Month: December 2015

This experiment was done to understand the relationship between the distance and wavelengths of light (distance of the flashlight) and the voltage output of the cell.

The first thing we did was found the effect that the distance had on the voltage output. We were able to do this by altering the distance of the flashlight from the solar cell. We started at 0 CM, and we continued to move the flashlight away by 2cm each trial. We were able to find that the closer the cell was the higher the voltage output.

Next, we measures the effect that wavelengths had on the voltage output. We did this by placing different colored films on the solar cell and carried out the same experiment. We found that the pink filter was the one that resulted in the highest out put and the red filter was the lowest.

 

 

We learned how to use lego Mindstorm and had to carry out the task of measuring and calculating the distance the the wheel travelled. After finding the circumference of the wheel, when used a ruler that was placed near the robot to measure the stance the the wheel traveled. Once we collected this data, we compared it to what the program projected. The experiment was run three times at different power levels and for different times. Once we completed all the trials we found the margin of error and we were able to use what we observed to compare it to what was projected from the program that we used

Pandora’s Promise covers the topic of Nuclear energy. It tackles the question of whether or not Nuclear Energy is a safe alternative energy source and it focuses on where nuclear technology is headed in the future.

The film focuses on disasters such as Chernobyl, Fukushima Daiichi and the Three Mile Island accident to highlight the catastrophic events associated with Nuclear Energy. It also, emphasizes that all three of theses events, although significant, were made worst because of a lack of governance, safety precautions and proper training.

Something very interesting that I learned from the film was that unlike common belief, disasters like Chernobyl are often over dramatized by the media. The film uses stats from a UN report to show how that less than 50 people died in the disaster, yet it is comment misconception that millions were killed.

Another thing that I took away from the film is that Nuclear energy can be safe if the proper measures are put in place. Chernobyl, Fukushima and the Three Mile Island were all results of mistakes by those in charge and because of a lack of safety measures. That said, even though Nuclear Energy can be safe, it is inevitable that a mistake will occur at some point and in my opinion the risks outweigh the benefits. When something goes wrong at a Nuclear energy plant, it goes very wrong and unlike other forms of renewable energy, its consequences are disastrous and put millions at risk.