Energy and Place
Essential Questions
How does energy production and consumption impact place?
How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy consumption and production?
How does energy production and consumption impact place?
How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy consumption and production?
Scientific Paper
Infographic
Click below to view my amazing energy related info graphic!
https://magic.piktochart.com/output/5964522-summerbrown-infographic
https://magic.piktochart.com/output/5964522-summerbrown-infographic
Project Relfection
What did you learn about energy or energy resources from your particular scientific investigation?
Throughout this project I have learned quite a bit. In particular, I discovered that energy can be found in many different places. The parts that I found to be the most interesting and I gained the most knowledge from were the process of fracking, which is basically the removal of oil deep within the surface. Now, we learned how the oil was extracted in our Humanities class, but in Chemistry we were informed of the process and how that oil was converted into energy.
Another topic that I found interesting was how nuclear power plants work. In simplistic term-age, the process of creating energy from nuclear power plants involves a lot of heating and cooling of water which then pressurizes and turns a turbine. This turbine then powers the generator when energy is transferred into the power lines we see around us. To fully understand the process and how it works I have attached a picture that should be helpful below. We learned about how particles interact in order to create the energy that fuels our society and all the terms that accompany it. We also looked at the comparison of different type of fuels used in order to create energy and how efficient each was. Overall, it was a very eye-opening project that really shone a light on our energy consumption and waste (there is a ton of each) and several ways to reduce our environmental footprint. Some examples being, walking or riding bikes places rather than using a car, turning water and lights off when not needed and recycling!
What were you trying to convey to your audience through the creation of your infographic? Explain your rationale for focusing on this particular topic/question.
While researching and trying to come up with a question that related to energy I began to think about energy efficiency. I thought about how as a whole we are very inefficient when it comes to using and producing energy but there are people working to reduce our use. This then got me thinking that there must be animals out there that are extremely efficient with the amount of energy they use, their survival depends upon it! So after doing lots of research I put together the infographic that linked above. What I wanted the reader to take away from my project was firstly how much the human race is really wasting in energy. Then ways that can drastically be reduced by following examples set by the energy- smart animals. I was trying to bring in the "if they can do it, you can to" vibe as well. I hope that you enjoy it!
Throughout this project I have learned quite a bit. In particular, I discovered that energy can be found in many different places. The parts that I found to be the most interesting and I gained the most knowledge from were the process of fracking, which is basically the removal of oil deep within the surface. Now, we learned how the oil was extracted in our Humanities class, but in Chemistry we were informed of the process and how that oil was converted into energy.
Another topic that I found interesting was how nuclear power plants work. In simplistic term-age, the process of creating energy from nuclear power plants involves a lot of heating and cooling of water which then pressurizes and turns a turbine. This turbine then powers the generator when energy is transferred into the power lines we see around us. To fully understand the process and how it works I have attached a picture that should be helpful below. We learned about how particles interact in order to create the energy that fuels our society and all the terms that accompany it. We also looked at the comparison of different type of fuels used in order to create energy and how efficient each was. Overall, it was a very eye-opening project that really shone a light on our energy consumption and waste (there is a ton of each) and several ways to reduce our environmental footprint. Some examples being, walking or riding bikes places rather than using a car, turning water and lights off when not needed and recycling!
What were you trying to convey to your audience through the creation of your infographic? Explain your rationale for focusing on this particular topic/question.
While researching and trying to come up with a question that related to energy I began to think about energy efficiency. I thought about how as a whole we are very inefficient when it comes to using and producing energy but there are people working to reduce our use. This then got me thinking that there must be animals out there that are extremely efficient with the amount of energy they use, their survival depends upon it! So after doing lots of research I put together the infographic that linked above. What I wanted the reader to take away from my project was firstly how much the human race is really wasting in energy. Then ways that can drastically be reduced by following examples set by the energy- smart animals. I was trying to bring in the "if they can do it, you can to" vibe as well. I hope that you enjoy it!
Click here to view my Humanities blog page that also goes into detail about the Energy and Place Project. (This is currently not fully updated but come back and check frequently)
Chemistry Materials Project
Reflection:
Materials have played a key role in our past present and will continue to do so in our future. However without the chemistry of these materials our history would be greatly affected. Some of the major advancements that scientists have made throughout history would have ceased to exist if chemistry had not been present. Scientists are constantly making new discoveries as time continues. For example, 3D printing has become a reality due to the advancement of science. The progress that has occurred and will continue to occur when it comes to the development of materials through chemistry, will guarantee to continue to shape the future. A material that has literally changed history and the society we live in today is self healing polymer. Prior to the discovery of these self healing polymers, common products had regular polymer and this led to the product easily breaking. Now with this new polymer endless possibilities are being invented. They have been used for sealing and coating of everything from boats to snowboards. Overall, materials are a necessity in our society and through chemistry we are able to have and create them.
