Journal 4-8

Alana Prettitore
May 26, 2008
Journal 4-8

Waves, Simulation Labs, Elegant Universe, and Honors Portfolios (& the dreaded AP Exams)

I. Research Question

I guess this question was a little bit pointless, but I was looking for an opportunity to learn more about waves. In my research, I didn’t find one exact number for how many types of waves there are. However, I discovered that mechanical, electromagnetic, and matter waves are the three main types of waves. Mechanical waves require a material medium to travel through, including air, water, or ropes. In more detailed terminology, there is another breakdown of the three types of mechanical waves: transverse, longitudinal, and surface. Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium travel. For instance, radio and light are considered electromagnetic. Finally, matter waves are those produced by electrons and particles. The website I used is as follows: http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/ch8/ch8.htm. It was actually quite helpful and I would recommend a teacher or someone else use it in order to better understand this challenging concept.

II. Summary

This week was pretty hectic as well considering that our Honors Portfolios were due; also, the Energy Team finally presented to the entire faculty! It was quite exciting and it was such a rewarding experience for all of us. It seemed that all of the administration and faculty were engaged in our presentation and wanted to support our proposal. There were a few questions afterward – that is always a good sign, because it means that the audience was listening! Anyway, I was a little stressed about the Honors Portfolio, especially since the Energy Team was meeting essentially every week for the majority of this school year! Also, all of the research, outside phone calls, interactions, and publicity attempts, the whole effort was quite substantial!

Anyway, in addition to the honors portfolios, we focused on completing these simulation lab worksheets. They were extremely extensive and completely mostly through interactive websites. Next, we received a plethora of worksheets on sound, color, light, wavelengths, and how they are all connected somehow. My favorite part was of course the Youtube videos. It was totally awesome when the teacher next door came in and said that he was trying to administer an SOL test and if we could please turn down the sound. That was extremely funny because the video was of people trying to scream in order to break glass. The whole scene was hilarious and definitely unforgettable. Anyway, the interesting part was that it’s not just in the movies – one can actually break glass if your voice is a certain pitch. As a musician, I should know this; however, it’s something we never quite covered.

Then, we reviewed for the “Elegant Universe”. Earlier in the year, we started this DVD and learned about String Theory. I found it quite fascinating and I really want to learn more about it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there for class on Friday due to the fact that I was taking an AP exam…(last one!). It seems to be quite an intriguing theory and want to delve into the issue this year and throughout college.

III. Question

What other interesting phenomena have occurred, like the bridge, breaking glass, and so forth in relation to sound and pitch and waves and such?

Journal 4-7

Alana Prettitore
May 19, 2008
Journal 4-7

Waves (and Prom week ;)

I. Research Question

The polar system is very complicated and difficult for many to understand. However, there are various reasons why it is important to grasp. First, one could become a scientist or become involved in a field that helps humanity prepare for catastrophes. One could predict and work around natural disasters. Also, humanity can develop and advance together.

II. Summary

This week was not so stressful due to no AP exams for myself. Since many students were taking AP U.S. History, the seniors and any other students present had the opportunity to complete worksheets from the last lab. They were in relation to magnetism and electricity and they were super hard. Afterwards, we had an extremely long class in which we worked on the PhET Waves Station Lab. They were quite challenging as well. We did an intro to understanding waves, how they function, what they are, how they are measured, and their relation to color and sound.

III. Question

How many types of waves exist?

Journal 4-6

Alana Prettitore
May 7, 2008
Journal 4-6

Electricity/Magnetism

I. Research Question

In the last entry, I inquired what would happen if the poles really did switch? Apparently, the sun changes its magnetic poles every 11 years. However, recorded history has never taken note of this occurrence on earth. Therefore, we do not know for sure what would happen. Also, it depends upon how fast the change occurred. If the poles switched after only a few days, weeks, or even a year, radio communications, power lines, earthquakes, and other electrical disasters would come about. However, if it is very gradual, it has been determined that nothing catastrophic is likely to occur. These companies should be prepared for anything; forecasters are hired to predict events such as this. Fortunately, nothing like this has ever happened. Most obvious, the compasses would switch. This information came from the website http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2003-03/1047059552.Es.r.html.

