“Pandora’s Promise” is a movie, documentary, released in 2013 by Academy award winning producer, Robert Stone. With climate control becoming more popular, disasters like in Fukishima, and with all the other energy technologies being available, Nuclear Energy has become very popular and controversial. The main premise of the movie is that it follows the paths of multiple people who were once very against nuclear energy, but then switch to being strongly for nuclear power.

One of the themes I noticed in the film that was said several times was along the lines of “what if what I believe to be so wrong, is actually what could be the right answer”. I think that this really highlighted the sensitivity of the subject. Someone who could be so devoted to an idea and then realize that they think the opposite was so interesting to me. Especially since in the end it really isn’t about pro or anti nuclear energy, but instead what is the right answer, what will help us survive. It shows that the scientist have no personal vendetta towards nuclear energy, they simply want what is best.

Furthermore on that, I found it really interesting to see how the peers of those selected for the documentary acted. Just because of a changed opinion, it is such a powerful topic that they are forced to risk there professional careers and personal relationships. Overall I found the movie to be very informative and not a bad watch.

Work Cited:

– Pandora’s Promise

– http://pandoraspromise.com

The purpose of this blog is to educate and inform the reader of the experiment conducted by my group mates and myself. To do this I will discuss what the experiment is, what materials are needed for it, the procedure of the experiment, and some of the results we received when finished.

After a group brainstorm meeting at the end of a class session we decided that we wanted our experiment to be creating our own battery using everyday currency coins (pennies/nickels). In our experiment, we aim to create electricity (voltage) from coins. This invention will not save you if you run out of battery on your iPhone, but it is a curious, simple, and fun experiment. Our goal will be to measure the voltage we produce, and thus, realize that if we vary the number of pennies and nickel coins, the voltage also will vary.

The way that this works is somewhat simple. Batteries convert the chemical energy of the two metals (electrodes) interacting with the acid on the mat board (electrolyte) into electrical energy. In this situation, the metal surface serves as the electrode and an electric current (movement of electrons from one metal to the other) is created when the wire connects both metal surfaces.

So now that you know a little more about how it works I’ll provide you with the necessary materials so you can try it yourself. To create around 1 volt of electricity you will need:

– 6 pennies

– 6 nickels

– 6 pieces of cut paper towels (smaller than a nickel)

– 1 glass of water (filled with 2 tablespoons of salt)

– 1 Multimeter (to measure voltage)

Next I will explain the procedure of the experiment. The first step is to pour two tablespoons of salt into a glass of water and try to keep it mixed with the water. The second step is to put in the pieces of paper towel that were cut to the size of the nickel into the water/salt mix. A little bit smaller cuts are helpful because if paper towels in between different coins touch, it can mess up the current. We do not want the pieces of salt paper touching each other. Moisten the pieces of paper with the salt, and put them on each nickel or penny (based on which quantity of each you are measuring). Step 3 occurs once you have each piece of salt moistened paper placed on the coin. You then must stack the coins. If you are only using pennies or only using nickels then just simply stack coins with the paper in between them. If you are conducting the experiment using both coins in one then they must be stacked in a particular order. The sequence should be:

– Nickel, Paper, Penny, Nickel, Paper, Penny etc… (nickel should be at the bottom)

The last step is time to test your battery with a Multimeter. The multimeter measures how much voltage is coming from the coin battery. (Please note, you can continue to add more coin sequences to the top of the other coins to get more voltage.)

When we completed the experiment our results were what one would predict. Using the materials required for one volt of electricity got us to that level. What was interesting was that the voltage was very short lasting. To get an accurate result, the multimeter must measure the voltage right after the battery is assembled. We believe that the voltage could be longer lasting if we use a different material to put in between the coins. The material would have to be thicker and absorb more of the salt water. Other sources that conducted this experiment showed the use of small cardboard cut outs. Overall we found that when the quantity of coins used increases, so does the level of voltage. Also, we found that strictly using pennies for the battery is less efficient than using nickels and pennies.

The Keystone XL pipeline is a 7 billion dollar project, which would incorporate a 1,700 mile long oil pipeline with the ability to transport 700,000 barrels worth of oil per day. The concept of the project is that it would act as a continuance or extension of an already existing pipeline. The current pipeline transports oil from Alberta, Canada to Illinois. The Keystone XL pipeline will transport oil from Alberta to Gulf Coast oil refineries. The company responsible for the project is called TransCanada. The pipeline will cross international borders and for that reason it will acquire approval from multiple entities. Each state that the pipeline would enter needs to OK the project. On top of that it also needs approval at the federal government level. An article I read indicated that the Obama administration likes the concept but they want to reconsider a route outside of Nebraska.

