Mary

= ﻿ Mary Moore, = = 4th Period = 3/24/11 = The Mind of Electronics and Computers  =

There are many important components to the workings of electronics. The Analog signal can make the electric current or electric signal change, decreasing or increasing it gradually. This happens smoothly and carefully. For example, a clock or a liquid thermometer: the current and signal will change smoothly when the temperature or time does. In a digital signal, the current and signal jump and change quickly, not smoothly or slowly. For example, a digital clock or digital thermometer, a digital signal can change quickly and fully and show a series of numbers. A semiconductor is necessary for most electronics. They have a quality that conductors and insulators don’t. Metalloids are often used in semiconductors. A semiconductor is a better conductor of energy than a nonmetal, but a worse conductor of energy than a metal. If you add an impurity to a semiconductor it can be controlled. This is why they are often used in electronics. In connected semiconductors like a p-type and an n-type, where the electricity is supposed to flow only one way, diodes are used. In a diode the electrons can only flow in one direction. A transitor in a current can be used to enhance the current or used as an on-off switch. Because millions of transitors won’t fit in something like a computer, an integrated circuit is used. Integrated circuits are made from single chips of semiconductors and have lots of interconnected solid state components. These things contribute greatly to the making of electronics.

Electronic items are a necessity for a trip to Mars looking for signs of life. There are several ways to find signs of life. You could just look for water with your own eyes, or search for bacteria with a magnifying glass. But you probably would not find much. Electronics are an essential part of looking for life. The machines we have developed for searching for these signs of life are advanced. They are just about the only way to find such microscopic details. Not to mention how we need electronics to GET to Mars. And the Mars rovers and other space crafts are powered by electricity. I think we can all agree we need our electricity when looking for life on such a barren planet.

//Ms. Mc: Good overview of electronics and ideas about how we would use electronic devices on our mission. A few more specific examples of devices would have strengthened your second paragraph (i.e, navigation systems and communication systems for the rocket itself, cameras, soil analyzers, solar panels, etc.). 8.5/10 //

Mary Moore 4th Period, 4/5/11

The Rocket’s Progression The Beginning of Rockets: The world has had many rockets. The history of them is large. No one is quite sure when the first rocket was invented. Perhaps the first ones were made accidently. The Chinese were one of the first to make them though. They began to experiment with gunpowder-filled tubes. This resulted in the first known rocket, made from a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder and attached to an arrow. They called these “arrows of flying fire”. In 1232 it was first recorded that these were used in a war the Chinese were currently fighting. Below is a picture of a Chinese “arrow of flying fire”. This invention started the road to space. Modern Rockets: Modern rocketry progressed from experimentation, to real trips into orbit. In 1903 a man named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky suggested the form of rockets used to travel to space and other great ideas on how it should work. He earned the name Father of Modern Astronautics. A man named Robert H. Goddard, in the 20th century, was fascinated by the idea of gaining higher altitudes than hot air balloon-lighter things. He believed a rocket could be flown better with liquid fuel. No one had yet built a successful liquid propelled rocket. He succeeded this finally, only flying for two and a half minutes, climbing twelve and a half meters and landing fifty six meters away. This sounds novice, but it was the turn of rocketry. Goddard earned the title Father of Modern Rocketry by pursuing his experiments, getting farther, higher and longer. Rocket societies spread around the world in the 20th century. A rocket called the V-2 was engineered as a weapon in World War II. This model is shown below. The U.S. and Soviet Union realized the potential of rockets as weapons and experimented further. Missiles were created and would eventually send astronauts into space. In 1957, the Sputnik I was launched into space, sent by the Soviet Union, and amazed the world. In 1958, the U.S. launched the Explorer I. After this, NASA was created for the pursuit of peaceful exploration in space. Soon after, the world became open to the idea of space and rockets. People and technology were being sent into the stars. We orbited the earth and landed on the moon. What had once been a dream became reality.

Ms. Mc: Excellent summary of rocketry and drawings! Great job refering to your drawings in your text as well. Remember to include "Figure # _" in the caption of your pictures/photos. Good work. 14.5/15

4/4/11, Entry #3, Rocket Launch media type="custom" key="8958084" Instructions: First, begin by clicking the red stop sign symbol. Next click on the green flag symbol. Make sure your computer's sound is on. Enjoy!

4/13/11, Entry #4 Rocket Parts Rocket Diagram

Each part of the rocket is essential. First the Nose Cone is needed to direct the airflow around the rocket. The Body Tube is the body of the rocket. It is the main structure. It is almost always a firm, strong tube made from paper. The Recovery System, inside, is the part of the rocket used for bringing the rocket safely back down; unbroken and safe. The Launch Lug is the small tube that brings the rocket forward of the launch pad in a straight line. The Motor Mount is used to hold the rocket motor in place. It is also located inside. The Fins steer the rocket straight. And lastly, the Rocket Motor is a secure and safe device. It is not reusable though, and a new one is needed for each flight. As you can see, each item is important.

//Ms. Mc: Good labels and explanation of the funtion of each part. You left out the recover wadding (-2). Please include a caption for all graphs/figures/tables (-1). 17/20//

Log Entry 4/18/11, Mary Moore, 4th period

Introduction and Results

Introduction:

The purpose of this experiment was to find out if the mass affected the apogee. The forces acting on the rocket were different in each stage. In the stage where the rocket sits on the launch pad, the forces are the force from the launch pad and the force of gravity. The force of gravity was stronger and the rocket was held down. When the rocket was in a powered flight, there was the force of the thrust and the force of gravity. The force of the thrust won out and the rocket shot upward. When the rocket coasted, the only force was gravity. Yet gravity was outweighed by the rocket’s inertia. When the rockets stopped moving for a moment, caused by the ignitions in balance, the only forces were gravity and inertia still. For this moment the forces were balanced. It was hypothesized that the more mass the rocket had, the shorter the maximum height (apogee) would be. This is because the same amount of force and thrust is being applied to each rocket. The more mass, the more force and thrust needed to shoot it high. Yet if the thrust stays the same in lift-off, than the heavier the rocket, the lower it flies. Next, in the powered flight, the thrust would still be slower and the acceleration weaker. By the time the rocket ran out of acceleration, the apogee would be at a much lower point. Graph #1, Rocket Launch Data

Results:

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The mass data showed that the numbers ranged from approximately 43 to 49 grams and were considerably spread out. The Apogee data ranged from approximately 65 to 140 meters and was also very spread out. In all this information, there is no relationship. In Graph # 1, above, there are certain parts that look like a pattern; the clumps from 65 to 140 meters of apogee and the clumps that ranged from 43 to 44 grams of mass. The dots marked 71, 74, 81, 87 in specific seem to group together. And the decline in a perfect line from the dots 135, 104 and 84 seem to make a pattern. But these examples don’t connect with the other data, or with each other. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">All in all, the hypothesis was not confirmed. The rockets data had no relationship, meaning that the more mass it had, the rocket didn’t show an increase in height. Nor did it show one in decrease. But this experiment could have been interfered with by different variables. Such as; the weather, misassembled rockets and incorrect observations from the testers. The weather could cause the rocket to increase of decrease in hight; say if it was windy or rainy and blown of course. Missassembled rocket parts would make the rocket heavier or lighter and shoot farther or lower. And, as the testers were students, information could have been recorded wrongly and interfered with the grouping and avergages later.

4/25/11 Entry #6

Crash Course in Astronomy- Introduction Questions

What is a Quark? What types of Quarks are there?

A quark is a particle smaller than a proton or neutron and they make up the protons and neutrons. Only six types of quarks are known. A proton and a neutron each have two different types. These are called Up and Down quarks. But in each proton and neutron, there are three quarks. There are either two Up Quarks and one Down, or two Down Quarks and one Up, as seen in figure 1. This causes a fractional change, either positive or negative. Figure 1- Quarks What is a galaxy? How did they form? A galaxy is a collection of gas, stars and dust; seen in figure 2. Around 2 billion years after the big bang, gravity collapsed the matter, and the galaxies were all made. Our own galaxy was made 3 billion years after the big gang. Figure 2- Galaxy

// Ms. Mc: Good answers and pictures. What are the other 4 types of quarks? (-1/2). If you say something occurs chronologically after something else, you need to give the date of when the first thing occured (i.e., the Big Bang occured 15 billion years ago). (-1/2). Please make your caption titiles a little more specific (at least 3 words long) -1/2. 8.5/10 //

Mary Moore 5/5/11 Log Entry #8

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; text-align: center;">Challenge One The robot moves forward, turns to the right, moves forward, turns to the left, moves backward and turns to the right. The challenge ends by the robot making applause and showing the image of a smiley face. This relates to Mission to Mars because this particular challenge simulates a rover making a programed run looking for life around Mars. If a rover was needed to manouver a hole or crater, this programming could help turn it the right way.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #1 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves forward 3.485 rotations at 75% power and breaks. The robot moves forward slowly 24.2 cm. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #2 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves forward and turns right 175 degrees at 75% power and breaks. The robot turns around the corner to the right at a slow pace. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #3 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves forward 1.77 rotations at 75% power and breaks. The robot moves forward slowly 12.1 cm. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #4 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves forward and to the left 175 degrees at 75% power and breaks. The robot turns around the corner to the left at a slow pace and finishes facing backward. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #5 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves backward at 1.286 rotations at 75% power and breaks. The robot moves backward slowly 9.5 cm. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #6 is a movement block that activates servomotors C and B, so that it moves forward and to the right 1440 degrees at 75% power and breaks. The robot moves in a two circle at a slow pace. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #7 is a sound block that plays the sound file Applause at 75% volume and waits for completion. The makes the sound of a human appluase, while sitting at a standstill. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Block #8 is a display block that shows and image of smile 01, positioned by axis X 12 and Y 8. The robot shows a picture fo a smiley face on its screen while sitting at a standstill.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Figure 1, Robot Challenge Program 1