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?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
"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.
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.
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?
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?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, April 7, 2008
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?
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?
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