Griffin's+Blog+1

toc = = =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.

//Entry1:// //In Los Angeles, the local police have created an automobile that will recognize and record license plates, in case of a runaway criminal. As well as the license plate recognition, this police car can shoot projectiles to track down the car that is making an escape. The car releases a GPS dart that gives a signal to the police as to the location of the getaway vehicle. This way the criminals may think they have ‘lost’ the police, but the law will know the exact whereabouts of the car, and will chase the criminals.//

//This vehicle will help the law all around the world, but it m////ay not be produced anywhere. The car is greatly helpful yet the LAPD is not completely sure what will happen if the darts somehow miss a car and strikes a human. This form of projectile is a great benefit to police, and may someday serve other tasks as well.//

//Citation;//

TG daily news. "TG Daily: LAPD's dart firing, license plate reading, video streaming car." TG Daily. 26 Aug 2007 [|http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33491/113/.]

//Comment 1:// I think it was really good. The first paragraph was perfect. It explained the article really well, it was so good I thought you cut and paste it. The second paragraph didn’t exactly answer the question about how it related to our class work and our project. I see what you were thinking, but the question was a little different. Here's me being totally picky, the first sentence doesn't need a coma after license plates. Other than that awesome job!!! -Meredith G.

//Comment 2://

=9/24/2007= Prompt: 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?

//Entry2:// The Scientific Method was indeed necessary in the Density Cube Mystery experiment. We had to determine hypothesis for substances of the different cubes. In addition we were required to research the different substances for our hypothesis and for the final results. The group also found different masses and textures and other features. It was hard to perform this experiment because some of the given cubes looked and felt almost the same, and it was difficult to come across the differences. More difficulties arose when the group was first asked to make their hypothesis. There were twenty different substances to choose from for each of ten cubes, and many of the cubes could be more than one of those things. The density of a substance could be helpful, if the density of the substance as well as the cube’s density were given. It would greatly help to find any of the densities of the cubes.

//Comment 1: Comment 2://

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 a test used to determine the identity of an unknown metal based on the color of a flame. To do this, take a clean loop of wire. This can be cleaned by dipping the wire into hydrochloric acid. Then the loop is tested for cleanliness by putting into an open flame, and if the flame turns colors, it isn’t clean. Then dip the loop in a powder or solution of an ionic metal salt. Each different color determines a different metal. New York Times, "Qualatative Analysis- Chemistry Flame Tests." __About.com__. 2007. New York Times. 16 Oct 2007 <[|http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa110401a.htm>.]

//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:// The Reaction of Sodium and Chlorine began with a slab of sodium and a container of poisonous chlorine gas. The two reactants create a chemical change, and a flame within the container. Creating the product of a compound, NaCl, the sodium reduces to a pile of white crystals. The chlorine reacts with the sodium, making an ionic bond with the sodium losing one electron. This reduced the solid nugget of sodium to simple table salt through the orange-red flame.

//Comment 1: Y//ou did a good job of staying on topic and of using vocabulary from our unit. However, you should elaborate more on what the reaction looks like. Also, you should explain about why the flames are formed, and tell where the sodium's electron goes. Also clarify what you mean by the "sodium losing one atom". Isn't sodium an atom already? Your paragraph is very good overall, but you should make sure that you completely explain the topic. You deserve an A. Jackson W.

Comment 2: You did a good job overall explaining the reaction. However, there is some slang used such as "a chunk". Also, some of the grammar is incorrect. Sometimes a comma should have been used, but there was a period instead. The last sentence is a run-on sentence, which should be fixed. Overall, great job, Griffin! You deserve an 85%! - Bailey

Revised Entry: The Reaction of Sodium and Chlorine began with a slab of sodium and a container of poisonous chlorine gas. The two reactants create a chemical change, and a flame within the container. Creating the product of a compound, NaCl, the sodium reduces to a pile of white crystals. The chlorine reacts with the sodium making an ionic bond with the sodium losing one electron to the chlorine atom. This reduced the solid nugget of sodium to simple table salt through the orange-red flame.

=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 project this year was the chemical reaction project because I liked watching all the different colors and effects. I think the snakes are really cool, and it is awesome to hold them as they slide across your hands. I can improve on turning in my homework on time and being ready to turn it in in the first place. I excelled at the labs and writing my tables and graphs to describe and record information from the labs. I also excelled at the periodic table test because of my study time and effort. To improve in Science 7, i must pay even more attention and not get distracted by my friends.


 * 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 kilowatthours.

Entry: 1.) In the United States, coal is the greatest used source of energy. Its uses rose greatly from 1950 to 2006; almost .5 kilowatthours per year. In 1950, it was at about .2 trillion kilowatthours, and in 2006, it had risen almost .20 trillion kilowatthours. Graph 1 shows this, and that coal is obviously used much more as a fossil fuel over other energy sources. Other fuels are noticeably rising in use as well, but coal is visibly the dominant fuel source.

2.) At the site listed below, the document shows that oil and coal are contributing directly to Global Warming. They are contributing the most because they release CO2 into the atmosphere when burned. This gas can stay in the atmosphere for about 1000 years, keeping the heat within the atmosphere, heating the globe. If fossil fuels are somehow eliminated in the future, the CO2 will be eliminated by natural processes and the heat will be able to be released. (Citation 1)

3.) The definite trend from 1972-1985 is that every fuel grows in uses somewhat each year, shown in Graph 1. From there, all fuels continue to increase in uses, except petroleum and natural gas, which began to decrease in uses somewhere around 1980. The uses of these fuels per year show that there has definitely been an increase in population in the United States. The more people the more car exhaust, the more fuel is used in houses, and the more fuel is needed in the food production business. Overall, the fuel use and production has vastly increased over time.

Citation 1:Curtis, R (2007). Global Warming is our Fault. Retrieved January 4, 2008, from Mr. Solar Web site: http://www.mrsolar.com/content/global-warming-is-our-fault.php

Comment 1: Overall Griffin this was a great blog entry. Your content is clear, correct, and easy to understand. You clearly make your point that the amount of fuel used is increasing every year. You didn't refer to the graph, so you may want to do that in one of your sentences. Your entry is also only 3 sentences long, and the minimum was five so you'll need to write more. The last sentence is also a run-on sentence and takes up three lines. If you break it up into two or even three sentences your message will be more clear. Other than that you expressed a good vocabulary and your data is correct. Nice job! -Megan

Comment 2: Really good job Griffin! You expressed generally, what happened very well. I thought maybe you should provide more information to back up your data. The last sentence is really good, I didn't think of that. As Megan said it is only 3 sentences, but if you broke up the last sentence you could probably have 5 sentences. You also didn't refer to the "Graph 1", but other than that it's really good. Awesome job! -Meredith

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 kilowatthours 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: As seen in graph 1, there were many changes in the four given electricity production resources in the United States from 2000-2005 WHAT WERE THESE RESOURCES. All resources increased in production. Coal's production increased from about 2.0 killowatthours to 2.1 killowatthours. Both Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Nuclear electric power increased to about 0.5 killowatthours. In 2001, the production of Hydroelectric power began at around 0.4 killowatthours, then decreased by about 0.1 killowatthours. Then starting in 2002, it's production began to rise a small amount and ended up at 0.3 killowatthours. Overall, the average of the four electricity energy source production increased over the five year period. WHAT WAS STILL THE LEADING SOURCE? PRETTY GOOD JOB- JT

Comment 1: Nice job! You definitely did a good job of giving power output amounts thruought the entry. However, the power measure is in TRILLION kilowatthours. Also, you accidentally misspelled kilowatthours as killowatthours. Another thing you could better was referencing the graph. Overall, your blog entry was engaging and interesting. -Jackson

Comment 2: Great job! you referred to the graph, and to Ms. Todd's paragraph. Something you should work on is typing trillion kilowatthours, instead of just kilowatthours. But overall you did great, keep up the good work!

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.
 * 2/05/2008**

Entry: A watt is a unit of measuring the amount of power in a circuit. To calculate the amount of electrical power in a circuit, you determine how much load there is, and then you can determine the amount of electrical power is being converted. To find the amount of killowatt hours had been used to light the lamp for 24 hours, you must multiply the amount of watts is being used in the circuit by the amount of time (24 hours) and then divide it by 1000 from the killowatt hours and you should 4.8. This shows how you calculate electrical power, and how to find the amount of killowatthours used if a lamp was burned for 24 hours.

Comment 1: Great job! You did a terrific job explaining the problem. However you spelled kilowatt wrong each time, but other that it was well written and the answer was correct. Great detail and a very good job, keep up the good work!

Comment 2: Excellent Job Griffin! You show that you understand the concept of finding kilowatts. However, you may want to include the equation watts=voltage multiplied by current. This is a very important equation and it would have made your blog stronger if you added that to your entry. Also, you have an incomplete sentence when you say "...then divide it by 1000 from the killowatt hours and you should 4.8." This is a careless error, and it would be easy to fix. Next time, I recomend reading over your blog before you turn it in. Also, you have a couple grammar errors. In the last sentence, you write This shows how you calculate electrical power, and how to find the amount of killowatthours used if a lamp was burned for 24 hours." Just check your verb tense on the last sentence. Overall, your blog entry is very strong.

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: This trimester, I think the most enjoyable lab was the electronics lab. We got to make circuits with wires, capacitors, LEDs, Integrated Circuits and more. I think it was great to work with a group, collaborating and creating the circuits, even if they didn’t work. I also liked the addition of the snakes in the classroom. They are fun to look at and it’s cool to watch them slither through your fingers. One thing I thought was difficult this trimester was the electricity test. It was hard because there were a lot of calculations to do, and though the true/false questions were a strong point for me on the test, the calculations definitely threw me off. One last thing I would like to comment on is the group activities. The group activities are fun and exciting, and they really teach us to work together well. I would just like to ask that instead of three people per group, which is always how groups are, I think we should be allowed four people per group. There are groups of good friends around the room in pairs of fours, and I think that when we are allowed to choose groups we shouldn’t have to exclude one person. Other than that the groups are great. Overall, I think science has been great this trimester, as it was last trimester as well. We do lots of cool experiments and labs, and I hope we are going to have as much of a good time next trimester. ~griffin sanford

Comment 1: Griffin you did a good job. Although in your first sentence, "This trimester, I think the most enjoyable lab was the electronics lab." It would be better if you took out the "I think". You explained well about your group, and what you need to work on in your next trimester. I agree when you talk about how groups should have four people, people shouldn't be excluded, and be left out of their friends group. I enjoyed your blog entry. Good job!

Comment 2: