Kristin+Example

The Search for Life on

Mars Kristin A - Period 3

Entry #1: Electronics 3/23- 3/24 Homework

There are two types of electrical signals that are both extremely different; analog and digital. An analog signal is defined as '//a signal that varies smoothly in time//.' This means, that the electric current is moving smoothly, or in a continuous not abrupt motion. A working analog clock is a great example of this because the hands on the clock are continuously moving, not stopping and going. This leads into what a digital electric signal is; //'a signal that does not vary smoothly, but jumps or abruptly changes.//' An example of a digital signal is the digital clock found at the bottom of your computer screen. The time suddenly changes without warning, hence making it abrupt. Analog and Digital signals are so different because of how the currents change. Semiconductors are certain elements that conduct electricity better nonmetals, but worse than metals. Unlike metals or nonmetals, semiconductors can add atom(s) to any certain element, changing the element's conductivity. In this way, the level of conducting electricity in electronics can be controlled. This is done by using impurities to the semiconductor. By changing the conductivity this process of doping can create p-type and n-type semi-conductors. Diodes control the way that electricity flows. In other words, they make electricity flow in one and only one direction. An example of a transistor could be a switch. That is, a Transistor can increase and decrease the amount of an electrical signal. Lastly, an Integrated Circuit is smaller than your finger tip, yet contains millions of transistors, diodes and other components. Integrated Circuit's can commonly be found in computers.

Electronic devices are very important if you were to go on a mission to Mars to search for life. Since there is no oxygen or atmosphere on Mars, it isn't possible for you to survive and that should become your initial goal. Therefore, there is a crucial need for electronic devices to sustain life. Once life can be sustained by using technology to create an atmosphere you can start your search for life. Obviously, you will not be able to just walk around Mars in your jeans and converse, so therefore it would be useful to have a "Mars Car" in which you could drive around the rocky land safely. Also, to conduct tests and receive data, it would be helpful to have a "Mars Center" that can endure the cold temperature on Mars and provide you with your basic needs. To fully decipher the mystery of life on Mars, similar living arrangements to the ones on Earth must be accommodated for humans before further discoveries can be made.

Entry #2: Simple Circuitry 3/25- 3/30 Homework

Some atoms allow electricity to flow through them, while others don't. This is due to the atomic structure of the atom. Since electrons are further away from the nucleus of the atom, they are less attracted to the nuclei of an atom then say the protons are. Therefore, if an atom doesn't have a full energy shell there are "free electrons" who can be given away to other atoms. Electricity can be thought of as the movement of free electrons from one atom to another. Atoms with many free electrons are more likely to have these electrons "jump" from one atom to another. Aluminum and Copper both have extra electrons in their energy shells and are therefore able to easily produce electricity. On the other hand, atoms like helium have no extra atoms, or free electrons, on its outer shell and therefore is not a good conductor of electricity making it an insulator.



//The Electrical Flow- Electrons Jumping From One Atom to Another//

In order for electricity to flow there must be a difference in electric charges on both sides of a conductor or a difference in the amount of positive or negative charges on two ends of a conductor. For example, if there was 6 positive charges on one side of a conductor and 6 negative charges, electricity can flow and hence make a current. Also, if there was 3 negative charges on one side of a conductor and 7 negative charges on the other side of the conductor electricity would also flow. However, if there was 5 negative charges on one side of a conductor and 5 negative charges on the other side of a conductor electricity would //not// flow.



//The Variables that Effect Whether or Not a Current Will Flow//

Voltage is the difference in charges in a conductor. Additionally, voltage is measured in Volts (V). Electrical Current is the flow of the electrical charge. Electric currents are measured in Amperes, (A) or otherwise known as amps. Lastly, the current that flows through in a circuit depends on the amount of voltage that is provided from the voltage source. The current flow is also dependent on the resistance that the conductor offers to the flow of the electrical charge. This is called the electric resistance and due to the thickness, length of the wire and atomic structure of the atoms which compose of the resistance some objects resist electricity better than others. Electrical resistance is measured in ohms.

In an electrical current, electricity much flow in a complete circle. In most cases, this path is from the positive charge at the top of the battery to the negative charge at the bottom of the battery. Electricity must flow in a circle because if the current is flowing in an circle, the current will never back up. There must never be any gaps in a circuit that would prevent the flow of electricity. For an example of how electricity flows you can think of a light bulb. Electricity goes in the side of the socket, through the filament and out the side. In this way, electricity goes in one way and out another.

In a series circuit the electric current has a single pathway through the circuit. In other words, the electrical current that passes through the electrical devices is the same. Also, in a series circuit the total resistance is the sum of all the individual resistances during the path. Therefore, if you were to add more devices to the series there would be a smaller amount of current that passes through the series circuit. In a parallel circuit the electrical devices are in parallel to the same two points of the electrical circuit. In other words, look at figure 1, and notice how each lamp has its own path from one point of the battery to another. Hence, there are three different pathways that the current can travel through (a current going through each lamp). Therefore, the main difference in a series circuit and a parallel circuit is that a parallel circuit operates and is completed even if only 2 out of 3 lamp bulbs are lit. Meaning, any breaks in the path of a parallel circuit won't affect the flow of the charge in the other paths, while in a series circuit it would effect the flow of the electrical charge. Thus (as seen in figure 2), the main drawback of a series circuit is that if any one device in the circuit fails to work then the current will cease and the circuit will not work.



Entry #3: Rocket History 4/6- 4/8 Homework

Rockets have been the basis of scientific discovery for ages. It all began in 100 B.C when Hero of Alexandria, a Greek philosopher, decided to use steam as a propulsive gas. He created the Hero Engine (as shown in figure 1) which was a sphere that was mounted on top of a pool of water. Below the water was a fire, that caused the water to become steam. This steam traveled through pipes and into the sphere were it was released. As it was released, it pushed the sphere forward, hence creating movement. Following Hero of Alexandria's lead, the Chinese took advantage of his discovery and used its knowledge of gun powder to create explosions at religious festivals.Following this, the Chinese started to experiment with tubes filled with gun-powder. They would attach these bamboo tubes to arrows to shoot them. It wasn't long until the Chinese realized that the bamboo tubes could launch themselves due to the power that was produced when the gasses that escaped from the tube. This was the creation of a rocket. Fire Arrows became a useful weapon during the war between the Chinese and the Mongols. From here on, the idea of using gun powder rockets spread across the world.





Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was a Russian teacher who proposed the idea of using Rockets to explore space. His idea was to use liquid propellants instead of gun powder in the rockets so that the rockets would travel further. This idea is what gave him the title of Father of Modern Astronautics. Another scientist, Robert H. Goodard also had an interest in achieving higher altitudes than were possible for lighter-than-air balloons. He tried different kinds of solid fuels in which he measured the exhaust velocities of the burning gas. As he conducted this experiment, he became more and more convinced that rockets would be propelled better with a liquid gas. Although it was un-heard of, on March 16, 1926 Goodard created the __first__ successful rocket that was launched with a liquid gas. The rocket did not move far, however it became the basis for many more studies that he and other scientist began to study about rocketry. One rocket that came out of these studies was the V-2 rocket from Germany. A4, as the V2 rocket was called in Germany, was small compared to the size of rockets today yet still had much power. A4 could devastate whole city blocks once launched. At this point, rockets were used more for as weapons than for the exploration of space. Realizing this threat, the United States of America decided to put together a US Space Program to advance them in this technology. In this way, NASA was created.

__ Rocket Stages Project __ In Class Work/ Homework

media type="custom" key="5881425" This is the SCRATCH video we made that describes the flight of a rocket before, during and after it is launched into the air.

Entry #4: Parts of a Rocket 4/19- 4/21 Homework

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;"> <span style="color: #f41515; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;">These are all the stages of the rocket with descriptions of each. This rocket was made by Kristin A. and Sami F.

Entry #5: Rocket Experiment <span style="color: #f41515; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;">4/26- 4/28 Homework

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">In Science 7 we completed a project in which we built a rocket from a kit and launched it. The purpose of this experiment was to test if mass affected height of the rocket's launch. Sami and Kristin built a homemade rocket from a kit while following the instructor's instructions. After successfully building the rocket, we painted our rocket. The experiment that was conducted was to allow each group to paint their rocket as they wish. Therefore, each rocket would have a different mass. Each group measured the mass of their rockets and we recorded the data. Then, each group launched their unique rocket and they measured the angle of the rocket at it's apogee. In the end, we learned that the mass did not affect how high the rocket traveled as there was no pattern regarding the mass of the rocket and the maximum altitude. Kristin and Sami's rocket launched 100 meters off the group. Perfection!

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">Respectfully, our rocket launched a perfect 100 meters off the ground. This act of perfection is most likely due to the care and time we put into building our rocket. We followed each direction on the instruction manual as best we could. Our rocket was painted with care, and we made sure to take the simple precautions of not painting the launch lug and nose cone shut so that our rocket would launch to the best of her ability. Our rocket launched on que and went straight up; as opposed angled to the side. It did not spin as it was launched up, instead it went straight up. At her apogee her parachute came out without problem and she flowed to the ground to land safely on the grass. Our rocket was constructed so that it would launch correctly and go as high as possible. Our rocket did not reach as high of an apogee as others, yet it still hit 100 meters which is a good point in my opinion.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">Side Note: Our rocket was names Lavender Lily Fragolandrecornman after her parents, Sami and Kristin; her godmother, Emily; her aunt, Ayla; and her other aunt; Ashley.

<span style="color: #e92020; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Entry #6: Robotics History <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">4/28- 4/30 Homework

<span style="color: #f41515; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;">Since the study of Robotics has been ongoing for centuries, robotics have an extensive history. Sources say that the "first" robotic discovery was made in 350 B.C when the Greek Mathematician Archytas of Tarentum built a mechanical bird that was propelled with steam. In 1495 Leonardo DaVinci created a mechanical device that looked similar to a knight. The knight moved as though a real person was inside the robotic shell. Inventions like DaVinci's were used to amuse royalty. In 1770 the first modern watch was created by Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Later in 1898 Nikolas Tesla built and demonstrated the use of a remote controlled boat. In 1961, Heinrich Ernst developed the MH-1, a computer made at MIT that was operated using a mechanical hand. Later, in 2002 a robotic created by "Honda" rang the opening bell at the New York City Stock Exchange.

<span style="color: #f41515; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;">NASA is the company that everyone usually associates space type objects and scientific discoveries with. The first probe that was launched into space through NASA was Mariner; a spacecraft that was launched into space and flew between 1962 and 1965. Later, Viking 1 and 2 landed on Mars with its orbiters in 1975- 1983. 1989 launched the mission to map Jupiter, a study which is still continuing today. This mission was called Galileo. The Mars Exploration Rovers were launched towards Mars on June 10, 2003. These robots were launched with state of the art equipment so that they could collect data and send it back towards earth. The robots have robotic arms- it was originally created by Takeo Kanade, the builder of the first direct drive robotic arm, yet the Stanford Arm was the first electrically powered, computer controlled arm- so they can collect soil samples, minerals, magnets ect. One of the robots- Spirit- reached Mars of January 4th 2004. As technology continues to flourish, robots are becoming used more in more in scientific studies-- who knows what we have in store for us next?

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Entry #7: Programming Robots <span style="color: #f41515; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 131.54%;">Classwork 5/10

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">Motors are a crucial part of any robotic device as motors can be programmed to move at certain rates to a designated place. Using LEGO MINDSTORMS programmers can program their robot to move through cones, around books, along a line ect. My group's robot, "Gleek", followed simple commands such as to move forward and back, as well as more complex commands such as completing point turns, curved turns, and parallel parking. All these turns and commands would not be made possible if we did not have motors to propel the robotic device in different directions. After reading this, you might think that Robots are easy to work; they will always follow your commands and always do what you want to do. However, robots often have their own flaws just like we humans. Whether the robot is being unreliable due to a low battery or a caught back wheel the programmers must either adjust the robotic device itself ,or they would have to make changes to the program that their robot is failing to follow. Basic precautions may be made to ensure that the motors work. For example, there are three wheels at the front of the robot-- a single wheel on the right and left, and a wheel in the center used to lift objects up. All three of these wheels -- or motors-- must be plugged into the correct port so that the device will work correctly. Although this seems silly, this is one of the most basic problems that a robotic programmer may first encounter.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">Besides using motors as a way to move your robot, sensors are also commonly used. However, there are probably many, many more sensors than the ones we used in Science 7. Each individual sensor has its own purpose: detect sound, objects, light etc. My group experimented with the sound and ultrasonic sensor. While using the sound sensor, our robot would move forwards and backwards based on the sound it was detecting. "Gleek" completed a challenge in which it was supposed to "dance" as it listens to music. While following basic programming restrictions and guidelines, "Gleek" successfully danced to the music. However, our second challenge was to use the ultrasonic sensor to maneuver around to piles of books and end in the finish box. The ultrasonic sensor is used to detect distance. Thus, if you are close to the robot when it is using the ultrasonic sensor the robot will move away from you (backwards), however if you are further away from the robot it will move towards you. Therefore, in the challenge the robot as supposed to detect the piles of books and move towards them. Once closer to the piles the ultrasonic sensor was supposed to tell the robot that there is a pile of books that they are about to run into ,so the robot would turn away from the pile of books until it was going to run into the wall. This process was to be repeated until the robot successfully crossed the finish line. While other robots were able to pass this challenge both the robot and the engineers had trouble completing this task. This could have been due to a lazy wheel in the back of the robot, or low battery. Due to this time consuming challenge, we were not able to use the light or touch sensor. However, like all the other sensors I hypothesize that they may work, and they may not for a variety of reasons. Therefore, like the simple precaution of plugging the motors into the right port, it is important that the sensors are also connected to the correct port.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">Here is the video of "Gleek" using the sound sensor to "dance" to music: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">media type="file" key="drg_danceparty.wmv" width="300" height="300"

<span style="color: #e92020; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Entry #8: Life <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 136%;">5/24- 5/26 Homework

<span style="color: #ef0606; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">In order for something to be considered "alive" is must possess all eight characteristics of life. These eight characteristics include: being made of cells, needing materials, being homeostatic, responding to stimuli, ability to reproduce, ability to grow, adapting, and respiration. Everything that is living must be made of cells. There are three main types of cells: animal, plant and bacterial cells. Some living things cells are organized (tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms). You should be able to break every living thing's cells down into atoms and molecules. <span style="color: #ef0606; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> <span style="color: #ef0606; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Every living thing must also need materials. Therefore, if something is considered living then it needs water, minerals, and air. We humans also need calcium for our bones and iron for our blood. Animals need CO2 and water for their process of photosynthesis. Some plants can get their nutrients from their roots. To be homeostatic means that everything on the inside of a living thing needs to stay the same. Basically, as living things our body wants everything to be the same. Humans are homeostatic because we want a constant body temperature, constant excretion rate and constant ability to repair (or have the same amount of fluids in our blood). If you are considered living, you will also react to stimuli. A simple example of this is when you are quietly working in your classroom and your teacher suddenly yells at the top of their lungs. Naturally, your first instinct is to look up and see why he is yelling. This would be a response to stimuli. There are two responses to stimuli-- a positive and negative response. All living things have the ability to reproduce. To reproduce is to have a process in which organisms produce offspring of its own kind. Both plants and animals reproduce in different ways-- sexual (with two parents) and asexual (with one parent). If you are living you will grow. Animals, plants and humans all grow. Not all living things grow at the same rate as some living things grow faster or slower than other people. However, all living things start simple and grow to be more complex. As humans, we all start as one single cell and grow to be adults.There are also other forms of growth such as regeneration, cancer and galls. For animals to be considered living they must be able to adapt. To adapt means that there are modifications made to the living cell so that it will suit its living ways better. For example, a fish adapts to water by having covers over their eyes-- like built in goggles. The last characteristic that a living thing must possess to be considered living is to be able to respire. The process of respiration is when you break down food into energy. There are consumers and producers on earth. Consumers, like animals, bacteria and fungi have to search for their own food while producers like plants and other bacterias can make their own food. However, bacterias and protists are euglenas because they can produce their own food, but they also search for food. Fun Fact: Euglenas have a fun tail!

<span style="color: #ef0606; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Over the past couple of decades, technology has flourished in almost every topic: computers, science, astronomy, ect. Therefore, the ability to detect life on other planets has been further intensified. Many methods are used to do so. Some methods include using infra red spectroscopy to analyze the atmosphere, using the albedo of the planet ,and simply direct observation. Like I said previously, infra red spectroscopy is used to analyze the atmosphere. If there is light on a planet's surface it looses energy and then becomes infra-red. A spectroscope can detect this infra red spectrum. There are distinctive chemicals in the planet's atmosphere the absorb specific radiation of the infra red. These wavelengths are shown as black bands on the continuous spectrum. Certain wavelengths are absorbed by water and carbon dioxide. Therefore, this is possible proof of life. The albedo of the planet is the ratio of radiation reflected from the planet's surface to the total amount of radiation falling onto the planet. This ratio is affected by photosynthetic activity since some of the energy would have to be absorbed. The most simple way to detect life on other planets is to just try to observe life by observing other planets. Probes can be sent out into space, and humans can also go into to space to try to observe anything peculiar. However, although technology has greatly advanced, technology has not yet been formed that would suffice for high- tech missions like these.