Atomic Structure
Atoms are made up of Neutrons, Protons, and Electrons.
Neutrons- has no charge (found in the nucleus)
Protons- has a positive charge (found in the nucleus)
Electrons- has a negative charge (orbits around nucleus)
Neutrons- has no charge (found in the nucleus)
Protons- has a positive charge (found in the nucleus)
Electrons- has a negative charge (orbits around nucleus)
Solids- Molecules vibrate against each other
Liquids- Molecules move very little but more than solid molecules
Gas- Molecules bounce off each other and move very fast
Liquids- Molecules move very little but more than solid molecules
Gas- Molecules bounce off each other and move very fast
Solar Angles
The earth's sun is at a different angle in the sky, depending on the time of year. The earth is rotating on a 23.5* tilt so the sun is lower in the winter and higher in the summer.
Hot Water Heater
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This is the lap, in the project, where we test the best way to heat water using the sun. This is environmentally friendly. Unlike fossil fuels, the sun used solar radiation and one does not have to worry about the price of it rising up.
Our design uses the following materials for these reasons: -plastic wrap: trapped heat in but also allowed light in -black construction paper: attract heat -tinfoil: reflects light to the copper tubing -blanket: acts as an insulator to keep heat inside can -black copper tubing: acts as a conductor and heats the water as it runs through it -metal box: heats blanket and can as its exposed to heat -cardboard box: insulates copper tubbing -metal can: heats water as it travels into the tubings -clear plastic tubing: allows water to travel into copper tubing to heat up but also letting it be exposed to the sunlight |
Laws of Thermodynamics
0th Law: explains temperature - if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they are in equilibrium with each other.
Ex: A=B, B=C, A=C
1st Law: talks about conservation of energy - energy can not be created or destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another.
Ex: Heat
2nd Law: describes that entropy increases and disorder decreases - over time everything becomes the same temperature.
3rd Law: talks about temperature - temperature can never get to absolute zero because heat always exists.
Ex: A=B, B=C, A=C
1st Law: talks about conservation of energy - energy can not be created or destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another.
Ex: Heat
2nd Law: describes that entropy increases and disorder decreases - over time everything becomes the same temperature.
3rd Law: talks about temperature - temperature can never get to absolute zero because heat always exists.
Wind Turbine Lab
We did a lab on wind turbines and tested different designs of blades. We built many different types of blades out of different materials. We then measured two types of turbines, VAWT and HAWT. VAWT stands for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and HAWT stands for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. One of the best blade designs was a pinwheel made of an aluminum sheet metal. This allowed enough wind to get trapped in the pockets and rotate it fast enough to get the highest voltage. The metal pinwheel also had to be the right size. The pinwheel that measured to be 3in in diameter gave the highest voltage. In reality, the pinwheels wouldn't be used to generate electricity because the pinwheels would go so fast that it would fly off the ground. The wind turbines used today use friction from the spinning blades to produce the electricity.
Justification on Energy
Click the button to see why different types of energy effects the environment and economy
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Materials Heat Testing Lab
My class and I tested different materials that could be used in our outdoor classroom design and how they held the heat. Click the button to see the results and materials we tested.
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Site Selection
My group and I decided to place our outdoor classroom between our arts building and cafeteria so it would be close enough to the heart of the campus and also blocked from wind.
Our team had to find out what the school would want and need in the classroom to have it be functional. We then had to design the tables, cabinets, and shade structure. The shade structure went through many designs before we settled on the one one you see above. Our final design was much more suitable to the climate and sun angles because it is slanted towards a drain and the sun so it protects the students and teachers from sun and rain. The tables were special in the sense that they had the whiteboards built into them. The cabinets were something we added to have a place to safely store items. The next step was to research materials that would keep and not rot, but also fit inside our $3,000 budget.
Student Survey
We asked the students and teachers what they would want in an outdoor classroom, if they wanted one. Click the button above to see the results. 110 people took our online survey and the top results were:
- Wifi
- Whiteboards
- Group work style seating
- Shaded area
Reflection
This was one of the lengthier projects we had this year. It took lots of teamwork, designing, research, and testing. Some problems that we had was that the shade structure had to be changed multiple times. The first design was too complicated and the cost would be to much. The second structure was going to be a canopy sail, but it would not be large enough to cover the entire space. We did work well together and were able to get everything done on time. I learned how to take more of a leadership role, during this project. I also learned how to make detailed blue prints. We could've had everyone be more on track and things would have been able to go more smoothly. Overall, this was an exciting project that allowed us to design and research a classroom like engineers. I am also ecstatic that we actually get to build an outdoor classroom based off of other classroom designs, as well.