A/N: I’m sorry, but I wanted a reason to use physics in a fic and I finally thought of one. So, enjoy a free physics lesson I guess😅
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“So, imagine a coin is sitting on a disk as it spins,” you say as you turn away from your students to draw the diagram on the board. “If this disk were frictionless, the coin would end up flying off in one direction.”
As you turn back to the class, you see them nodding, some watching intensely while others write in their notes.
“Now, this is because circular motion is not what an object will do naturally. The velocity is a vector and wants to travel in one direction. However, when it’s spinning, the velocity is constantly changing. This isn’t because the speed itself is changing, but rather the direction. The speed can remain constant, but that is not the velocity. If you state the velocity, you have to include the direction.”
For a few moments, you wait for them to finish there notes. You waited to see if anyone had a question. When they didn’t, you continued.
“Some of you may be asking, how would we get the coin to stay in place? Well, here’s how.”
Just as you turn back to the board, you see someone come into the doorway. You assumed it was either the principal or one of your colleagues. So, you turned back to finish the lesson.
“So, as we discussed earlier, we have the centripetal force that is always directed towards the center of the circle. You would think that, since the acceleration is towards the middle, the force keeping the coin on the disk would point opposite of the acceleration. That is actually not true.”
You smiled as you saw a few confused looks as took a small glance to your students. Some that weren’t so interested before were now paying attention. You had to keep yourself from chuckling as you saw them try to work it out in their minds.
“The friction force is actually pointing in the same direction as the acceleration.” You turned back towards the class. “Can anyone tell me why?”
As you waited to let them think, you remembered that you had a visitor. Now that you looked, you saw that it wasn’t anyone you were expecting. In fact, it was the last person you expected to see. Well, at least while you were at work.
Obi-Wan gave you a small smirk as your eyes met his. You could see a few of your students noticed he was there too. Their confused glances travelled between the few as they tried to figure out who this stranger was.
Your attention, however, was taken away as you saw a hesitant hand raise.
“What do you think, Paige?”
“Is it because the velocity vectors at any point all go in a direction that leads outwards of the circle?”
A smile spread your lips. “Correct. Since the coin isn’t moving, that means it has to be in equilibrium. The normal force and force of gravity already cancel out, so we don’t have to worry about that. The only forces we’re worried about are the horizontal. So, the force of friction is there to cancel out the x-value of the velocity here,” you say as you highlight the areas of the diagram on the whiteboard.
As you turn back and look at the clock, you notice the time. The bell is about to ring.
“Alright. That’s all for today. Tomorrow we’ll go over the formulas and how to calculate centripetal forces.”
With that, all of your students begin to pack up. You hear the odd conversation about what they’re going to do during lunch. For now, though, your focused on the man who is now moving out of your doorway and towards you as you erase the board.
Obi-Wan folds his arms and leans against the board beside you. “That was an interesting lecture.”
“That’s coming from the history prof,” you tease, causing a wide smile from him. “Couldn’t wait another few minutes for the lunch break, could you?”
“Hm, sometimes I can’t be that patient.”
You raise an eyebrow at him before one of your students catches your attention. It’s Paige, holding her notes by the looks of it.
“I just had a question about the acceleration,” she states before noticing who you were talking to. A wide grin crosses her face. “Oh, hi Dr. Kenobi!”
“Why hello, Paige. Your sister mentioned you were in this class. Don’t let me interrupt your learning, though,” he said, gesturing a hand towards you.
With that, she pointed out her slight confusion on one of your points. You had just finished explaining when the bell rang. There was no hesitation from any of the grade 12s you taught as they all filed out of the room.
“Say hi to your sister for me,” Obi-Wan said to Paige before she walked out.
“I will! Nice seeing you, Dr. Kenobi!” she replied before leaving and closing the door behind her.
With that, you and Obi-Wan were alone in your classroom. Although you enjoyed his company, you weren’t sure why he was here. You knew he usually had time in between his lectures, but he usually didn’t leave the campus. There were always students asking him questions. Did something happen?
“So,” you say as you move to your desk. You needed to get some stuff prepared for your next class. “What brings my wonderful boyfriend all the way over here when I thought he was supposed to be working?”
You couldn’t help but tease a little bit. The smirk it gained made it all worth it.
“Well, he may have cancelled his last lecture so that maybe, after their last class is done, my wonderful partner would like to have a little one-on-one time with him,” he said as he stepped close enough that his chest just barely grazed your arm.
Stopping what you were doing, you straightened up and turned to face him. There was no hesitation from him as he brought his hands to your hips, pulling you against him.
“Obi-Wan,” you said as a small warning, “we’re in a high school. One of my students could walk in.”
He considered what you said for a moment. That is, until a smug grin crossed his lips.
“Well, with the way they all seemed to fly out, I think we’re safe,” he said as he leaned in closer.
You shook your head with a chuckle. “Insufferable man,” you teased.
“But you love it.”
Before you could reply, his lips practically crashed against yours. And, although you were in a public space and you were technically still working, you gave into it. Your hands went into his hair, letting that and the feeling of his lips on yours melt the stress of the day. Now, all you thought about was how your last class couldn’t end any sooner.