Light can be powerful

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Last class we conducted an experiment measuring the voltage created by a light source (a flashlight) and the differences in voltage when the color of the light source was changed. To do this, we shined a flashlight at a voltage reader connected to the same computer program we have used in previous experiments. We shined the light from different distances to measure the difference in voltage at changing lengths and placed color filters between the light source and the reader. Below is our finding using no filter:

We measured the light from distances of 1 inch, 5 inches, 7 inches, and 10 inches. As you can see from the graph above, the farther away the light source was from the reader, the smaller voltage it produced. Granted, our light source was not very powerful, you can still see the general trend from the graph. Next, we placed color filters in front of the light. This is represented in the graph below:

As you can see here, we used pink, orange, and blue fliters. The same concept is presented by each color. The farther away the light source, the smaller the voltage. By looking at the graph above, we see that the blue filter caused the most disruption between the light source and the reader, creating the least voltage from the same distances. The pink and orange filters created almost the same voltage and the light source with no filter created the highest voltage.

Low voltage lighting helps to reduce energy waste and can save you money in your home. When possible, people should use lightbulbs that produce a lower voltage to help conserve energy. While they do not produce the same light intensity, the lower voltage cable “can be buried just below the surface, rather than in a deep trench” and “because you’re dealing with greatly reduced voltage, the risks of working with electricity are minimized” (HomeDepot.com).

 

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=Low-Voltage_Lighting

VOLTAGE!

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Faraday’s Law states that changing magnetic fluxes through coiled wires generate electricity (currents and voltage).

Today in class we explored the idea of generators, voltage, and creating energy using magnetic fields and copper coils. We constructed a flashlight that was powered by a small generator. The generator was connected to the computer and the data was fed into an excel sheet. By shaking the flashlight, we generated voltage. The harder we shook the flashlight, the more voltage we created.

The experiment was conducted like this:

  1. We shook the tube a different rates,
  2. We counted the number of shakes in the data collecting interval (set to 30 seconds),
  3. We calculated in Excel the sum of the squares of the generated voltages (SSGV’s) (we took the sum of the squares so that we would have a positive value) (the voltage is logged after each second),
  4. And finally, we plotted the SSGV’s as a function of # of shakes and fitted the result to a linear curve (see graph below)

Generators like this are used both on a small scale, such a this, to a large scale that will power cities. The overall concept of the experiment was to show that the more energy we pumped into the generator, the more voltage it created. A modern day generator “uses the mechanical energy supplied to it to force the movement of electric charges present in the wire of its windings through an external electric circuit. This flow of electric charges constitutes the output electric current supplied by the generator” (dieselserviceandsupply.com).

 

http://www.dieselserviceandsupply.com/how_generators_work.aspx

Where Gas Comes From…

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There is no denying the fact that the world is using too much oil. If we continue at the same rate, the worlds supply of oil will be depleted in only a matter of years. Not only are we running out of this highly valuable natural resource, but burning oil releases emissions that are damaging to the atmosphere and help support the harmful effects of global warming. Natural gas, however, is primarily methane (CH4) and compressed natural gas (CNG) creates for an environmentally  friendly substitute that is nontoxic, noncarcinogenic and noncorrosive (chk.com). By utilizing the United States supply of natural gas, not only are we severing ties with foreign oil corporations who exploit our need for gasoline and other forms of oil-based fuels, but we are helping to reduce the effect of global warming on the Earth (compared to those produced by coal and petroleum).

Natural Gas Hydraulic Fracturing (hydrofracking) is a “proven technological advancement which allows producers to safely recover natural gas from deep shale formation [Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of clay and other minerals]” (hydraulicfracturing.com).

The process is much simpler than it seems. Essentially, a combination of water, sand, and chemical agents are pumped at high pressures into a horizontal well drilled up to 10,000 feet beneath the surface (i never said it was easy!). This pressure creates cracks (or fissures) in the shale and the sand in the pressurized mixture fills holes in the cracks to keep the passage open.  Natural gas is then free to flow from the cracks up towards the surface where it is collected and piped to market. The water used to crack the shale is collected, recycled, and re-used.

This process is almost completely natural, with 98% of the fracturing ingredients being simple water and sand (the other 2% include chemicals commonly found in swimming pools, household cleaners, and cosmetics). However, this is not a finite solution. People living in areas where Hydraulic Fracturing sites are established are worried about their supply of water. In order to create the pressure needed to crack the shale, millions of gallons of water are used. While most of the water is re-collected and treated to once again be used, water shortages are still a concern.

