Month: September 2015

Legomindstorm Experiment

3. Lego Mindstorm wheel

Robot Speed Experiment:

After learning the basics of lego Mindstorm, we used our acquired skills to learn how to calculate the distance a wheel moves. First we measured the circumference of the wheel. We then put a ruler next to the robot to measure the distance it traveled vs what the program said. We did three different trials for each power and time values. After completing the 9 trials(3 different power settings, each with three trials) we calculated the margin of error. We used the obvserved distance & the distance calcuated by the MindStorm program

Fracking

Fracking: 
Fracking is when we drill into the ground and spraying a high-pressure mix of water, sand, and chemicals at rock. The mix  cracks the rock to release gas in the rock. More fracking has happened in the USA recently.

How is fracking done? 

  1. A well is drilled and covered in steel to prevent leakage into ground water.
  2. Once natural gas or oil is found the well is curved and drilling is done across the rock’s surface.
  3. The high pressure mix of water, sand, and chemicals are sprayed through the cracking the rocks allowing oil & gas to flow through.
  4. Oil & gas are trapped. The waste created is stored at the site of fracking and then disposed of in an off-site waste management facility.

 

 

Potential environmental impacts of fracking: 

If an accident were to occur, countless underground water reservoirs would be contaminated, harming the environment around it. Duke university showed that water drank near a fracking site had dangerous levels of methane. Large amounts of water are used and transported to the site, the trucks used leave a powerful carbon footprint. Fracking could cause small earthquakes.

Pros:

  • Allows us to access oil & gas that were unable to recently
  • Increased oil production & decreased prices

Cons:

  • Can be extremely destructive to water supplies & air
  • Produces an immense amount of greenhouse gases
  • Drives us away from sustainable energy
  • Prevents investment in renewable/sustainable energy

 

Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401

http://www.livescience.com/34464-what-is-fracking.html

http://www.what-is-fracking.com

1. The U.S Energy Grid:

The U.S Energy Grid is a network of transmission lines that allow energy suppliers to power homes, offices etc. There are three interconnected systems in the USA that provide electricity to the country. High voltage distribution lines deliverelectricity from power stations to the populace.

The Energy Grid Infrastructure: 

The Grid has four major components: electricity generators, transmission lines, distribution networks, and consumer use. The individual generators in the Grids is where the energy is created. Energy can be created using different types of generators/power stations, They can be powered by coal, natural gas, or be hydroelectric. Transmission lines carry the energy produced to the populace. Homes, businesses etc are at the end of the grid.

1

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/how-electricity-grid-works#.Vft2dLQ-DVo

Smart Grid: 

The Smart Grid is an electric grid that  relies on technology to supply electricity. The electric grid would be upgraded to not operate at one capacity. It would increase effeciency becaue energy would be provided as needed. There are enough sensors, lines of communication and data points between the grid & populace to allow the grid to provide power on demand.

Below are a list of pors and cons of building a smart grid.

Pros:

  • Efficient & environmentally friendly grid.
  • Quicker recovery from a blackout.

Cons:

  • Extremely high cost.
  • Potential for cyber terrorism.

http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/article/power_grid.cfm
http://www.ibtimes.com/aging-us-power-grid-blacks-out-more-any-other-developed-nation-1631086
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/how-electricity-grid-works#.Vft2dLQ-DVo
http://energy.gov/oe/services/technology-development/smart-grid