Last week the class had performed the Solar Cell Lab. Before we even started we had to get the supplies which consisted of One NXT adaptor, NXT with light sensor, Ruler, Colored film filters and a flashlight. We then started up lab view and started the lab. First we had to set up the flash light and the light sensor. The first run through was the light sensor had to be covered and no light had to be on it. After we set a colored film in front of the light sensor and set the flashlight a certain distance away which we did. When the light was running lab view was recording all the data so we could use it in Excel. We then later repeated that with two different color filters and at different distances. After we finished gathering the data we opened excel and imported the data. With the data we labeled the spreadsheet and made graphs out of them. Even though this may sound like we did the lab perfectly we did not perform the lab correctly at first. The thing we messed up on was when we had to get data from the sensor with no light. Lab view made us get data one by one. But before we started the one with the color filters we changed the lab view settings so it would get data like it was supposed to. This lab itself was very straight forward and if you do make a mistake you can mix it easily. 

Last week Tom Vales came to talk our class about electricity. When I heard that he coming I was not too excited about a guy coming and talking about electricity. But I was completely wrong. When he came started to talk about Nikola Tesla vs. Thomas Edison. That was not to interesting but it was interesting on how Tesla did so much work with just him and a lab assistant and how Edison did the same amount of work but with so much more lab assistants. Another interesting thing was thanks to tesla we have alternating currents. The most interesting part came when he took his toys. His toys consisted of a plastic bucket wrapped in copper, some light bulbs, and something else I don’t remember the name. When he turned on his black box nothing happened. When he started to put the light bulb closer it lit up. When he put his hand in middle of the bulb the one side closer to the black box stayed lit but the other side did not. After he did the same thing but with a multi colored bulb. Since Mr. Vales had an appointment in a half an hour he had hurry along the presentation but the things he showed us were really fascinating and I hoped he had stayed even more just to show us how the black box which I now think is an inverter. Overall having Mr. Vales come and present was a great time and very fascinating. I hope he does come back in a future class since his presentation was very interesting.

Pandora’s Promise is a documentary that was released in 2013. The movie is about the Nuclear energy debate. Some people who were pro nuclear energy were Stewart Brand, Gwyneth Cravens, Mark Lynas, Richard Rhodes and Michael Shellenberger. The group of people that were opposed to nuclear power was Helen Caldicott, and Harvey Wasserman. The director of the movie was Robert Stone. When I sat down to watch the movie I had no idea it was a documentary I assumed with the name Pandora’s Promise was going to be a portrayal of what will happen to world if nuclear energy goes wrong. Even when the title screen ended and we saw the father and son I thought oh it’s going to show an apocalyptic earth. But that never happened. The movie itself was just interview’s really not a good way to make a movie at all. The actors do talk about how nuclear energy can help the world survive longer while others say how nuclear energy will everyone in the world. That would have to be the most interesting thing they say in the entire movie. The movie overall I would have to give a grade of F. this movie does not interest the general audience. But only interest the few who are interested in the topic. The movie was nothing I imagined it would. It was just people talking about their interest in this topic. That why it only made $66 thousand at the box office. Even if the movie itself could have made I the topic much more interesting to the general audience it would be of been appreciated. The movie itself did cover the topic thoroughly but only to the people interested in the topic of nuclear energy. That’s why I change my grade from an F to an D-

A few weeks ago we performed a mass and pulley experiment. When we started the experiment we were given a set of small weights. The total of the weights were 250 grams. When we started we had to do the experiment with the same amount of weight and different amount of force. We repeated that about four times. Then we had imported the data into an already made Excel sheet. After we did that we had to close the Excel sheet so when we continue importing data. Then we had to keep the same force but change the amount of weight. We then opened Excel again and saw the data again.

We then had to label the data which was not that much work. After we had made the graph’s which we could have made them the way we wanted as long as the data was correct. After the graphs were made I had to edit al the titles, numbering the axis’s, and axis title. I then had to insert the line of best fit and the percent of how the line fit. Even though some groups had trouble with their data we did not have that much problem.

A couple of our lines did not fit the best but our data was still right. Since I was done last Thursday I had just redesigned the way my spread sheet and graphs looked. This was very interesting to do since I had never done a lab like this ever. The part that interested me the most was how much information the program gives you for just moving up and down. Some of the info given was the power, the weight, battery used, Etc. Even though the battery usage was apparently not correct it was still interesting knowing it could do that. Another thing I found intriguing was how the data I automatically imported to Excel and how it gets organized by itself and you don’t do anything. But the 0’s that get inserted should never be deleted since I did and it messed up my data but I undid all that so the data now is still correct. Overall this lab was very interesting to do and how intriguing how the data we collected was right.

Last week I attended the library tour with my class. The tour was not like anything I expected. When we arrived in the library we were greeted by a Librarian whose name I forgot right now. The class was brought into the computer lab in the second floor of the library or the third floor of 73 Tremont. When we got there the librarian showed us how to access the library website through the Suffolk website.

As you walk in the Library

After going through the website she showed us to access the online databases. The online databases were helpful in knowing they were there and are going to be useful in the future. Something about the library she didn’t show us but told us about the room they have for group study room and how they get booked fast when finals come around. The librarian also explained to us all the areas they have in the library. The first one she told us about the first floor of the library which contains the reference desk and some study areas. The second floor of the library contains more study areas, a computer lab, and the poetry room. The third floor of the library is actually on the 9^th floor of 73 Tremont. This floor has a somewhat of a lounge area. She described it as an area where you can study in peace or just watch some TV. Even though I haven’t been to the 9^th floor I think it would be nice to know they have a quiet place to study. The best thing she showed us was the online databases. The thing that was interesting was how many online databases Suffolk has access to. Knowing how much references we have to use on any assignments it’s good to know we have them. After that she explained to us all the things we can check out such as the biggest any class textbook which is great if you can’t but the book or you just forgot it that day. Some other items we can check out is a laptop which you have the choice of either mac or window which is great since some people only know how to use just one operating system while I can use both just fine. They even have phone chargers where you can checkout and use. One of the most impressive things they have is a collection of kindle readers for their eBook collection.

A part of the second floor library

If I heard right then when you check a kindle out you can buy one eBook for the library. In general the tour was nothing I expected. I expected to be an actual tour where we walk around the library and maybe at the end spend a few minutes in the computer lab. Overall it was very informative.

Demand response is a last resort use for customers reducing their electricity use in high demand time. That’s a definition of the word. This is also when electricity is made the consumption must balance that and that’s how the consumer must cut back their use. Back in 2004 the U.S government has tried to help demand response.

While trying to help a new commission was formed known as The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) they helped by regulating the orders affecting the transmission system. While this whole program was intended for consumers who use more than one million watts this also works for customers who use thousands of watts. Even with anyone who lowers their demand of electricity they can get a lower bill not once but every single month when they demand it. The most a consumers bill was lowered by 13 percent one month. This may not be the case for all since some loads can be lowered as much as the one consumer was. Some reasons why demand response is started are because the load would be too much for the generator if everyone used the most electricity at once.

If you still want save money then if you have a backup generator then some companies will pay you to use it when told to. When you do anything to help them then the payment you get would either be from a refund check or a discount off your bill itself. To be involved in the demand response program you have to reduce your load or you will be penalized for not. But some companies do not penalize you for not reducing. Overall demand response seems like a good way to save a few dollar’s every month only if you’re willing to lower your energy consumption which could be great for you and amount of greenhouse gas to emit every day.

http://0-www.lexisnexis.com.library.law.suffolk.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/04/29/greenbiz-101-what-do-you-need-know-about-demand-response
http://energy.gov/oe/technology-development/smart-grid/demand-response
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/facilitiesmanagement/article/The-Need-for-DemandResponse-Programs–9194?source=part