Class Response- Rollercoasters

This past week, we have been given the challenge to create our own roller coasters or skate parks out of provided items. These items include paper towel rolls, tape, water bottles, and other recyclables. In addition, part of the challenge, also happens to be the time restraint, we have only three class periods to complete this. Above all, however, the main focus of this project is not to complete a flimsy, weak roller coaster; on the other hand, we must make a roller coaster that includes at least one hill, and one other element, such as a loop or bend. In order to make this, we must think about Isaac Newton's three laws of motion. For example, in order to receive the force to move our marble through the entire roller coaster, we must keep in mind the mass of the marble, to receive the proper acceleration. This displays Newton's second law, F= MA, or force equals mass times acceleration. In addition, in the roller coaster, we consider Newton's first law of motion, that without any force or change in velocity, the mass will not move. This relates to the project because if we don't a certain speed ,which can be acquired by a hill or loop, the marble will come to a stop. Lastly, Newton's third law of motion is being used, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. For instance, in our project, if the marble hits a wall, exerting a force onto the wall, the wall will exert the exact same force onto the marble, causing it to move backwards. As you can see, making a roller coaster is no small project, and requires much thinking about the laws of motion.

Economy Takes Toll on South Brunswick Food Pantry

As the months go on, and America experiences its hardest economic struggle in decades, the South Brunswick Food Pantry is affected as shelves are becoming emptier everyday. In addition, the number of unemployed residents is increasing in the township, therefore, more and more people are finding the need to turn to the food pantry. Records show that the number of families using the family increased from 25 to 40, over the course of one year. As a result, the amount of money being payed has increased significantly from $23, 000 in 2007, to astonishing $73, 000 last year. However, due to many kind souls in South Brunswick, the food pantry has been lucky to receive a donation everyday. The most needed items include canned meats such as chili, tuna fish, canned chicken, and beef stew. In addition, Parmalat boxed milk, diapers, coffee, and monetary donations, are also appreciated. For those who wish to donate the South Brunswick Food Pantry is located in the Municipal Building, 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction. Food is accepted 8:30 AM to 4:30 AM on weekdays.


Link: http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/02/04/south_brunswick_post/news/doc4980d43f719eb599088632.txt

Scientists Reveal More Evidence of Western Warming in Antarctica

Who: Kenneth Chang, Robert Bindschadler, along with many other scientists.

What: For the past year now, scientists across the world have stated in researches that Antarctica is finally cooling down, after fifty years of suffering from global warming. However, scientists Kenneth Chang, Robert Bindschadler, and others, believe that Antartica continues to warm. This theory is the result of researching the temperatures of the past half a century in the most southern region of the world. The section that the scientists believe is warming the most and the fastest, is the section that stretches towards South America. The overall research, will enormously help in the process of finally solving the climate crisis in Antarctica.

Where: The research took place mainly in the continent of Antarctica.

When:The research has been taking place for quite a few years now, and is an on going process.

Why: The scientists believe that in order to solve the entire global warming crisis, we must start with the place that suffers from it the very most, which happens to be Antarctica. In addition, this research will eventually play a huge part in getting our world one step closer when all creatures can live happily and peacefully without their environment being abolished.

My Opinion: I think the research that the scientists are conducting, will be extremely beneficial to the overall well being of our earth. In addition, knowing this new piece of information, will let us be aware of the crisis and help us solve it, instead of thinking wistfully that the warming has stopped.

Link: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/antarctica-new-evidence-of-western-warming/

Barack Obama Along With America Make History At Inauguration

A mindblowing, 1.5 million people gathered at the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Tuesday afternoon to witness something that would forever leave an impact on the United States of America and the world. Though not everyone was able to be there in Washington D.C., billions of people surrounding the globe, were glued to the television, watching in awe as the first African American was to be sworn in as the president of America.
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real," Obama stated in his inaugural address. "They are serious, and there are many. They will not be met easily or in a short amount of time. But know this America; they will be met."
Although the president's optimism may have wavered a bit during the speech, that certainly didn't stop the uproar of celebration from the beavy of fans. In confident tones that uplifted the audience and beyond, he assured America that with hardwork and unity we can overcome our serious economic and international challenges.
For eight extraordinarily long years, the people of America have been dissapointed and angered by the same raging war, the failing economic policies, and health care that more than half of the country couldn't afford. However for once, they were inspired by this one man, the son of a Kenyan immigrant and a white woman from Kansas, ended in success, the once inconceivable journey. Beyond the still present racism in America, it electrifried people that for once America could come over the belief that only a white man could reach the highest peak in American politics.
"It's obviously historic because President Obama is the first African-American president, but it's more than that.," former president Bill Clinton stated. "This is a time when we're clearly making a new beginning. It's a country of repeated second-changes and new beginnings."


!st Article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.inauguration/index.html
2nd Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/21inaug.html

New Investigation Shows that Soviets May Have Gotten Hydrogen Bomb Idea From the U.S.

Who: Soviet atomic spies, the authors Thomas C. Reed and Danny B. Stillman, the physicist Andrei Sakharov, and nuclear historian Robert S. Norris.

What: A recent investigation shows that the Soviets, who were given credit for the hydrogen bomb, may have stolen the idea for it from Americans. The new book, The Nuclear Express: A Political Express and its Proliferation, by Thomas C. Reed and Danny B. Stillman, adds to a growing number of riddles about the invention of the Soviet-H-Bomb, so many years ago. A new theory shows that instead of thinking of the idea for themselves, the Soviets may have sent atomic spies to America, to steal America's scientist's ideas for the hydrogen bomb.

Where: The Soviets, sent atomic spies to the Los Alamos weapons lab in New Mexico.

When: The atomic spies were sent to America in 1955, around the same time they published their idea for the Soviet-H-bomb.

Why: There are several reasons that Soviets may have wanted to steal the idea for the hydrogen bomb from the Americans. Firstly, the original atomic bomb was limited in size and could not pose as much lethal danger or damage as much area as the acclaimed hydrogen bomb would be able to do. In addition, at the time, in 1955, America was the world's monopoly, and the Soviet nations deeply wanted to be back on top, in terms of world power.

* The difference between a hydrogen or a regular uranium bomb is that a hydrogen bomb uses fusion instead of fission to generate the main explosion. The hydrogen bomb is an estimated thousand times more powerful than the average uranium bomb.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/science/30bomb.html?_r=1&ref=science
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,76888,00.html

The Importance of Symbiosis

Though you may never have even heard of the word symbiosis, it plays a huge part in the world you live in. The definition of symbiosis is a close and often long term relationship between two different biological species. To be even more descriptive, there are three different types of symbiosis; commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism. Commensalism is the type of symbiosis in which one of the organisms benefits from the relationship, and the other one is not affected. An example of commensalism is clownfish and anemone because the clownfish benefits from the anemone's poisonous tentacles whereas most fish avoid it, because the anemone gives the clownfish a protective layer of mucus that makes them immune to stings. The second type of symbiosis is mutualism, in which both organisms benefit from the close relationship. An example of mutualism is algae and fungus in order to make the organism lichen. This is symbiosis because neither the algae nor the fungus could live without each other, for example, the fungus cannot survive without a photosynthetic organism such as algae, to produce it's food from sunlight. Furthermore, the algae cannot survive without the fungus, because the fungus is the organism that finds the two-part organism a place to live on, most commonly a tree or a log. Afterwards, the algae uses the nutrients supplied by the tree or log to create food. As you can see, neither organism can live without each other. Lastly, the third type of symbiosis is parasitism, in which one organism benefits, however, the other is harmed. For example, a intestinal parasite is a parasitic relationship because the parasite lives on the human gastro-intestinal tract because it serves as an ideal breeding environment. However, to the human gastro-intestinal tract it causes a severe infection, which could lead to more severe diseases. Overall, however, symbiosis is vitally important to millions of our world's most fascinating creature's survival.

A Moving Skyline Could Be In The Making For Manhattan

Who: The architect, Dr. David Fisher.

What: Dr. David Fisher's plan is to create a skyscraper that can move in every direction, and all around 360 degrees. His dream is to have it made right in the center of it all, in the bustling city of Manhattan. Many people would have thought that the complex tower would have trouble creating electricity, however, the tower will supply it's own energy which will come from the horizontal wind turbines, which come from between each of it's 80 floors, and from solar photovoltaic cells from the roof of each story. As each individual floor moves, an estimated 20 percent of each roof is open to the sunlight at any time of the day.

Where: Dr. David Fisher's initial plan is to have his intricate towers in Manhattan. This plan may seem extremely ambitious, due to the current economic crisis, however, he has made similar towers for Dubai, which should occur within the next few weeks. In addition, to planning towers for Manhattan, Dr, Fisher has made plans to make these towers in Moscow.

When: Dr. Fisher's first plan for these towers was to be in Dubai, therefore, Dubai's towers will be arriving withing the next few weeks. Unfortunately, though, the towers for Manhattan and Moscow will at least take another couple of years.

Why: Dr. Fisher originally thought that it would be a spectacular idea to have a tower that could twist into different shapes night and day along the skyline of a city. Basically, his own interest by the thought lead him to the creation of the towers.

My Opinion: I believe the moving towers are a very inventive and creative idea that would add a great touch to any amazing city, such as Manhattan. I don't know about everyone else, but I would certainly love to look up into the sky and see something as magnifecent as Dr. Fisher's towers.

Source: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/a-moving-skyscraper-for-ny/