Essential Questions
1.How does energy place production impact place.
2. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption.
2. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption.
Project Reflection
Throughout the Capstone Energy Lab, I significantly furthered my understanding of the nature of the scientific process. I felt as a scientist, that I gained more knowledge and a deeper understanding of the experiment and experimental process as well as how to analyze our results as the experiment played out. This lab was a clear departure from previous ones. In previous labs, I have participated in experiments created and driven by a Chemistry teacher; however, this lab was designed and conducted by my partner and me. During this process we learned that the nature of science can be hypothesized, but nonetheless outcomes can also in some cases be unpredictable, depending upon faults in conducting experiments and other variables. By actually designing my own experiment, my perception and views on scientists and the scientific process have expanded. I now understand the process of learning as you go by actively conducting an experiment and gaining more insight as more data and observations are collected. I was challenged to continue to refine our approach as we learned more. I also learned that it is important in the nature of science to follow trends to build concrete data and a deeper understanding on an atomic or macroscopic level.
My infographic focused on conveying the potential of geothermal energy by asking the question “Is geothermal energy being used to its full potential”. I chose this topic because I believe geothermal energy is a viable resource to sustainably produce energy at low cost and with low impact to the environment. Also, geothermal is not as commonly discussed as other energy sources, and not as widely known a method of energy production. With the facts I presented, I tried to convey that geothermal energy could counteract oil and other harmful energy production. I identified the historical amount (megawatts) of geothermal energy production each year along with estimates of geothermal energy production in the near future. I did this by displaying a color-coded map of the United States and the world portraying both the number of geothermal sites in existence and those being built. . I wanted to highlight how beneficial geothermal energy production can be for our planet and try to understand its potential by zeroing in on future estimations for this process. To explore more in depth I also decided to compare geothermal to more harmful energy sources. Geothermal energy is very important to me because it is a clean and sustainable energy source that can help us meet our energy needs while eliminating other harmful and more dangerous energy sources. Researching this has opened my eyes to what I hope to see happen in the future to make a positive effort to save our planet.
My infographic focused on conveying the potential of geothermal energy by asking the question “Is geothermal energy being used to its full potential”. I chose this topic because I believe geothermal energy is a viable resource to sustainably produce energy at low cost and with low impact to the environment. Also, geothermal is not as commonly discussed as other energy sources, and not as widely known a method of energy production. With the facts I presented, I tried to convey that geothermal energy could counteract oil and other harmful energy production. I identified the historical amount (megawatts) of geothermal energy production each year along with estimates of geothermal energy production in the near future. I did this by displaying a color-coded map of the United States and the world portraying both the number of geothermal sites in existence and those being built. . I wanted to highlight how beneficial geothermal energy production can be for our planet and try to understand its potential by zeroing in on future estimations for this process. To explore more in depth I also decided to compare geothermal to more harmful energy sources. Geothermal energy is very important to me because it is a clean and sustainable energy source that can help us meet our energy needs while eliminating other harmful and more dangerous energy sources. Researching this has opened my eyes to what I hope to see happen in the future to make a positive effort to save our planet.
Link to Humanities Project : Click Here
Materials Unit Project
Elevator Pitch for "Shark Tank" Exhibition
Hi, my name is Veronica Heinrich and I am not here to cure cancer. But, I am an entrepreneur with an amazing idea to make fabric that repels water. Remember all of those times that you spilled water on and ruined something you loved; a shirt, shoes, your Mom’s favorite coat. My product, a simple hydrophobic coating, eliminates all of those worries. Manufacturers can apply this coating to fabrics so it sits on the fabric’s surface and keeps water from penetrating it. Simply put, this coating is chemically designed to prohibit water from bonding with the fabric. No more spots. No more mildew. And, no other solution is as effective or low cost. We have a patented method that keeps more water out than any other product on the market. Recently, I pitched Brunswick to add this coating to their felt pool tables to protect them from spilled liquids. We are now in discussions to implement this. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get on the ground floor of this investment. Fund us now!
Materials Unit Reflection
The chemistry of materials has shaped our past, present, and future in variety of ways and continues to evolve. Scientists are continually creating and improving new materials; which in many cases can be beneficial to the earth and to people. This ongoing process shapes our future and expands our capabilities. Our present is full of helpful materials that we take for granted such as plastics and silicons that are used in objects both useful and decorative like milk cartons and rubbery bracelets. These materials are a product of modern day science and provide many advantages over natural materials. The past was shaped using many more natural materials such as wood or gold, which continue to be valuable but have their limitations. Materials continue to get more complex but often easier to manipulate due to scientific breakthroughs, making dramatic changes in the production of goods. Throughout time, scientific advances have improved the type and quality of materials that we use which in turn has enhanced the quality of our lives.
Each material is unique due to how it is built at the subatomic level. Chemical structures behave differently depending on their makeup of electrons, neutrons, and protons. The overall structure of materials is dependent upon bonds, atomic stability, and many other factors, which have direct impact on their properties. For example, a substance that is ionically bonded will have a higher melting point than a covalently bonded substance. This is due to ionic bonds being stronger than covalent bonds, making them harder to break. With our growing knowledge of subatomic particles, materials are becoming easier to change and manipulate. This ever-expanding knowledge has resulted in a wider variety of materials becoming available to us.
Each material is unique due to how it is built at the subatomic level. Chemical structures behave differently depending on their makeup of electrons, neutrons, and protons. The overall structure of materials is dependent upon bonds, atomic stability, and many other factors, which have direct impact on their properties. For example, a substance that is ionically bonded will have a higher melting point than a covalently bonded substance. This is due to ionic bonds being stronger than covalent bonds, making them harder to break. With our growing knowledge of subatomic particles, materials are becoming easier to change and manipulate. This ever-expanding knowledge has resulted in a wider variety of materials becoming available to us.