Sarah+San

= Wiki Entry 1: What the Heck are Electronics? =

=
[[#Wiki Entry 1: What the Heck are Electronics?Electronics are looked upon as some of the most essential things in life. Electronics are sometimes very complicated, and that is what this paragraph is going to explain. Analog and digital signals are different because they are opposites. An analog signal is a signal that has fluid- filled motions and does not jump around. On the other hand, digital signals have very choppy and “jumpy” movements. Another key element in electronics is a semiconductor. Since semiconductors don’t conduct heat and electricity as well as a conductor, they are used in other things, such as computer chips. Semiconductors are useful because their electrical conductivity can be altered by using impurities. Just the slightest impurity in the substance will alter the semiconductor. The process in which the impurities are added to the semiconductor is called doping. There are two types of semiconductors- n-type and p-type. An example of n-type is if there are one-million Germanium (semiconductor) atoms and one Gallium (metal) atom will change the Germanium. An example of p-type semiconductors is when an atom with less electrons than the semiconductor is added. Then, the semiconductor has fewer electrons than it started with. Some other important things when dealing with electronics are diodes. A diode is a solid-state component. diodes are like a street with a One Way sign, electricity can only flow in one direction. Diodes are used to make electric circuits. Diodes are a combination between n-type and p-type semiconductors. Different from a diode, but still important in making electrical devices, are transistors. Transistors are solid-state components that can be used to amplify signals in an electric circuit. Transistors can also be used as an electric switch. Integrated circuits are also vital when it comes to electronics. An integrated circuit has a lot of tiny disconnected solid-state components, and is made from a single chip of a semiconductor. These are used in computers. They are so small they can be one millimeter by one millimeter. These are some of the many components needed to make electronics.]] Electronics are looked upon as some of the most essential things in life. Electronics are sometimes very complicated, and that is what this paragraph is going to explain. Analog and digital signals are different because they are opposites. An analog signal is a signal that has fluid- filled motions and does not jump around. On the other hand, digital signals have very choppy and “jumpy” movements. Another key element in electronics is a semiconductor. Since semiconductors don’t conduct heat and electricity as well as a conductor, they are used in other things, such as computer chips. Semiconductors are useful because their electrical conductivity can be altered by using impurities. Just the slightest impurity in the substance will alter the semiconductor. The process in which the impurities are added to the semiconductor is called doping. There are two types of semiconductors- n-type and p-type. An example of n-type is if there are one-million Germanium (semiconductor) atoms and one Gallium (metal) atom will change the Germanium. An example of p-type semiconductors is when an atom with less electrons than the semiconductor is added. Then, the semiconductor has fewer electrons than it started with. Some other important things when dealing with electronics are diodes. A diode is a solid-state component. diodes are like a street with a One Way sign, electricity can only flow in one direction. Diodes are used to make electric circuits. Diodes are a combination between n-type and p-type semiconductors. Different from a diode, but still important in making electrical devices, are transistors. Transistors are solid-state components that can be used to amplify signals in an electric circuit. Transistors can also be used as an electric switch. Integrated circuits are also vital when it comes to electronics. An integrated circuit has a lot of tiny disconnected solid-state components, and is made from a single chip of a semiconductor. These are used in computers. They are so small they can be one millimeter by one millimeter. These are some of the many components needed to make electronics. ===== ==== In a space mission to Mars, electronics are some of the key components. For example, it is pitch black in outer space. To maneuver around the spaceship, lights will be necessary. Also, since it will take two years to get to Mars in the space ship, a lot of food is needed. Since so much food is needed, then some of the natural things can be grown. Light is necessary for this as well. Another reason electronics are so important is that when the spaceship hits Mars, the human on board will obviously want to go explore, but after a certain point they have to return to the spaceship. So, using circuits, robots can be made. They can collect things such as the temperature, the types of rocks, and possibly dig up sample of rocks to bring back as samples. Electronics are vital when going into space. ====

