iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 23/09/2026

"Human factors and artificial gravity: A review." (1971). #iTeachPhysics #Physics

Line drawing of four people sitting around a table that's at a steep angle.

Figure 3. Complications with "horizontal" tables in artificial gravity.

Line drawing of a person pouring dark liquid out of a carafe, the liquid travels at a 45° angle to the coffee cup.

Figure 4. Pouring fluids in artificial gravity.

Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 19/09/2026

Looks useful, thanks! FYI I noticed that in the last round, you ask for the gradient, but it says what it is right underneath.

Screenshot of app asking for gradient with the value of true gradient written underneath

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 21/07/2026

What's the first thing you want to see when you walk into a building? Is it this?

A timeline poster with "100% ASBESTOS" in big bold black lettering in the upper left. There are other much smaller words as well as pictures of documents and boxes that don't particularly jump out at you.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 09/07/2026

Different designators, similar to what the college board uses for AP Physics

4 kinematics equations with ∆x, v, v_0, a, t

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 09/07/2026

Some fun graphs for #iTeachPhysics Link to paper: link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007...

Log-Log graph of a spider's speed vs. mass where a line of best fit is drawn so that speed is proportional to mass to the 0.353 power.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 06/07/2026

😌 A pleasant watch for #iTeachPhysics & #Physics: A Day in the Life of a Fluid Dynamicist from @apsphysics.aps.org Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAN3...

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 25/06/2026

The other one that comes to mind is this one from 2023 AP Physics 1 FRQ. Any others you like #iTeachPhysics?

Image of a physics test with a kinetic energy vs. potential energy graph with is linear with intercepts at 4 J on each axis: The dashed line in Figure 4 shows the kinetic energy K versus potential energy U of the block-cart-spring system after the block is dropped onto the cart. This graph is identical to the graph shown in Figure 2 for the cart-spring system before the block is dropped onto the cart.

i. Briefly explain why the two graphs must be the same, using physics principles.
ii. After the block is dropped onto the cart, consider a system that consists only of the cart and the spring. On Figure 4, sketch a solid line that shows the kinetic energy of the system that consists of the cart and the spring but not the block after the block is dropped onto the cart.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 25/06/2026

I took a stab at something similar with this one.

Physics problem on a slide: Scenario 1: A block of mass m0 is compressed against an ideal spring by a distance d0 and released from rest on a frictionless surface. It collides elastically with a mass m, which compresses an identical spring a maximum distance of dmax.

Assume the first block is prevented from interacting with the other block a second time.

Sketch a graph of dmax vs. m.

(Diagram of this scenario)

Physics problem on a slide: Scenario 2: A block of mass m0 is held a distance d0 above the ground and released from rest on a frictionless surface. It collides elastically with a mass m, which travels up a ramp to a maximum height of dmax.

Assume the first block is prevented from interacting with the other block a second time.

Sketch a graph of dmax vs. m.

(Diagram of this scenario)

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 25/06/2026

#iTeachPhysics: Inspired by this question from Etkina, I'm thinking about intro physics problems where we ask students to graph stuff, but we don't expect them to have seen those quantities graphed together before - as we might with a velocity vs. time graph or a potential energy vs. position graph.

Image of physics textbook multiple choice problem where the objective is to graph the height of the center of mass of a plastic can as it fills with water. It must start and end in the center, which rules out 3 monotonically increasing choices. Since the bottom fills first, the center of mass can never be above center, so it must fall, then come back up.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 09/06/2026

“Mr. Freeman, come over here! We discovered a previously unknown resonant frequency on the Chladni plate! We’re gonna call it the “lambda frequency.” #iTeachPhysics

Picture of the top of a chladni plate with white sand pushed into the shape of a lower case lambda

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 03/06/2026

You have an infinite line or grid of cells, and they evolve according to rules based on neighboring cells. Most famous I think is Conway’s Game of Life where you get some stable structures:

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 11/05/2026

I see this post there. It doesn’t immediately show up (or even on any sort of consistent timeline) unfortunately.

