Jun 3, 2009

Placticty Lab

About a week ago in class we did a placticty lab with 4 other people. The object of the lab was to create a mixture that could demonstrate the placticty of the Earth's mantle. The materials required were cornstarch, water, 2 small beakers, and a spoon. We had to combine the two ingredients to create the mixture. The mixture looked like a solid and when you just touch it, it feels like a solid. But when you pick it up it's like a liquid; it runs thru your hands. If you closed your hands with the mixture was in it, the substance felt like a solid but if you just laid the mixture flat on your hand it felt like a liquid. This mixture was similar to the mantle of the Earth in many ways. They both act like a liquid but when pressure and heat is applied, their characteristics were changed to the ones of a solid.

May 18, 2009

Response to October Sky

Last week in class we watched a movie a movie called October Sky which was based on a true story. The movie was very influential and educational. It taught us many things about rockets as well as character education.
October Sky was about a high school boy, Homer, who after seeing a satellite shoot across the sky, is fascinated by rockets. With the help of his friends and teacher he overcomes many obstacles and finally launches their hand-made rocket, that will be entered into a science fair, even though his father disapproves because he wants Homer to work in the coal mine. Than one of their successful rocket lands on a place where a fire is started and Homer and his friends are accused of starting the fire. Because if this their dreams are crushed and they stop creating rockets. Homer also drops out of school to take over his Dad's position at the mine. However, after reading his teacher's, Miss. Riley's, book, he realizes that his rocket couldn't have started the fire because it couldn't have traveled that far. After calculating many solutions, Homer and friends find their rocket and conclude that the fire was started by a flare from a airport. Now that they know that they haven't done anything wrong, Homer and his friends continue building rockets and win first place in the science fair. From there, Homer goes onto the a big compititon in Indiana where he also wins and recieves many scholarships.
The movie connects to math and science in numerous way. Some obvious ones are how much October Sky talks about rockets and science fairs and less obvious ones like how it educates us about health dangers.
Viewers of October Sky learn a lot about rockets after watching this movie because the movie revolves around it. Rockets connect to science because it follows Newton's Laws and teaches us a little about Physics. We also learn about Suptnik (the satellite that inspires Homer to start creating rockets) and that connects to science because from satellites we can get information about the solar systems from it. Additionally, we learn aboun health dangers from watching October Sky. When doing a lab in science class, Quentin throws something into the sink and when another girl puts a lit match into the sink, all the burners in the classroom catch on fire. This teaches us about health dangers because we should never do anything that isn't in the instructions or what the teacher has told us to do because than someone could get seriously hurt.
October Sky also teaches us about CARES. Homer and his friends all worked together as a team to build a rocket and only then they were successful. If they didn't show cooperation and assertion than maybe they might never have had a successful launch. Respect was also shown in this movie because Mrs. Riley respected the Rocket Boys and their dream to create a rocket even though no one else did. Homer's mom showed empathy towards her son and his friends because her husband didn't help with the creation of the rockets. Last but not least, Homer had self-control when his dad banned him from creating rockets and when he and his friends were accused of starting the fire.




May 5, 2009

Response to Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X Syndrome is a disease that causes ADHD, mental retardation and behavior which is similar to the behavior of an autistic person. After reading my classmate

May 4, 2009

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

A French neurologist named Guillaume Benjamin Amand Duchene in 1860 first discovered duchene muscular dystrophy. It is caused y missing cells that make protein, which is needed for healthy muscles. The symptoms for this disorder are weakness in the muscles, hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulder and calves start to enlarge. There is no cure for this disease but people with this disorder can attend physical therapy so that they can stay on their feet longer. Mostly young boys get this disorder and the ones that do have it die before or in their early 30s. Unfortunately, 1 out of every 3600 male infants get Duchene muscular dystrophy. To develop a cure or treatment for this disorder, scientists need to learn more about the genetic disorder leads to muscular dystrophy and help the kids with it survive longer. After researching about duchene muscular dystrophy, it made me feel empathetic towards the people with this disease because they don’t have a long time to live and even when they are alive, they have respiratory problems and have to use a wheelchair to move around.

I got my information from:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html
http://www.yourgenesyourhealth.org/dmd/whatisit.html

http://www.genome.gov/19518854
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070129164916AAs1WL1

Feb 27, 2009

Science- Class response

In class we have been making websites about the roller coaster we created with our groups. This was a learning experience for most of us since we learned how to use our money wisely(when buying supplies) and how to create a website. Our website advertises the small business we create and also talks about how roller coasters applies to Newton's Laws of Motion.
The first law of motion relates to roller coasters because it talks about how objects at rest stay at rest until an outside force moves it and how an object in motion stays in motion until an outside force stops it. For example, a cart on a roller coaster will never start until a force pushes it and the a cart on a roller coaster will never stop until something stops it.
Sir Isaac's Second Law of Motion shows how mass, force and acceleration are related. The formula used for this is force=mass X acceleration or F= M x A. An example of this is when your going up a hill. More force is required in that the going down a hill because when down a hill gravity pulls you down but when going up a hill more force is required because gravity is preventing you from going up.
The third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When there are sharp turns while you are riding a roller coaster, you jerk a little to the opposite side.


Feb 25, 2009

Social Studies- International Current event

baby rhesus monkey by Stella Solaris. Baby Rhesus by Chi Liu.

To get rid of the countless number of monkeys in Puerto Rico, they have decided to ship them of to Iraq and reduce the 2,000 patas and rhesus monkeys. In 2003 looters had kidnapped or set free all the animals is the Baghdad Zoo and America has paid over 12.5 million to build agian. Because of the numerous number of excess monkeys in Puerto Rico, officials have been shooting nonnative monkeys and they are very happy to contribute to the Baghdad Zoo. Some of the other monkeys are put up for adoption but because they are such a big nuisance no one wants to adopt them. But the monkeys aren't save in Iraq either. Because of the war between America and Iraq no one has time to pay attention to animals and care for them. In my opinion, the monkeys are better off in Puerto Rico becuase there they can be with their friends and family and not be trapped in a cage.