Wiki Entry #2: Rocket Mania
=== Rockets are one of the most innovative inventions, from the thing in side it, to the fact that it can go into space, everything about a rocket is really interesting. One of the first ideas of rocketry was the Hero Engine, invented in 110 B.C. by Hero of Alexander. This engine was a brass kettle, with two metal pipes leading to a brass ball, and two l-shaped wires coming off of the ball. The Hero Engine was powered by flame under the kettle. Water in the kettle would heat up, flowing through the pipes, into the ball, and coming out of the L-shaped pipes, in gas form. This steam was used as a propulsive gas. Even though this was not a “true” rocket, it was one of the major steps to getting there. === === The date that the 1st rocket was made is unclear. Some might have been created by the Chinese in the first century A.D using gunpowder. During festivals, if the Chinese wanted to create explosions, they would take bamboo tubes and put the gunpowder mixture inside. They started experimenting with the bamboo tubes and gunpowder and found that if the tube was attached to a bamboo stick, it would not need the stick, and the pressure from the gas inside of it would cause the tube to launch itself. A rocket was born. The first use for the rockets was during the battle between the Mongols and the Chinese. The simple gunpowder rockets propelled through the air towards the enemy. ===

[[image:ses_chinesesoldier.JPG]]
=== After seeing the Chinese rockets, the Mongols created their own, causing rocketry to spread through Europe. Soon, in most European countries, scientists were putting their own twist on the classic Chinese rocket. Modern rocketry is said to be started up by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a school teacher in 1898. Five years later in 1903, in a report, he suggested that liquid propellants were useful for giving the rockets greater range. Tsiolkovsky is now known as the father of modern astronautics. A few years later, an American rocket scientist, Robert Goddard, explored the idea of liquid-propellant rockets. Goddard’s first rocket flight was less successful than he would have liked, but he continued exploring liquid powered rockets, and soon found that his rockets were indeed flying farther than regular solid-propelled rockets. He also has been called the father of modern rocketry. After the Germans and other countries had come up with plans for advanced rockets, many German rocket scientists moved to the U.S. and were impressed by the amount of research and progress Goddard had made in the rocket world. === === German rocket scientists also moved to the Soviet Union, where an idea was soon brought up to use rockets as part of warfare. After much experimentation continued, as missiles were created, used in warfare, and eventually traveling into space. On October 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union launched a fake satellite into space. This satellite was called Sputnik which in Russian means satellite. A couple months after Sputnik was launched, the U.S. Army launched a satellite called Explorer one. Later that year, the U.S launched National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Soon after, people were traveling into space, and even went as far as the moon. This shows how far space technology has come over the years. ===

[[image:ses_sputnik.JPG]]< Sputnik.
= Rocket Stages Animation = = media type="custom" key="9019798" = = Rocket Parts =

This is a rocket that I made. All the parts are labeled, and there are definitions of each part.
= ﻿ = = Wiki Entry 4 = = Blast Off! = The purpose of this experiment was to see if the amount of mass an object has affects how high it flies. First, a trundle wheel was used to measure 100 m so the rocket height could be measured. Then, a rocket launch pad was placed on the ground. A rocket was placed on the launch pad using the launch lug to secure it on the launch pad. Then, two alligator clips that lead to an electric ignition were clamped to the igniter. Both of the people that were launching a rocket were wearing goggles. Then, the key was placed in the ignition to see if the wires were clipped on properly. If the wires were on correctly, then a countdown begins. The ignition and the key were pressed down. The rocket launched. The people that were a hundred meters away measured the angle of the rocket at apogee. The people who launched the rocket set the ignition down and take off their goggles. These people run to retrieve their rocket. Once the rocket is retrieved, all these steps are repeated with different people. After the degrees of all of the angles were measured, the altitude was calculated using trigonometry. This was done for each rocket as well.

