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**8/24/2007**
Find a web article from a reputable news website that contains information about any type of projectile. The article must relate to some science topic this could include something having to do with the projectile of bullets or weapons but should not focus on killing! Write a short (1 paragraph) summary of the article and then describe how anything you have learned in the past week about projectile motion might relate to it (second short paragraph). Finish with a citation to the web article. Enter all of this under "Entry" below.

Entry: The Article I read was about a new technology that will track projectiles. It is a type of camera that can track their movements. There are new improvements on such things as high-speed imagery, and a "Trajectory Tracker". That is a next generation tracking camera that "provides consistent and accurate tracking of projectiles in flight using a computer controlled triggered rotating mirror positioned in front".

This relates to what we have learned about in science this week. The new technology tracks the movements of projectiles, and their patterns. We have studied in class, projectile motion, and variables to an experiment. The imaging tracks such things like speed, velocity, angle, and others. All of these are variables we discussed. Depending on them, such things as distance and height can change. All of the movements and flight patterns are tracked by this new camera.

-"Specialized Imaging To Unveil Innovations In High-Speed Imaging. "__Specialized Imaging Ltd.__. 8/21/2007 . 1996-2007.

Comment 1:Your first part of your first paragraph wasnt in third person. Everything was spelled right, and you had good grammar and you had alot of good information in your second paragraph. There were some statements in your paragraph, that you could take out. Overall you did a really good job!!!
 * Brittany*

Comment 2:

9/24/2007
Reflect upon the mystery density cube experiment. You may write in first person. Create a long paragraph addressing these questions:

1.) Was the scientific method necessary in this experiment? If not, why? If so, why? 2.) What made this experiment difficult? or was it easy? 3.) Is density very important in finding the identity of an unknown substance? . //Entry://

In this experiment it helped to follow the scientific method. You had to make an hypothises, research, and do the other steps for each cube. You would do all these steps so it would be easier when the time came to record it all in tables on the Wiki. Following the Scientific Method could also be challenging. For some cubes it was hard to determine thier identities. Some of the cubes of wood for example, weighed the same, felt the same, and looked the same. That would make it hard to decide if it was mohagany, pine, or oak. Also sometimes it was hard to find the density and definition of a cube. This making the research part of the scientific method hard. Density is important in finding the identity of a unknown substance. Whether a cube, or not. We had to find the density of each of the cubes, and it would help us decide what we thought the identity of that cube really was.

//Comment 1: Good job! You stuck with your one idea the whole time.You explained in detail what you meant. Eric// //said, "For some cubes it was hard to determine thier identities. Some of the cubes of wood for example, weighed the same, felt the same, and looked the same." Is there another way to find out the identities of the cubes? Your detail paragraph made it easier for your readers to read. Overall, your blog was very good! - Caroline// Comment 2:

10/16/2007
What is a flame test in your own words? How does this relate to the use of chemicals in fireworks? Make sure to include your MLA citations you may not use Wikipedia! . //Entry:// Flame tests are used to see an elements color. To do this you put a wire in the element over fire. The color that the flame turns will show you the element. For example brass is green. Sometimes though, I think that it would be a little hard to tell which is which because some of the colors look a a lot alike. I think that in fireworks, there might be a some of whatever element has the color they want it to be. Like a red firework might have a hint of lithium in it.

//Comment 1://

Comment 2:

**11/1/2007**
Go to this site: [|http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=55 .]Click on "Watch the Reaction with Sodium and Chlorine" In your own words and in third person, create a blog entry describing the reaction and explaining what is happening in terms of the bonding. Write a long paragraph. Explain in detail.

//Entry:// //Sodium is a silver colored metal, and Chlorine is a green colored toxic gas.// //When the sodium atoms come in contact with the chlorine, it causes an ionic bond. Each sodium atom gives up one electron to the chlorine atoms. This transfer of electrons releases energy. The sodium is now becomes positive becuase it lost its negativley charged electron. The result of this is Sodium Chlorine, otherwise known as table salt.//

//Comment 1:// Your spelling is good. Even though you have seven sentences, your paragraph is a little short. All of your content is correct, but your first two sentences and your last sentence were not needed.All of your information was correct, and was explained good and throughly. For your whole paragraph I would give you an A- because of your length and the unneeded content. Over all your blog entry was good!! -Brittany W.

Comment 2:

**11/08/2007**
What was your favorite project, experiment or topic this trimester and why? (projectile motion, density cube experiment, podcasts, chemical reactions, flame tests, etc.) You can also comment about the snakes. What do you think that you excelled at this trimester? How could you have improved your performance in Science 7? (Make sure to check your spelling and grammar).

