Dre+R

=__**Electronics and Their Importance**__=

Digital Signals don’t move as smoothly as analog signals. They jump up quick like steps as analog signals move very smoothly. Analog signals move very smoothly. A semi-conductor conducts electricity worse than a metal but attracts metal better than a non-metal. Now a days T.V. and radio’s contain electronic components made from semi-conductors. Since semi-conductors can control the flow of electricity, they are used in daily electronic devices. A diode is a solid component and only flows in one path of direction. In the diode, a p-type semi-conductor and an n-type semi-conductor are stored inside. When the two are connected the n-type semi-conductor gives electrons to the p-type semi-conductor which takes electrons, thus causing electricity to flow only in one path as stated. A transistor is a solid component that amplifies signals in an electric circuit. It is also used as an electric switch. An n-p-n is basically a p-type semi-conductor which is in between two n-type semi-conductors causing it to flow.

A few important things that will be needed on the trip to mars is a navagation, lights, a oxygen tank and much more. The navagation system will help navagate where you are going on your trip to mars. This is very important because it would be very easy to loose direction and go a wrong way away from Mars and get lost. Next, lights will be a very important tool in this trip. It will be a big help because this is what will allow you to see obviously and could warm up food for you on the trip. An oxygen tank would also help a lot because the space shuttle only has a limited amount of air. So what this machine will do is hold oxygen to keep us alive and it will purify non oxygen to oxygen and rid of any bad gases. So therefore, on this trip to mars, there will be very many things needed to keep us alive such as the things stated. This is why electronics will be important.

=**__﻿History of Rockets__**= === The first device to apply the essential to rocket flight was called the Hero Engine. This machine basically turned water into steam. It worked by fire below the machine, turned water into steam which then traveled through two pipes up to a spherical shape that had two exit pipes to allow the steam to come out. Thus, causing the steam to cause a thrust causing the sphere to rotate. Tsiolkovsky thought to use rocketry to explore space. In a report of his, Tsiolkovsky suggest propellants for rockets to get greater range. He also stated that the speed and range was limited by the exhaust velocity because of escaping gases. ===

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== As time moved on into the early 20th century, an American, Robert Goddard conducted many experiments on rocketry. He was very interested of achieving higher altitudes than were possible for balloons. Goddard also wanted to create a liquid propellant rocket. Goddard eventually achieved the first successful flight with a liquid propellant rocket on March 16, 1926. Goddard’s gasoline rocket created a whole new era on liquid propellant rocket flight. The V-2 rocket was used against London during World War II. The Verein fur Raumschiffahrt society made this rocket. When launched, the V-2 was a formidable weapon that could devastate whole cities. So basically it really helped us in war. From the first rocket to new rockets coming out today, it shows how much technology has improved and how it will keep improving. ==

=﻿Rocket Stages Animation:=

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Rocket Parts



=__**Rocket Experiment Results**__=

==== A rocket experiment was tested to see if the mass of the rocket would affect the height of the rockets flight. There were many steps taken to perform this experiment. The first step was everyone created an identical rocket. After that, we all painted the rocket so there would be a range of masses. Next, we used a Trundle wheel to measure 100 meters in length so we could find the height of the rockets highest point. We then measured the height of the rockets apogee or highest point by using a degree gun which measured the rockets angle degree. We launched the rocket by placing it on a launch pad to make it launch straight up. We actually launched the rocket by using an ignition and an igniter. When we pressed the button on the ignition, it caused the igniter to light up and caused the rocket to launch in the air. Once we found the angles degree by measuring its apogee, we then used trigonometry to find the altitude of the rocket. The equation we used to find the altitude was 100* Tangent (angle). We then compared results of each rockets flight. The results of the experiment are shown below. There wasnt really a pattern in the results. The results varied for each rocket. ==== = = == **My specific rocket when launched, went shooting up in the air very fast. My rocket didn’t go straight up how it was supposed to. Instead, my rocket flew forward a little. Also, while the rocket was in the air, it kind off lost control and looped and swirled around. Right whenever the rocket reached its highest point known as apogee, it took a sharp left turn and quickly floated down caused by the wind. During the flight I saw the recovery wadding fall out of the rocket. Although, it was really cool to see my rocket fly, sadly on the flight down, the rocket took a hard landing on the roof of a baseball dug-out. Sadly, the rocket took to much damage and broke as it landed. I could improve my rocket by not painting on it as much to change the result to make it either go higher or lower. Also I could improve on launching my rocket straight up so it would come down the same rather than having it land far away and get broken.**

= __﻿The Importance of Astronomy in the Search for Life on Mars__ =

**Astronomy is greatly needed in the search for life on Mars. One thing that astronomers help us with is that astronomers can calculate the shortest route to getting to Mars. Not only do they have to find the shortest way to get to Mars, but also they have to know which way to go while avoiding all astroids and commits on the way. But again, while astronomers have to find the quickest way to Mars, avoid astroids and commits, they also have to know how to get there. It is harder then it seems. Astronomers must know how to cordinate correctly. This is a strugle to cordinate because the Earth is moving somewhere at a certain speed while at the same time, Mars is spinning and moving somewhere different. Astronomers have to know exactly which way to go so by the time the ship gets to where mars is, Mars will move and meet it** **at a certain spot. That part involves many calculations. Astronomers have very important and difficult jobs overall. Astronomers are a big part of the search for life on Mars.**

To learn more about astronomy, go to this link: more astronomy information.

=The Importance of Robotics:= == // A robot is basically a certain type of machine that has the ability to do many tasks. They can do many tasks when we tell it to or also, the robot itself can take information or its surroundings and work that way too. Another thing that a robot is useful for and is mainly used for is to move materials, parts and tools. There have been many robots created over long periods of time. The first robot is below. // == == // One of the first robots was built in 1495 by Leonardo Da Vinci  and in 1739 by Jacques de Vaucanso n. Another creator of a robot was Tarentum which builtt a mechanical pigeon around 400 BC. This incredible machine was possible to be powered by steam. The pigeon was also capable of flying. Another robot was called the clepsydra. It was made in 250 BC by Ctesibius of Alexandria, a physicist and inventor from Ptolemaic Egypt. From all these inventions and more, robotics has come a long way. // ==



=__ Robots and Their Movement: __= = = = = In these paragraphs you will learn how motors can move robots around. Basically, on a computer, software called Mindstorms program is downloaded. When this is downloaded, you can give commands to the robot by setting it up in a certain way. When you connect the wire from your computer to the robot, it will send your work that you just made to the robot and motor which will then move around however you ordered it to do so. Some things that I can program the robot to do are reverse, turn, drive forward, and accelerate, curve turn and a point turn. Also, when you put all of these together, you can make cool challenges and movements. Next you should know what a sensor is. A sensor is a attachment on a robot that will help the robot perform tasks. Some sensors include the sound sensor, the touch sensor, the light sensor and the ultrasonic sensor. Basically, the sound sensor moves a certain speed by the pitch of your voice. Next, the touch sensor is basically a bumper. When it hits something or runs into it, it backs up a few inches and will turn either left or right. Next, the light sensor detects light which will make it move faster or slower. Also, if you are trying to follow a line, this will be useful for following the line. Ultrasonic basically can detect objects in front of it so it can move freely without running into anything.

= Life On Mars: =

=== One characteristic that shows us that something is living is if it has cells. A cell is a fundamental unit of a living thing. There are many types of cells such as animal cells, bacteria cells and plant cells. Also you can tell if something is living by if it needs materials. Some materials include water, minerals and air. All living things also take what they need from the environment. Another way you can tell if something is alive is by if it is homeostatic or not. Homeostatic is internally living things which stay the same despite environmental changes. Another way to tell if something is living is if it responds to stimuli. A stimulus is anything that causes a **__living__** thing to react. The thing could respond to two types of stimuli. A negative which means that thing moves away from stimulus or a positive which means it moves toward stimulus. The thing must also reproduce. Also known as when organisms produce offspring of their own kind. Also, another way is if the thing grows at all. Because anything that is living develops from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form. Another way is if the thing has adapted or not. Adaptation is modifications that make organisms suited to its own special way of living. Finally, the last way is if the thing does respiration. Respiration means releasing energy stored in the chemical bonds of food. If the thing has all of those characteristics, then it is a living thing. ===

=== If something is made of all the characteristics above, then it is considered to be living. If we happen to see anything on the search for life on Mars that we think might be living then we can test this product to see if it fits in the category of having all three of these things. If the product has 6 of these things but doesn’t have all seven, then it is not living. For something to be living it must be made of cells, must need materials, must be homeostatic, must respond to stimuli, must reproduce, must grow, must be adapted to its environment, and must have respiration. To test if something has cells, we could put it under a magnifier. To test if it needs materials, we could put it in a room by its self with nothing and see if it dies or gets sick. To test responding to stimuli, we must scream at it and see if it makes any sudden movements. To test if it reproduces, then we can let it mate and see if it will reproduce. To test if it grows we will let it stay in a room and see if it grows any. Those are a few ways we can test if anything is living or not. ===