Axiom will never die, no matter what happens. You see? Even after 3 months flat without any new updates, the Axiom can manage to come back to life again...

To Ikwan; sorry lama tak update blog. Tiap-tiap kali hang bukak, mesti ada gambar api dok menyala tu, kan? Aku mula update balik. Banyak cerita untuk dikongsi, banyak rahsia untuk dibongkar...

To Alvin; finally able to read your advancements in life in your blog. Wow, you got Bank Negara Scholarship Interview! Congratulations. Enjoyed reading your experience. You wrote it very nicely. What other interviews you went to? I hear you're teaching drama now with Dickson:)

To Lee Jia Jing; Hi, Jia Jing. Thank you for adding my blog to your list of blogs. Nice blog. Long time no see...

Since I've been away in the jungle, a lot has happened in the local and international automotive scene. A few F1 races had also passed by this year. Looks like Jenson Button's poised to take the title this year, if he keeps his current pace. He's got the car, and he's got the skills.

With this post, consider new life breathed into the Axiom, with plenty of updates coming your way, from the lessons in UTP lecture halls, to the advancements in the automotive industry, and also a certain conspiracy in UTP among January 2010 Foundation students.

Stay tuned.

Exciting Atoms

My lecturer told me that if heat is applied to atoms, they will emit light. The atoms get 'excited' when they receive energy. For example, if you heat up a piece of nail or any piece of iron, it will eventually glow red. In this case, the iron atoms convert heat energy received from the heat source into light energy. Isn't that amazing? Every tiny piece of atom emitting a tiny glow of red.
After that, the lecturer sped on about the concept of quanta and quantum mechanics.
Still trying to catch the idea of all this. Some reading will definitely help. Will post any understandable updates in future.
O.k, then...

Proton Hybrid

Proton will give all its got to make an impact in this year's Geneva Auto Show (March 2-14). What better way to make an impact than to revolutionize and venture into new territory.

Appointing Italdesign, a world-renowned Italian automotive design firm to give shape to this hybrid concept shows how serious Proton's intentions are to get into the hybrid market with a unique, purposeful and efficient city transporter. This car is shorter than a Savvy, and slightly taller. The concept brief is a supermini that seats four, with legroom similar to that of a saloon. Comfortable city driving for the typical family.

This is the shape of Italdesign's interpretation of a modern Hybrid Proton;
They've done a good job of defining and preserving Proton's current design language, especially with the front of the car. Also, you can't help but sense a hint of Alfa Romeo's agressive front styling, since this concept is from the hands of the people behind the Alfas of past and present. The window line is also uniquely Italian, the way it slopes down towards the ground. Try observing a Lamborghini Diablo's window line... Exciting stuff.

Production version is said to closely resemble the concept. Well, if the concept is revolutionary, then there's no point of creating a production version that dosen't resemble the concept.

To be launched at Geneva next month by none other than Tun Dr. Mahathir. Wait for it.

The 3 Levels of Friendship

Seniors at UTP are very supportive. Seriously. You really have to be here to feel the power of the seniors... You can learn a thing or two about life from them. Just to give you a vague picture about campus life, every single night, at around 11pm, we gather at the block 'surau' for around 5 to 10 minutes to 'baca Quran', seniors included. Every night also, after 'baca Quran' it is the senior's job to give 'tazkirah' to us juniors.

Enough about that. Well, campus life, what can I say?

For the sake of relating to the title, today, I learned that there are 3 levels of friendship

The first level is called 'taaruf', or, if you want to say it English, 'ice-braking'. Its the level where you ask somebody, 'Hi, what's your name, where are you from, and so on.

The second level is called 'tafahum', whereby you delve deeper into a friend's character. If you know your friends inner strengths and weaknesses, what he or she dreams about at night, or why your friend is shy or outspoken, then that's Tafahum.

The third and closest possible connection you can have with a friend is the third level, takaful. I guess when you hear the word 'takaful', you get a rough idea of what this third level is about. Its where friends come together to help each other out, going through thick and thin together. All for one, one for all.

Tell your friend about these third levels of friendship...Maybe best friends can become better friends.

Weekends @ UTP

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