Energy and Place Project
Essential Questions:
a. How does energy production and consumption impact place?
b. 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?
a. How does energy production and consumption impact place?
b. 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?
Scientific Paper
Infographic
Reflection
Through this project, specifically through the research and design of the Infographic, I learned about nuclear energy production. I learned that uranium, the substance used in a nuclear power plant, is the most energy efficient and least environmentally threatening fuel-substance we currently have access to. In addition, I discovered that, contrary to popular belief, that nuclear energy is safe; it is, in fact, safer than coal or oil. It is the safest industrial industry to work in. I learned that nuclear meltdowns are rare and usually only occur when sub-standard equipment or protocols are used, like in Chernobyl. Because of what I learned through this project, my perspective on energy has evolved to include nuclear energy.
Through the creation of my infographic I chose to help other people see these good sides of nuclear energy by dispelling some of the misconceptions. Because of this desire, my title and topic became simply, “Nuclear Energy: The Facts”. I showed my audience the good things I found out about nuclear energy; I tried to convey that nuclear energy was not as bad as many seem to think it is. Because of this perspective, my infographic is definitely biased towards nuclear energy, however his is because I believe that as far as nuclear energy is concerned, those benefits outweigh the costs.
Through the creation of my infographic I chose to help other people see these good sides of nuclear energy by dispelling some of the misconceptions. Because of this desire, my title and topic became simply, “Nuclear Energy: The Facts”. I showed my audience the good things I found out about nuclear energy; I tried to convey that nuclear energy was not as bad as many seem to think it is. Because of this perspective, my infographic is definitely biased towards nuclear energy, however his is because I believe that as far as nuclear energy is concerned, those benefits outweigh the costs.
See the rest of the project here on my humanities page.
Materials Project
Elevator Pitch
Proposal Letter
Reflection
The chemistry of materials has shaped our past and present, and will continue to shape our future. In the past chemistry has allowed for the creation of gunpowder, which led to all of our modern weapons. Many of the other technological and other advancements of the modern world would not have been possible without chemistry. Materials like the touch screen or nylon were made possible by our contemporary understanding of this science. In the future chemistry will continue to shape our world. One such improvement will likely be Liquid Glass, which is breathable, flexible, hydrophobic, heat resistant, germ resistant, and dirt resistant. It will likely replace all deep cleaning products, as objects coated in it need only hot water to be completely cleaned and sterilized. The knowledge of chemistry has allowed us to create new materials.
Chemistry gives us an understanding of what is around us on the atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels and how those structures affect an object’s properties. This science allows us to understand how substances behave and why they behave in that manner. For example, if a substance is ionically bonded, we know that it will be very conductive when dissolved in water because the individual ions are able to come apart and line up with the oppositely charged ends of the water molecules around it. This property is not possible with covalent bonds because they are more neutrally charged and are therefore not able to create the motion of electrons that causes an electric current. We know that metals like lead are dense and heavy while an element like helium is lighter and less dense than most of the air around us. We also know why; it is because the atoms of metals like lead are actually bigger containing more protons and neutrons that other, lighter elements like helium. We know both these facts, and many more about the materials around us all because of our current understanding of chemistry.
Chemistry gives us an understanding of what is around us on the atomic, molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels and how those structures affect an object’s properties. This science allows us to understand how substances behave and why they behave in that manner. For example, if a substance is ionically bonded, we know that it will be very conductive when dissolved in water because the individual ions are able to come apart and line up with the oppositely charged ends of the water molecules around it. This property is not possible with covalent bonds because they are more neutrally charged and are therefore not able to create the motion of electrons that causes an electric current. We know that metals like lead are dense and heavy while an element like helium is lighter and less dense than most of the air around us. We also know why; it is because the atoms of metals like lead are actually bigger containing more protons and neutrons that other, lighter elements like helium. We know both these facts, and many more about the materials around us all because of our current understanding of chemistry.