//Entry: My favorite thing we did this trimester was a podcast. We were in groups and Ms. Todd gave us each an element. I was with David, and Eric McDonald. We made a rap about the element gold. It was fun making it up and recording it. I did pretty well in this class, I got a B. There are some thing I could improve on. I’ll try to put more effort into everything I do, and study more for tests. I didn’t study enough for the test when we had to memorize the table of elements, a test I didn’t do well on.//

//Comment 1: "Gave our group an element" not "gave each of us an element"// Good job -Cannon Duke

Comment 2: You were an amazing influence on my science knowledge. You will always have a place in my heart. You always helped me when I was stuck on a problem on a worksheet. I am very glad that you in my class, and you made this class fun for me. You were with me on my podcast project, which was my favorite project for the whole year. I will always appreciate you being here in this class with me! -David

12/18/2007

 * 12/18/2007**

Our next unit is about electricity and electronics. In first person write a long paragraph about what you know about electricity and what questions you might like to have answered in our electricity unit. If you could investigate any subject area related to energy in the home, electricity, electronics, computers, etc. what would you like to research or investigate?

Entry: I haven’t really studied electricity before, so I don’t know much about how it works. In our upcoming unit, I would like to learn about lightning. I would want to know how fast it travels, how it works, and things like that. I don’t really know about how electricity functions. I know it plays a big role in today’s society, and I want to know more about it.

Comment 1:

Comment 2:

**1/3/2008!**
Our next unit is about electricity and electronics. Observe the following graph, Graph 1 and write an analytical paragraph describing what it means. Make sure to address what trends are observed; how things change over time, etc. Write at least five sentences for the following questions. Write in third person. Directly cite data and identify the graph (1). 1.) Which electricity source in the US has increased the greatest amount over the time period shown in the graph? 2.) Which of the sources listed below directly contribute to global warming? Provide evidence and explain using the Internet (MLA citation). 3.) Describe the overall trends from 1972 to 1985 regarding the US's sources of electricity.

[|This graph can also be seen at this LINK.]

Entry: Graph one (above) shows the use of several major energy sources over an 55 year span. The one source that has increased the most from 1950-2005 is coal. It is the most used by far. It rose from around 1 to 2 kilowatt-hours over this 55 year span. Sources that directly contribute to global warming are coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. Coal accounts for 93% of the damage. Another contributor, carbon dioxide, is around 20% from cars. This is concerning because of the huge numbers of vehicles and gas used. This is why people are pushing for innovative new cars which use ethanol and other things because it would be healthier for the environment. Other things that produce natural gas which contributes to global warming are planes and buildings.

Graph 1 shows that coal rose tremendously from 1972-1985. It has increased the most out of all the other major ones. It has increased .7 to 1.3 killowatthours over this time spand.

Maryiable, John. "Causes of global warming." __www.ecobridge.org__. unknown. ecobridge. 7 Jan 2008 <[|http://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_cse.htm>.]

Comment 1: I think you did a pretty decent job based on what you currently have on your blog, yet you only have two lines and four sentences in the first paragraph and only three sentence in the last paragraph. Try to lengthen the overall entry. Also, question two asked for which energy source directly contributed to global warming, yet you added carbon dioxide with cars. This is irrelevant because neither are energy sources. Overall, a nice entry! -Richard

Comment 2: As Richard said, you did a pretty decent job with what you have in your 3rd entry so far. You have 3 sentences so far and you need 5. Your almost there! What you need to do is describe the trends of the other major fuels other than coal. You did a great job saying and refering to "Graph 1" as seen in sentence 1. You also said when the data was recorded (1972-1985). Great job and continue to improve this paragraph! You did well. -Cannon

Comment 3: "Graph 1 GOOD shows that coal rose tremendously from 1972-1985 DATA EVIDENCE. It has increased the most out of all the other major ones DATA EVIDENCE, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ONES?. It has increased .7 to 1.3 killowatthours over this time spand." LENGTHEN THE OVERALL ENTRY BY BEING SPECIFIC AND ELABORATING. CONCLUDING SENTENCE WHICH SUMMARIZES THE TRENDS IS NEEDED. - jt

1/8/2008
Please read the paragraph below about energy use to create electricity from 1972-1985 in the US. Observe that the graph is referred to, there is an introductory statement, supporting statements are backed up with data, and that their is a concluding sentence. This would have been a well written paragraph for question 3 in our previous blog entry.

"As seen in Graph 1, there were four sources of electricity production in the US from 1972-1985. These sources were coal, petroleum/natural gas, nuclear electric power, and hydroelectric power. From 1972-1985, the US needed greater and greater production of electricity from these combined resources. This best example of this is that during these years, coal increased from 0.5 trillion kilowatthours to roughly 1.5 trillion kilowatthours. During this same time period hydroelectric sources remained approximately the same at 0.3 trillion kilowatthours. There was a slight increase in nuclear electric power sources from 0.1 trillion kilowatthours to 0.3 trillion kilowatthours during this same time period. Finally, petroleum and natural gas showed the greatest amount of fluctuation during this time period staying about the same from 1972-1980 at 0.4 trillion kilowatthours but then deceasing to 0.3 trillion kilowattthours by 1985. Thus, although greater and greater amounts of resources were needed to produce electricity during this time period, coal accounted for the greatest increase in use." - JT


