My group and I decided on an experiment called “A Good Sock”, which tested the insulation properties of socks.  Insulation creates a barrier between areas of different temperatures.  By creating a barrier between areas of different temperatures, heat or cold air is not allowed to escape or enter an area.  This allows us to keep an area at a certain temperature for a longer period of time, without using as much energy.  This is how it works:          In our experiment, we fill three glass bottles with hot water, but only covered two.  The two we covered were cover with a wool sock and a leg warmer.  The reason why we chose not to cover one of the bottles is because we wanted to see how fast heat escaped from an uninsulated bottle.  After the bottles were covered and we filled them with water, we used an NXT with temperature probes to record changes in temperature. Once the probes were in the bottles, we covered the area around the probes with cotton to prevent heat from escaping through the bottles’ openings.             First, we recorded the starting temperatures for each bottle: 171.2°F (No sock), 161.8°F (Wool sock), 200.2°F (Leg warmer).  After five minutes, we recorded the final temperatures: 158.2°F (No sock), 157.8°F (Wool sock), 194.7°F (Leg warmer).  We found that the wool sock provided the best insulation.  The change in temperature on the bottle covered by the wool sock was only 4°.                             This experiment showed that well insulated areas lose heat slower than poorly insulated areas.  By insulating areas better, we will not need to use as much energy to heat or cool an area.  Using less energy is better for our environment and for us because it will cut down on emissions and lower our heating and cooling costs.

To learn more about insulation and how it works, visit:                                                                           http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/insulation

The Keystone XL Pipeline proposal has sparked controversy, especially in recent weeks.  This proposal, should it get approved by the Senate, would expand the Keystone Pipeline system that is already in place.  The current Keystone Pipeline system is part of a network of pipelines that carries crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products across the United States and Canada. The Keystone Pipeline is a the portion that transports crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta to Regina, Saskatchewan, to Steele City, Nebraska, and on to Wood River and Patoka, Illinois, and Cushings, Oklahoma.  It is 2,639 miles long and has the ability to transport approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil per day.  The proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would be built by TransCanada, would allow more oil to be transported from Canada to refineries in the Gulf Coast to be produced into fuels, such as gasoline.  This would run from Hardisty, Canada to Steele, City Nebraska and then to  Port Arthur and Houston, Texas.

Approving this pipeline would create approximately 42,000 jobs during the period of construction and bring in about $3.4 billion to the American economy, while boosting Canada’s oil exports and economy.  It is also safer than mining and other ways of transporting oil.  However, it is a controversial issue for a reason.  Most of the jobs created will be temporary (only an estimated 35 permanent jobs).  It will also contribute to the already high greenhouse gas emission, adding about 18.7 metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere annually.  There was also controversy in Nebraska about the location of the pipeline.  Initially, the pipeline’s proposed location was in the Sandy Hills region, which is a sensitive area.  TransCanada then changed the location and was approved by the governor.  People then argued that the governor did not have the power to approve the location, only the Public Service Commission could. Also, part of the proposed pipeline would pass a major source of drinking and irrigation water from South Dakota to Texas: the Ogallala Aquifer.  This creates the risk of water contamination.  It is also controversial in Canada because of land disturbances, air pollution, water usage and contamination, interference with migratory animals, and the altering of ecosystems.

As of November 18, 2014, the United States Senate voted against the building Keystone XL Pipeline.  It was a close vote with 59 votes in favor of it and 41 against it.  For it to have been approved, it needed 60 votes in favor.

Websites used:

http://www.npr.org/2014/11/17/364727163/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline

http://www.c2es.org/energy/source/oil/keystone#GHG

http://www.vox.com/2014/11/14/7216751/keystone-pipeline-facts-controversy

http://www.transcanada.com/oil-pipelines.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/us/politics/what-does-the-proposed-keystone-xl-pipeline-entail.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/us/politics/keystone-xl-pipeline.html

For our end of the year project, we are going to one of the schools in Boston to conduct an experiment with high school students.  On my team are Brianna, Amanda, Colin, Irisa, and myself as the team captain.  Since this project is for our Sustainability, Energy, and Technology class, we knew we would have to choose an experiment that we could relate to the course.  After looking through the list of experiments on the website provided by Dr. Shatz, we decided we wanted to do the experiment called “A Good Sock”. This experiment uses glass bottles to test insulation.  In this experiment, which we will conduct next week, we will be filling these bottles with warm water, then covering them with cotton and wool socks.  Once the bottles have the socks on them, we will monitor the changes in temperature for each using a temperature probe.  The experiment is fairly quick, only 25 minutes!  After the 25 minutes are up, we will record our results and make a graph displaying them.

Last week we created our outline and our lab handout.  The outline consists of the reason why we are conducting this experiment, background on insulation, the procedure, what data needs to be collected and how it is to be collected, and questions that go along with the experiment.  It also includes a diagram depicting how insulation works. The lab handout is a less detailed outline of our experiment.  This week we started our PowerPoint presentation and will complete it on Tuesday, November 18th, once we have completed the experiment.  We also decided this week we will add another glass into the experiment and leave it uncovered.  This will be to see how much heat escapes without any insolation.

Good insulation in a building or home will make the place energy efficient.  Insulation works by creating a barrier between areas of different temperature.  This means in the winter, a well insulated house or building will use less energy to heat because the cold air is not allowed to enter and the warm air is not allowed to escape.  In the summer, it is the same except hot air is being kept outside and cool air is not escaping to the outside.

The less energy need to control the temperature in an enclosed space, the better because becoming energy efficient is critical in the quest to create a more sustainable environment.

Last week in class we conducted an experiment measuring the voltage output of a generator.  To do this we shook the generator, a small tube containing a magnet that traveled across coiled wires, in 30 second intervals at various speeds.  This experiment tested Faraday’s Law, which states changing magnetic flux through coiled wired will generate electricity and the greater the change in magnetic fluxes, the more electricity is generated.  We then had to record the number of shakes and the voltage output of the generator and graph the sum of the square of voltage in relation to the number of shakes in an Excel file. The most difficult part of this was counting how many times we shook the generator.  Our results proved Faraday’s Law because the voltage output of the generator increased with the number of shakes.  I would have liked to have included our exact data results and the graph showing them in this blog post, however, the Excel file containing our results would not open on my computer.

Last week, our class visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a lecture and a tour of their nuclear reactor.  When we first arrived, we needed to present a government issued ID and were given a pen-like object that measured radiation exposure.  This was to make sure we weren’t being exposed to too much radiation while on the tour.  Before the tour of the reactor began, we had a lecture that lasted about half an hour.  The lecture was all about the reactor and its history.

MIT’s reactor was built in 1958 and was later upgraded in 1975.  The reactor is a 6 megawatt (MW) reactor, meaning it can produce up to 6MW of thermopower.  This is small in comparison to other nuclear reactors that produce far more. It could fit inside a trashcan!  The reactor is used for research and educational purposes only, although it produces enough energy to heat the buildings at MIT.  It operates constantly, except when maintenance is being carried out.  The reactor also has a two-loop cooling system and automatic relieve valves.  Should the cooling system fail, the water inside will begin to boil and evaporate.  Air will then forcefully shoot out of the “chimney” and outside.  The automatic relieve valve serves as a way for the reactor to release built up hydrogen that can become dangerous.  There is also no risk of a meltdown because not enough energy is produce and there are many safety features in place.  The reactor uses Uranium 235 (92 Protons and 143 Neutrons).  When an extra neutron is absorbed, the process of fission takes place.  This neutron splits into two and releases two or three neutrons.  This keeps the chain reaction going.  Once the neutron splits, the “glue” that was holding it together get turned into energy.  To absorb these extras, boron is used.

After the lecture we went on the tour of the reactor.  Before we went on the tour we were told cell phones, bags, and gum were prohibited and anyone who had recently undergone radiation therapy was not advised to participate in the tour.  To get inside, we first had to go through a chamber that slightly changed the pressure.  The place where the reactor is located is large, even though the reactor itself is small.  We saw the many different things that occur inside of the facility, which was very interesting.  Before leaving the facility we had to be checked for radiation.  First we had to step onto a machine and place our arms through slots on either side of a screen.  The machine would then tell you if you were “clean” and you could exit.  Then, there was another machine where our hands and shoes were scanned.  After that we retuned the pens that record how much radiation we were exposed to.  Overall, the lecture and the tour of the MIT research reactor were very informative.  

Last week in class we conducted an experiment using a solar cell.  Solar energy works by taking direct sunlight and converting it into energy.  Solar cells, which are what was used in this experiment, generate an electric current when struck by sunlight.  The solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, generate an electric current by collecting particles of sunlight called photons and converting them into electrons of direct current.  These electrons then move into an inverter that converts the direct current into alternating current. (http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/solar_basics/how.php)

To start the experiment, we put the solar cell face down so that no light was striking it and recorded the voltage output in Excel.  We then measured the voltage output when our light source was at different lengths to see the relationship between light intensity and voltage output and wavelength of light and voltage output.

 After we recorded our results, we set our light source at 10 cm and placed different colored filters in front of the solar cell.  This was to see if colored filters affected the voltage output.  According to the data collected, the different colored filters didn’t have a major effect on the voltage output of the solar panel.  The colors that seems to affect it the most are gold and blue.

Here are the graphs showing the relationship between distance and voltage and voltage as a function of filter color.

The data results I am showing in this post are not our results.  After we completed the experiment all of our data was lost, so I am showing you someone else’s data from the same experiment.

Last week, Professor Tom Vales gave our class a brief, but very informative, presentation.  Professor Vales began the presentation by telling us about alternating currents.  Alternating current is when charges periodically change directions.  Alternating current is what is used in the Tesla coil, invented by Nikola Tesla.  The Tesla coil increases frequency and voltage.  Professor Vales then gave us a demonstration using the Tesla coil and different kinds of lights.

He first showed us what the spark looked like on its own.  Its hard to see in the photo, but the spark is about seven inches tall.

Next, he showed us what happens when a light comes within close proximity of the spark.  As you can see, the lights light up.  This amazed me because the lights were not attached to anything, they lit up because they were close to the spark.

Professor Vales completed his presentation by showing us how you can make the spark spin in a circular motion. It’s difficult to see in this photo, but that is what is happening here.

Although brief, the presentation was very informative and fun to watch.

Nuclear power has been a controversial topic since its start.  Nuclear power was originally used for the production and manufacturing of weapons, leading many to believe it would have a harmful impact on our society.  Anti-nuclear activists argue that continuing the support for nuclear power will have major negative effects on our health and the environment.  The pro-nuclear documentary Pandora’s Promise, directed by Robert Stone, argues that nuclear power is not what anti-nuclear activists make it out to be.  The documentary starts out by showing anti-nuclear protests and explaining misconceptions about nuclear power.  These protests included songs against nuclear power and chanting things like “No more nukes!”

Misconceptions about nuclear power, such as it causes cancer, give it a bad name.  At the beginning of the film Michael Shellenberger, who is now pro-nuclear, stated he always believed nuclear power was “something sinister” and a “lurking danger”.  Mark Lynas also stated, “I was against nuclear power because I am an environmentalist.”  The film attributes these views to “scare tactics” used to stop the nuclear power industry.  Scare tactics included reports of millions of deaths dues to exposure to radiation, shortened life spans due to exposure to radiation and genetic consequences that will last for many years to come.  After research conducted by respected health organizations, these were proven to be false.  The Chernobyl accident is the perfect example of this. The Chernobyl accident happened when a nuclear reactor, that was later deemed unsafe due to a design flaw and serious mistakes made by workers, exploded.  The explosion killed many workers and sent radiation into the atmosphere. Anti- nuclear activist made claims of millions of deaths and illnesses caused by this accident.  When researched by respected health experts, a direct link between exposure to radiation and deaths could not be found in most cases.  Also, the accident did not result in millions of deaths.

