Science+Journals

=**Science Journals **=

Some day you will be done with school, learning about ideas and the world all on your own. How will you know if a cell phone can pop popcorn? Will you fall for the email spam circulating that claims that Mars will be as big as the Moon? How will you know what is true science and what is just being circulated as erroneous information? One thing you will need to learn is how to read scientifically and to think logically as you sift through information presented to you. Every other week you will complete a Science Essay for class. The topics will vary throughout the year, and may relate to class, or to society and culture. You will need to answer two questions in your essay; What was the article about? and What is your opinion on the topic presented? Not sure why you are losing points on your essays? Check out the difference between a great essay, a good essay, and a poor essay!

=__List of Essays:__=

Essay 14- Physics of the Future!!!!! Check out some of the predictions that physicists have made about technology of the future. Will we have hover boards? Will our brains save things in the same way a hard drive saves documents? Explain one of the following topics below by giving a summary of the article, as well as your own opinion.

People working in Physics related fields- Rather than read an article, you could choose to watch one of these videos and write your essay about their current job, and how it relates to physics. Choose one of the many people/jobs listed on this website. http://www.nanotecknowledgy.org/SponsorsPartners.aspx

Physics of the Future- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/books/physics-of-the-future-by-michio-kaku-review.html?_r=1&ref=physics

Prof. David Gross - The Future of Physics- 2004 Nobel Prize winner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNmZqH01nX0

Quantum Physics- http://curiosity.discovery.com/topic/quantum-physics/10-biggest-questions-raised-quantum-physics.htm

Physics Careers- Read the short introduction to various physics related jobs. Choose a job from the left side menu, and write an essay explaining what the job would entail and why you would enjoy this job. Make sure to include details about the job, listing various daily tasks of someone who would pursue this job. http://www.iop.org/careers/directions/index.html

Nanotechnology- http://www.iop.org/news/11/may/page_50937.html http://www.iop.org/news/11/april/page_50590.html


 * Essay 13- Strange, but true!** Below are a list of various science articles about some strange new findings. Some articles are health related, some space related, and some are just plain weird! Choose of the article below (or find one yourself and get it approved from Miss Peterka) and write up a summary of the article. Explain in detail the strange concepts and new findings. After writing up a thorough summary, explain your thoughts? What makes those things so strange, or what is so new and exciting about them? What was unexpected or shocking?

Article Choices: Study Linking Obesity to loss of Memory- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/04/new-study-shows-obesity-interferes-with-memory-thinking-and-reasoning/ WISE space telescope- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2010/01/small-but-wise-2/ Subatomic Particles- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2010/03/the-hottest-soup-in-new-york-2/ Dark Matter & Dark Energy- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/04/the-dark-side-of-the-universe/ Where Rivers Run Uphill- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2008/09/where-rivers-run-uphill-2/ Time Travel nixed in Metamaterial World- http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/72888/title/Time_travel_nixed_in_metamaterial_world

1. What do you think are the qualifications for the two types of jobs? Use an internet search to help you with this answer. 2. Research the average salaries of the two types of jobs. 3. What would an average day in this job look like? What would you be expected to do? 4. What makes each job unique from the other job? 5. Which job would you prefer, and why?
 * Essay 12- Roller Coasters!!**! Take a look at one of the following jobs associated with Amusement Parks. There are multiple articles below on various jobs. Choose two of the follow jobs, and read those two articles. Compare the jobs with one another. Answer the following questions in your essay.

You should answer ALL 5 questions in essay form. __**Due Date- Friday April 15th**__



=__**THIRD MARKING PERIOD ESSAYS**__=

__**Essay 11:**__ Scientists always try to alleviate people's fear of a radiation leak or spillage from a nuclear reactor. The fact is that scientists and engineers are always doing what they think is best, but sometimes their best just won't protect people, no matter what. Take a look inside Japan's recent state of emergency caused by an earthquake, and then all of the other problems that became the effects. This week, learn about how the nuclear reactor exploded, and the details surrounding the current nuclear leak. Answer one of the following groups of questions; 1. What is nuclear meltdown? How did the leak occur? In detail, explain how the earthquake led to the leak, and what structural systems became problematic. What is currently being done to fix these problems? 2. What are the effects of radiation posioning? To what degree will radiation harm a person? How does it enter a person's body and how does it physically cause them harm or death? Give a health report on who will be most affected by the leak, and how the radiation can spread from the reactor site out. Are other countries at risk or exposure? 3. What is nuclear meltdown? Has this ever happened in the past? What have we learned from past radiation leaks, and how are we improving nuclear technology so this will not happen again? Give a detailed explanation of what should be done to prepare for the future. 4. We live within a 15 mile radius of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. How can we prepare to stay safe in case this occurs in our area? What is being done by the power plant to keep local residents safe? What is being done by politicans to keep people safe? Outline what is currently being done, and then come up with your own proposal for ways people can stay safe if there were to be a leak from the L.N.P.P. http://www.exeloncorp.com/newsroom/Pages/pr_20110314_exc_statementaboutjapan.aspx

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12740843 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12733393 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12732015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12737508 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12743417
 * Links about recent Japanese natural disasters;**

1. What is your current power usage at your house, and what are some concrete ways you can reduce the amount of electricity used? 2. Do you agree with the idea of having efficiency standards for electrical devices? Give the pros and cons to having these standards, and then share your own views. 3. The article explains that on average, energy usage per household has drastically gone up in the past 3 decades. Because of this, more and more coal is being burned through various power plants. Scientists have shown this is a direct cause of global warming. Do you agree that our planet has experienced a slow increase in global temperature? Use scientific facts to support your opinion. Secondly, since the demand for energy is unlikely to decrease, do you believe that using various alternative energies are a realistic option to helping the environment, or slowing global warming?
 * __Essay 10__**: Read the Following Article on power useage and choose one of the following questions to answer. Remember to include your own thoughts and opinions, but find ways to back up your opinions with facts and other researched ideas.



DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 11th

Essay 9- Collisions of all kinds! Choose one of the essay topics below. Write a thorough summary on the article, and then relate the article to what we've studied about collisions. How is it similiar to what we've learned, and how is it different? What are some of the new physics concepts you learned about? DUE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27th


 * Choice 1-Large Hadron Collider**

http://www.wbabin.net/babin/dyna2.htm
 * Choice** **2-Sub-atomic Particle Interactions**


 * Choice 3-****Collisions on baseball field**- Read the intro paragraph on this site, and then choose three other questions to investigate concerning physics, collisions, and baseball. [| http://paws.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats.html]


 * Choice** **4-Physics of Football Collisions**

Choose one of the following articles and explain the concepts discussed. Why is it so difficult to control cars on winter roads, and what can drivers do to stay safe? What are some of the newer technologies that help drivers control their cars? Explain how this new technology relates to any of the laws of physics and how it helps drivers. Don't forget to give your thoughts/experience on winter driving, and how physics can help you to stay safer on winter roads. Be sure to be respectful and intelligent when giving your thoughts. This is not your opportunity to bad mouth other drivers. DUE FEBRUARY 4th, by the end of the day! Choose one of the following;
 * Essay 8**- It's that time of year again....freezing rain, snow, sleet, icy. Driving on the roads can be dangerous, but if you're well informed of how the laws of physics work, you'll be better equipped to deal with the slippery roads.

=__Second Marking Period Essays__=

__**Essay 7-**__ For your last Essay of the 2nd marking period, you can choose any science article you wish. Choose your own topic, and write a summary essay, including your opinion on the topic you chose. Make sure you go into detail about your article and the science discussed in the article. You will need to choose an article **IN CLASS TODAY, FRIDAY (JAN 7th)!!!!!** Your article will need to be approved by Miss Peterka before you leave class today. If you were absent on Friday, please email me your article, explaining why you chose the one you found. Due Friday, January 14th.

[|www.sciencenews.org] [|www.sciencedaily.com] [] []

__**Essay 6-**__ Best of 2010! Believe it or not, pretty soon 2010 will be gone, and it will be time to take a look at the best things from this past year. In Physics we will take a look at the best innovations to come along in 2010. Take a look at the 100 Best Innovations of what is new from 2010. There are 11 categories for you to peruse. Choose your top three favorite innovations and write an essay on them. Explain the __**technology behind the innovation**__, and why you think it deserves this elite status.

http://www.popsci.com/bown/2010

__**Essay 5**__ -

As a way to celebrate the release of the new Harry Potter; Deathly Hallows Part I movie, our science essay this week will focus on the science behind the magic of Harry Potter. Many of the magic tricks used throughout the Harry Potter series are becoming reality through science. Choose two of the many topics below to research. Write a one page essay explaining how the science behind the magic really works. Explain in detail your thoughts on not only how it works, but also how true is it to the real magic explained in the literature and movies. Use the article link shown below, and then find one other resource on your own in which to learn about each one of the topics you choose. http://news.discovery.com/tech/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-technology.html

Magic Wand Personal flight Invisibility cloak Electromagnetic Gateway Moving Photographs Flying Cars Personal Map Locator (Marauder's Map) Long Range Acoustic Device (Expelliarmus Charm) Molecular Force fields Personal Memory Organizer (Pensieve) Bone Growing Medicine

DUE: Wednesday, November 24th, before Thanksgiving break

__**Essay 4**__- Where do your technological devices come from? And where do they go? Choose one of the topics below, take some time to read the articles included in that section, and write an indepth essay summarizing the current problems, and possible solutions. Suggest a solution of your own, and discuss your opinion on the current solutions.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/ecycling-guide.html
 * Electronic Recycling**- Read about the problems of Recycling the millions of Electronic devices that are tossed out each year. Then take a look at the website link, and research what one of the featured groups/companies is doing to help combat E-waste.

Class Activity- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5944615355863607664# As a group discuss this video. How do you feel about recycling or throwing away an electronic device? What other options do you have?

http://news.autodesk.com/news/autodesk/20101029005136/en
 * Labtops**- Read the article attached, then watch the video shown on this webiste. http://news.discovery.com/tech/disassemble-this-laptop-in-thirty-seconds.html

http://www.globalwitness.org/campaigns/conflict/conflict-minerals
 * Cell Phones**- Read about where the minerals come from, and how they are shaping the lives of others across the world.


 * iPod**- Read about where the materials from you iPod come from, and what countries are benfitting most.

Class Activity- Take a look at this map. And discuss it as a group. http://www.sourcemap.org/object/ipod-production

Why do you think the materials are made where they are? In what ways would you make the same decisions or different decisions if you were the CEO of Apple?

=FIRST MARKING PERIOD=

Essay 3- Current Events- The Chilean Miners Rescue- Visit this BBC website and spend some time learning all of the details of rescuing 33 miners trapped 700m below the surface. Write an essay explaining how the men were able to survive for 69 days underground, the technology used to keep them alive and bring them back to the Earth's surface, as well as the science/technology used in the daily operation of the mine. Give a detailed analysis of what occured over those 69 days the miners were trapped. Why do you think it took so long for the men to be rescued? What are your personal reactions to the news events? Imagine being trapped in a mine for 69 days! (What did you do from Aug. 5th till Oct. 13th?)

Due: SUNDAY Oct. 31st -If it is not emailed to me by midnight on Sunday evening, then it is considered late.

Essay 2- Due: October 15th

Essay 1- Due: October 1st