Hydrostatic Water
In our second group lab we studied hydrostatic water. What we wanted o figure out was how long it would take for the water to flow through different sized holes at the bottom of a cylindrical container.
What We Need to Figure Out
Velocity
Volumetric flow rate
Materials
A bucket
Two stable surfaces (notebooks) for containers to balance on
3 Cylindrical containers (empty soups cans with lids removed), label as 1, 2, and 3
Drill with 3 different sized drill bits
Ruler
Stopwatch
Marker
Steps
(The containers were pre-drilled and marked for us)
1. Measure and record diameter of the bottom of the can
2. Drill a hole through the center of the bottom of the can
3. Mark the inside of each can with a line, 3 inches from the bottom
4. Place the soup cans next to each other on the bucket leaving a gap for water flow through
5. Cover the hold of your 1st can with your finger and fill to the marked line
6. Remove finger as you place can on notebooks on buckets, with the hole above the gap
7. Measure the time it takes for the water in the can to deplete.
8. Record data and repeat steps with rest of cans
Results
Here is a chart of our collected data
Here is a chart for out analyzed data
What we observed was that as the size of the hole in each can increases so does the average velocity of the water flow as listed in the chart. Can 3, which had the largets hole, hda the greatest avergae velocity followed by 2 then 1.
(L to R: Donny Barnas, Erik Storer, Nancy Afonso, Nixandra McGuffie)
Purpose of the Experiment
Our objective is to examine the relationship between energy and a moving object
Objective
Determine the effect of releasing a ball from different heights on a ramp affects the potential and kinetic energy of the ball. Find how manipulating height affects potential energy and ball’s ability to break through obstacles. Furthermore, we want to find how many joules of energy tissue and foil can withstand before ripping.
Questions
1. At which angle of the ramp in relations to the ground will produce the greatest level of velocity?
2. What is the maximum amount of gates each ball is capable of penetrating?
3. How does the size/weight of the four different balls affect their end results?
4. Does changing the height or starting distance of the balls significantly affect the end result of broken gates, if so how?
Materials
1 weighted ball (60g)
Adjustable, metal curtain rod (used as ramp). We cut off one curved end of the rod to make our ramp linear
Tape Measure
Tin foil and tissue paper (used as gate sfor ball to break through)
Stop Watch
Weighted Sphere/Ball
Curtain Rod used as ramp
Principles
The main principles tested in our experiment are potential energy, kinetic energy, and velocity.
Potential Energy: The energy possessed by a body as a result of its position or condition rather than its motion. In our experiment, potential energy is the energy of the ball before it is released down the ramp. As the height of the ramp increases so does the gravitational potential energy of the ball allowing the ball to covert more potential energy to convert to kinetic energy as it rolls down
Potential Energy = Mass x Gravitational Acceleration x Height
Kinetic Energy: The energy possessed by a system or object as a result of its motion. Kinetic energy is dependent on two variables: mass and velocity of the object. As the ball rolls down the ramp potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy.
Kinetic Energy = ½ x Mass x Velocity^2
Velocity: The rate and direction of the change of an object or simply speed in a given direction. The distance traveled by the ball from the top of the ramp to its destination point over the time spent to reach that point.
Velocity = Distance / Time
Procedure
1. Measure length and height of rod
2. Calculate Potential Energy
3. Place tissue/foil at end of rod
4. Hold ball in starting position and release
5. Calculate Velocity and Kinetic Energy
6. Document other findings (i.e. did ball break through tissue paper/foil)
Results
From years of nose blows ripping through our tissues, our group reasoned that with tissue’s minimal density, the ball would have a better chance of rolling through the paper. This is because its lesser density would require less energy of the ball.
Our results proved us right. The ball was able to rip through the tissue when potential energy was at 0.104 Joules whereas the ball did not break through the foil until potential energy reached 0.224 Joules.
Here is a chart and graph of our data:
As shown in the above graph and chart, the “gates” broke when potential was at its highest. This is because height is a major component of potential energy. As height increases so does potential energy needed for the ball to break through.
