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Search for Life on Mars- The Wiki of Celia 

Electronics - // wiki 1 // __**Electronics Overview **__

To better understand what electronics will be needed for a mission to Mars, first you must understand electronics in general. There are two types of electronic signals, analog and digital. The difference between these two is that objects that run using analog signals run smoothly and continuously. Digital signals jump to different times, views, etc. Semi-conductors are very useful in electronic devices because their level of conducting electricity can be control by adding impurities to the semi-conductor. Diodes are used to make the electricity to only flow in one direction. Transistors can be used like switches, to increase the amount of electrical signal. Integrated circuits are used in computers because they are thousands of diodes and transistors that are compressed into a very small circuit. These are some general facts about electronics.


 * __Electronics Needed on Mars __ **

A mission to Mars would require many electronic devices. First, you would need a computer to build a route and to plan what and where you robot will go/do. Also, you would need many electronic wires, cables, and probes in order to build the robot in an effective way. Some sort of GPS tracking device would also be necessary so that you know where the robot is at all times. A camera and video recorder would probably be needed in order to gather information from Mars. Of course, you would need a kind of memory chip in order to store all the information. These are just some of the electronics that would be necessary for a successful search for life on Mars. Missions to Mars, and other planets, would definitely not be possible without electronics, so they obviously play an important role in these trips.

 Simple Circuitry- // wiki 2 // **__Simple Circuitry __**  This is a paragraph that discusses what circuits do overall. First, electricity flows through some objects, but does not flow through others. The reason that electricity flows through some objects, is because there is a positive charge and a negative charge on opposite ends of the object. Voltage needs to be present for electric currency to flow through an object. Voltage is the push that causes electrical current to flow. It is measured in Volts (V). Current is the flow of electric charge. Amperes (A) is what is used to measure current. The amount that an object resists the flow of electrical charge is known as resistance. It is measured in ohms.

This is how electricity flows in a circuit. The electricity flows without ever retracing where it's gone before, so it can come from the bottom then go out through the side, of come from the side and go out of the bottom. For this to work, the circuit has to be continuous without any gaps. Parallel circuits have two different lanes that the electricity can flow in. Series circuits flow in a single path and are attached by a battery that connects them. The main difference is that Parallel circuits have two lanes, and series only have one that are connected.

Rocketry History- // wiki 3 // 
 * __Overall Description of Article __**

This paragraph describes the innovations in rocketry that have occurred over the years. In the beginning it explains how rockets used to work, and what they were like. Then it explains how modern rockets work and the changes that have taken place since the older rockets. Also, it says how rockets can help us, and especially elaborates on why they're helpful in wartime. Finally, the reading tells about final discoveries that were made with the Sputnik.  __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">
 * History of Rockets** __

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 97.9%;">I will now discuss modern rocketry, and how NASA has allowed us to see space in a much closer way than people of older times could have ever imagined. The first proposition for an exploration in space was made by a Russian teacher named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1898. Tsiolkovsky also made many improvements to the rocket, including the use of liquid propellants for father distance and learned a lot about how to extend the distance a rocket can soar. He is referred to as the father of modern astronautics. Next, Goddard made a major achievement on March 16, 1926. He made the first successful liquid-fuel powered rocket. The German Verein fur Raumsschiffahrt (the Society for Space Travel) then made the V2 rocket which was used in WWII against London.

After the war was over, US and the Soviet Union performed some experiments to find new ways to use rockets in war. A Russian satellite, named Sputnik, was launched on October 4th, 1957. Following, the US launched their own satellite that was going to orbit the earth. This satellite was launched on January 31st, 1958. Next, NASA was created in the October of 1958. NASA is the National Aeronautics Space Administration that is exploring space for the good of the human race. NASA is allowing rockets and people to be launched into space in order to determine many things about space. AS you can see, rockets have developed a lot over the years, and are now allowing us to discover things that would have never been found by rockets in the early ages.

//Below: original drawings or the Sputnik, and a diagram of how alcohol and oxygen merge inside of a rocket to create the liquid propellant that makes a rocket take off.//



media type="custom" key="5881905" //<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">above: original rocket stages animation //

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">Rocket Parts- //wiki 4// <span style="color: #f25f64; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 104%; text-align: left;">** __ my rocket with labeled parts



rocket parts- explanation and use __ **



<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 158.4%; text-align: center;">Rocket Launch- // wiki 5 // <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether or not the mass of a rocket affects it's maximum altitude. The hypothesis of this experiment was that the greater the mass of the rocket, the lower the altitude. To test this, rockets were first assembled and then painted which different amounts of paint on each one. Next, they were weighed using an electric scale. Then they were launched, and the angle of the rockets maximum altitude was recorded from 100 meters away. To correctly find where 100 meters away, a trundle wheel was employed. Then, to measure the angle an angle gun was employed. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> The hypothesis was indeed true. The heaviest rockets flew the lowest, and those that had low masses had high maximum altitudes. The result of our rocket was 79.54359167 meters, which was true with the hypothesis because the rocket was heavy, and flew very low.