Post from Grant Jacob’s on Genomics feed using the computer and DNA emojis

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 01/05/2026

Physicists when it's time to draw an arbitrary shape. 🎢⚛️

6 different diagrams of physical pendulums which all look roughly the same, like a butternut squash

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 23/04/2026

🎢 Physics teachers trying to relax on vacation

Dan Levy on the Conan O’Brien podcast, with closed captioning: “I cannot hear the word momentum”

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 21/04/2026

New #iTeachPhysics Simulation: Rolling and Slipping! Have you ever wondered what would happen if you spun a 13 foot tall wheel of cheese at 100 rpm and set it loose on the ground? Neither have I! (1/3)

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 15/04/2026

#iTeachPhysics: Small update to this simple harmonic motion sim, graphs are now big and on top of each other instead of tiny and stacked. That is all :) afreeparticle.com/shm.html

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 10/04/2026

#iTeachPhysics: Work in progress desmos sim for rolling and slipping: www.desmos.com/calculator/5...

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 09/04/2026

Also helped as I tried to explain why when you backspin a ball it might end rolling in either direction.

Google slide: Warm Up
Try to "backspin" a ping pong ball & a pool ball to create the following scenarios.
Which ball is easier for which scenario?
Before: ball spinning counterclockwise, while moving right
After: ball rolling right

Before: ball spinning counterclockwise, while moving right
After: ball rolling left

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 09/04/2026

#iTeachPhysics: Thinking about modeling what happens in the transition from slipping to rolling. I showed this to students today because that’s sort of what happens in my brain (not clear if it was helpful) Anyone do something similar?

Diagram of a ball showing initial translational and angular velocities. There are two number lines below showing that the translational velocity increases while the angular velocity decreases until the final translational velocity equals the radius times the final angular velocity.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 23/02/2026

Nice! Got some good looking data from @flippingphysics.bsky.social Shoot and Drop video.

Screenshot of motion tracking of a horizontally launched projectile

Vertical position vs. time graph resulting from video analysis with a quadratic fit.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 13/02/2026

@yhenryg.bsky.social Did you mean to put me on your “Women” list?

A bluesky list called “Women” that I (pretty sure not a women) am on

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 08/02/2026

Dwayne “Dirac” Johnson 📍National Institute of Physics (UP Diliman) 🧪⚛️🎢

Framed black and white picture of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a turtleneck, jeans and a fanny pack, but with Paul Dirac’s face. In the top left, it reads: “Do you smell what Dirac is cooking?” in cursive. In the bottom right it reads:

Dwayne “Dirac” Johnson
1933 two-time Nobel Rumble champion

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 07/02/2026

Daughter taught me about her porcupine generator. #iTeachPhysics

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 17/01/2026

🎢 From Darek Dewey: "The center of mass remains over the fulcrum as the cars of different mass move with equal and opposite momentums. In the 2nd video a ball is launched upward. The force of the ball pushes the car down. Even though the center of mass moves right net torque is counterclockwise."

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 17/01/2026

🎢 The ISS orbit visualized on the Equirectangular projection by Janosch Gaia. Full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0r...

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 16/01/2026

🎢 @pagephysics.bsky.social video of physics teacher Keith Bellof walking across a large foam mat in a pool.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 21/12/2025

🤯 Germany’s 5 biggest cities lie perfectly on a 4th-degree polynomial! by u/BarisSayit on reddit #iTeachPhysics #iTeachMath

Desmos screenshot with map of germany, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin all with red dots on them. A 4th degree polynomial is shown with a red line passing through all five cities.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 20/12/2025

Hanging shelf with balloon Photograph Bas Van Wieringen Netherlands @basvanwieringen.bsky.social #iTeachPhysics

Photograph of a wall shelf upside down with a black balloon "resting" on it from below.

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 19/12/2025

Student portrait of me I can only assume that I have taken the form of a headless body in deep space, halfway between two identical asteroids. #iTeachPhysics

Drawing on a whiteboard of a head with vectors pointing up and down both labeled mg.

Below it says: MR. FREEBODY DIAGRAM

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 16/12/2025

I know it’s a completely different course, but in the states when I’m teaching physics I similarly try to keep it to these three and motion graphs as long as possible before introducing anything else so they can get a solid conceptual understanding first. #iTeachPhysics

Slide with definitions of average velocity, average acceleration and the fact that average velocity is the arithmetic mean of initial and final velocity if acceleration is constant

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 13/12/2025

🧪⚛️🎢🧬🥽A great comedy and science podcast for those who haven’t discovered it. Thank you, Robin! Reposting with alt text

FROM THE DESK OF ROBIN INCE
This is the saddest day of my professional life.
Today is not only the final recording of the latest
series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.
I never thought that I would have to leave the show.
I always imagined going on until I dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity
the
shock of being told about
fly maggot
infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.
However, I resigned back in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show; a show I named and helped devlop over all those years.
Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for some time, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community,
criticism of
Donald Trump and
numerous
other
outlandish opinions including once gently criticising
Stephen Fry.
These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter.
In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices.
Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or resign and have the freedom to speak out
against what I believe are injustices.
I chose the latter.
It broke my heart.
cosmicshambles.com
robinince.com
patreon.com/cosmicshambles

FROM THE DESK OF ROBIN INCE
I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make.
I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness,
empathy
seem to be scarcer and
scarcer.
I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the
luxury of silence.
One of my many privileges is that I can resign and I can speak out.
I have thought a lot about some of my heroes; Sinead O'Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and
"orde,
so many
more.

I think of Sinead’s words
"The job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost”
James Baldwin has said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice.
Aegets ete de center life, wrote that her only
I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness, in kindness and in justice.
Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire.
apologise to our
incredible listeners for my
departure, your love of the show means a great deal.
I am so sorry to let you down.
I hope that you can understand my reasoning.
cosmicshambles.com
robinince.com
patreon.com/cosmicshambles

FROM THE DESK OF ROBIN INCE
I always worked far more than my contracted hours on Monkey Cage to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them across the world. Every night we have
recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the finest show possible. Monkey Cage was not
'just a job'
Despite this, I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters.
I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally
to the LGBTQ+
community,
to the neurodivergent
community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. I know a great many of those people are Monkey Cage listeners too.
I will carry on creating with The Cosmic Shambles Network and touring as I have always done.
The strawberry is dead.
Long live the strawberry.
cosmicshambles.com
robinince.com
patreon.com/cosmicshambles

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 04/12/2025

Not when I throw the book on the ground in disgust #iTeachPhysics

Picture from Newtonian Physics for Babies, with two balls of different size. There are balanced up and down forces on them. Below it says “The force of the ground always equals the force of gravity”

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 02/12/2025

I have a feeling #iTeachMath is going to appreciate this

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 22/11/2025

🎢 Found another relative motion illusion: @femaria on TikTok at nyc marathon

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 03/11/2025

This year's edition of Rings of Fire! Students are given initial height and velocity of the launched marble. Each group has to calculate the height of their ring at their assigned horizontal distance. #EduSky #iTeachPhysics

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Michael Freeman @afreeparticle.com · 31/10/2025

I know AI is everywhere in our lives, but this one really surprised me. I'm uploading my recommendation letters, and Naviance has offered to write my rec letters for me, using just 4 bits of information from me. The absolute gall to call this "meaningful and personalized" #EduSky #iTeachPhysics

Screenshot from Naviance: "Get started with your recommendation for [redacted]. To generate a meaningful and personalized recommendation letter, select the information you'd like to highlight. You can also set the tone, level of formality, and your relationship to the student. After you make your suggestions, generate the letter.

How formal should this letter be?

What tone would you like to set?

What's your relationship to the student?

Would you like to use bullet points?

Upload a template letter.

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