Another important aspect of the project that should be noted is the type of oil they are using and what is associated with that. The pipeline transports what is known as tar sand oil. Tar sand oil is a naturally occurring substance that is very common in Canada. It is a mixture of solid materials (sand and clay), water, and it is saturated in a petroleum (further described as bitumen). The reason this should be noted is that, while there is a surplus amount in Canada, tar sand oil is much more harmful to the environment then average basic oil. Tar sand oil emits a higher content of greenhouse gas. For this reason many oppose the Keystone XL project and it is having issues getting completed.

References:

– http://keystone-xl.com/?gclid=CI3zipSThL4CFYc7OgodphEAmg

– http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/keystone-xl-pipeline-just-the-facts-20111208

– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sands

At the end of one of our classes we were instructed to meet with our groups for our final experiment and have a brainstorm session. The purpose of the brainstorming was to figure out what we should do for our final experiments. The experiment idea had to be realistic, so that it is something that could be performed by the class. Another requirement was that it has to be interesting enough for the approval of our professor.

When meeting with my group for the first time I was pleased to find out that two out of the four of us majored in sciences. The first thing we did as a group was go around the circle and talk about all the different ideas or options we had individually been considering, if we all had ideas that is. One of the group members came up with the idea to create a battery that would use natural plant life as its energy resource. We all that that was a really cool concept but it would be too difficult or time consuming for others to replicate.

From that point we tried to come up with some more practical ideas. From there I gave out a couple suggestions of easier options. The one getting the most buzz feedback was to do an experiment that shows the difference in the rate of boiling water with an additive (salt, olive oil etc.) versus regular water. This worked because it was simple and doable, but it was a little off base from the class content and it wasn’t very interesting.

We then decided we liked the battery concept that had been discussed earlier, but we had to adjust it to meet requirements. We did some internet browsing and came across the idea to create a battery using simple everyday items. The battery would consist of the following materials: pennies, nickels, saltwater, and small paper towel cuts. At this point we a lll liked what we saw and ran it by the professor. Finally, the professor approved, we delegated tasks and a meet schedule, and the brainstorming session/class was adjourned.

Link to experiment: http://www.instructables.com/id/Penny-and-Nickel-Battery/

In June of 2013 the Presidential Climate Action Plan was released. In this plan President Obama and staff discuss the issues of climate change, why we need to manage it, and how this can be done. It is broken up into three main parts consisting of “Cut Carbon Pollution in America”, “Prepare the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change”, and “Lead International Efforts to Address Global Climate Change”. To fulfill the requirements of the blog and to diversify the content I am going to pick one of the President’s initiatives from each section to discuss.

The first section, cut carbon pollution in america, has five parts on how to do so. The part that I find the most interesting from this section is the third part, cutting energy waste in homes, businesses, and factories. I find this to be the most important because I think it is really relatable and doable. This initiative will only fortify Obama’s plan to get America n the right direction in terms of climate control. Obama announced in 2009 that his goal by 2020 for America is to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from the level recorded in 2005. The plan to cut the carbon emissions will be done through increasing the efficiency of our energy consumption. It states further that this will also benefit the people because we can lower the cost of utilities.

In the second section, prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change, there are three parts. This section is the most scientific in nature and touches on how the climate can hurt our nation and how we need to be ready for it. The third part of the section is the most interesting because it is most relative to our class. The plan tells us that in the spring of 2014 Obama will release the third climate assessment. The climate assessment is made so that we can highlight “new advances in our understanding of climate-change across all regions of the United States and on critical sectors of the economy, including transportation, energy, agriculture, ecosystems and biodiversity”. The thing that I found most notable from this part is that for the first time in our history as a nation the climate assessment will help convey scientific knowledge more practically to help decision makers prepare for climate change, rather than only trying to spread knowledge.

Finally in the third section, lead international efforts to address global climate change, there are only two parts. This section basically discusses how we can set ourselves on track to be the most climate sensitive (climate change ready/sustainable). Even though it is not the most important part the section I enjoyed the part about how we should enact free trade of environmental goods and services around the globe. I enjoyed this because it is kind of one of those conceptual ideas that arise when you think of a perfect world. By that I mean I like the idea that we can work together as a human race rather than by nations to leave a better world for the generations that follow us. What is great about the idea is that we are trying to get help from other developed countries that consist of 90% of the global trade of environmental goods and services. This option will only stimulate foreign trade and the US economy AND it result would be beneficial to our planet.

Reference:

– http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf

– http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-climate-action-plan

I was not able to go to this field trip because I an had obligation to my group for a project during that time. But, I have been to the Museum of Science multiple times and also did some research to fully meet expectation for the blog.

The Museum of Science (Boston) was originated from a group of men who enjoyed science and history. In 1830 they banned together and created Boston society of natural history. They then found a location suitable enough for a museum in the Back Bay area and it became known as the New England Museum of Natural History. It remained this way for quite sometime until after the second world war. After the war the old location was sold and the new location that we know today was opened, under the name the Museum of Science (or Boston Museum of Science).

The Museum holds around 700 different exhibits, and they are interactive! A few of the most popular exhibits listed are the optical illusions area, the butterfly garden, and the theatre of electricity. Outside of those there are even more options, like their Omni theatre or Planetarium. Additionally, visitors also have the opportunity to view live wildlife because the museum houses over 100 different animal types. On top of that the museum site is one of the few and most popular places to take a Duck Tour.

As far as how the experience will enhance my experiments, there are a couple ways. After doing research on the establishment I was surprised to see all the different things that they had going under one facility. There are so many ways and topics to experiment. The information learned definitely caused me to think more openly about what i want to do for our final presentation. The other factor is that they have a lot of good examples and information on electrical experiments (theatre of electricity). My group and I think we will be doing an experiment where we make our own battery, so we can look relative examples and possibly refer to the museum as a resource.

References:

– http://www.mos.org

– http://www.mos.org/history

When I found out we were going to the MIT Nuclear Reactor site I was excited. As a kid my dad worked near the area and I remember walking by and asking about it. Also, I am a strong advocate of field trips. When we entered the building connected to the reactor section there was a front desk and friendly staff waiting for us. I was surprised to find that the staff was somewhat younger and laid back to an extent because i was expecting more of a formal setting. Before moving to the reactor tour we had a quick debrief powerpoint given by a staff member. In his presentation he fortified concepts we discussed in class for example the difference of fission and fusion. Also, he went over the basics of the process of their reactor. One of the topics he discussed that I found particularly interesting was when he talked about the efficiency of their reactor in comparison with the average main producers.

To enter the reactor section of the site there was a short and easy process. We were each given a small device that indicates the level of radiation. The concept behind this is to make sure we are unexposed to radiation throughout our time there. After receiving the device we moved into a new area that is secured by a large metal door/gate. In this area all who enter need to be staff or have authorization of access. Behind the gate their is an area of operation for employees and it leads to the access point of nuclear reactor. The best way I can describe the entry point of the reactor would be like that of the entry to a spaceship/rocket. There is a big metal door, a very small box shaped area that connects to another large metal door, and the reactor is on the other side of it. You enter one side, close both doors to make sure there is no contamination outbreak, and then you enter the reactor area itself. The reactor section is surrounded by thick walls. They keep the inside at a slightly lower air pressure level so that air seeps inward. This effect was initiated for safety because radiation will not leak out.

The reactor was slightly smaller then I had guessed because the outer dome surrounding it is so large. Inside there are two separate areas that were used for medical research. The concentration of the radiation produced from the reactor can act as a medical option for those with cancer. While it can be effective, it is also dangerous and in comparison with other modern options it doesn’t really get much use. After this we went to the control room. In the control room all the levels and information from the reactor are displayed. The duty of the control room operator is to supervise that everything is running normally. In the rare case that there is an issue they have an automatic shut down of the reactor to avoid leakage. I would like to note that one of the employees notified us that if they tried to create the establishment as it is now that it would most likely not be allowed. The reason for this is that some would consider it too dangerous for a major city. When the tour concluded we went through the same process to exit with a slight variation. On the way towards the gate to leave there is a special machine that reads your body for radiation. It checks the exposed areas, being the hands and feet (shoes), and indicates green for good red for bad. If you get red, which is rare, it does not mean that it is a really big deal. In most instances they would apply tape to the area and it comes off easily. Afterwards we exit to the front desk area and the check the small device they gave us prior. To have it indicate a radiation level that is above normal would be highly unlikely at this point.

In conclusion I found the field trip to be a good time. It was nice to see something tangible that revolves around what were are learning.  