II. Summary

This week, we learned more about voltage, current, and completed more worksheets on the issue. During the first class, I was completing my AP Government exam, so I am not sure what else happened on Monday. However, on Wednesday, we started a lab stations activity. There are approximately 8,000 worksheets to complete! Just kidding. There are about 7 lab stations. Most are using some time of computer program to analyze temperature, current, voltage, circuits, and other interactive lessons.

III. Question

What is the importance/what are the advantages to understanding the polar system?

Journal 4-5

Alana Prettitore
May 4, 2008
Journal 4-5

Electricity/Magnetism

I. Research Question

In the last entry, I was curious to learn about facts about worldwide energy consumption. I found that in 2004, the total worldwide energy consumption of the human race was 500 EJ ( 5 x 1020 J); 86.5% derives from the combustion of fossil fuels. However, there is at least 10% margin of error! While the vast majority comes from America, many other countries consume a large amount of energy per person. Surprisingly, the United States does not produce the most per person. According to Wikipedia, the United States has 11.4 kW per person and Japan and Germany are 6 kW per person. Canada has the highest energy consumption per person; the lowest energy consumption takes place in developing and under-developed economies. In developing countries, like India, the per person energy use is closer to 0.5 kW. Japan and Great Britain have the most energy efficient systems in the world!

(I’m going there! My mom calls me a tree hugger)

II. Summary

This week, we delved into the Electricity/Magnetism issues more thoroughly. In the first class, we reviewed for a quiz. We did another experiment and recognized the significance of the closed loop. Also, we discovered just how many people do not know how to create a basic system. An interesting documentary was illustrated. Harvard and another noteworthy corporation interviewed MIT and Harvard graduates on Commencement Day. They discovered that relatively no one was able to create light with a bulb, wire, and battery. This shows a severe inability to understand the most basic foundations of electricity – something that most people in the Western world would commit suicide if it didn’t work!

Then, we took the quiz and developed a stronger understanding of the topic. We started a new topic in our unit on capacitors and whatnot. It looks pretty complicated at first so I will have to work on understanding it better! We learned about the poles as well and more issues related to magnetism.

III. Question

What would happen if the poles switched?

Journal 4-4

Alana Prettitore
April 28, 2008
Journal 4-4

Wind Turbine Wrap-Up & Elaboration on Electricity/Magnetism

I. Research Question

In the last entry, I inquired whether other extraordinary thinkers/philosophers/inventor/scientists existed like Tesla. Specifically, people who made outstanding contributions to society; yet, their names are not recognized easily by most people.

When I researched, I found that John von Neumann had made many people’s lists (http://seanahan.blogspot.com/2008/02/great-unknown-scientists-1.html). He was a mathematician, physicist, and contributed to a “staggering amount of fields”. This also includes, “set theory, functional analysis, quantum mechanics, ergodic theory, continuous geometry, economics and game theory, computer science, numerical analysis, hydrodynamics (of explosions), and statistics…” The list goes on and on. Because of this man, we understand game theory and animal behavior; furthermore, his designs influenced the development of the word processor! So, his ideas, theories, and hard work are seen in everyday life across the world!

Furthermore, I was not surprised to see Tesla show up consistently on every search. Apparently, he is one of the greatest of the forgotten ones.

II. Summary

This week, we wrapped up our wind turbine labs. We used the NC State website to write more elaborate lab reports. I believe this will be helpful next year for college since this format might be more similar to what I will have to do in the future. I am probably going to UNC Chapel Hill anyway, so I will be right to this university! Odd to imagine!Anyway, then we researched and delved into the issues more of Electromagnetivity. It is very hard to understand since it is so abstract. While it is so important to everyone’s daily life in America as well as many other societies and cultures across the globe, humans understand so little. Very few people can really explain electricity, how it works, and the processes beyond the surface. Many misnomers exist and I really hope to be able to explain it and understand it some day!