If the would can learn how to utilize other forms of fuel including natural gas, we could substantially reduce the negative effects associated with pollution and global warming. Currently, The United States uses about 17 million barrels of oil every day. Petroleum accounts for nearly 40% of our country’s energy and Coal is used to produce almost 60% of our nations electrical power. These are extraordinary numbers, considering natural gas accounts for only 23% of The United States energy usage  and renewable energy only acounts for 7%(earlywarn.blogspot.com). If we could eliminate the use or oil and/or coal, the environment would be much better off.

While this is an educational post to inform you on the concept of how Natural Gas Hydraulic Fracturing works, it is also a plea for the Government to adopt new laws that would prevent the use of such harmful fuels such as coal.

The benefits of using natural gas are great:

1) It’s clean…
Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels and is simply the best energy choice for the environment — inside and outside your home.
2) It’s domestic…
99% of the gas we use comes from North America — 84% from the U.S.* Increased use of natural gas can reduce our dependence on oil imported from the Middle East.
3) It’s economical…
Natural gas appliances are virtually maintenance-free and that means additional savings.
4) It’s efficient…
When the entire cycle of producing, processing, transporting and using energy is considered, natural gas is delivered to you with a “total energy efficiency” of about 90%. Moreover, gas appliances and equipment are extremely efficient.
5) It’s multi-purpose…
It can heat your entire home, make your hot water, dry your clothes and help you cook your meals — in the oven or on the barbecue grill. New residential uses range from fireplaces and air conditioners to microturbines and fuel cells.
6) It’s dependable…
You never have to worry about weather, delivery schedules or running out.

In 1999, 70 percent of newly constructed single-family homes used natural gas for space heating, compared with 47 percent in 1986*.

* Source: U.S. Natural Gas Markets: Recent Trends and Prospects for the Future — May 2001
Report by Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

 While using natural gas is not a finite solution (it still produces greenhouse gases), it still is a much better option for protecting the enviornment than burning coal or petroleum. Until we find a way to better way to harness renewable and neuclear energy, using natural gas is one way we can begin to make a change.

http://www.hydraulicfracturing.com/Pages/information.aspx

http://www.chk.com/naturalgas/pages/basics.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale

http://www.umich.edu/~envst320/fossil.html

http://earlywarn.blogspot.com/2010/06/comparing-us-and-european-fossil-fuel.html

http://www.oru.com/energyandsafety/naturalgas/benefits.html

More Mileage For Your Money

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The auto industry has been trying to push electric and hybrid vehicles for years, and for a good reason. (A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle, usually a combustion engine that is powered using gasoline and one or more electric motors. An electric vehicle only uses electric motors and are either powered by stored electricity originally from an external power source or by an on-board electrical generator. (Wikipedia)) While gas powered vehicles still dominate the market, we are beginning to see more and more vehicles powered by other means. Electricity is a huge resource and provides us with the ability to build cars that can travel 100 miles on a single charge without causing damage to the earth’s atmosphere. If we were able to convert all forms of transportation to electric or hybrid vehicles, we could greatly reduce that rate at which global warming affects the earth. For now, if we can only get a small percentage of people to adopt hybrid or electric technology, we can still make a difference.

 

In a conscious effort to help combat the battle with global warming, in 2009 President Obama announced a national program to cut new vehicle carbon emissions and raise mileage by 30 percent. This would also reduce oil needs and change the kinds of cars Americans buy.

The program will require all new vehicles to have a 39 mpg average by the year 2016, a realistic goal considering 2009 models averaged 32.6 mpg. Car manufactures will be forced to either re-design their car models to reach a more efficient mpg, or learn how to incorporate hybrid or electric technology into their product lines. The program surprisingly received support from auto manufactures (who see this as a campaign for their company to go “green”) well as environmentalists and government officials. President Obama stated that the program would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil “over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years”. With our oil supplies being quickly diminished, this would be a great help to the shortage of oil we will be facing in the near future. Also, according to an article written by MSNBC, the new requirement is estimated to cost consumers an extra $1,300 per vehicle starting in 2016, however, it is estimated that a typical driver would save $2,800 over the lifetime of a car (assuming gasoline costs around $3.50 a gallon). Either way, i would rather spend more money on a new car knowing that i am contributing to the effort to decrease greenhouse gases, then spending less on a vehicle that is polluting the air.

