Physics for a Middle Schooler
AI as Adversary
Cammy Kao
To S—, my reason for thinking again about physics
The subtitle tells kids to fight with an AI assistant if they want to get good answers.
An Artbook
#1 Conservation of Angular Momentum (PDF — public domain; full notes, force, torque)
#2 Bicycle Gears (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#3 Cross Product (Sine) (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#4 The Limit of Calculus (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#5 Work Done on a Ramp (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#6 Bicycle Helmet (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#7 Lift of Airplanes (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#8 A Proportion in Sports (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#9 Throwing Motion (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#10 Foams: EPS, Rice Cakes, Popcorn, and Bread (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#11 Trajectory (PDF — public domain; full notes)
#12 Area Under a Curve (PDF — public domain; full notes)
Subsequent Lessons
#13 Circadian Rhythms and Limit Cycles (Biology, Systems of Equations)
#13 Tetravalent Carbon and the SN2 Reaction (Chemistry, Geometry)
#13 Reference Frames and Time Dilation (Physics, Lorenz and Schwarzchild Factors)
#14 Circadian Rhythms: Overview
#15 Circadian Rhythms: How Does a Cycle Occur?
#16 Circadian Rhythms: How Does a Particular Cycle Occur?
#17 Circadian Rhythms: What Is the Math?
#18 Circadian Rhythms: Starting Conditions and Equilibria / Steady States / Limit Cycles
#19 The Empennage (Tail) of an Airplane (PDF)
Lessons Linking All Eight IB MYP Subject Groups
#22 An IB MYP Interdisciplinary Sketch: The Pigment Ultramarine
#23 Heat as a Tool: A Brief Excursion Prompted by Ultramarine
#24 An IB MYP Interdisciplinary Sketch: The Japanese Pagoda
#25 Earthquakes: A Brief Excursion Prompted by the Japanese Pagoda
#26 An IB MYP Interdisciplinary Sketch: Chopsticks
#27 The Human Hand: A Brief Excursion Prompted by Chopsticks
Discovery De Nuevo
#28 Soccer, Ballet, and the Gluteus Medius (PDF — public domain)
Key Figures Here
26 Apr 2026: #29 Tensegrity, Fascia, and the Spiral Line in Soccer (PDF — public domain)
10 May 2026: #30 Momentum and the Ankle Lock in Soccer (PDF — incomplete)
17 May 2026: #31 Block and Tackle (PDF — public domain)
24 May 2026: #32 Grocery-Store COVID-19 Test (PDF — public domain)
31 May 2026: #33 The Two Cassions of the Brooklyn Bridge (PDF — public domain)
7 Jun 2026: #34 The 12 Rotational Symmetries of the Trionda (PDF — public domain)
8 Jun 2026: #35 Impulse and the Goalkeeper (PDF — public domain)
9 Jun 2026: #36 “Greasy” KRAS and Cancer Drugs (PDF — public domain)
10 Jun 2026: #37 Why a Runner Leans Into a Turn (PDF — public domain)
11 Jun 2026: #38 Suspension Bridges and Cable-Stayed Bridges (PDF — public domain)
12 Jun 2026: #39 Energy and Power of the 40m and 800m (PDF — public domain)
13 Jun 2026: #40 Classification and Coordinate Systems in AI’s Neural Networks (PDF — public domain)
“Nice. It makes sense now.”
Text message at 5:00 PM CT
on Sunday, May 17, 2026
“Cool! I think I see why runners lean during curves.”
Text message at 9:26 AM CT on Saturday, May 30, 2026