III. Question

Approximately how many people worldwide use electricity in their homes? If so, how much? And if America uses the most, who comes after us? I am really interested in seeing the break-downs. One time I saw a picture of North Korea and South Korea from a satellite view. I was amazed to see that North Korea looked completely dark while South Korea was relatively very bright. Also, what do these people use when they have no electricity?

"Tesla Time" Part II Journal 4-3ish?

Alana Prettitore
April 22, 2008
Tesla Part II
4-3 ish

The path to success is littered with unrewarded genius and unsuccessful talent. Explain how Tesla’s weakness, his lack of social skills, plays a part in his successes and failures. How did this affect his career and reputation? What kind of moral can be drawn from Tesla’s life?

While Tesla achieved a great many accomplishments and contributed much to mankind, his career, reputation, and personal life severed so much because of his social phobias and lack of appropriate interactions. He had poor communication skills and even more abysmal ability to connect with others. His friendships with the elite were superficial and he never got too close to anybody.

During his career, he constantly lost money and ended up essentially penniless at death because of his poor social skills. First, he lost big with Westinghouse as well as Edison when he didn’t see the signs that they were going to betray him. Furthermore, he had the right to claim so much money from them. Yet, he let his pride prevent him from collecting what he deserved. He could have been a multi-billionaire. However, his stubbornness ruined him from taking advantage of these opportunities.

Furthermore, this damaged his relationships, and because he let people disrespect him, nobody respected him. Also, they were also turned off when they knew all of his hang-ups. All in all, this is the real reason why more people have not heard of this inventor. The moral is to pay attention to your surroundings and always be perceptive of what others are capable of.

"Tesla Time" Journal 4-3ish?

Alana Prettitore
April 22, 2008
4-3 ish
Tesla Entries

There is a fine line between genius and madness. Explain how this might be said of Tesla. Give at least two examples.

In Tesla’s lifetime, he achieved a great many accomplishments are contributions to society. While it is essentially indisputable that he was an unbelievable thinker and genius, he bordered on the side of madness. For instance, even from a young age, Tesla was able to envision certain flashes of light and then have insight into future inventions and so forth. He experienced, as he called it, “moments of inspiration”. In childhood, he suffered many illnesses; during this troublesome time period, he often saw random flashes of light along with hallucinations, words, and other strange symptoms. He possessed “picture thinking”, and sometimes wondered if the colors, sights, and sounds that he sometimes saw were only visible to him. This borders on the inexplicable; the fine line in which genius meets madness.

Second, while Tesla was able to move to America alone, make it successfully in a foreign country, and shamelessly network with the super elite of New York City, he had many social phobias and severe hang-ups. He had severe afflictions to hair, touching, shaking hands, and many other ordinary human interactions. Dating made him uncomfortable and while certain gorgeous, famous women pursued him, he was easily freaked out. What would make one man inexpressibly excited would make him most certainly awkward and uncomfortable. In fact, he claimed to have cut sexuality out of his life at age 40. Not many men would ever consider this; yet, for Tesla, his social behaviors were completely off the wall. This indicates the madness within. While he was lonely and conflicted, he never ceased his odd behavior.

Journal 4-3

Alana Prettitore
April 20, 2008
Journal 4-3

Wind Turbines

I. Research Question

The most efficient types of wind turbines appear to be ones made from the company in Montana, Terra Moya Aqua. They manufacture new vertical-axis wind turbines that are said to produce energy at 43-45% efficiency; this costs only 2.5 to 3.5 cents per kwH. Some others produce about 50% efficiency. Yet, I haven’t seen anything that goes higher than that.