The experiment results were positive. Rocket one had an altitude of 86.9 m. Rocket two had an altitude of 96.6 m. Rocket three had an altitude of 85.4 m. Rocket four had an altitude of 85.4 m. Rocket five had an altitude of 119.2 m. Rocket six had an altitude of 83.9 m. Rocket seven had an altitude of 75.4 m. Lastly, Rocket number eight had an altitude of 93.3 m. The hypothesis that was created for this experiment was that the mass of the rocket would not affect the height that the rocket flew. This hypothesis was correct because the heaviest rocket flew the second highest. Also, some of the lighter rockets flew the lowest. So, the mass of a rocket does not make it go higher or lower.



When we launched our rocket, it lifted after a countdown of three. It flew about 40 degrees in the air. The recovery wadding flew out as soon as the parachute ejected. The recovery system worked very well. The parachute helped the rocket slowly float down with ease. It landed in a baseball field near third base and a fence. When the rocket was retrieved, the parachute was slightly burnt in some places, because of the hot gases that the motor released. The shock cord also had very minor burns because of the motor's burning gasses as well. Overall, our rocket had a smooth flight. There were no glitches with the system, or glitches with the motor. The recovery system worked fine, but more recovery wadding maybe needed next time. We experienced a very successful and accomplished fight with our rocket.

= Astronomy Used for the Search for Life on Mars = Astronomy is useful for going to Mars and searching for things on Mars, because thins in space are easier to identify. If astronomy wasn’t used when going to Mars, then the galaxies stars around mars wouldn’t be able to be identified. Also, the moons around mars wouldn’t be able to be identified. With astronomy, we can also identify the nebulas around Mars, and an estimate of how old Mars is. Astronomy is also useful because we can plan when to blast off and when to get there. Since our planets are in different orbits, this would have to be planned just at the right time. Astronomy is useful in many different ways, and helps dramatically when going to mars, or doing anything in outer space.

For more information on astronomy, go to this link.

History of Robotics
Robotics has been around for longer than one might think. A Greek mathematician started this out in 350 B.C. He made a mechanical bird that was propelled by steam. Soon after that, in 322 a Greek philosopher named Aristole had a theory that a machine could do its own work. In 200 B.C., water clocks were invented. Then, in 1495, Leonardo DaVinci invented a machine that was called “Leonardo’s Robot” and it could move by itself like there was a human inside. Then, in 1738 Jacques de Vaucanson made automata. Then in 1770 the 1st wristwatch was invented.

Then in 1801 Joseph Jaquard invented the punch card. Then, in 1822 Charles Babbage used these punch cards in devices. Then in 1898 Nikola Chesla invented a remote controlled robot boat. Then, a very short time later in 1936, Alan Turig introduces the concept of a theoretical computer called the turning machine. Then, in 1946 George Devol patents a device for controlling machines. Four years later, in 1950, Alan Turing publishes computing machinery and intelligence. Then, in 1956 Alan Newell and Herbert Simmon invent the first system that tis used to solve difficult math problems. In ** 1989 ** a walking robot named Genghis is unveiled. It becomes known for the way it walks, popularly referred to as the "Genghis gait". In 1 ** 992 ** Dr. John Adler came up with the concept of a robot that images the patient with x-rays to look for a tumor and delivering a pre-planned dose of radiation to the tumor when found. One year later, ** 1993 ** an 8-legged walking robot developed and descends into a volcano. In 1 ** 994 ** a more robust version descends into the crater of Alaskan volcano. The mission is considered a success. In ** 1997 ** another robot-the Pathfinder Mission lands on Mars. Its robotic rover “ Sojourner ”, rolls down a ramp and onto Martian soil in early July. In ** 2004 ** Jan. 4th - After six minutes of holding our breath as it burned and bounced its way to the red planet the robot rover Spirit lands on Mars. Just 19 days later on Jan. 23rd - The second Mars Exploration Rover - "Opportunity" safely lands on the Meridium Planum.



Wiki Entry 7: Programing Robots

In a robot, the motors are essential. They cause the wheels to spin. Without the motors the robot would be completely useless. The motors that cause the wheels to turn are motors B and C, and those are the only motors that I am familiar with. The motors can also be programed so that they can do certain things. For example you can tell the motors to go forwards, backwards, left and right. Doing this, the robot can maneuver its way through an obstacle course, and do all kinds of different things. Some of the challenges with the motors on the robot are that sometimes, when you tell it to do something, and it doesn’t do exactly what you tell it to do. Other times, you think you tell it to do the right thing, but in reality you don’t. Overall, the robot motors are essential and very useful for robots. One of the neatest things about robots is their ability to use different sensors. There are four sensors that are able to be attached to the robots- sound, touch, ultrasonic, and light. All of these sensors have a different purpose and do very different things. The sound sensor detects sound. By doing this, it can move forward or backward depending on how loud the sound is. Also, it can detect sound using numbers. The touch sensor can be used to see how many times you press the touch button and how hard. This is useful because it can detect how many times it touches something. The ultrasonic sensor detects how far away the robot is from something. If the ultrasonic sensor gets within a certain distance of something, it will stop. This is useful because if you leave it unattended it will not run into a wall. Lastly, the light sensor is used to detect different shades of colors. If it is a dark color, it comes up with a low number. If it is a bright color, it will come up with a high number. Sensors are very useful and extremely fascinating tools for robots.






 * Living or Not? Wiki Entry #8 **

The characteristics of life are the things that define whether something is living or not. The first characteristic that something living must possess is it has to be made of cells. Cells are the fundamental units of living things. They have many parts that are called organelles, which are extremely small. The next characteristic is that all living things need materials; minerals, air and water. All living things must get these things from the environment. Another characteristic that determines whether something is alive is whether or not it is homeostatic. Something that is homeostatic stays the same internally no matter what kind of environmental changes happen. Living things use a lot of energy to ensure that they have this. The fourth characteristic is whether the object responds to stimuli or not. The stimulus is anything that causes living things to react. There are two types or reactions: positive and negative. The positive reaction is when the object moves toward the thing that causes the stimuli and the negative is when the object moves away from the stimuli. Another characteristic that a living thing must have is that it must reproduce in some way. The next characteristic that it must have is that it must grow: all living things develop from something smaller or simpler and become more complex. This starts with being an embryo, developing into a newborn. The newborn becomes a child and eventually grows into an adolescent. Finally, the adolescent becomes an adult. But not all things grow at the same rate. Other forms of growth include cancer, galls and regeneration, and two of the three are harmful. The second to last characteristic or living thing is that it has to adapt to its environment. This is through evolution, which is the process by which organisms are able to change. Lastly, a living thing must respire, or make their own food. This is done by the release of chemical bonds of sugars to create food. There are two different uses that living things can do with this food. They can either search for food and be a consumer, or they can make their own food for themselves and become a producer.



Is there life on other planets? As a common question of the public, scientists have spent a lot of time trying to prove that there is. As of May 31, 2011, there has been no formal proof in either that there is or isn’t external life. My hypothesis is that there is life on other planets. One way to detect life on another planet is to look for three things- ozone, water, and carbon dioxide. The presence of oxygen can be an indicator that something is living there. The planet has to be the right distance from the star, which gives the planet its warmth and also needs a gravitational pull. All of these things could indicate that there is life on this planet. To conduct this experiment, an extremely high powered telescope would be necessary. This telescope can help detect many light emissions and give detailed information about the planet’s chemical compounds, and distance from its star. Once the experiment has been performed, it is clear whether something is capable of living on this planet, or it is just a block of rock with nothing on it. The light emissions will show the gasses that the planet has, and the heat of the planet, which is essential. The earth, compared to other planets, is a utopia because the temperature is just right, not too hot, and not too cold. Using these simple yet somewhat complex techniques, life on other planets could be proven. Yet, at the current moment, the telescope is not built, and to perform this particular experiment, this telescope is vital.