Josh

=//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. //

3/24/2010
Analog signals and digital signals are two very different ways of transmitting information. With an analog signal, information is conveyed by using mechanics or chemistry (such as an analog clock, which uses gears to smoothly turn each second and show the time, or an analog thermometer, which uses mercury to react to the temperature by rising and falling within a glass tube. Digital signals use millions of numbers in electronic devices to display information. These numbers are represented in a language called binary. Binary is an electronic language that uses 1’s and 0’s to represent signals. Since there are so many different combinations (ex. 10, 01, 010, 0001, 1001, etc.) you can make virtually any electric signal. However, you cannot use any numbers other than 1 and 0 (ex. 101000111010**//2//**1001). Since electronic devices rely on an electric current to operate, electricity has to be passed onto the device using semiconductors. Semiconductors are elements that do not conduct electricity as well as conductors, but will conduct electricity under special conditions. Diodes are devices that will only allow electricity to pass through with a certain polarity. If you are to reverse the polarity, the diode will not function. Transistors are devices that are used to amplify or switch digital signals. I think that electronics are a key part of reaching Mars. For example, we would need a computer in your ship to navigate and control all key functions, we would need a satellite to communicate with mission control, and who knows, maybe we would even bring an iPod just to pass the time J.

=//Prompt #2://= //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 to insert into your entry. Put them in your entry in a location near where you are discussing what is in the picture. For example, if you use Figure 1 from the reading, put it in where you discuss why some atoms allow electricity to flow. Directions for inserting pictures: 1. Snip the photo with the snipping tool. 2. Save the photo to your hard drive. 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. CHANGE THE FILE TYPE TO .jpg 3. To upload the photo to your log page on the Wiki: click on the Edit button and then the File button at the top of the screen. Click on the Upload Files button. Open the photo you want to upload. Put your cursor where you want the photo to be on your page and then click on the photo file.//

=**3/29/2010**=

Out of all the atoms out there, only certain ones will generate electricity. Electricity (or the flow of electrons) is caused when an atom that doesn’t have a full energy shell gets “bumped” by another atom and loses electrons. These lost electrons are what cause electricity. In order to get electricity to flow from one point to another, you need a wire made of a conductive material. Electricity passes through this wire, because the electrons are causing a chain reaction. One electron is bumping into another electron, and the flow is just continued.

Voltage, measured in Volts (V), is a measure of the pressure that pushes electrons through a circuit, it is not the actual movement of electrons, but a measure of the force that’s driving the electrons through. Current, however, is the measure of the movement of electrons through a circuit. Current is measured in Amperes, or Amps, for short. Resistance is an electron’s will to resist passing through the circuit. Resistance is caused by objects wired into the circuit known as resistors. Resistors are used primarily to dissipate electricity, so the overall current getting back to the batteries will be less. Resistance is measured in Ohms, and the symbol is Ω (the Greek symbol Omega).



There are two ways to build electronic circuits. One way is known as wiring the circuit in series. In a series circuit, each component is wired one after the other, all controlled by one switch. If this switch was to be disconnected, power to the entire circuit would be cut off. Also, since each component is trying to take in electricity all at once, the items that come first in the circuit will receive power first, and in theory, the items closer to the end of the circuit should receive less power. The other way to wire a circuit is to wire it in parallel. In a parallel circuit, each component is wired with its own switch, and no component is wired one after the other. Instead, all the electricity flows equally to all elements of the circuit (since they are running in parallel). This is how most lighting systems are wired today, with only one switch powering the entire system.
 * Figure 1: A description of three different electronic measurements **

** Figure 2: A simple circuit wired in parallel

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=//Prompt #3//=

//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: • 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.// // A few things to help with you log entry #3: • File names should start with your initials and contain NO spaces. For example, aem_rocket or aemrocket. • Snipping Tool pictures are fine, but you need to save them as JPG images or they won’t show up. • Save your work often. Sometimes the Wikispace freezes up and when this happens you will lose your changes/additions. Not sure what to write about or what pictures to use? These review questions may help you summarize rocket history. 1. Sketch the Hero Engine and explain how it worked. 2. Explain the various ways the early Chinese employed rockets. 3. What was Konstantin Tsiolkovsky’s contribution to modern rocketry? 4. Explain the significance of Goddard’s achievement on March 16, 1926. 5. Who developed the V-2 rocket and for what purpose? 6. Why was NASA formed? Explain the history behind its formation. //

=**//4/11/10//**=

Rocketry is an extremely deep and interesting topic that is thousands of years old. While we didn’t really start to see modern day rockets until the late 19th and 20th centuries, the concept of an object travelling high into the sky existed many centuries before.

Today’s rockets probably wouldn’t exist without the help of a Greek scientist known as the Hero of Alexandria. Around 100 B.C., Hero created an experiment, which had outstanding results. He lit a fire under a pot of water which had two pipes connected to it. The steam produced by the water would travel through the pipes, which were attached to a metal ball. The escaping steam caused the ball to turn. This is what created the concept of a gas-propelled object used to travel long distances into the air (in other words, it was the first rocket-like engine).

**Figure 1: An illustration of the Hero Engine**

Although the time the first truly modern rockets appeared is unknown, people can relate the creation of the first modern rocket to China. Chinese rockets were originally bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder, and usually launched off of a stick for guidance. The concept of rockets eventually spread to Europe, where scientists began to create more scientifically advanced rockets. Later, in the 20th century, Robert Goddard created the first liquid propelled rocket. The invention of the liquid propelled rocket allowed the introduction of rockets that could travel vast distances, and even propel someone into space.




 * Figure 2: An illustration of a Chinese Fire Arrow **

= = =//Rocket Flight Stages Simulation//=


 * media type="custom" key="5931731"

Instructions for Running Simulation:**

To start the simulation, click the green flag in the upper right hand corner of the simulation To stop the simulation at any time, just click the red flag to the right If you have stoped the simulation, you must click the green flag to restart the simulation (you cannot resume where you stopped) Dialouge boxes will pop up throughout the simulation to inform you what stages the rocket is undergoing

=//Rocket Photo & Paragraph//=

There are many parts to a model rocket that will help ensure a successful flight. First, the engine mount assembly will hold the engine in place, which will cause the rocket to fly. The launch lug guides the rocket off the launch pad vertically, so a somewhat straight trajectory can be achieved. The fins will help guide the rocket after it has successfully left the launch pad, and the nose cone will help resist air resistance. The ejection system will eject a parachute, which will help the rocket glide slowly to the ground after powered flight has ceased.

Prompt #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.

5/24/10

The purpose of this experiment was to determine wheather or not the mass of a model rocket would affect its overall apogee. When the rocket would launch (and after liftoff was achieved), there would be the force of gravity, the force of air resistance, the force of the launch pad, and the force of the rocket motor propelling the rocket upward. It was hypothesized that when the rocket possesses more mass, the apogee would be less than the lighter rockets. This was hypothesized because when there is more mass, the greater the force of gravity is on the rocket.

**Figure 1: A scatter plot graph displaying the apogee of each model rocket flown**

There was a wide variety of apogee's when the model rockets were flown, ranging from 74 meters to 128 meters. However, as shown above, there was no relationship between all the data points in the above graph, as the numbers go from high to low respectively. The hypothesis that the rocket's mass would affect the apogee was mostly wrong, as some of the lightest rockets were outperformed by ones that were substantially heavier.

Prompt #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. =3/29/10= While the history of robotics goes back to ancient times, people didn’t really know about robots until the 20th century. In fact, simple robots began to appear before we even had computer controlled parts. In 1928, Japan produced its first ever robot, named Gakutensoku. It was a simple robot that could change its facial expression, move its arms, and turn its head using a variety of air pressure mechanisms. It also had the ability to recognize when light was shone, since it would begin writing words with a pen when a lamp was on.



In the 1960’s, robotics would take on a completely new shape and robots would begin to be created for a variety of purposes. Companies like IBM created new types of computers that could be used for scientific studies. In 1961, General Motors built its first robot that would go on its assembly line, Unimate. After that, industrial robots would make their way to factories around the role, and would help us be able to mass produce items like cars, food, toys, and computers.
 * Figure 1: Gakutensoku **




 * Figure 2: The Unimate Robot **

Prompt #7:

4/10/10
Title of Challenge: Dance Party Challenge

A. Our “Dance Party Challenge” was a robotics challenge that required us to write a script for our NXT robots to “dance” to the song “Dance Party.” Our robots were programmed to “move to the left” or “hop” in order to follow along with the lyrics of the song. We would program the robots on our own, with minimal instruction from our teachers. We would then film our robot performing the script along with the song.

 B. Video: media type="custom" key="6084165"



C. Programming Code (Picture and Written Explanation):



**//Figures 1&2: Programming code//**  __Written Explanation of Code__ In our code, we started off with a large loop block, which would allow us to repeat steps 1-7 (the basic movements). Inside that loop block was a sound block (connected to port 2), which tells the robot to start moving at the sound of the music. Next comes a smaller loop block, which contains two movement bricks that tell the robot to move forward and backwards really quickly (to follow the beat). Each movement block in the code was set to use ports B and C in the robot. All movement blocks told the robot to move at 100%. After that repeat block, there’s a block that tells our robot to turn to the left, and then go forward. Then there is a block that tells our robot to turn right and move backwards. There are then three blocks that tell the robot to go forwards, turn to the left, and move forwards. Then there are three blocks that tell the robot to turn to the left, move forward, and make another turn to the left. The loop block ends, and our robot now makes a slow turn backwards to the left, and then makes an immediate left pivot. Finally, our robot shows a smiley face on the screen for three seconds, and the script is over.

=Prompt #8=

Review your notes about the characteristics of life. In a proper paragraph describe the characteristics a living thing must possess. Include one picture that pertains to the characteristics of life. Next, spend some time researching how we can detect life on other planets. Write a proper paragraph on the scientific methods you could use to discover life on another plant. Include one picture that pertains to finding life on another planet.

Your final Wiki entry should contain: · A title describing the contents of the entry · 1 paragraph summary of the characteristics of life · 1 reasonable-sized picture related to the characteristics of life · 1 paragraph summary of how life can be detected on other planets · 1 reasonable-sized picture related to detecting life on other planets · Correct spelling & grammar =5/19/10= There are eight signs that humans typically look for in an object to determine if it’s alive or not. First of all, the object must be made of cells. Cells are the fundamental basis for all living things. Life is created out of billions of cells. Secondly, the object must need materials in order to remain alive (such as food, water, etc.). The object also must possess homeostasis (it must remain the same state on the inside). It also must respond to stimuli, reproduce (produce offspring), it must grow, it must use respiration (create energy for its own use), and it should adapt to its surroundings.