In our project we have learned about materials on many different levels including microscopic, macroscopic, molecular and atomic levels. All materials are made up of atom which make up molecules. The way the atoms react with each other show whether a material is in a gaseous, liquid or solid form. When looking closely at a material there are many distinctions that can be seen on a macroscopic level (visible to the eye). When looking through a microscope there are also contrast that allows the material to be categorized. For example, when looking at ionic bonds they have very identifying characteristics. They have a high melting point, are formed between a metal and a nonmetal, are conductive and have crystalline structures. Covalent bonds are the opposite, therefore making it easy to distinguish the two. Overall, the different characteristics of a material are based on their atomic structure.
Project:
MetaMaterials
Summer Brown
Invisibility has always been integrated into our society as something in the fantasy realm, as something impossible. Popular superheroes around the world use their invisibility powers to stop the bad guy. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy cruise in their classy invisible car and Harry Potter uses his invisibility cloak to explore the world of wizards. These are only a few of the characters that have intertwined themselves with the concept of invisibility, there are countless more. Imagine a world where invisibility is a reality. This invisible reality is much closer than ever imagined. A recent invention has led to a material that has the ability to virtually make something “invisible” through many different techniques. One where the material shifts light around the desired object, and the second where cameras are used to portray what is happening behind the object onto the material covering it, much like camouflage. This unbelievable new discovery is called metamaterial. Metamaterial is an artificial material that can essentially bend light around an object.
At the end of the 19th century scientists began exploring manipulating electromagnetic waves that made specific wavelengths of radiation invisible. Thus creating the sought-after microwave. Yes, the revolutionary microwave sparked the beginnings of metamaterials. Just after World War II researchers developed fabricated electromagnetic synthetic materials.And slowly examination of photonic materials which is the study and application of electromagnetic energy that rely on transmissions of streams of photons, and photonic crystals, which are synthetic crystals that manipulate and respond to streams of light. This was fundamental to the advancement of what would later be metamaterials. The photonic crystals, which are optical nanostructures that impact the way photons move are created by multiple layers that stick together and manipulate the way light travels. These crystals provoked questions about what would soon be called metamaterials and later solidified that these metamaterials were an actual possibility. The concept of metamaterials first started just after World War II when researchers developed fabricated electromagnetic synthetic materials. It wasn't until years later that the reality of making a large enough piece of metamaterial that could cover a large stationary object actually came true.
Metamaterials are made mostly of metals and can be best categorized as a composite due to it being a manufactured material made of mixed metals. It is made up of tiny structures that are smaller than the wavelength of light and they guide light around an object. According to authors Yongmin Liua and Xiang Zhang, “The physical properties of metamaterials are not primarily dependent on the intrinsic properties of the chemical constituents, but rather on the internal, specific structures of metamaterials. These artificial structures function as atoms and molecules in traditional materials; while through regulated interactions with electromagnetic (EM) waves, they can produce fascinating physical properties unavailable in naturally occurring or chemically synthesized materials.”
There a few complications when it came to the metamaterial that allowed objects to disappear by bending the light. The amount of metamaterial that could be produced was a large reason as to why the product was not efficient and effective. Recently a group of researchers at Purdue University developed their take on metamaterials and created a way to mass produce metamaterials. This technique, called a nanotransfer, uses a printing process that creates layers upon layers of “metallic dielectric wafers” that chemically stick together. Prior to this new invention, metamaterial was created by constructing each individual piece of metamaterial which only added up to approximately a millionth of a meter. With this new process the possibilities for the future are endless. There have been concepts to further advance driving safety where metamaterial can be applied to the blind spots on cars, and with the help of cameras can project what is behind the blind spot and project it so you can see what your were not before. There are also possibilities of using metamaterials to make parts of aircraft invisible. The U.S. Department of Defense is coming up with many other ideas on how to benefit the military using these metamaterials. This would be very effective and would help prevent car accidents and death due to car crashes. There are also plans to use metamaterials in the military in helping conceal large military vehicles from the opposing enemy.
Overall, the future of society will be greatly impacted due to this miracle metamaterial and could forever impact the way safety is concerned. It will change the way product are made and interact with the world and hopefully we will be seeing but not seeing the future in store for our planet.
Materials have played a key role in our past present and will continue to do so in our future. However without the chemistry of these materials our history would be greatly affected. Some of the major advancements that scientists have made throughout history would have ceased to exist if chemistry had not been present. Scientists are constantly making new discoveries as time continues. For example, 3D printing has become a reality due to the advancement of science. The progress that has occurred and will continue to occur when it comes to the development of materials through chemistry, will guarantee to continue to shape the future. A material that has literally changed history and the society we live in today is self healing polymer. Prior to the discovery of these self healing polymers, common products had regular polymer and this led to the product easily breaking. Now with this new polymer endless possibilities are being invented. They have been used for sealing and coating of everything from boats to snowboards. Overall, materials are a necessity in our society and through chemistry we are able to have and create them.
In our project we have learned about materials on many different levels including microscopic, macroscopic, molecular and atomic levels. All materials are made up of atom which make up molecules. The way the atoms react with each other show whether a material is in a gaseous, liquid or solid form. When looking closely at a material there are many distinctions that can be seen on a macroscopic level (visible to the eye). When looking through a microscope there are also contrast that allows the material to be categorized. For example, when looking at ionic bonds they have very identifying characteristics. They have a high melting point, are formed between a metal and a nonmetal, are conductive and have crystalline structures. Covalent bonds are the opposite, therefore making it easy to distinguish the two. Overall, the different characteristics of a material are based on their atomic structure.
Project:
MetaMaterials
Summer Brown
Invisibility has always been integrated into our society as something in the fantasy realm, as something impossible. Popular superheroes around the world use their invisibility powers to stop the bad guy. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy cruise in their classy invisible car and Harry Potter uses his invisibility cloak to explore the world of wizards. These are only a few of the characters that have intertwined themselves with the concept of invisibility, there are countless more. Imagine a world where invisibility is a reality. This invisible reality is much closer than ever imagined. A recent invention has led to a material that has the ability to virtually make something “invisible” through many different techniques. One where the material shifts light around the desired object, and the second where cameras are used to portray what is happening behind the object onto the material covering it, much like camouflage. This unbelievable new discovery is called metamaterial. Metamaterial is an artificial material that can essentially bend light around an object.
At the end of the 19th century scientists began exploring manipulating electromagnetic waves that made specific wavelengths of radiation invisible. Thus creating the sought-after microwave. Yes, the revolutionary microwave sparked the beginnings of metamaterials. Just after World War II researchers developed fabricated electromagnetic synthetic materials.And slowly examination of photonic materials which is the study and application of electromagnetic energy that rely on transmissions of streams of photons, and photonic crystals, which are synthetic crystals that manipulate and respond to streams of light. This was fundamental to the advancement of what would later be metamaterials. The photonic crystals, which are optical nanostructures that impact the way photons move are created by multiple layers that stick together and manipulate the way light travels. These crystals provoked questions about what would soon be called metamaterials and later solidified that these metamaterials were an actual possibility. The concept of metamaterials first started just after World War II when researchers developed fabricated electromagnetic synthetic materials. It wasn't until years later that the reality of making a large enough piece of metamaterial that could cover a large stationary object actually came true.
Metamaterials are made mostly of metals and can be best categorized as a composite due to it being a manufactured material made of mixed metals. It is made up of tiny structures that are smaller than the wavelength of light and they guide light around an object. According to authors Yongmin Liua and Xiang Zhang, “The physical properties of metamaterials are not primarily dependent on the intrinsic properties of the chemical constituents, but rather on the internal, specific structures of metamaterials. These artificial structures function as atoms and molecules in traditional materials; while through regulated interactions with electromagnetic (EM) waves, they can produce fascinating physical properties unavailable in naturally occurring or chemically synthesized materials.”
There a few complications when it came to the metamaterial that allowed objects to disappear by bending the light. The amount of metamaterial that could be produced was a large reason as to why the product was not efficient and effective. Recently a group of researchers at Purdue University developed their take on metamaterials and created a way to mass produce metamaterials. This technique, called a nanotransfer, uses a printing process that creates layers upon layers of “metallic dielectric wafers” that chemically stick together. Prior to this new invention, metamaterial was created by constructing each individual piece of metamaterial which only added up to approximately a millionth of a meter. With this new process the possibilities for the future are endless. There have been concepts to further advance driving safety where metamaterial can be applied to the blind spots on cars, and with the help of cameras can project what is behind the blind spot and project it so you can see what your were not before. There are also possibilities of using metamaterials to make parts of aircraft invisible. The U.S. Department of Defense is coming up with many other ideas on how to benefit the military using these metamaterials. This would be very effective and would help prevent car accidents and death due to car crashes. There are also plans to use metamaterials in the military in helping conceal large military vehicles from the opposing enemy.
Overall, the future of society will be greatly impacted due to this miracle metamaterial and could forever impact the way safety is concerned. It will change the way product are made and interact with the world and hopefully we will be seeing but not seeing the future in store for our planet.