Companies like Nissan, Chevy, and Toyota are already beginning to surpass this new standard with vehicles like the the following:

nissan-leaf-small.jpg Nissan LeafThe top contender for first affordable mainstream all-electric car. 99 MPG Electric Sedan $32,800
volt-rear-small.jpg Chevrolet VoltAll-electric gas-free driving for 40-mile stretches. 60 MPG Plug-in Hybrid Sedan $40,000
2010-prius-side-small.jpg Toyota PriusThe number-one selling hybrid car. The Prius is nearly synonymous with “hybrid.” 50 MPG Hybrid Sedan $22,800

While President Obama pushed to have vehicles reach a 39mpg standard by 2016, car companies are reaching up to 99mpg and its only 2012. It will be interesting to see what new innovations and ways of transportations arise in the next 4 years. Maybe by the time we reach President Obama’s deadline, all cars will be electric or hybrid models.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle

http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-cars-list

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30810514/ns/us_news-environment/t/obama-unveils-mpg-rule-gets-broad-support/#.Tyq6_Zhc_dk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle

Do Work!

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Learn about Mass and Acceleration here:

Newton\’s Laws Of Motion: Force, Mass And Acceleration

Lets talk numbers….

Today we continued our research into the idea of motion, acceleration, and mass. To do this, we used a pulley system and weights attached to a motor that pulled the weights vertically to measure speed, battery discharge, mass, power level, time, acceleration, height, potential energy, and power used. This data was entered into a computer program and calculated in Excel. We changed the mass of the weights being used as well as the power level being provided to the pulley system. By doing this, we were able to calculate the potential energy being provided and the power used by the system. Using graphs in excel, we were able to see trends in the data that represents how mass and power affect acceleration and potential energy.

The graph to the left shows how when mass increases, the acceleration of the weights decreases. For example, it takes much longer for a eighteen wheeled truck to accelerate than it does for a sports car. The mass of the object requires much more force and power to get into motion.

The graph to the right shows how when more power is provided to the mass, the acceleration increases. For example, when you push a kickball with your hand, it accelerates much slower than when you kick the ball with your foot. More power behind a mass accelerates that mass much quicker.

 

The graph to the left demonstrates how when mass increases, the motor had to use much more power, thus draining the battery. For example, when you are driving by yourself, you use much less gas than when you are driving with four people. The more people in your car creates much more weight that the vehicle has to pull. By requiring more energy to move, it also requires more gas. In the experiment we conducted with the pulley and weights, the more mass we gave to the motor to pull, the more energy it required to pull it, and thus decreased more of the battery power.

The last graph to the right helps to further demonstrate my previous example. Power used (w) is determined by taking the potential energy (mass x gravity x height) and dividing it by the time it took to pull the mass. The higher we set the power level, the more power the system used (not a hard concept to grasp).

Overall this experiment helped us to explain concepts we already knew to be true: 1) The more mass you have, the harder it is to pull, creating for lower acceleration, 2) The more power you put behind a mass, the higher the acceleration, 3) The larger the mass, the more energy it requires to pull, creating for higher battery drainage, and 4) The higher the power level provided to the motor, the more power that is used.

Using simple systems such as these help to grasp concepts of acceleration, mass, power, and energy. Doing these projects in class are a great way to use real world examples to better understand concepts we use every day. Without the computer program we used in class, this experiment would prove to be much more difficult. It is fantastic that we have access to such a powerful tool. Not only was this software helpful, but Excel is a powerful tool to make calculations much more efficiently and effectively. Im looking forward to seeing what other things we can do with this program in the future.

Demand Response

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Automated Demand Response Program

Heat waves suck. Especially when it requires paying for high electricity bills or suffering from power outages.

PG&E describes demand response as “both [a] fiscally and environmentally responsible way to respond to occasional and temporary peak demand periods” (PG&E). Essentially, the idea behind demand response is to save you both money and electricity by reducing peak load stress on the power grid in times of peak demand.

The concept is quite simple. When you turn on your air conditioner, a signal is sent to the power plant who in turn sends electricity to your device. During a heat wave, for example, thousands of people rely on these power plants for electricity. When these plants do not have the supply to keep up with the demand, rolling blackouts and power outages occur. Demand response is designed to reduce electricity output in an attempt to decease the chance of a shortage in energy.

In residential areas, participating in demand response is often voluntary. Utility companies ask individuals to “reduce your electricity usage during an “extreme” or “critical” event” (The Energy Collective) by installing “thermostats that can be controlled remotely by the utility in the event of an emergency, and/or by the customer with a mobile device” (The Energy Collective). This way, the utility company can shut off your power in an attempt to prevent a power outage or blackout during peak times.

By installing a demand response unit in your home, you are being a responsible consumer and are saving money in the long run. Often times, there are monetary incentives for consumers willing to opt-in to the program. For example, “Pacific Gas & Electric pays $25 to customers willing to participate in their Smart AC program, in which households with central air conditioning systems allow the utility to install a device that would allow the utility to turn down your cooling system in the event of an “energy supply emergency” in the summer, between May 1 and October 31″ (The Energy Collective).

Overall, demand for energy is only increasing, and we can only build so many power plants. Until a new form of energy is discovered, we need to find ways to conserve the energy we have. Over-usage of energy is a huge problem, and without taking action, most of us may be left without air-conditioning this summer.

If you want to help your community this summer, and save a little money while your at it, consider installing a demand response unit in your home or office.

 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Demand+Response/

http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/demandresponse/whatisdemandresponse/

Demand Response: What It Is & What It Means For You

Robots Can Sing

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Watch the Video Here: Spinning Robot

 

Contrary to popular belief, Robots can sing and dance. Today in class i programed my little robot explorer to chime the G E C of the NBC theme song while spinning in circles. While it may not solve world problems, we have made progress in programing little devices for our personal enjoyment.

While they ARE fun to watch, it is also educational. Measuring the circumference of the wheel, we are able to input the measurement (.173) into the program to help determine the distance traveled, rotation of the wheels, and velocity of the vehicle. By measuring the vehicle distance with a ruler and looking at the measurments determined by the program, we are able to determine the error between the program and human measuements.

Running the car for 1 second, the program determiend the the distance traveled to be .253733 meters and the number of wheel turns to be 1.46667 rotations. Measuring the distance with the ruler, i dermined the actual distance traveled to be .27 meters. This would create an error of 6.2 percent. By calulating the distance traveled by hand, i used the diameter of the wheel (5.5cm) x pi (3.14) x the calculated number of wheel turns (1.46667) to determine that the car should have traveled .25329 meters, very close to the calulated .253733 meters. The program calulated an error of .17 percent. This, most likely, was caused by human error in calculating the diamater of the wheel.

While the little robot may not look like much, it can teach us a great deal about movement and motion. By running a simple program, we were able to calculate distance, wheel rotations, and an average velocity of .25 meters per second. By using tools such as these, it creates a great way for students to learn about motion hands on and use real world examples to practice calculations.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

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Japan can’t seem to catch a break.

The United States bombed the hell out of their county during World War Two, killing thousands upon        thousands of people, and still mother earth felt the need to hit them once again on March 11, 2011 with  a powerful earthquake and tsunami that left 27,000 people dead and 240,000 people homeless. The most    devastating part of the natural disaster was the destruction of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, sending  off huge amounts of radiation into the country. The worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986, the disaster  killed three people and endangered thousands. According to TIME magazine, “…a spokesman for the Tokyo  Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the utility that runs Fukushima Daiichi…said water from the No. 2 reactor  turbine building had levels of radiation 10 million times higher than normal. Tests on the surface of a pool of water showed more than 1,000 millisieverts (mSv) per hour, four times the safety level”. Days after the damage to the core reactors, officials stated that they found unsafe levels of radiation in water supplies as far as Tokyo, 220km north. The Japanese economy is hurting from the disaster as well with countries like the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia banning the import of milk and some vegetables from the contaminated areas. Because of the contamination on farms in the area, chicken feed was deemed useless and resulted in an egg shortage throughout the country, driving up prices 40% in Tokyo. Contamination was found in a wide range of food products, including beef, tea leaves, mushrooms, baby formula and rice, the nation’s staple. Many people around the country are concerned that they will be faced with a food shortage. Maybe it is time for the United States to invest heavily in food export…

On December 16, 2011, technicians finally declared that they had regained control of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. While this may seem like the end to the disaster, radiation is still present and creates for an unsafe living environment. The NY Times reported, “More than 90,000 people remain displaced from the evacuation zone around the plant, and as the government begins lifting evacuation orders for some communities, many are refusing to return home”. Do you blame them? If my home was in the middle of a radioactive zone, you couldn’t pay me to move back.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/japan/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2061803,00.html

Makes Me Feel Like A Kid Again…

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Legos have always intrigued me. When i was younger i had an entire city constructed entirely out of the multicolored plastic blocks. If someone had told me that i would be reacquainted with the toy in college, i would have said they were being childish. Today i walked into my science requirement at Suffolk University and that was precisely what we would be using to explore the concept of robotics.

In groups of two we built a USB programed, Lego constructed car. Within twenty minutes we were able to move the Lego vehicle forward, back, and in circular motions. We connected a light and watched the car produce a red glow and listened as the the speaker we attached produced a faint sound.

I am excited to continue working with Legos in the upcoming months. The feeling of nostalgia is almost as great as the learning itself.