The first time we tried to launch the rocket, it didn't move and it stayed on the launch pad, which got a hole burned in the metal when the explosives and the parachute came out of the rocket. We tried again, and on the second time it worked. When I pressed the button, the rocket stayed for a second, but then shot up really fast. The parachute worked properly, and came out at 79.54359167 meters. For the final launch, the rocket worked well, but it ended up getting caught in a net when it came down so our teacher had to climb up there and get it out. It was super fun, even though our rocket kept messing up!

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">Robotics history- // wiki 6 //

Most scientists believe that the history of robots and robotics begin in 270 BC when Ctesibus created moving parts inside of water clocks. Many years later, in 1495, Leonardo da Vinci constructs the "anthrobot", which was basically a robot resembling/modeled after a man. This sparked the creations of several robots that were modeled after humans, such as Gianello Torriano's "Mandolin Playing Lady" robot in 1540. Also, in 1772 two Swiss inventors built L'Ecrivain (The Writer). This was a big achievement because this robotic child could write words. Around the time of "The Writer, there was another robot that involved the playing of musical instruments, it was a robot woman who was playing the piano.

In 1801, a major breakthrough was made by Joseph Jacquard. He made the "programmable loom" which was big because it involved punching buttons to make the machine work. Christopher Spencer illustrates a "cam-operated lathe" in 1830. Around the 1890's, Nikola Tesla created the first remote controlled objects. In the 1940's, Grey Walters constructed an intricate robot named Elsie the tortoise. Next, from the 1950's to 1970's numerous industrial robots were created. Some of the major achievements made through these robots human-like arms, octopus-like legs, and other computer controlled parts. Obviously these inventions have been improved through modern times, and have become extraordinarly impressive and versatile.



<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">Programming Our Robots-// wiki 7 // <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> There are many ways that our robot can move. Firstly, it can move forwards. This movement is measured in rotations. It can also go in reverse, which is also measured in rotations. The robot can turn in two different ways. A point turn is a sharp turn, which is measured in angles. A curve turn is a turn that makes a big curve, so it is less sharp than the point turn. It is also measured in angles. These robots can do many interesting things, and using only those four functions (forward, reverse, curve turn, and point turn) the robot can drive in an impressive square.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The robots use sensors in order to perform actions. There are four: the ultra-sonic sensor, the touch-sensor, the light sensor, and the sound sensor. There is also an additional sensor called the rotation sensor, which tracks how many wheel rotations the robot makes. To explore these sensors, we attached them onto the robot. Then we did a tutorial with them. Finally we performed a challenge using the sensor. My favorite challenge was the "dance party challenge". We made our robot dance using the sound sensor. I also did the "on the edge challenge" which uses the ultra-sonic sensor. In this challenge, the robot performs sharp turns when it detects motion. The sensors make using the robot much more interesting because you can perform many more actions.

//__below is a video of my group's rocket performing the "on-the-edge" challenge__//

media type="file" key="adg_sciencevideo2.wmv" width="300" height="300"

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">Living Things- // wiki 8 // __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Characteristics of Life **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> There are many characteristics that indicate life. In order for a thing to be alive, all 8 signs of life must be present. These signs are: made of cells, need resources, homeostatic, respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow, adaptation, and respiration. The first sign of life that the object is composed of cells- the fundamental units of living things. Living things also need resources such as oxygen, water, CO2, etc. to stay alive. Homeostatic, the intent of keeping everything on the inside the same, is another characteristic of living things. When a living thing is touched, it should respond to that or other stimuli. For an object to be classified as living, it has to have the ability to reproduce, or at least the organs necessary. Adaption is a thing's ability to evolve in order to live better in its environment. Finally, a living thing has to be able to respire- to release energy stored in the chemical bonds of sugars (food). These are all the characteristics that must be present for an object to be alive.

//below- representation of a characteristic of life- adaption- the frog adapts so that predators cannot see it//




 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Detecting Life __**

There are several ways that life could be detected on other planets. If you found cells or other DNA on anther planet, it would be reasonable to assume that life can be found there, because all living things need cells. Also, you may be able to tell whether or not living things used to live there (or still do), depending on whether or not there were the proper resources available in order to maintain life. Another way to detect life on other planets to poke and prod around the surface, and see if anything responds to the stimuli. In conclusion, the characteristics of life make it easier to determine if something is living, and if a living thing is present, because they define all the fundamentals of living matter.

//below- you can determine there is life by finding cells/DNA//



<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Thanks for looking at Celia's Search for Life on Mars Wiki!