II. Summary

This week, we worked entirely on the wind turbine labs. My group has been very successful. We created our propellers out of cardboard and the lunch trays. We are testing which materials and weights are more effective. So far, because of limited abilities to utilize the fan, faulty batteries, and other technical difficulties, no conclusive evidence has been obtained. However, I hypothesize that the most efficient propellers will be the ones that weigh the least. They will have less wind resistance but just enough to have enough thrust to turn around the axel.

Then, we watched a video on a scientist by the name of Tesla. Honestly, I had never heard of him, even though he was an unbelievable genius that made many indispensable contributions to modern society. Without his mind and revolutionary, out-of-the-box thinking, where would we be today? He was a source of inspiration for many even though he suffered socially. His personal and financial lives were quite disheartening. It is a shame that he is not honored in our society as a man who overcame much adversity with courage and bravery. History has chosen to put Edison on a pedestal and ignore this scientist. However, there are many great men and women who we will never know and who will make but a paragraph in the history books.

III. My Inquiry

What other great scientists have existed/exist that made unbelievable contributions, like Tesla, but have not been the typical ones that are propagandized?

Journal 4-2

Alana Prettitore
April 11, 2008
Journal 4-2

Wind Turbines

I. Research Question

It appears that research indicates that the government is hesitant to incorporate more programs since it would be expensive and require many people to leave their comfort zone. Ordinary citizens would have to pay more money to reengineer everything. Over time, the government is installing more of these devices. Yet, it will take time and the only way that we can save the world in time is to push the government hard and represent the interests of the world at large.

II. Summary

This week, we worked entirely on the wind turbine labs. Our project is to develop the propellers and install the generator. We come up with the design completely on our own and then measure, test, alter certain variables, and then try to develop the wind turbine that will produce the most energy.

Thus far, it has been pretty successful. The team works really well together and when we hit speed-bumps, everyone always has a good attitude, remains cool, and works through the issue. It was very frustrating at first when we seemed to do everything right and the machine wouldn’t work. Then, we found out one of the cords broke off and whatnot. Very interesting developments so far; it appears that the pinwheels that are nice and compact work best.

III. My Inquiry

Research indicates that…what type of wind turbine works the best…in the real world I mean.

Journal 4-1

Alana Prettitore
April 7, 2008
Journal 4-1

Rube Goldberg Wrap-Up/Wind Turbine Week

I. Research Question

In retrospect, although this was a very difficult project to coordinate, the point was to build critical thinking and problem solving skills. There were many frustrating times were my team and I reached a wall and felt like we had no options left. But, with teamwork, the right attitude, a cool head, and great determination, we overcame all of the obstacles and produced a successful, outstanding project. It was exhausting, but very rewarding when the project worked out really well. So, although the idea on the surface is silly to some, the deeper issues are much more important.

II. Summary

First, we worked on wrapping up the Rube Goldberg projects. The teams worked on finalizing calculations and submitting the Rube Goldberg Portfolio. The calculations were a very difficult aspect as well as the post-analysis. Yet, it helped to summarize all of the essential concepts. It took much dedication, determination, time, and teamwork to put it all together and produce the project as well as the portfolio.

Then, we focused on the next concept: wind turbines. They produce no pollution and even a simple, small, residential wind turbine can save over a ton of pollution in its lifetime. Yet, the downside is that they can interfere with migration and birds can be an issue. Unfortunately, wind only accounts for 0.5% of energy. We definitely need to look into implementing more energy efficient programs.

Thus, we are learning about magnetism, electricity, and brainstorming what we already know. It ties back into atoms, electrons, and now we are learning about the more mathematical aspect of things. It all seems to be coming together. Math, science, philosophy, and so forth come together here. It ties back into the energy unit. So, we are preparing for a wind turbine lab next week. Should be very informative!

III. My Inquiry

Why don’t we use wind, solar, and so forth sources more often considering that we are in such a dire situation?

3-5 Journal Entry

Alana Prettitore
March 16, 2008
Journal 3-5

Energy/Rube Goldberg Week

I. Research Question

In my research, everyone said Goldberg was most known for his cartoon inventions. There were apparently dozens, if not hundreds. No source that I cam across had a most famous one, but the one I saw most often was of the man sitting down and having soup. It’s called “Professor Butts and the Self-Operating Napkin.”