 * //Using the above paragraph as a model, describe the changes in electricity production sources from 2000-2005. Make sure that you reference the graph (Graph 1). Make sure all statements are backed up with data. Make sure you have an introductory sentence and a concluding sentence that provide an overall summary/statement.//**

There are four different sources of electricity that are represented in Graph 1. These are coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydro electric power. From the year 2000 to the year 2005, the usage of most of these sources were at an all time high. Coal, which was used the most by far, started out at about 2 trillion killowhatthours, and rose slightly TO WHAT. Natural gas reached an all time high in this span of 5 years aswell SP. In the year 2000, it was at about .7 trillion killowhatthours, and slightly rose to almost 1 trillion killowhatyhours. Nuclear eletric power was at about .8 trillion killowhatthours, and stayed at about the same level over that 5 year span. The one source that did not reach it's high point somewhere between 2000-2005 was hydroelectric power. It was at its highest in the mid to late 1990's at almost .4 trillion killowhatthours. It took a slight dive SCIENTIFIC WORDS going into 2000, where it was at around .2 trillion killowhatthours, and it rose ever so slightly over the 5 years. In 2005 it increased by about .1 trillion killowhatthours. Overall in Graph 1, the 4 sources were at a highpoint. WORK ON YOUR CONCLUDING SENTENCE- JT

Comment 1: You did a good job overall on your blog entry. One thing is at one point you left out an 'n' on not which was you only actual spelling problem. You did great refering to the graph for evidence but just make sure all of the evidence you're using is correct. It was easily understandable and it was good that you went in the order of the sources that were named which kept it so I where i knew where you are. The only part that was moderately confusing was the last part becase you started to replace Hydroelectric power with "the". Overall a great job. -Connor =')



2/05/2008
 What is a watt? How do you calculate the amount of electrical power that is used in a circuit? Finally, if a lamp with a 200 watt light bulb burned for 24 hours straight (you forgot and left it turned on), how many kilowatt hours would it use? Make sure to write in complete sentences and in third person. Explain how you calculated the amount of kilowatt hours that would be used in the question above.

Entry: A watt is a way to measure electrical power. The way that to calculate it, would be P=V*C. That equation stands for power= voltage times current. Another measure of this would be kilowatt hours. The way to find the amount of kilowatt hours if a lamp with a light bulb burned for 24 hours straight would be to do 24*200 / 1000. It would be 4.8 kilowatt hours.

Comment 1: Overall Good job. I think you could've made it more lengthy and made the sentences more interesting and thought provoking. It wasn't very interesting and you didn't fully explain what you did to find it. You have the basics but i think you elaborate more and make it more intruiging. You did well! = ) -Connor

Comment 2: Great job on your writing style. You could have made it more lengthy and you could have explained more of what a watt is. You did a fabulous job of explaining the equation. You got the answer to the problem, but you could have explained about the real-life situation of that answer. You also could have written in a little bit better third person. Wonderful Work - David

2/28/2008
This trimester we started by finishing up our chemistry unit by doing an acid/base experiment. After this, we started our electricity/electronics unit in which we first made basic series and parallel circuits with buzzers, speakers, motors, and lights. We applied ohm's law to these experiments. Following this, we started working on the Radioshack Electronics Kits where we made complex circuits that had a variety of functions- blinking LEDs, screeching speakers, analog to digital converters, etc. The technology we used this trimester included the pH probes that we connected to our computers to get the pH of household chemicals, using the wiki to create an class test review sheet, the Radioshack Electronic Kits, and creating collaborative lab reports in the wiki for our electronics unit (instead of a formal lab report).

//__In this blog prompt, please write a paragraph long entry (5-6 sentences with a intro and concluding sentence) that addresses what you enjoyed during this trimester and what you have learned. You can also comment on what you would like to improve upon for next trimester or what was difficult for you. Feel free to comment on our snakes- Peppermint and Diablo if you would like to as well as the technology that you enjoyed this trimester. Please check your spelling and grammar as this blog entry may appear in your end of trimester comment. You may want to write it in Microsoft Word to check the spelling, etc. and then copy it in the blog.__//

Entry: One thing that I have enjoyed this trimester was the snakes. We got them as little babies, and it has been really cool watching them grow. Everyone enjoys having them out during class. Something else that I thought was fun during this trimester was building the circuit boards. The radio shack lab was probably my favorite thing that we have done, because in it, you are so active. You actually get to insert everything, and then at the end of it you get to see what the final product is. Sometimes it would be challenging to make the more complicated circuits, but it’s always fun to try. Another lab that I thought was fun was the Litmus paper lab. It was very interesting to see all of the results. During this trimester we have always been kept busy, and it has been fun.

Comment 1: Eric, I really enjoyed working with you this trimester. You were fun to work with and helped me on confusing problems. You were an intellectual influence upon me this trimester. I was with you in a group for the first circuit that we had to create and we had fun while learning to do it correctly. Wonderful work this trimester. ;-) David

Comment 2: