Science

 Proficiencies
Proficiency 1: Demonstrate and explain how Newton's Laws of Motion apply to the physical world.

LAW 1: Dominoes Lab - Completed
LAW 2: Dominoes Lab - Completed
LAW 3: Balloon Lab - Completed

Proficiency 2: Demonstrate and explain how friction and gravity apply to Newton's Laws of Motion
- Ramp Lab - Completed

Proficiency 3: Demonstrate and explain the relationship between speed and acceleration
- Dominoes Lab - Completed

Proficiency4: Demonstrate and explain how simple machine utilize mechanical advantage to transfer energy(potential, kinetic, and various others)
- Rube Goldberg- Completed

Proficiency 5: Demonstrate and explain how alternate forms of energy can be utilized to influence United States Energy Needs
- Persuasive Essay - Completed

Proficiency 1 and 3:

 I will be completing these two proficiencies by experimenting with a domino lab. This lab is created by having a chain of dominoes and seeing how fast the line can completely fall down. We will be completing 4 trials for each test and adding 5 dominoes each time until we get to 15 dominoes total. This partially is covering the first proficiency which is the Newton's First Law of Motion because the dominoes are lined up standing completely still. Then when we push the first domino down, it is creating the movement from standing still to hitting a domino with each one falling. We completed the second law because it says the greater the force the greater the acceleration which was true in our data, because the more dominoes we added the greater the acceleration grew. This lab is shown below.

Problem:  Does the amount of dominoes effect its over all speed and acceleration?  
Hypothesis:  I believe that when we add more dominoes, the speed is going to be greater. I think this because, when there are more dominoes being applied the greater the force becomes. With more force applying by each one, the faster each domino will get knocked down.
Experiment: Materials-
• 15 dominoes
•  Large flat space
•  Ruler
•  Tape
•  Scrap paper or lap top
•  Timer
• 1 calculator
Variables-
Independent (IV):  The amount of dominoes
Dependent (DV):  The speed and acceleration
Constant (CV):  Space, ruler, person timing, person pushing and placing the dominoes, person measuring
Procedure-
• Gather all Materials
• Take 5 dominoes
• Place them evenly on the clear table two inches apart ( mark with tape)
• Measure the distance from the very front of the first domino to the very end of the last one in centimeters
• Write this measurement down on your scrap paper or laptop
• Grab the timer
• Push the start button. At the same time lightly tip over the first domino
• Push the start button at the exact time the last domino falls
• Write the time on you scrap paper or lap top
• Repeat steps 7 through 9 three more times to give you a completed 4 trials
• Add these 4 numbers up and divide by 4 to give you the average speed
• When done with this, divide the distance which is the mark you put on the table from the front to the end of the domino line by the average time to give you the acceleration
• For the next test add 5 more dominoes giving you a total of now 10 dominoes
• Now use the ruler on the centimeters side and measure the distance from the front of the domino line to the end of the domino line
• Record this information on a scrap piece of paper or a lap top
• Repeat the steps 7 through 12 to give you a total of 4 trials with the average time and the acceleration time
• For the last test add 5 more dominoes to the 10 domino stack giving you a total of 15 dominoes
• Take your ruler using the centimeters side and measure the distance from the front of the domino line to the end of the domino line
• Record this information on a scrap piece of paper or a lap top
• Repeat steps 7 through 12 again to give you a total of 4 trials with the average speed and acceleration time
• Record all data on lap top
• Create a data chart
• Conclude what happened
•  Clean up materials when finished
Observation: 
5 dominoes= 9 cm
10 dominoes=18cm
15 dominoes= 21 cm

Amount of dominoes	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Trial 4	Average time	Acceleration  time
5 dominoes	0.32	0.41	0.49	0.54	0.44	20.45 cm per second
10 dominoes	0.37	0.53	0.43	0.32	0.41	43.9 cm per second
15 dominoes	0.18	0.16	0.39	0.24	0.25	84 cm per second


Conclusion:

In our problem we asked, if the amount of dominoes would affect the speed and acceleration. My hypothesis was that the more dominoes being added to the line, the faster the speed would be because it is creating a greater force. Due to our data shown, we were correct. As we applied 5 more dominoes after our four trials, the speed and acceleration both increased. As more force applied, the harder the direct hit was for each domino creating each one to fall down faster than before.  We completed four trials to test this experiment to make everything equal. The first test with 5 dominoes, trial 1 was .32 seconds, trial 2 was .41 seconds, trial 3 was .49 seconds, and trial 4 was .54 seconds. Our acceleration for this was 20.45 cm per second, with the average being .44 seconds. The second test with 10 dominoes, trial 1 was .37 seconds, trial 2 was .53 seconds, trial 3 was .43 seconds, and trial 4 was .32 seconds. The acceleration for this was 43.9 cm per second with the average time being .41 seconds. For our last test with 15 dominoes, trial 1 was .18 seconds, trial 2 was .16 seconds, trial 3 was .39 seconds, and trial 4 was .24 seconds. The acceleration for this was 84 cm per second with the average time being, .25 seconds. As you can see, our hypothesis was supported by our data because each test we did as we applied more dominoes the acceleration would move up and the average speed time improved.

Proficiency 1(Law 3)

For this proficiency we decided to do a balloon lab. We tested to see if the way the balloon was held would affect the energy of the opposite force. This balloon lab covered the first proficiency of Newton's 3rd Law of Motion because the air was the equal and opposite force. The lab is shown below. 

Problem: Does the direction that you hold the balloon affect the energy of the opposite force?

Hypothesis: I believe that when the balloon is facing downwards, the energy of the opposite force will make the balloon slower. The reason for this is because with the balloon facing down, all of the air is going to sync into the balloon. With this happening, it will take longer for the balloon to hit the ground.

Experiment:

Materials: 

• Package of balloon
•  Stop Watch 
• Lap Top/ Piece of paper to record data 
• Flat surfaced area

Variables: 

• Independent Variable( IV) - The direction of the balloons drop 
• Constant Variable (CV) - Same balloons, Same person blowing, Same timer, Same amount of air in balloon 
• Dependent Variable (DV) - The amount of time the balloon is staying in the air

Procedure:

1. Gather all materials
2. Blow up the first balloon from the package
3. When finished blowing up, pinch the end to keep the air inside
4. Hold the balloon with the opening facing upward
5. Release hand away from opening and let it to go
6. At this time, also start the timer
7. When the balloon hits the ground stop the timer right away
8. On a scratch piece of paper/lap top record how long it took the balloon to completely fall
9. Repeat steps 2-8 three more times to give you a completed 4 trials
10. Next, blow up another balloon from the package
11. Pinch the opening of the balloon to keep air inside
12. Hold the opening of the balloon downwards
13. Release hand from the opening and let it go
14. At this same time, press the start button on the timer
15. When the balloon completely hits the ground, hit the stop button
16. On your same piece of paper/lap top record how long it took the balloon to hit the ground
17. Repeat steps 10-16 three more times to give you a completed 4 trials
18. Blow up another balloon from the package
19. Pinch the opening to keep all air inside of it
20. Hold this balloon in the direction pointing to the left
21. Release hand from the opening and let balloon drop
22. At the same time of the release, start the timer
23. When balloon hits the ground completely stop the timer
24. On the piece of paper/lap top record how long this took for the balloon to hit the ground
25. Repeat steps 18-24 three more times to have a completed 4 trials
26. Blow up another balloon from the package
27. Pinch top opening to keep all air locked inside of it
28. Hold this balloon in the directions pointing to the right
29. When you are ready release hand from opening and let balloon go
30. Right away start the timer
31. When balloon completely hits the ground, stop the timer right away
32. On the piece of paper/lap top record how long this took for the balloon to hit the ground
33. Conclude what happened
34. Make a data chart
35. Clean up materials when finished

Observation:

Direction of balloon	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Trial 4	Averages
Up	1.6	0.9	1.0	0.9	1.1
Down	1.5	1.3	0.9	0.8	1.2
Left	1.2	1.6	0.8	0.8	1.1
Right	1.3	0.8	1.6	0.8	1.1

Conclusion:

For this experiment, we were trying to find out if the direction a balloon is being held will affect the energy of the opposite force. Due to my hypothesis stating that when the balloon was facing downward the air would sync into the balloon causing the balloon to be slower, I was correct. With the air going into the balloon, the more force it will take to push it to the ground making it longer for this to hit. While I was researching, I saw that hot air rises. With hot air rising up, this air goes into the balloon making it heavier for it to be fully pushed to the ground.  For our first test we held the balloon facing upwards. The results for this were, Trial 1 being 1.6 seconds, Trial 2 being 0.9 seconds, Trial 3 being 1.0 seconds, and Trial 4 being 0.9 seconds. The average time for this test was 1.1 seconds. For our second test we held the balloon facing downwards. The results for this were, Trial 1 being 1.5 seconds, Trial 2 being 1.3 seconds, Trial 3 being 0.9 seconds, and Trial 4 being 0.8 seconds. The average time for this was 1.2 seconds. For the third test we held the balloon in the direction to the left. The results for this were, Trial 1 being 1.2 seconds, Trial 2 being 1.6 seconds, Trial 3 being 0.8 seconds, and Trial 4 being 0.8 seconds. The average time for this was 1.1 seconds. For our last test we held the balloon in the direction to the right. The results for this were, Trial 1 being 1.3 seconds, Trial 2 being 0.8 seconds, Trial 3 being 1.6 seconds, and Trial 4 being 0.8 seconds. The average time for this test was 1.1 seconds. So, as you can see from this data my hypothesis was supported because as the air rose up into the balloon it made the force have to push harder to hit the ground making it go slower than the other three directions of up, left, and right.


Proficiency  2

Problem: Does the surface of the ramp effect the speed of the ball and how fast it falls?

Hypothesis: I think that when the ramp is covered in the trash bag, the balls speed will travel faster because it is the smoothest surface making its speed increase. I also think that the faster the ball rolls down the ramp, the faster the gravity will pull down to the ground which means I believe the gravity will be its fastest when the ramp is covered with the trash bag.

Experiment:

Variables:

• Independent (IV): The surface of the ramp
• Dependent (DV): The balls speed/movement
• Constant (CV): Same ping pong ball, Same angle of the ramp, Same type of ramp, and Same starting point

Materials:

• 1 large trash bag
• 1 regular sized bath towel
• 1 tennis ball
• 1 timer
• Tape
• Piece of paper/ lap top to record data

Procedure:  

1. Gather all materials 
2. For first test tape large trash bag on ramp to cover entire area 
3. Roll the tennis ball down the ramp 
4. When tennis ball rolls to edge of ramp stop the timer 
5. Record how long it took tennis ball to roll down trash bag surface 
6. Next, roll the tennis ball starting at the top of the ramp down 
7. Wait this time until it completely touches the ground 
8. This is timing the gravity fall to the ground from the ramp 
9. When the tennis ball hits the ground stop timer immediately 
10. Repeat steps 3 - 9 two more times giving you a completed 3 trials 
11. For our second trial place bath towel over entire ramp 
12. Repeat steps 3 - 9 as in the first test three times 
13. Record what happens when finished with this test of the bath towel surface 
14. For our third trial we are using the regular surface which is smooth 
15. Repeat steps 3 -9 again three times 
16. Record what happens when finished with the test of the regular surface 
17. Conclude what happened in this experiment 
18. Make a data table/ data chart 
19. Clean up materials when finished

Observation:
Ramp Distance: 34 cm
Fall Distance: 

Surface of ramp	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Speed	Averages
Trash bag	0.8	0.9	0.9	39.5 cm per second	0.86
Bath Towel	1.0	1.0	1.0	34.0 cm per second	1.0
regular	1.0	1.0	1.3	30.9 cm  per second	1.1

New Ramp Distance: 1 meter 13 inches

	G trial 1	G trial 2	G trial 3
Trash Bag	0.26	0.15	0.21
Bath Towel	0.15	0.15	0.27
Regular	0.21	0.28	0.37

SPEED: 

Trash Bag= 565 cm/sec

Bath Towel= 594 cm/sec

Regular= 403 cm/sec

ACCELERATION:

Trash Bag-477.7 cm/sec squared

Bath towel- 470.6 cm/sec squared

Regular- 269.5 cm/sec squared

Conclusion:

