Sophia

3/22/2011 Electric Devices
To work an object such as a T.V. there must be a changing current. When a changing current carries information it is called an electronic signal. There are two different types of electric signals, analog and digital. An Analog is a signal that flows smoothly, like the hand on an analog clock. The hand is hitting every single place and is very precise. A digital signal is choppier like a digital clock. The numbers are changing one full number every minute instead of smoothly flowing between numbers. Semi-conductors are an important part of electronic devices because unlike any of element their electrical conductivity can be controlled by adding impurities. Diodes, transistors and integrated circuits are used in electrical circuits to control and/or change the flow because they are made up of semi-conductors. Diodes control the flow so that it can move in only one direction. Transistors can be used to amplify the current. An integrated circuit contains many interconnected transistors and components to reduce space.

Electronic devices are important for hopefully upcoming journey to Mars and search for life because electronic devices can transmit signals between space and Earth and are also needed build the rovers, orbiters and fly-bys that go to Mars. Not only these reasons but electronic devices are needed to be able to know the temperature on Mars so that during the winter the rovers can find enough sunlight in time for the long winter ahead. Even more so, to find sunlight the rovers have to be controlled by someone like a toy which electronics are needed for.

GREAT JOB!!!! YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW ELECTRONICS RELATE TO SPACE MISSIONS ARE REALLY GOOD! :) NEXT TIME WORK ON COMMA USAGE! BEST ONE ON THE WIKI! - LEXI K.

Ms. Mc: Great overview of electronics and how we might use electronic devices on our mission to Mars. I would only suggest to name a few more specific electronic devices (i.e., computers, soil analysizers, solar panels, etc.) 9.5/10

 ﻿4/6/2011, Entry #2, The History of the Rocket   The First "form" of a rocket was called a aeolipile. The around 100 B.C. a Greek inventor of the name Hero of Alexandria found a way to use steam as a propelling gas. Though these beginning thoughts of the rocket were a start the true invention of the rocket is unclear. Many stories have been told of the beginning of the rocket. Some say that the invention of a rocket may have been an accident. It is said that the Chinese had a simple gunpowder that was filled in bamboo sticks during festivals to have explosions, but that a bamboo stick may have flown up into the air because of the power of the gases and sparks. This in turn, may have been the discovery of the rocket.

After these incidents the Chinese started to work with gunpowder-filled tubes. Later on these contraptions were attached to arrows and then launched from bows. This led to the discovery that a bamboo stick would move by itself from the power of the gas. The date of the first real rocket was in 1232. This was during a period when the Chinese and Mongols were at war. These contraptions were used against the Mongols. Though the objects may have not been extremely dangerous they did mentally confuse the Mongols. After the Mongols encounter with these weapons they began to produce rockets themselves. This led to the spread of rockets across Europe. Once the European inventors got ahold of the concept they were making many improvements to its basic design.

 The beginning of modern rocketry began in 1898 when a man named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky being just a school teacher proposed the idea that rockets should be used for the exploration of space. Tsiolkovsky also had other ideas published in a article he wrote, such as rockets should use liquid propellants for a greater range. This idea and his vision of the future named Tsiolkovsky the Father of Modern Astronautics. Robert H. Goddard began to conduct experiments in rocketry in the early 20th century. His goal was to be able to reach higher altitudes. His first experiments used solid- propellant rockets. Like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky he to became convinced that a liquid- propellant would be a much better way to shoot the rocket. Though not without challenges Goddard made the first ever liquid- propelled rocket. This ha d opened a whole new door in the invention of the rocket for others to walk through. But Goddard was not finished yet, he then created bigger rockets that flew even higher and had many built in attributes. This led to the up spring of many rocket building projects around the world. A society in Germany created a rocket called the V-2. This rocket was used against London it was small compared to the rockets of today but did achieve great thrust. Once launched the rocket was so powerful it could take out multiple city blocks in one blow. The Germans had also hatched a plan to build rockets to fly over the Atlantic Ocean and into the United States. But thankfully with the fall of the Germans after World War 2 most V- 2 rockets were captured by the Allies. This also led to many German inventors/scientists coming to join America. After World War 2 both the U.S. and the Soviet Union decided that rockets could be used greatly in war. This led to the beginning of many experiments and programs. Eventually this led to the invention of multiple different types of missiles. Not only did this benefit the army, but this also became the beginning of the U.S. space program. Soon a race began between many countries to see who could be the first into space with a human. But soon many people and machines were being sent into space. Space suddenly opened up as the newest place of adventure for the human race. 

//Ms. Mc: Excellent summary of the history of rocketry and drawings. Don't forget to include "Figure #_" in your captions. Good work! 15/15//

4/4/2011, Entry #3, Rocket Flight Stages Simulation

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Rocket Parts, 4/13/2011



The Nose cone at the top of the rocket, helps streamline the rocket. The body tube is the main structure of the rocket. The recovery system is on the inside of the rocket and is to come out while the rocket is on its descent so the rocket is recovered safely. Recovery wadding is on the inside of the rocket and protects the recovery system. The launch lug is a piece attached to the rocket to guide the rocket off the launch pad. The fins are used to guide the rocket while in flight. The motor mount is on the inside of the rocket and holds the motor in place. The rocket motor propels the rocket into the air.

//Ms. Mc: Good labels and definitions. What does the recovery wadding protect the recovery system from? (-1/2). Please be sure to include an entry # for each entry. (-1/2). Good job! (19/20).//

4/17/2011, Rocket Results

The purpose of this experiment was to learn about rockets, how they work and their parts. While the rocket was still on the launch pad balanced forces were acting on it. The force of gravity was pushing down and the force of the launch pad was pushing up on the rocket. Then once the rocket was ignited the thrust of the rocket over came the force of gravity. Once the thrust wore off, inertia kept the rocket moving smoothly. The rocket glided until the inertia was over come by gravity and at which point the rocket was at its apogee. Then the rocket began its descent towards the ground but only to be countered by the opening of the parachute which push against gravity but was still was not strong enough. The rocket then made a slow descent to touch down. It was hypothesized that if the rocket has more mass then the rocket will not move as quickly or as high because of the law of inertia.

The first rocket had an apogee of 90 meters, the second at 68 meters, the third at 82 meters, the fourth at 61 meters, the fifth at 93 meters, the sixth at 84 meters and the seventh at 85 meters as seen in table one. The relationship between the weight of the rocket and the apogee was found to be a direct relationship. The hypothesis was not confirmed because it was stated in the hypothesis that there would be an inverse relationship. Such as the lightest rocket at 42.5 grams flew the shortest distance of 61 meters. The second lightest rocket at 43.2 grams flew the second shortest distance of 68 meters. Error might have entered the experiment because the small sample size used, the independent variable didn't change much or because the angle measure people changed for each rocket.

<span style="color: #dd13b2; font-family: Broadway; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">4/25/2011, Astronomy Answers <span style="color: #00b0f0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. A quark is a smaller part of a proton or neutron. There are currently six different kinds of quarks in existence. Protons neutrons are only made up of two of the different types of quarks, up and down quarks. In figure one it shows how many up and down quarks are in protons and neutrons. <span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="color: #ff0042; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"> <span style="color: #00b0f0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. The galaxy was formed about 2 billion years after the big bang when the gravity collapsed all the matter. A galaxy is a small area in the universe that’s contains stars and planets the galaxy is mostly made up of stars, gas and dust. The galaxy we live in is called The Milky Way. Figure two shows

//Ms. Mc: Good job, overall, for #1 but what are the other 4 quarks? (-1/2). Oops, I don't think you quite finished your 2nd answer (-1/2) and you forgot your caption for the 2nd picture (-1). 8/10.//

Log Entry #7, 5/1/2011, History of Robotics The first sign of robotics began in 350 B.C when the geek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum built a mechanical bird that propelled its self by steam. Soon a break through in timepieces arrives when Greek inventor and physicist Ctesibus of Alexandria creates a water clocks with an attribute of movable figures. Now in 1495, Leonardo DaVinci creates a device that has the looks of an armored knight. This was one of the first inventions to look like a human and have human actions. These items were first used to please royalty. Next Jacques de Vaucanson began to build automata in France. He created three different items, one of which being a duck that quacked and did other various tasks. Soon many other European inventers begin to design and build automata.

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From the beginning of the 20th century here was a spark of interest in robotics. Such as the word robot being introduced in one of Karel Capek's plays. In 1940 robotic laws were even put in place. Up until the 21 century many institutes at colleges and programs were started to help jumpstart robotics. Also, many children's robotic activities were created such as the beginning of Lego's to help tech children about robotics. All of these wonderful things have been in the making to create what we have today being the rovers we have successfully landed on mars and rovers that will soon be launched to mars.



//Ms. Mc: Good general overview of robotics history but a few more details/examples of how robots are used in modern day (i.e., building cars, some surgeries, etc.) would have been beneficial. Also, I don't think the rubber ducky is the automated duck? +6 extra credit points.//

** Log 8. 5/6/2011 **

** Purpose- The purpose of "over the edge," was to test the robot's light sensor and how well the robot could stop, rather how quickly the robot could stop before falling of the edge of the table. ** ** ﻿ **  ** Block 1: This block is a wait block, triggered by a sound sensor. This block will trigger the next block to begin when a sound is detected greater than 75 by the attached sound sensor which is connected to port 2. The robot waited for us to say "go." **

** Block 2: This block is a motion block. This block tells the robot to move straight ahead at 75% power for an unlimited amount of time by activating ports b and c which are connected to the servomotors. This made the robot move forward at a constant rate of medium speed. **

** Block 3: This block is a wait block triggered by a light sensor. This block triggers the next blocks action when it sees more than 32% light through the attached light sensor that is connected to port 3. This block made the robot react when it saw the blue line. **

** Block 4: This is a motion block. This block triggers the robot to stop by activating the servomotors that are connected to ports b and c. This block made the robot stop. **

** Block 5: This is a sound block. This block plays the sound “watch out” at 100% volume from the sound file “watch out.” This made our robot say, "Watch out!" **