Forms of Energy!

In class on December 15, 2008, we finished our "What is energy?" graphic organizer and illustrated forms of energy. The two main states of energy are kinetic and potential. For these two states, we had to draw each form of energy under each category. One fact I learned was that electrical energy is in the kinetic category. Also, I learned that chemical energy is in the potential energy category. Lastly, I learned that energy can be converted from one state to another. Thus, being the kinetic and potential states. On another source, I found out that the cars of a roller coaster reach their maximum kinetic energy when at the bottom of their path. Also, I learned from the same source that potential energy can be thought of as energy stored within a physical term. In my opinion, I believe this subject is very important because you need to know how this type of energy can be converted and how it works. In addition, you should also know these types of energy so you understand why a certain type of energy falls under a specific category. All in all, this is what we did in class on December 15th and what I learned about kinetic and potential energy.

Where I found my facts:

www.answers.com/potential%20energy

www.answers.com/kinetic%20energy

Where I found my picture:

http://library.thinkquest.org/6379/chemicals.JPG

Dinosaur Return!

In the article I read today, I learned about the dinosaur, Hadrosaurus foulkii, and his/her return to the Academy of Natural Science. This dinosaur is very famous because it was the first dinosaur to go on public display. It was first put on display in Philadelphia in 1868. Also, Hadrosaurus foulkii had a duck-billed snout. In addition, back then, the dino was posed like a giant kangaroo. In the exhibit, the real bones of this animal are too fragile to be mounted because they contain an iron compound that oxidizes when exposed to the air. Therefore, a few of the bones are on display and special climate-controlled cases. Furthermore, on the table near this dinosaur, visitors can see old stereo graph images from the Victorian-era. These pictures also give the illusion of being 3D. This New Jersey fossil was found the year before Charles Darwin published his landmark theory of evolution. Finally, I feel very strongly about this dinosaur coming back to the Academy of Natural Science. I feel very strongly because like the article says, "It's more than just a dinosaur, it's a whole story,". Therefore, I feel that Hadrosaurus foulkii was an extremely big monument in history, being the first dinosaur to go on display at a museum. All in all, this is the amazing article about how Hadrosaurus foulkii made his return to public display and how I feel about it.

I found my information from:

The Philadelphia Inquirer(Health and Science section)

I also found my image from:

http://www.ansp.org/museum/dinohall/images/walters_hadrosaurus.jpg

Boom Blox Activity

On Monday November 3rd, 2008, our class played a game on the Wii called "Boom Blox". One interesting fact I learned was that this game is actually educational. For example, if someone were to get into a car accident, then lose their memory, this game would help them develop their basic problem solving skills. Or, it can be simply played for fun. Plus, I learned that when you are trying to knock down the blocks, sometimes you have to figure which angle and which spot will help you knock down the greatest amount of them. Lastly, I learned that objects can easily be destroyed by throwing one ball at them and have everything come down at once. Otherwise known as a chain reaction. I also found information online. One fact I found online was that with the Wii's interactivity, you can still have fun destroying brain-busting puzzles. Another fact I found was that it combines real life physic-based puzzles with fun characters with the basic shape of the block. I believe this game is extremely educational because it can help people with their basic problem solving skills. However, you can still enjoy it by playing it interactively with the Wii. All in all this is the game we played on November 3rd, 2008, and how it is educational.

I found my information from:

http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=7400061&Redir=1&description=Electronic%20Arts-BOOM%20BLOX%20-%20Nintendo%20Wii-Games

http://www.squidoo.com/top-wii-games-on-the-market

I found my picture from:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=boom+blox&gbv=2

Class Review

On Monday, our class reviewed the food chain, producers, consumers, and decomposers. Plus we played a game on the Smart Board which helped us figure out which kind of animals would be in a certain spot on the food chain. Additionally, we completed a worksheet in our notebooks that talked about producers and consumers. One interesting fact I learned was organisms are either producers or consumers, depending on the source of their energy. Also, I learned that some food chains can keep going in circles and never end. In addition, I found out that the producers are usually at the bottom of the food chain. A piece of information that I found from another source is that a food chain is a linear sequence representing the nutrition of various species from the simplest plant to the carnivores on the top. Another fact I found was that top carnivores are usually the least numerous, largest, and most complex animals. I believe this subject is extremely important to understand because we need to know what eats what and how it will impact the environment. For example, if a decomposer eats all of the dead organisms in the environment, then we need to know how it will affect life around it. All in all, this is what we did in class on Monday, October 20th, what I learned, and how I feel about it.
I found all of my information from:
http://www.answers.com/carnivores
http://www.answers.com/food%20chain
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=food+chain&gbv=2

Carbon Dioxide Monsters!

In the article I read today, I read about diatoms and their history and how they can help the environment. Deborah Franklin(the author of the article) had a plastic container with shells of endless amounts of diatoms delivered to her from EaglePitcher Filtration and Minerals Inc. This place is where diatoms are mined from an ancient nearby lake bed. After studying them, she found out that the diatoms are used to filter wine and swimming pool water, polish teeth and silver, and serve as filler in concrete, plastics, and paper. Furthermore, organic gardeners sprinkle it around roses and tomatoes; instead of poisoning the pests,they use the sharp edges of the diatom shells' to cut the invaders to smithereens. However, there is one extremely beneficial task that the diatoms have managed to complete, which is disposing huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Scientists believe that they can do this by taking carbon dioxide and sinking it into the ocean's depths, letting the diatoms take care of the rest. I believe this could actually turn out badly because in the article, it says, "It could backfire, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by spurring the growth of the marine bacteria that feed on dead diatoms." In addition, marine biologist Kate Bidle, at the Rutgers marine institute and an expert on diatom ecology says, "I could see significant warming happening even faster than anyone's imagined." Additionally, Bidle and others say no one can predict how dumping iron into the ocean would affect marine life in the long run. All in all this was an extremely fascinating article on how diatoms can benefit and harm the earth's atmosphere.
I received my information from: The Smithsonian Magazine.
I also found my image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg