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8/24/2007
Find an 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:// This article was about a microburst that hit Salem on August 10, 2007. Many thought it was a tornado, but since the winds were only 85 mph, it could not be considered a tornado. Doors were ripped off their hinges, the windows of cars shattered, debris was flying everywhere, and people took shelter. This was a very dangerous situation for the citizens of Salem. Many funnel clouds hovered over the ground, but none of them reached the ground. Although, the day after the microburst hit, much of the town was already rebuilt.

This is related to the lesson that is studied in class because of the flying debris. The debris were sent flying into the air, going up fast, and then falling back down on the town. This is a form of parabolic motion because the objects go up fast, slow down, and fall fast back to earth. This is how it is related to the study of projectile motion.

-David J

ABDELRASUL, MAYSOON. "Officials Rule out Tornado." __Vindy.com Officials Rule out Tornado__. 11 Aug 2007. 27 Aug 2007 http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/308800031279476.php.

//Comment 1:// //The style of your entry is very good. I felt like one thing you could have done to make it better was to specifically address how it relates to what we did in class. How did the tornado affect the path of the debris? I also think that you should indent to start your second paragraph. You were able to summarize the article well with no grammar errors. Good job, David.//

-Emily A.

Comment 2: The topic was a bit confusing on how it relates to parabolic motion. I understand your point but you should of put some detail. Otherwise I like your topic. -Adit N

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 doing the mystery density cube experiment, using the scientific method was very important. I started by finding the Quantitative data. Then I found the Qualitative data of each cube. Using the collected data, it allowed me to form a hypothesis of the substance of each cube. Doing the experiment in the order of the scientific method allowed me to collect the data for my hypothesis easier. In doing the experiment, if you were to put the wrong number of rows or columns, it could mess up the whole experiment. Also, when you do not know what one of the substances is, never guess. In this experiment, if you do not find the density, you will have no idea how each cube is different. If the cube is wood and another looks similar, then you would not be able to tell which wood is which substance. -David J.

//Comment 1: I was very impressed by your writing, but you just made a few errors. The first thing that I noticed that you did not put anything about how this experiment was difficult or easy. The when your were answering the 3rd question you did not say why it was important. After that I noticed that you did not sign your name, remember just first name and first letter of your last name. Just fix those few errors and I think that your blog entry will be really good! -Nathan N.//

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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://A flame test is when using heat and a gas element, you can create colorful light. This relates to fireworks for when a firework blows up, it turns a certain color. Well, the color doesn't just come from anywhere. The color comes from the element that is inside the firework and when the match is lit, the flames reacts with the gas element, causing the colors. Once the firework explodes, the color is emited from the firework. There is no actual fire, for the gas is changing the color of the fire. This is how flame test is related to fireworks. -David J.

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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:// In the reation simulation, when the sodium solid was dropped into the chlorine gas, the sodium began to voilently react with the chlorine. The minute the sodium was added, an ionic bond was formed. One electron from a sodium atom was given to a chlorine atom, making each atom have a full outer energy level. Although, the sodium became positivly charged and chlorine negativly charged. SInce this occured, the two atoms bonded together, creating salt. -David J.

//Comment 1:// **Okay, well, this was really really good! I think that you really grasped the reaction and the change of state. There were a few tiny things you could change though, and that might be wording. In a few places the meaning was unclear for the reader. Also, you could maybe use some more terms like "this was a physical reaction" or something of the sort. But I did see that you used some terms and that, from my knowledge, the paragraph was all correct. So good job!!!! I give you an A!!!**
 * - Anna :P**

Comment 2: Great Job, David! It was a thorough analysis and it was clear that you thought about the reaction and the bonding process. There were many spelling errors, so I suggest that you should use Microsoft Word, which has spell check, so that it lets you know when your spelling is incorrect. Then you can copy and paste it into the blog so that your explanation seems more sophisticated. Good, specific descriptions that make it clear to the reader! Nice! I would give you an A-. -Emily :)

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 experiment was the chemical reaction labs. Experimenting with all the different chemicals, ecspecially the sodium and water one, was a very cool thing to do. The snakes, Diablo and Peppermint, are the coolest class pets ever. I've seen them eat twice and also I was the one who taught Peppermint to eat the micelet. It is fun to hold them and watch them climb around in their cage. I think I did a fairly good job this trimester. I could have studied a little harder than I did, and improved in quizzes.// -David J.

//Comment 1:// I think that David had an amazing grasp of the concepts that we learned in this trimester.

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1/3/2008
Our next unit is about electricity and electronics. Observe the following graph, Graph 1. Write at least five sentences for each of 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.]

Here is an example statement: "Graph 1 shows that from 1960-1965 there was a steady increase in the use of coal as a source of electricity. It rose from roughly 0.2 trillion killwatthours to 0.5 kilowatt hours.

Entry: 1.) In Graph 1, coal had an increase going steadily up. The other major sources, had times when they were up, and times when they decreased. Coal, on the other hand, only fell by a few points at a time. Even so each year more coal usage made the amount go up. Therefore, coal is the highest increased energy source in the U.S.

2.)Natural gases contribute to global warming. There are many forms of natural gas, including a gas everyone makes. This gas is mostly made by cows, for they spend most of the day grazing and passing gas. Therefore, the natural gas that is being created it filling the air, disrupting the ozone layer. Because of the ozone disruption, global warming starts to happen.

3.)The two most used electricity sources in the U.S. from 1972 to 1985 were Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Coal. These were the electricity sources with the highest amount of usage. Each stayed at least over 0.4 during this thirteen year period. The Coal, however, was used more than the Petroleum and Natural Gas. The other two elements were lower than both of the trendy electricities, except when it reach 1985, and nuclear electric power became greater than Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Comment 1: Okay well I think you overall did a good job. But I think you could add more on how their overall trends. So you schould maybe talk about the graph a bit. Comment 2: David I liked how you explained everything throughly. I felt like I could really understand you. The only thing i hated was your choice of words. I did not like the part when you said steadily up. I am just trying to point out that you should try to correct these thing now cause they will hurt later. COMMENT 3: "REFER TO THE GRAPH The two most used electricity sources in the U.S. from 1972 to 1985 were Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Coal DATA. These were the electricity sources with the highest amount of usage REPETITIVE. Each stayed at least over 0.4 UNITS during this thirteen year period. The Coal, however, was used more than the Petroleum and Natural Gas DATA. The other two elements were lower than both of the trendy electricities REWORD, THESE ARE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY, except when it reach 1985, and nuclear electric power became greater than Petroleum and Natural Gas. RE-PHRASE TO GET THE OVERALL TRENDS AND A CONCLUDING SENTENCE" - 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.**//

Entry: In 2000 to 2005, according to graph one above, in 2000 coal was the number one most used source of electricity, reaching 2 trillion kilowatt hours. Although, the other three electricity sources are confirmed to be below one trillion kilowatt hours (SENTENCE FRAGMENT). In graph 1, petroleum and natural gas and nuclear electric power are even at 0.6 trillion kilowatt hours. Hydroelectric power is below 0.5 trillion kilowatt hours. As graph 1 moves to the year 2005, coal is rising slightly and has a usage of 2.1 trillion kilowatt hours. Petroleum and natural gas is now greater than nuclear electric power at 0.7 trillion kilowatt hours. Hydroelectric power is still lower than all the other sources of electricity at 0.3 trillion kilowatt hours. In conclusion, at the end of 2005, graph 1 states coal and petroleum and natural gas are the most used sources of electricity. FAIRLY GOOD JOB- JT

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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 lightbulb 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 measure of electric power. To calculate the amount of electrical power in a circuit,the equation power (P(W))=Current (I(A)) x Voltage (V(V)) must be used. This will give the amount of electric power.Well, if a fan were to be left on for 24 hours running at 200 watts, the 200 would be multiplied by 24. 24 x 200= 4800 watts, which is equal to 4.8 kilowatt hours for a kilowatt hour is 1000 watts.

Comment 1:David, You demonstrated a good overall knowledge of the topic and all your answers are correct but there were a few mistakes in the piece. You wrote in first person not third. Also it was a 200 watt light bulb not a fan I was also confused by all of the parentheses when you were describing watts. Other than that you did a good job and knew how to do the calculations. – Thomas W

Comment 2: I agree with Worm that the parentheses confused me when you wrote the formula. Also it's a lamp and not a fan. You showed that you understand how to solve it, so I am not too worried about that. Good job and keep up the good work! One more thing, I disagree with Thomas that it was written in first person. It is written in third! ~ Jennifer N.

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: in this trimester, I learned how to use a circuit board and how difficult it is to use them. I had some difficulty understanding the electronic terms. Diablo has grown a lot this trimester and is a great snake. Peppermint is fun to play with, too. The circuit board was the best technology we used. -David

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4/22/2008
Go to: [|The Tech Museum: Robotics]. Spend 10 minutes browsing the information and museum. Answer the following blog prompt in complete sentences and in third person. Create a full paragraph. If in the future machines have the ability to reason, be self-aware and have feelings, then what makes a human being a human being, and a robot a robot? Explain. Are there any kind of robots that shouldn't be created? Or that you wouldn't want to see created? Why?

Entry: In the future, robot would probably have a more monotone voice than human. Also, they wouldn't have skin, so they would be a metal shell. A type of robot that should not be created is a robot army. If a robot army was created and if they became too smart, they could take over the world. A type of robot that would be cool to see is a robot sport team. This would be cool because there could be no contact rules, so they could hurt each other any way they wanted. It would be awesome to watch. -David Johnson

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