In our problem we asked if the ramps surfaces effected the speed of the ball. Due to my hypothesis of believing that the smooth surface which was the sled would move the ball the fastest, my hypothesis was not supported. In our data it showed that the trash bag made the balls movement increase the most. The ball moved down the trash bag at the speed of 0.8 seconds for trial 1, 0.9 seconds for trial 2, and 0.9 seconds for trial 2. The average speed for this was 0.86 seconds which was the fastest average and speed of the tennis ball. The ball moved down the towel at the speed f 1.0 seconds for trial 1 through trial 3. The average speed for this was 1.0 seconds. The ball moved down the smooth surface which is the sled at the speed of 1.0 seconds for trial 1, 1.0 seconds for trial 2, and 1.3 seconds for trial 3. The average speed for this was 1.1 seconds.  Also, during this experiment we tested how long it would take the ball to touch the ground.  Basically, we timed the speed of gravity on the ball. I thought that the speed that the ball rolled down the ramp would affect the speed of gravity. With my hypothesis stating this, I was correct. We decided to do research on why this happened. We found out that, when the ball moved faster down the ramp the gravities force would be faster than others. When the ball moved at a slower pace down the ramp the gravities force would be moving slower than others. We then found the acceleration. After doing the math, we found the acceleration from the ramp to the fall. For the Trash Bag test we found that the acceleration was 477.7 cm/second squared. We found for the Bath Towel, that the acceleration was 470.6 cm/second squared. For our last test which was the smooth surface we found the acceleration to come to be 265.5 cm/second squared. So, due to both of my hypothesis stating the smooth surface would increase the balls speed and the gravity would increase when the surface was smoother, my hypothesis's were supported due to our data shown in my conclusion. 

Proficiency 4: Rube Goldberg Design

Step 1: Marble travels through screw
Step 2: Marble goes out from the screw, traveling down the inclined plane
Step 3: Marble will come out of inclined plane, landing on the mouse trap
Step 4: The marble triggers the mouse trap (lever)
Step 5: Mouse trap pulls threw the pulley
Step6: Pulley and mouse trap move wedge out of the way
Step 7: Car rolls down the ramp

Explaining Rube Goldberg
To begin we set up our Rube Goldberg by begining with a screw. We took a marble, which then moved in circles in a tube (screw). When the marble reach out of the tube, it rolled straight down an inclined plane. After the marble comes out of the inclined plane, it lands on a mouse trap that was connected to the inclined plane. As the marble hits the mouse trap, it causes a trigger in the mouse trap (lever). This makes the mouse trap pull threw the pulley. With the movement of the pulley and mouse trap (lever) it makes the wedge move out of its place clearing the area. This eventually causes the movement of the cars movement.

Proficiency 5

To cover this proficiency I wrote a persuasive essay on Hydro Power Energy. Hydro Power Energy is one of the best energy sources there is at this time. Each day the cost of energy sources are increasing, however Hydro Power is a natural source of only water making it cheaper than the others. The form of Hydro Power energy is the best source to utilize for the United States.

Hydro Power

Hydro Power is power that is made by the force or energy of moving water. Hydro Power is at its most useful peak when a flood has occurred in a lake or other bodies of water. With the waters movement being so forceful, the removal of materials at the bottom cause significant problems. Unlike other forms of energy, Hydro Power is never going to end. As water is falling almost every day, there has to be a place for it to be released down to. This does not only include rain but also the factor of snow fall. Hydro Power should be used as an exchange form of energy for the United States because this form of energy is the least amount of money, with it also being a lifelong energy source.

The uses of water power were started very early. In the 6th millennium BC, irrigation was being used in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. During the time of the 2nd millennium BC, water clocks were beginning to be used. This is how we have gotten to where we are in our country with electrical energy. Only one small Hydro Power system can create enough electrical energy for a family home. This shows that not all Hydro Power sources have to be big to create the most amount of energy. The source can be as small as a canal that transfers the water into a turbine. The bigger amount does not always mean better supply of energy. Hydro Power had made huge progress over time and is only going to get more efficient.

There are three main stages to the Hydro Power energy source. The first one includes an electric plant which is where the beginning process of the energy is being formed. Next, there is a water dam. This is created to be closed or open depending on the flow of the water. When the water force picks up the dam gets closed to control the flow. Lastly, there is a multipurpose reservoir. A multipurpose reservoir generates Hydro Power, stores up water amounts, and enables irrigation. With a multipurpose reservoir   the water can be released down to each of these places causing the energy source to be completed. Without these tools used for Hydro Power this energy source would be getting worse, and not getting any more efficient.

Although the energy source of Hydro Power may have a few downfalls, those are inconsequential to the problem in our country today. People today need to think about what will give them better opportunities in the future rather than thinking about right now. These issues need to be discussed before they get to far to gain control over. Hydro Power would be a good alternate form of energy because it allows a normal type of energy outcome but only cost less than the other sources.