Below is an excel spreadsheet of our experiment:

When the power level of the engine remained constant the potential energy changed over the three trials. When the power level changed over three trials potential energy remained constant. This is due to the fact that the mass loaded remained constant as well. Potential energy changes when the mass changes, not energy output. It is very interesting to see how close the energy/time ratio had very similar measures regardless of energy output or change in mass.

Acceleration always increased over the three trials of each assessment.

As you can see from the graphs our experiment went well. Our data correlated well with what the graphs show. As we decreased mass accretion stayed the same, and as we increased power output and kept mass the same, acceleration increased.

After doing some research on hydro-fracking, and weighing the pros and cons I feel that it it necessary for this process to continue to happen. Economically, this process has lead the US to discovered large deposits of natural gas and other fossil fuels that our country relies on in order to commute in cars, heat homes, just to name a few.

What is it? Here is a picture that shows the basics

“According to the International Energy Agency, the remaining technically recoverable resources of shale gas are estimated to amount to 208 trillion cubic metres (208,000 km³), tight gas to 76 trillion cubic metres (76,000 km³), and coalbed methane to 47 trillion cubic metres (47,000 km³).” In order to reach these gases hydro-fracking must happen. More than 70% of the US natural gas will be tapped into due to this process. Natural gas is already becoming a better alternative, and in the future will be the only form of energy provided.

In order to break into the Earths crust, or fracking, there are certain chemicals that raise some concern to the environment. Volatile organic compounds or VOC’s are emitted during this process and cause harm to the water sources and the Ozone layer. The question “is it worth hurting the atmosphere?” arises. Many people attribute increased CO2 levels to hydro-fracking, and in result global warming is caused.

Financed research shows that exposure to such contamination has led to birth defects, cancer, and other long-term health defects. I think it is a little extreme to make these accusations but it is possible.

Realistically, hydro-fracking is a process that is a necessity for our economy. If companies do not extract the Earth’s precious fossil fuels many small business will suffer. The transportation business alone with not be able to operate without having oil and gas. Since 2008, carbon emissions have actually decreased due to businesses and consumers having a large amount of natural gas to use rather than oil. Although the short-term effects seem grim, hydro-fracking’s long-term benefits outweigh the risks.

Sources

http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/media/weowebsite/2012/goldenrules/WEO2012_GoldenRulesReport.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1817691/

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/07/12/3801578.htm

Observations of Lego Robot:

First Run:

Time: 1 second

The recorded circumference: 0.1413

Power output of both wheels: 75

RPM’s: 1.52778

Distance traveled: .21 cm

Distance measured with ruler: 27 cm

Percent Error: 22.22%

Second Run:

Time: 1 second

Power output of wheels: 90

RPM’s: 1.72778

Distance recorded: .24413cm

Distance measured with ruler: .28cm

Percent Error: 14.29%

After running both experiments, I observed that the more powerful the wheel output is the less percent error occurs. Some discrepancies that may have occurred could be measurement of distance with the ruler, the wheels may have ran longer than one total second, and the measurement on the circumference could have been bigger or smaller than actual measurement.

Why this is important: it is important because this is an example of how car engineers use robotics to identify ways to manufacture cars to be more energy efficient. Although we did a much smaller scale with Lego’s, the same concepts apply to real-life examples that scientist perform everyday. Understanding how to conduct and properly analyze data will be useful for any student looking to get a job in the energy sector.