Collin

Collin

=**Prompt #1:**= After reading p. 66-71 of Chapter 3 in Electricity & Magnetism, create the following paragraphs. · Paragraph 1 – In first person, explain: 1) how analog signals are different from digital signals, 2) how semiconductors are used in electronic devices, and 3) how diodes and transistors are used. · Paragraph 2 – In first person, explain where electronics would be useful in a space mission to Mars where the goal is to ultimately search for life on Mars.

3/24/10

1. Analog signals have the ability to run smoothly through numbers depending on what the purpose of it is, while digital signals can only do jumps, and not go smoothly. Semiconductors are used in electronic devices to conduct the electricity in a smaller amount, because they are not as good as metals. A semiconductor's conductivity can be changed by adding atoms of different elements. When put into an electronic they can control the electric current to the circuit. Diodes are used to direct current to one direction only, and is useful for converting alternating current, AC, to DC. Transistors are used to amplify the signal in a electronic.

2. I think electronics could be very useful on Mars. We could bring over drills, for water, and computers to figure out temperatures, average climates and chemicals which occur on the planet. We could use other machines to build our homes and clothing etc. We could also use electronics to send back pictures, videos, and discoveries to the U.S., if all humans weren't already on the planet.

Read the document entitled “Simple Circuitry: An Introduction to Electricity and Circuits”; this document was emailed to you. In a series of paragraphs, summarize the following: · Why some atoms allow electricity to flow and some do not. · What is necessary for electricity to flow? · An explanation of what voltage, current and resistance are. Additionally, include the units used to measure them. · An explanation of how electricity flows in a circuit. · A description and comparison of series and parallel circuits. Additionally, besides summarizing the reading choose two pictures from the reading, save them to your hard drive, upload them to the Wikispace and insert them into this Wikipage entry. When naming pictures, use your initials followed by an underscore and then a description of what the picture is. For example, if I wanted to upload the picture shown below to my Wikispace, I would give it the name: aem_meonmars.
 * Search for Life on Mars Mission (SLMM) – Entry 2 **

1. Atoms allow electricity to flow generally when they are not a "happy" atom. When the atom has extra electrons to give it is more "willing" to give away which means it can give electricity easier than the atoms who are happy because they are less content on having a unbalanced atomic structure.

2. Free Electrons are required for electricity to flow. Also, a conductor, a battery and a light bulb are needed for electricity to flow otherwise you wouldn't need the electricity. . . 3.Voltage is the amount of pressure which pushes electrons, and is measured in Volts. Current is the flow of the electric charge, and is measure in Amps (Ampere). Resistance is what the conductor offers to the flow of charge, and is measured in ohms. 4. Because there are a positive and negative terminal in a circuit there is only one way the electricity flows in a circuit. Because of this it flows in one way and can never turn back, which allows it to get to the conductor. 5. A series circuit is a circuit which has one way flowing current that goes through each device, and because the resistance is as much as the amount of resistors you have on the circuit, the current amount can vary. On a parallel circuit, there are as many paths to the battery as there are resistors, which means that if one light bulb goes out it will not effect the others, because of the different paths
 * Figure One: Free Electrons in an Atom**
 * Flow Of Charge**
 * Figure Two: Flow of Charge in a Conductor**

Read the document entitled “Rocket History.” This document can be downloaded from the Unit 5 – Rocketry folder under the Resources section on our class’ web page. In two or more paragraphs, summarize the history of rockets. Additionally, include at least 2 pictures that you have __drawn__ and uploaded to supplement your written work. Your final log entry should contain:
 * SLMM – Entry 3**
 * A title describing the contents of the entry.
 * 2 paragraph summary of rocket history (can be longer).
 * 2 pictures that you have drawn and are related to the reading.
 * Correct spelling and grammar.
 * Rockets, Weaponry or Exploration?

Intro: The essential science of rockets were found in 100 B.C. when a inventor from Greece invented the aeolipile. It was a device where their was fire under the object which caused steam to come out of the two L shaped tubes essentially making a thrust.

**Weaponry? The first sign of rockets being used as weapons were from the Chinese. The Chinese used fire arrows to attack the Mongolian invaders during their attempted invasions. Although not very destructive, using these rocket arrows helped for the discovery of them. When the Mongols saw them they decided to start making them, which caused the idea of rocketry to spread to Europe.

Exploration? Rockets have come a long way from being used as weapons to being used for exploration in space. Modernized rockets have become much more complex and technical than the original gunpowder and ignition. One great explored idea was a liquid propelled rocket was Goddard, who successfully completed a liquid propelled rocket. But, Goddard didn't stop there. For years, he continued to build bigger and better rockets which could fly higher and higher, which earned him the name " Father of Modern Rocketry".

SCRATCH PROJECT: media type="custom" key="5931743"

Instructions: Make sure your sound is on. Press the green flag to start the project. To stop hit the red stop sign. To restart the project hit the stop sign and then the green flag.

SLMM Entry #4: Rocket Parts

write a paragraph explaining the function of each rocket part and how it affects the rocket's flight path. The nose cone on the rocket is a curved pointing rocket because it reduces the amount of air resistance acting on the rocket. The body tube provides structure for the rocket and hold other parts of the rocket in place. The recovery system is what gets the rocket to land safely. The recovery wadding protects the recovery system from hot ejection gases. The launch log launches the rocket straight off of the launch pad. The fins provide the rocket with the ability to move straight. The motor mount holds the rocket's motor in place. The rocket motor is a safe, one time use device, which gives the rocket a thrust, and a new one is needed for each new flight.

**SLMM - Entry 5**
Insert paragraph 1 (introduction), your scatterplot (Graph #1), and paragraph 3 (results summary) onto your Mission log page. To insert your scatterplot, snip it first and then save it as “your initials_scatterplot.” Next, upload it to the Mission Wiki and insert it on your page. For more information on how to insert pictures, see the instructions for Entry 2 below.
 * Figure #1: Finding Apogee Using Trigonometry**


 * This data was found using trigonometry. The angle was found from 100 meters away and measured as the rocket reached its apogee. The second number is the tangent found using the 100 meters and the angle of measure. This scatter plot has no relationship. The hypothesis was confirmed because the rocket with the least weight went the highest.**

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SLMM – Entry 6 Robotics History Conduct your own research on the history of Robotics. Then, in two or more paragraphs, summarize your research. Include at least 2 pictures that you have uploaded to supplement your written work. Don't forget to give them a figure # and title and refer to them in your paragraphs (i.e., "As seen in Fig. 1 . . .). Your final log entry should contain: 1) The date of your entry. 2) A two paragraph summary of robot history (can be longer). 3) Two reasonable sized pictures (see entry 2 below for more information). 4) Correct spelling & grammar.
 * 4/29/10**

Early in history we can see that populations around the world start to figure out and create robots. The first essential robot made was the water clock, made by the Babylonian Empire in 1,400 B.C. As seen in Figure #1 below, The water generates the clock movement to keep track of the time. Later on in 350 B.C. Archytas of Tarentum creates a mechanical bird named "The Pigeon" which is propelled by steam. In 270 B.C. Ctesibus of Alexandria creates water clocks which have movable figures on them. With this idea a body of water could be in a container, and when a hole was put right in the center it would take 24 hours to completely empty the water, hence 24 parts of the container made, 1 per hour. In approxamitely 10-70 A.D, Hero of Alexandria created a device to measure distance traveled. In 725 a Chinese engineer and a Buddhist monk created the first true mechanical clock which was water-run. Finally, in 1495, as seen in Figure 2 below, is essentially the first humanoid robot in Western Civilization made by a man named Leonardo.
 * Early Robotics:**
 * Figure #1: A Water Clock Created by the Babylonian Empire.**


 * Figure #2: Leonardo Da Vinci's Humanoid Robot.**


 * Modern Robotics:**

Later in history more complex, modernized robots could be made. In 1941 the first fully programmable computer was made by Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper. In 1956 the first robotic company was made by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger. In 1961 the first industrial robot is made running General Motors Automobile Factory, and was called UNIMATE. in 1963 the first artificial arm is made to be run by a computer with 6 joints, giving it the flexibility of a human arm. in 1969 the Stanford Arm was the first electricity powered arm controlled by a computer. Shakey was introduced to public in 1970 controlled by artificial intelligence and was produced by SRI International.

Dance Party** The Challenge my group chose was to do Dance Party. Dance Party was a challenge designed to the lyrics of Cha-Cha Slide. However because of robotic capabilities, some of the lyrics movement were changed to the capability of the robot. media type="custom" key="6066853" **
 * SLMM Entry #7**
 * May 9th, 2010
 * Video #1: A Video of a Lego Mind Storms Robot Performing the Dance Party Challenge.

