greenwhite

I am doing a emg study on badminton strokes and I would like to use a piezoelectric disc taped to the racket to time the moment the shuttle contacts the racket. Problem is I've very little knowledge of electronics and computer programming.

At the moment my idea is to connect the piezoelectric disc (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9196) to an oscilloscope along with a 1megaohm resistor (since I figure the voltage produced would be too high). It would be a simple series circuit.

Is this viable? Do I need to do any programming? I'm asking because from my search online, other circuits involve the use of some kind of board which results in the need of some programming but I suppose that's because they want an action to result from the activation of the sensor. Since I'm just monitoring the input signal, there would be no programming needed I think.

Also do I really need the resistor? The other circuits used it to prevent damage to the board. I suppose the oscilloscope should be able to handle the voltages. Is that right?

Thanks in advance.

I did some research online and realized this was due to the siphoning effect so I got the drain hose up to a high level and it solved the problem. However what I don't understand is that the drain hose used to be on a very low level (just a few inches off the ground) for years and the washer still worked. Anyone can shed light on this issue? Thanks!

I am not the type of person who studies consistently (though I want to change) but I used to be very focused when tests and exams are approaching. However nowadays I find it hard to push myself to study. I'm becoming more and more indifferent and I delay getting started to the night before. Even then I'm still struggling to focus. The material I'm studying is university level and requires lots of memory work so it's not sufficient for me to simply dabble in it. I don't study well outside my house since I get distracted. (Library included. I'd end up reading the library books.)

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can find the will to study and improve my focus? Thanks in advance.

I am not the type of person who studies consistently (though I want to change) but I used to be very focused when tests and exams are approaching. However nowadays I find it hard to push myself to study. I'm becoming more and more indifferent and I delay getting started to the night before. Even then I'm still struggling to focus. The material I'm studying is university level and requires lots of memory work so it's not sufficient for me to simply dabble in it. I don't study well outside my house since I get distracted. (Library included. I'd end up reading the library books.)

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can find the will to study and improve my focus? Thanks in advance.

What are some of the things a student can do to make studying more fun and enjoyable?

Some examples would be having a quiz game show with several friends or writing a story using facts one learned.

Sure some of these things may take a longer time than it would if one simply sat down to study, but I would like to hear what others can think of. :)

I've tried googling for it but can't find any. Don't tell me to simply practice. I know I need to practice. My problem is I don't know when to let go of the gas, how to best turn round corners, etc.

I am interested in working with children but I don't have the "talent" of being good with them. I notice that some people can interact and play with them so well that the kids have a lot of fun. I wish to be like that too. Any advice?

If anyone know of any good books or websites, do tell me! Thanks!

Sometimes when I'm asked to do a presentation or come up in front of class to do a demonstration, I notice that my knees will start to shake and sometimes it is quite obvious. While I may be a little nervous, I am not exactly very nervous and I actually can think straight and talk properly. It's just that my knees shake a lot and it embarrasses me. I keep telling myself to relax and calm down but it doesn't seem to solve the problem immediately. It is often after a while before the shaking stops.

Is there anyone else who has experienced this? Also how can I overcome this problem?

I need to use only vanilla seeds from an inch of a vanilla pod. Can I slice the pod into half, scrape off only the amount of seeds that I need and store the rest of the pod in an air-tight container? Will it go bad quickly? How long can I keep it before it'll go bad?

Vanilla pods are so expensive...

I wrote it for a girl I like who used to share the same feelings as me but now she doesn't anymore.

An Invisible Goodbye

If I could stay just a little longer

Then perhaps it'll lessen your anger

But I do not wish to be such a bother

When we both know that it is all over

I know sometimes I'm such a bore

Entertaining me could be such a chore

But for this sickness I'm finding a cure

So that one day my heart will be pure

It surely is difficult to see around a curve

But then perhaps there we will find our love

I've abandoned hopes of being of such worth

For slight is the possibility of such a birth

Now that that feeling is definitely dead

There is no reason for this long wait

I certainly have nothing left to be said

Except that perhaps all this is fate

My friend challenged me to a poem competition. Both poems are about friendship. Can you give your comments about our poems? Which is better and why? Mine is the second one. Please give more comments about mine and how I can improve on poetry writing. Thanks.

Poem 1

It's a funny thing to see

you swinging on a tree

get down from there are you crazy!

if you fall i'll flee

now you're balancing on a thin metal pole

the press i try to get ahold

hmm maybe i can take the pictures

it could be worth your weight in gold

one day you said to me

would you like to try it

its pretty neat

if you're chicken please take a seat

don't look down just chill

can you feel the thrill?

i got to the end it was unreal

with my friend i had one less fear to feel

The size of my head seems to be too small for my body frame. Maybe it's because I'm underweight. I measured the circumference of my head and it is about 56.5cm. I am 185cm tall and weigh 65kg. Is my head too small for someone my height? Will it get bigger if I put on weight?