II. Summary

On Tuesday, Mr. Couillard was out and in groups we completed several worksheets. First, we watched an interesting documentary by the guy who made the Super Size Me movie. It was called 30 Days off the chart. Basically, two uninformed, typical Americans from NYC are sent to the Dancing Rabbit home. They lead lives of very wasteful human beings – they consume, consume, consume and give nothing back to the earth. They actually use so much that if everyone used as much as they did, then we would need 12.5 Earths to support needs. Unbelievable! So these people much use EVERYTHING in an environmentally-friendly way. The way they shower, eat, go to the bathroom, etc.! Everything was recycled – even poop – and they had very educational experiences. I wouldn’t enlightening though because at the end after learning about how much they are killing the Earth, they said they would try to walk more and buy better light bulbs….how can one go through an intense experience like that and see firsthand the evil of their ways and not want to completely change their lifestyles? I guess this is why our Earth is going to **** in a hand-basket as they say…

Anyway, before I go on too much of a rant, let me explain what else we did. In our Rube Goldberg groups we did Update #2. For our group, we need to complete the steps. There is only one aspect missing towards the end of the project. Then, we must test this. We are stuck and need Couillard’s help!

On Thursday, Mr. Couillard handed back a lot of our graded work. Then, we spent the class working on the Rube Goldberg projects. We asked questions, reviewed specifications, and so forth. Also, we got into our groups and white-boarded our design reviews. We discussed how to measure the energy that occurred and then he gave suggestions for how to build our projects. I was shocked to see that another group had the Easy Button idea and that everyone started with a ball rolling down a ramp. The designs all looked oddly similar.

III. My Inquiry

Is there are purpose to building a Rube Goldberg project? What are the benefits to this inefficiency?!?!

3-4 Journal Entry

Alana Prettitore
Monday, March 10, 2008
Journal 3-4

Energy/Rube Goldberg Week

I. Question

Last week, I asked for a trick behind making a successful Rube Goldberg device…I searched everywhere for “tricks” to making a good one, but came across nothing! It appears that there are no tricks. However, what I have gathered from the information online is that one only needs to be very methodical, precise, and plan out absolutely everything in order to achieve. Also, household items will often do – those who have made great devices often use ordinary objects doing simple motions that make a complex machine.

II. Summary of Class – Thoughts

This week, we focused on the energy that we use in our personal lives and in our home life. We started out by learning about automobiles, since they are major culprits of energy consumption. I was shocked to see not only how expensive they were, but the amount of inefficiency they have. I can hardly believe that even the most efficient of efficient engines can only use up to 30% of what is put in to it. Something has to be done! Unfortunately, the hybrid cars, we learned, don’t really save that much money at all. Well, we need cars that will use 100 miles to the galloon and then we will be having bigger savings. Yet, the technology we need to make breakthroughs is truly must be much more revolutionary.

Also, I was shocked to learn how much is spent on heating vs. cooling within houses. Energy bills are completely astronomical! I had no idea it was easy to spend many thousands per years! This is not what I expected and I want to now do as much as I can to reduce how much I use. Perhaps by opening a window here and there or not making it quite so hot in the winter will help a little.

Then, we focused on Rube Goldberg projects again. These are soo difficult to design but I think my group’s ideas are certainly coming along. It seems the trick is to be creative, thought-provoking, yet methodical and exact in designing. On Friday, we updated our plans and I think that ours has the potential to be really good – at least I hope so!

Thus far, our idea is to have our machine that we build successfully detonate the infamous “Easy Button”. We had the idea of a ball rolling down a ramp, a lever, dominoes, and a book falling on the easy button. The only gap that we have is that we are unsure about the step(s) in between the lever and the book falling on the easy button. We are totally at a loss for what we should do!! Our goals are to be solid on what we are doing, make any modifications necessary to succeed, and try to build/test it out soon. We will need an easy button, lever, book, dominoes, balls, ramp, and the rest is unclear…

III. My Inquiry

What is the most famous Rube Goldberg design??

3-3 Journal Entry

Alana Prettitore
Monday, March 03, 2008
Journal 3-3

Energy Quiz & Rube Goldberg Week

I. Question

After much research and pondering, I have learned that an object going twice as fast needs twice the energy since kinetic energy depends upon the SQUARE of the speed. Since the formula for kinetic energy = 1/2mv²…this makes perfect sense. M = mass, v = velocity.

II. Summary of Class – Thoughts

On Monday of this week we took and quiz and reviewed it during the whole period. It didn’t go well, and I am still confused about some things. I think the formulas and specifics of drawing the energy diagrams confuse me.

On Wednesday, Mr. Couillard was not here and we were given 3 energy handouts and to plan out the Rube Goldberg labs with our group. My group has a pretty interesting idea of what to hit, but we are still working on thee particulars of how to develop different, unique steps.

On Friday, we focused in on Rube Goldberg as well as reviewed the worksheet on energy that we had for homework. Then, we did the other two worksheets in class since the directions on them were crazy.

III. My Inquiry

What is a trick behind making a Rube Goldberg device?

3-2 Journal Entry

Alana Prettitore
Sunday, February 24th, 2008
Journal 3-2

Energy Lab Review


I. Question

Last week, I stated that I hoped to understand the different types of energy. First, I learned the Ew = Energy Work. This type of energy is applicable in order to “get something going”. When something is pushed down a hill, Ew is at large.

Second, Ek = Energy Kinetic. This means that an object is essentially in motion. When you draw an energy chart and you come across a car that is driving down a highway, you would classify the motion as Ek. Then, Ee = Energy Electronic is when the motion obviously involving energy. Next, we have Ep = Energy Potential; this is the energy that is stored within the physical system. Espr = Energy Spring; this occurs when a wound-up toy is moving. Edis = Energy dissipated; obviously, since energy is neither created nor destroyed, it has to go somewhere once an object is done moving. Edis essentially says that the energy has/is dissipating into the atmosphere. Eg = Energy gravity, which occurs whenever an object has a change in vertical distance. Most important to remember, there can often be more than one type of energy occurring within simultaneously while drawing energy charts.

II. Summary of Class – Thoughts

On Tuesday, February 19th, 2008, the majority of the class was dedicated to reviewing all of the lab stations and questions. Also, the class focused on how to make energy charts and understand the major types of energy that were outlined in Section I here. Unfortunately, I missed this very beneficial class!

On Thursday, February 21st, 2008, Mr. Couillard checked the Energy Labs and then we peer reviewed them. Then, we worked on the Unit VII: Worksheet 1 questions and conducted a helpful discussion on energy and the charts. Questions 3, 4, 5, and 6 were completed. Quiz next class!

III. My Inquiry

Why is it that in order to go twice as fast, 4 times the amount of energy is needed?

3-1 (Friday, February 15th, 2008)

Alana Prettitore
Friday, February 15th, 2008
Journal 3-1

Energy Station Lab Day

I. N/A

II. Summary of Class – Thoughts

During this class, we worked on finishing the Energy Station labs. Essentially, we worked in groups of 3 or 4 and then visited and analyzed different types of energy developments within ordinary objects. There are 7 stations in which we observe something, make inferences, make measurements of calculations when necessary, and then answer follow-up questions.

This class has prompted me to question my understanding of energy. How is it that I am going to college in under a year and my understanding of the basics of energy is so poor? Energy is a very prevalent subject and crucial to understand in the modern world. Yet, I feel I have not even scratched the surface of the basics yet. Hopefully, I can work to understand the transfer between kinetic, potential and so forth.

III. My Inquiry

I want to know the difference between kinetic, potential, and electronic energy! I am so confused! Hopefully, when I figure this out I can rapidly advance my understanding of energy.