The first 9 blocks relate to Figure #1. Block one is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward for 0.8 rotations at full power and then comes to a complete brake. Block two is a movement block that tells the robot to do a point turn right at 75% power for 90°. Block three is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward at full power for 0.5 rotations. Block four is a time block that tells the robot to wait for 2 seconds. Block five is a movement block that tells the robot to turn left at 75% power for 90°. Block six is a movement block that tells the robot to move backwards at 100% power for one rotation. Block seven is a time block that tells the robot to wait for two seconds. Block eight is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward at 100% power for 0.2 rotations. Block nine is a time block that that tells the robot to wait for two seconds.
 * Figure #1: Part One of the Dance Party Code.**

Figure #2: Part Two of the Dance Party Code.** The next nine blocks relate to Figure #2. Block 10 is a movement block that tells the robot to do a point turn right at 100% power for 90°. Block 11 is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward at 75% power for 0.5 rotations. Block 12 is a time block that tells the robot to wait for two seconds. Block 13 is a movement block that tells the robot to turn left at 100% power for 90°. Block 14 is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward at 100% power for one rotation. Block 15 is a time block that tells the robot to wait for two seconds. Block 16 is a movement block that tells the robot to turn left at 100% power for 180°. Block 17 is a movement block that tells the robot to turn right at 75% power for 135°. Block 18 is a movement block that tells the robot to move forward at 100% power for 1 rotation.
 * [[image:bcd_part2ofcode.jpg width="637" height="140"]]


 * Figure #3: Part Three of the Dance Party Code.

The final four blocks relate to Figure #3. Block 19 is a movement block that tells the robot to turn left at 75% power for 180°. Block 20 is a movement block that tells the robot to stop. Block 21 is a display block that tells the robot to display a smiley face. Block 22 is a time block that tells the robot to wait for 3 seconds. **

SLMM - Log Entry 8 __The Characteristics of Life and the Detecting of Life__
 * 

There are many important characteristics of life. In this paragraph they will be listed and explained. One very important characteristic and object must contain is that it is made of cells. These are fundamental units of moving things which have many parts that help run the body or figure. The next characteristic it must have is that it must have the need for materials. Materials can be food, water, minerals, vitamins or air (oxygen). They should be able to take what they need from the environment, and humans will need iron for the blood and calcium for bones. Plants will need CO2 for photosynthesis, and they also need minerals in which they get from their roots. Living things also must be Homeostatic which means internally living things stay about the same internally despite environmental changes. Living things also must respond to stimuli. Stimuli are something that causes living things to react, and if something is living, it must respond to stimuli. The two types of stimuli are positive, which moves forward toward the stimulus, and negative, which moves away from the stimulus. Locomotion must be able to occur, which means that an animal must be able to move by itself from place to place. Living things also must be able to reproduce. This is the process by which two organisms produce offspring of their own kind. There can be sexual reproduction, the act of two participating parents, or asexual reproduction, one parent. The living thing also must be able to grow. All things grow from a lower or less developed form to a higher, more complex form. This process starts at the Embryo, which turns into a newborn, then a child, then an adolescent, then an adult. Not all living things grow at the same rate or reach the same size. Regeneration also can occur which means the living things ability to replace something that is injured on its body. Cancer is when there is an uncontrolled cellular growth, and Galls are harmful plant growth. Living things also must be adapted. This means that it should be able to make modifications that will suit its way of living life. They must also be able to evolve, this means that characteristics of the species change over time. Living things also have to undergo respiration. This means that it must be able to release energy stored in chemical bonds of sugars (food). This means that there are consumers and producers, and ingestion. Consumers are animals, bacteria, fungi, and protists. Producers are plants and bacteria and protists. Ingestion means to take into the body for digestion by abso **r **ption. Figure #1: The Evolution of Man.

There are many ways we can find living things on planets. One of the main possible ways is using thermal vision. All living things give off heat, so if we use thermal scopes to examine the planets surface it would be an easy way to find living things. Another way is to use regular scopes. We can use regular high developed scopes to view planets close to Earth to try and view living things. Another simple yet extremely expensive way to look for life on other planets is to use robots to send up to rove the surface of the planets. We have done this on mars, and it was very successful gathering pictures to observe the planets environment. All of these can be very successful and if possible the essence of human exploration on other planets can be made possible by the NASA program.

**Figure #2: Mars Rover