References:

– http://web.mit.edu/nrl/www/

– http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2011/07/mits-little-nuclear-reactor/

– http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/mits-nuclear-reactor/

The Fukushima nuclear disaster was a devastating accident that occurred recently in March of 2011 in Japan. It was the worst accident to occur that involved nuclear technology since Chernobyl in 1986. The Fukushima power plant when operational had six nuclear reactors and was a well functioning machine. The problem that arose was due to climate issues. The Fukushima power plant was forced to bear the wrath of a severe tsunami during a storm. This deadly tsunami originated from a previous earthquake that was given the name “Tohoku”.

When the tsunami hit the plant it caused three of the six nuclear reactors to meltdown. Now the worst part about this incident wasn’t that the machine was broken, the main issue here was that the three reactors were outputting extremely dangerous radiation into the environment. This created a harmful environment for those directly in the area, but even worse, it made the water radioactive. So, Japan was then faced with broken machinery, lack of energy output, staff injuries/deaths, clean up process/cost etc. When considering all these problems that were created practically out of nowhere from a factor of the climate it is easy to label this a major disaster. Just under 20,000 fatalities occurred due to the earthquake and tsunami. It is said that the levels of radiation exposure were so low that no lives could have been taken as a result from it.

Sources:

– http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/nuclear/safety/accidents/Fukushima-nuclear-disaster/

– http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident/

– http://www.newscientist.com/special/fukushima-crisis

Iceland has a rare geological environment that they use to their advantage. The country is located in an area with a high level of volcanoes. This also causes geysers, which help Iceland bring in tourism. They use the volcanoes to there advantage through geothermal technology. With geothermal technology the can use the volcanoes as natural resources to create heat and energy. In fact, they have been using this method for quite some time now and are actually leading the way in its development. To do this Iceland has developed five geothermal power plants, which account for around 26% of the nations total energy production. On a side note, all other electricity is created from hydro power except about a tenth of a percent, which is created using fossil fuels. The largest of the five is known as the Hellisheioi Power Station and puts out 303MW. The other locations, going from highest output to lowest, put out a lesser amount and are called the Reykjanes, Nesjavellir, Svartsengi, and Krafla Power Stations. Many Icelanders use the geothermal technology to create energy for their greenhouses.

Sources:

– http://waterfire.fas.is/GeothermalEnergy/GeothermalEnergy.php

– http://www.nea.is/geothermal/

– http://iceland.ednet.ns.ca/schedule.htm

The Stirling Engine is a heat engine that was created by Robert Stirling in 1816. The way it works revolves around the compression and expansion of air or a gas. They call the air or gas portion of the machine the “working fluid”, because it is what allows the machine to function and do work. Now there are two different types of Stirling heat engines. There is the Alpha and the Beta versions. The Alpha edition separates the working fluid into two different sections. In one section the working fluid is heated at a high temperature, while in the other it is cooled. This process of temperature change onto the working fluid causes expansion and compression of the sections, in turn moving the regenerator in a cyclical fashion. The Beta edition differs from the Alpha because it only has one section where the working fluid is held. One side of the section is heated, while the other side is cooled. Inside of the Beta machine there is a cylinder shaped tube the loosely fits in the section with the working fluid. As the working fluid adjusts in temperature it moves the tube, which runs the regenerator. AS technology advanced the Stirling engine lost popularity to the electric engine. The main issue with the Stirling model is that it has an external heat source. This makes it so that the engine takes time to warm up and it can’t change the power output level quickly. The machine doesn’t get as much use as it could because there are better alternatives. With that being said there are still modern day uses for the stirling engine. Some of these uses include powering a cordless hair dryer, powering exploration submarines, powering the militaries quietest subs, powering residential areas in Las Vegas and parts of the Netherlands, and even powering research stations in Antarctica.

A Peltier device uses thermoelectric cooling technology and can be used in three different ways. Theres the Peltier heat pump, Peltier solid state refrigerator, and the Peltier thermoelectric cooler. All types use the concept of the Peltier effect. The Peltier effect is made when there are two different conductors that heat and cool. The difference between the models is what the machine does with this effect. Once the current goes into the junction between the two conductors the machine can either eliminate, increase, or lower the heat level. Modern day uses of these machines include air conditioning units for residential and larger scale buildings or to generate electricity.

Sources:

– http://auto.howstuffworks.com/stirling-engine.htm

– http://www.discoverthis.com/article-stirling-engine-top10.html

– http://www.heatsink-guide.com/peltier.htm