Later in the film, the benefits of nuclear power are discussed. Nuclear power would provide us with a clean, unlimited source of energy.  Nuclear energy produces steam and no carbon dioxide, meaning it is better for the environment.  Coal, which is where most of energy comes from, is the most dangerous out of all the sources of energy.  When coal is burned it releases carbon dioxide along with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury compounds (epa.gov).  These are harmful to our environment and our health.  The film also states that coal usage has the highest mortality rate and nuclear has one of the lowest.  Some might say waste produced by nuclear power is the most harmful, however, nuclear power produces has significantly lower amount of wastes.  Also, technological advances are ensuring nuclear accidents do not happen in the future.

Emissions associated with fossil fuels are not released by nuclear energy.  Nuclear energy is a clean and safe way to produce energy, which is essential because energy usage is expected to increase dramatically by the end of the century.   Not supporting nuclear energy would be a mistake because, as stated in Pandora’s Promise, being anti-nuclear means being in favor of harmful fossil fuels.  With this dramatic increase in energy usage and an increasingly unstable environment, nuclear energy appears to be the most reasonable option.

In class we conducted an experiment exploring Newton’s 2nd Law, the Law of Conservation of Energy, velocity and acceleration, and power.  To do this we used a Lego Mindstorm Motor to lift weights using a pulley.  First, we kept the power level at 75 and took weights off the pulley to change the mass.  By taking off some of the weights on the pulley, we increased the rate of acceleration.  Then we kept the mass at 0.25kg  and changed the power level. By changing the power levels, we changed the rate of acceleration as well.  The higher the power level the faster the rate of acceleration.  All of our data was automatically recorded in Excel.  Then using Excel, we determined Potential Energy and Power.

After we did that we made graphs representing Power Level vs. Power, Battery Discharge vs. Potential Energy, Mass vs. Acceleration (fixed power level), and Power vs. Acceleration.

Newton’s 2nd Law was tested when we kept the power levels fixed and changed the mass and when we kept the mass fixed and changed the power levels.  The Law of Conservation of Energy was explored when we kept the power level fixed and observed battery drainage.

Demand response is defined as changes in electrical usage by demand side resources from their normal consumption patterns in response to changes in the price of electricity overtime, or to incentive payments designed to induce lower electricity use at times of high wholesale market prices or when system reliability is jeopardized.  In other words, it reduces energy consumption to relieve stress on the power grid through higher rates at certain times of the day and financial incentives.  To do this energy users do simple things, such as, turning off lights, the AC, pumps and nonessential equipment for small amounts of time.  This is not too much to ask for because there are financial incentives, grid stability increases and it is beneficial to the environment.  By using less electricity, you are lowering your monthly cost for electricity, decreasing the risk of blackouts and reducing levels of carbon dioxide.

The electricity used to power consumers’ appliances comes from the power grid.  The power grid must support the base load, or the minimum amount of power estimated for daily use, and usage spikes that occur at certain times of the day.  During these peak times of the day energy use rises, increasing the risk of blackouts, or power supply loss.  Blackout are not only annoying and inconvenient, they are also very costly.  Blackouts cost businesses about $50 billion annually and in 2003, one cost New York City about $750 million.

Demand response will also lower the amount of carbon dioxide levels, which are harmful to our environment.  On average, homes in the United States alone release about 150 million tons of CO2 heating and cooling without demand response.

With an estimated 40% increase in energy demand by the year 2030, demand response is a must.  With demand response technology, peak load problems will be detected and power diversion and reduction in areas of concern will automatically take place.  These smart grids will also shift fuel types to balance fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Websites used:

www.enernoc.com

www.science.howstuffworks.com

www.energy.gov

www.ferc.gov