I got my information from- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090225/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_puerto_rico_iraq_monkeys;_ylt=AoyCs38.Z6kZI.aX2.B00ThvaA8F



Feb 6, 2009

Recently in class we learned about Sir Isaac Newton and the three laws he developed about the states on motion. These laws show how motion is caused by a force or forces. The first law of motion states that an object at rest will always remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Sir Isaac called "the tendency to remain in motion of rest" inertia. The first laws also tells us that acceleration and force are related because if an object wants to accelerate a force needs to push it. An example of this could be if you a throw a bowling ball with the same force you throw a tennis ball, the tennis ball will go farther because it has less mass.
The second law of motion talks about how acceleration and force are related. It shows how more heavier objects or objects with more mass move at the same distance as lighter objects or objects with less mass. The formula that Isaac come with for finding out the force is force= mass multiplied by acceleration. For example, if you are trying to push a car, which will cause it to accelerate, and then you push 5 times harder then how much the car move will be 5 times faster.
The third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. An easier way to understand this is that all forces come in pairs. An example of the third law of motion is when a space shuttle takes off into space because it pushs downward but goes upward.

Feb 4, 2009

Social Studies- earthquake in New Jersey

Filename: j0153602.wmfKeywords: buildings, earthquakes, homes ...File Size: 27 KB
On February 02, 2009 there was a minor earthquake in central New Jersey. Yes you read it right!!!! There was a earthquake in New Jersey!!! We usually hear about earthquakes happening on the west coast but there was one right here in out home state!! Won-Young Kim, a scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, said that the earthquake happened at 10:34 and had a preliminary magnitude of 3.0. Even though no one got hurt the earthquake caused some panic and many calls were made to 911. Many people thought that there was an explosion or a bomb went off but police officers reassured everyone saying that it was only a minor earthquake. When I first heard about the earthquake in New Jersey i was really surprised because I didn't think that earthquakes could happen in New Jersey but i was also thankful becuase it wasn't a really big earthquakes and no one got hurt.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/4446140/New-Jersey-earthquake-sparks-panic.html

Jan 25, 2009

Science- current event

Who- Climate scientists around the world and Professor Eric Steig at the University of Washington
What-
Instead of getting cooler like all scientists were saying, is being affected by global warming like the rest of the world. For a while now, scientists have been saying that while the rest of the Earth has been getting warmer, Antarctica has been getting cooler. But now research shows that Antarctica has join the rest of the continents and is being effected by global warming.
Where- In
Antarctica and the University of Washington
When-
Since the late 1970s some parts of Antarctica have been cooling is Fall but recently the studies show that most of Antarctica has been getting warmer since global worming first started.
Why- because of global warming!
My Opinion- I think its kind of weird how scientists thought that
Antarctica was getting cooler while the rest of the Earth is getting warmer. I also think that its weird how parts of Antarctica are getting cooler while other parts are getting warmer.

I got my information from- http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/technology/5275762/scientists-find-evidence-antartica-is-warming/

Jan 22, 2009

Social Studies- Inauguration

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One January 20th, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and Joe Biden as vice president. Barack Obama is the first African American president of America. After the inauguration there was a parade and over 20 million people were their to watch it. Even though our country still has many problems still left to solve, we are hoping our new president might be able to solve them.
The first article talks about President Obama's speech, him signing his first documents and the parade. The speech talked about how ending the war in Iraq and stopping the disputes on Capitol Hill. After the speech Barack Obama headed over to Washington's National Mall to sign his first document as the president of The United States. Many of the people who he nominated for cabinet were also there. Later on in the day senate approved most of the nominations.
The second article talked about the parade that was held after Barack Obama was sworn in. The parade started at the Capitol Building and ended at the White House. Even though it was 27 degrees, it didn't stop thousands of people coming. Over 13000 people from all 50 states participated in the parade including re-enactors from a black Civil War regiment, World War II's surviving Tuskegee Airmen, and Freedom Riders from the civil rights movement. A while after the parade started, the first family and Joe Biden's family got out out of their limo and walked the rest of the way.
I think that its great our country has a new president and hope he can bring us out of the economic crisis the country is currently facing. I think his plans and ideas will benefit our country greatly and that he will bring America back to the top again.

Sources-
Article 1: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.inauguration/index.html
Article 2: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/20/obama-exits-limo-greet-parade-watchers/

Jan 5, 2009

Current events- What is Rudolph?

http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/RudolphTheRedNoseReindeer.jpg
WHO: Wildlife experts at Texas A&M University, Greg Finstad and Alice Blue-McLendon, a veterinary medicine professor who specializes in deer.

WHAT: A silly subject usually discussed on the internet is now being making many people wonder, "are Santa's reindeer guys or girls?" Alice Blue-McLendon says that they were most probably female because most male reindeer or bulls lose their antlers right before Christmas. Another reason for why Rudolph might be female is because a boy reindeer would not be proud of a shiny nose that glows. Alice says, "Females like accessories. I think that fits because females like bling. We like shiny stuff.

WHERE- Scientists in the US, people in Texas A&M Univeristy and people on the internet

WHEN- Around Christmas time in 2008

WHY- Just for fun and to raise Christmas spirits

MY OPINION- I personally think that Rudolph is a guy because his name sounds like a guy's name. Also because in Christmas movies and songs about him they say "he" not "she".

I got my information from- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/ap_on_fe_st/rudolph_s_gender;_ylt=AmNEqRZ23qJ9ZVgKcQRiIuh4hMgF