[this is school]

Today, Hannah, Lucy, and I did the robotixx lab. We built a robot that used a crane to pick up some wire.. And on the other end, we had a sort of pincher thing that was able to grab larger objects. We also attached wheels so it could move back and forth. It took a while to work but once we got it, things went smoothly. I thought it was really fun to see al the different things we could do to build it. I was surprised at how many different parts there were to use for building. I was also surprised at how easy it was once you get started. This relates to the robotics key point because it takes many smaller motions to create a larger action!!

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Today, Anna, Lena and I did the recovery lab where we made a parachute that had to create the most drag possible! After a little while of thinking, we decided that we would have two layers of the plastic: the under layer and the top layer.
Under layer: has a small-ish hole in the center just like in some parachutes they have a hole in the middle to create drag.
The Top layer: is smooth (has no holes) and is a little larger than the other layer to catch more air.

Then, after that test, we realized we needed to support it so it wouldn't collapse on itself. Then we lined it with tape in lines going outward from the center of the "under layer" and also made a border of tape. This time, it seemed to work best. It still fell rather quickly, but we all noticed it having more drag than the last time, and especially rather than just dropping the object with out the parachute!! Something I was kinda surprised by was how much more challenging it was to create maximum drag.. it seemed easier said than done in some parts! This lab related to Newton's 3rd law (every object has an equal and opposite reaction) because the parachute's weight is pulling it down, but the air is going against the parachute (the air is headed up) so it will create drag for the parachute and give it an equal and opposite reaction!!

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Labels: geography

Today Lucy, Kayla, and I did the lab, Launching from the Moon. We had to used balloons and a straw to get some random objects up to the top of the string. We also had to keep track of the cost and budgeting too. First we tried launching just the straw with the balloon and it worked on the second try. Next, we tried launching this foam ball and and it didn't work.. even when we tried two balloons! Then we tried a ping pong ball with a paper towel roll and 2 balloons. that didn't work either.... Eventually, the balloons would stop deflating because it was almost like they got melted around the end and would stick together. It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. But I guess I was also a little surprised on how little we spent on our supplies.. we only spent money on one balloon.. but I guess we did spend money for having failing missions too... but it wasn't as high in price as I thought it would be. : )

Labels: M2M

Yesterday, we did this lab where we were able to track our motion with a motion detector and it would show up as data on a graph. It was a really cool lab and I really enjoyed it. My group, Hannah, T-mike, and I, didn't finish but we still got a lot of info. We started out just moving backwards slowly and seeing how jagged the line was. Then we tried moving backwards quickly and compared the two lines on the graph to see the differences. We also did the same when we did one line where we walked-paused- and then ran. and compared it to the next line where we had to make the smoothest possible line.. and then compare the lines. I was surprised how different our motion looked on a graph. I kinda wonder if the motion detector can see how our muscles move and how we switch our weight or muscles we use when we move... (hmm.)

Labels: science

If I were to play golf on the moon, there would be less gravity so it would be lighter, easier to hit, and would definitely go farther. But according to inertia, it might not stop, an object in motion, stays in motion. The golf ball would also be lighter and in that case, might be easier to stop as well.

Labels: science

Today, Cecilia, Hannah, and I did the lab remote repairs. We each got 2 bags: one bag with a finished product, one bag with a bunch of parts. Over Google Talk, we IM-ed and figured out who had which parts and which model. I had Cece's finished product and I think Cecilia also had my finished model. It was a lot more challeging than I thought to tell my partner exactly how to build it w/o being able to show them anything!! I never got to build my model because I was helping cece help her's the whole time! It was really fun and I learned a lot about what are some effective ways of how to explain things.

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Today Emma M., Amalia, and I did the Thrust Structures Lab. In the lab, we did not get to finish because we spent a lot of time doing the launch pad. We had a few different approaches of how to build it and in the end we were going to combine all of our ideas My idea was to make triangles (the strongest shape) with the popsicle sticks and then make a square and stack them up like a (very) short tower such as: triangle, square, triangle square.. etc. so it would be very strong and rather light. Mine held up through our "strength test" of throwing it either against the wall or the ground 3-4 times and seeing how well it held up. My structure never broke and was really light, which sort-of surprised me.. So, I guess I learned that things that are light and built the right way can actually be quite strudy.. which I'm sure would also have payed off in a real launch pad as well. **This relates to Newtons 3rd law because it states that there is always an equal and opposite reaction and the launch pad that we make, has to put as strong of a force up, as the sandbag's/wood's force is coming down!

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