Kinetic energy remained constant during all trials because the mass of the ball was unchanging (.06kg or 60g) and it traveled the same distance in the same amount of time, velocity (1.38m/s). This means that the ball’s potential energy in this experiment is the most determining factor of the ball breaking through the tissue/foil.
Questions Answered
Q: What was the lowest height that will cause a break in the tissue and tinfoil?
A: For our 60g ball test the minimum height was 0.17m for tissue and 0.38m for foil
Q: How many joules did each of these heights equate to for potential energy?
A: For the tissue 0.104J and for the foil 0.224J was required.
Q: How does the size/weight of the four different balls affect their end results?
A: Discuss after class activity.
Q: Did you notice the potential energy increased or decreased in relation to height?
A: As height increased the P.E. also increased
Q: Does changing the height or starting distance of the ball significantly affect the end result of breaking the gate, if so how?
A: The higher the ball the more joules are present providing enough velocity to eventually penetrate the gate subjective to starting height.
From our experiment we could rewrite the age old saying to the higher they are the harder they fall.
On March 11, 2011 in Japan a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck. The quaking of the ground causes the three reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to commence an automatic shutdown of their operations. About one hour later the city is again hit but this time by a 14 meter tsunami triggered by the preceding earthquake. More than 10,000 people were killed in the natural disaster. The following events lead to one of the greatest nuclear disasters caused by natural disasters.
The tsunami disabled AC power to Units 1, 2, and 3. Along with the waters of the tsunami went the fuel tanks which were required for the operation of the emergency diesel generators. A series of water injection and cooling system fails and hydrogen explosions results in damages to Units 1 through 4. These failures and damages allowed large amounts of radioactive materials to be released into the environment.
Radiation
According to the World Nuclear Association, during ventilation of two of the units, the radionuclides caesium and iodine were released and later found in areas surrounding the power plant. The hydrogen explosion sparked a release of even more radioactives on and weeks after the disaster occurred.
Used radiation suits used in the wake of the disaster
One week after the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission advised an evacuation of people under 40 years old within a 20km radius of the power plant. Their suggestion was based on worry about children ingesting radioactive iodine-131 through milk or some other way.
In the evacuation zone, tests revealed contamination from caesium-137 which has a 30 year half-life and also the iodine-131 which has an 8 day half-life.
This chart shows ionizing radiation doses and the effects of that radiation/equivalency.
| Dose (mSv) |
Effect |
| 0.1–0.3 |
chest X-ray |
| 3–4 |
world average dose per
year of exposure to radiation |
| 0.6–2.7 |
stomach radiography |
| 7–20 |
CT scan |
| 50 |
dose limit per year among
radiation workers |
| 200 |
lifetime exposure to
natural radiation |
| 500 |
decrease in lymphocytes,
cataracts |
| 1000 |
acute radiation damage,
nausea, vomiting |
| 2000 |
5% of those exposed die
within several weeks |
| 3000–5000 |
50% of those exposed die
within several weeks |
| 7000–10000 |
95% of those exposed die
within several weeks |
| 20000–60000 |
cerebral edema,
respiratory distress, diarrhea, fever, circulatory failure within 1–2 weeks |
| 100000 |
instant coma, death within
hours |
After the disaster, most expected radiation injury to be rampant among civilians. However, none suffered from acute radiation injury: full-body exposure to high dosages of radiation resulting in sever bodily damage. But the long-lasting effects of radiation exposure after the crisis will be revealed through late radiation injury: full-body exposure to low doses of radiation. Effects usually take several years/decades to appear. Typical sicknesses that result from this are leukemia and cataracts. It is late radiation injury which many Japanese people are concerned about and waiting to see how their future health will fare.
After the disaster there were about 160,000 evacuees displaced from their homes. Many evacuees were sent to places such as auditoriums and other large facilities which could house large numbers of people. Radiation screens were pre-requisites for entering into facilities. Many families were separated as a result of differing toxicity levels and consequently housed separately.
More images from the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
___________________________________________________________
References
HOSAKA, TOMOKO A. and SHINO YUASA. “Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Death Toll Exceeds 10,000.” Huffington Post. (2011). Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/25/japan-death-toll-earthquake-tsunami_n_840435.html>.
Kazunori , Anzai, Nobuhiko Ban, Toshihiko Ozawa, and Shinji Tokonami. “Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition.” Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 50.1 (2011): 2-8. Print. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.D-11-00021
“Fukushima Accident 2011.” World Nuclear Association. (2011). Web. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/fukushima_accident_inf129.html>.
Chart
Kazunori , Anzai, Nobuhiko Ban, Toshihiko Ozawa, and Shinji Tokonami. “Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition.” Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 50.1 (2011): 2-8. Print. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.D-11-00021
Image URLs
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110315-nuclear-reactor-japan-tsunami-earthquake-world-photos-meltdown/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20042270-503543/japan-earthquake-how-big-was-it-/
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-05/children-of-fukushima-wait-for-un-radiation-study
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/11/pictures/111111-nuclear-cleanup-struggle-at-fukushima/
http://nige.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/the-explosion-on-12-march-2011-of-the-outer-concrete-containment-building-of-japans-fukushima-dai-ichi-nuclear-reactor-number-1/
http://journeys4good.com/on-location/fukushima-50-japans-volunteer-heroes-and-the-international-volunteers-they-inspire/
http://www.news.com.au/world-old/magnitude-quake-strikes-japan/story-e6frfkyi-1226022184537
http://www.earthquakejapan2011.com/
nixandra
November 8, 2012
As a class trip, we visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (MIT-NRL). The MIT-NRL houses and operates a 5 megawatt (MW) nuclear reactor (MITR) which runs at 50°C (the temperature of hot bath water). Currently the reactor is the second largest university reactor in the entire country but don’t let this fool you – it’s still small enough to fit inside a hug (though I wouldn’t recommend doing so). According to the MIT-NRL, the MITR is “a light-water cooled and moderated, heavy-water reflected nuclear reactor that utilizes flat, plate-type finned, aluminum clad fuel elements.” From what I learned, the reactor has more security than Obama that not only protect it from being taken out but also help keep any contaminants in. To spare ourselves of further details that neither of us will understand I’ll put it simply: The reactor is not used to generate any electricity but rather it produces neurons that scientists and researchers use in their studies. Even if it was used to generate electricity, after all of the power lost in transmission of energy, its 5 MW capacity would only be able to power a bunch of light bulbs.
(Models of the MITR)
Starting our tour of MIT-NRL was like something out of a Bond movie. We had to leave all of our belongings behind and have our starting radiation levels tested to measure any hazardous changes to it when we came out. We then went through one security door and two sets of blast proof doors before entering into the steel box containment building where the MITR is held.
Then we were shown around. We learned that the MIT-NRL used to conduct research on humans, specifically though with tumors. This is a form of therapy called Baron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Patients used to be held in a room under the reactor and scientists could use what I interpreted as a ray gun to target the tumor wherever it was, usually in the brain.
Now if the MIT-NRL conducts such studies humans are no longer involved and lab mice are used as a substitute.
We were lead down to the control room where someone must always be present to check for any abnormalities in the neutron flux levels of the MITR. Most of the controls are analog because of resistance from head organization to make the switch to digital. Their resistance is based on many things like being more able to control analog but mostly it’s just unwillingness to make changes. I say this because between the two, digital is more accurate, quicker, and easier to use.
As someone coming in with very little knowledge, I imagined what it’s like to be in a control room when something went wrong. Surrounded by all of those different buttons and controls and light flashing I think I would look something like this
When the tour was finished we were lead back out through the blast proof doors and each of us had to stand on a contamination monitor which looked like a robot to make sure we were “clean” of any contaminants we may have been exposed to.
(Contamination Monitor)
All in all it was an interesting trip and I learned a lot about nuclear reactors. It was good to get some hands on (not literally since we couldn’t touch anything) knowledge about all we’ve been learning.
