Rachel+J

Log #11 6/6/12

Since it first became known that they were planets other than earth, many people all began to ask the same question; do any of the other planets contain life like earth does? Though we may not yet have the technology to search all planets for life, we can now search on Mars using rovers. We have to send up rovers to Mars instead of people because we do not have all of the technology necessary to take care of an astronaut. The rovers are doing plenty of work on their own though. For example, 1 rover found that there had once been water on the polar ice caps, which would mean that Mars has at least 1 of 3 things necessary for life. The same rover then found out that the soil on the polar ice caps did not contain as much salt as other parts of the planet that have already been explored. As for other signs of life that rovers have found, 1 found something called 'blueberries'. Blueberries, as shown in figure 1, look like small spheres sticking out of the ground, which gives them their name. (How do they indicate that there might have been life on Mars?) A rover has also discovered that in the polar ice caps, in one of the layers of soil that was hidden under ground, it turned out that the soil was actually a tiny bit basic, and not strongly acidic as many had predicted, which was another sign that life may or could once have existed. ( Why?) The newest Mars rover will be looking for one life form in specific; microorganisms. A microorganism is basically a microscopic organism, which is either a single cell, a multicellular relatively complex organisms, or as shown in figure 2, cell clusters. Microorganisms can be classified as alive because they meet the criteria to be alive. For example, microorganisms are made of cells. They also need certain materials to live, like water. They do respond to stimuli, and can reproduce. They can also grow & adapt to their environment. (missing 2 characteristics of life). Figure 1:Mars' Blueberries Figure 2:Cell Cluster

//Ms. Mc - good entry and figures. Need to give specific evidence to support your claims of water and/or life on Mars. -1/2. Missing 2 characteristics of life, -1/2. Also needed to describe what characteristics of life organisms that are dead, dormant, or nonliving would have, -1/2. -1 pt. late. 7.5/10//

5/17/12

media type="file" key="MKH_video.AVI" width="300" height="300" Video #1: On the Edge

In this challenge we learned how to use external sensors to help control our robot. In this specific challenge we used the sound sensor and the light sensor. How did it relate to the Mars rovers? (-1/2)



Caption? -1/2

In the 1st block, it shows that the robot should not do anything until it detects a noise. What sensor, port, and how loud of noise? -1 1/2 In the 2nd block, it tell the robot that after it senses a noise, it should move forward at 1/2 as fast as it can, and it should go forever Ports? -1/2 In the 3rd block, it tells the robot to do something when it senses a certain amount of change in light. What port and what amount of light? -1/2 The 4th block tells the robot that after it senses the light change, it should stop moving What ports and how should it stop; brake or coast? -1/2 The 5th block tells the robot that should say the phrase 'Watch out' at 75% volume.

Ms. Mc - good overall but you left out some details. 15.5/20

5/3/12 Log entry #8

The history of robotics dates all the way back to 350 B. C. when Archytas ('ahr 'ky tuhs') of Tarentum built a mechanical bird, called 'The Pigeon'. As shown in Image #1, it is propelled by steam, and was one of history's oldest study of flight, as well as probably the first model airplane. Around 200 B. C., rather simple robots were used in theater productions and religious ceremonies. The word 'robot' came from the Czech word 'robota' which means 'compulsory labor' The word was introduced in a play by Karel Capek in 1921. though robots were used for other purposes, it wasn't until 1966 that a robot could acknowledge and respond to its actions. As robots improved, the programming can become more accessible (to some extent). For example, in 2001 LEGO releases the MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention SystemTM 2.0. This is an easily accessible and fairly simple program used to program robots. As shown in Image #2, these robots are fairly small. Not long after, 2001, LEGO had already advanced in robotics and produced the MINDSTORMS Ultimate Builder's Set. Since 350 B. C., robotics has advanced an astounding amount.



//Ms. Mc: good general summary and figures, Rachel. Please include titles with your captions and call them "figures" instead of "images" (-1). How are robots primarily used today? (-1/2). 8.5/10//

Log #7

These wings won't catch the wind as much, which will make it go faster because there will be less air resistance. ==

Though the original rocket weighed 43.1 grams and when adjustments were made it only weighed 42.3 games, the original rocket design flew higher. The original design flew 96.6 meters, while the rocket with adjustments on it flew 83.9 meters. This may be because the fins were accidentally cut different lengths. Though all the fins on the remodeled rocket appear to be the same size, they could actually be slightly different when measured. If so, then it would make the rocket's balance be off and cause the rocket to not fly straight up, making it not go as high.

In this experiment, it was hypothesized that Group 1’s rocket would reach the highest apogee because of its small mass. In this experiment, a class of 7th graders was divided up to create model rockets that were capable of launching. After 3 days, the rockets were to be completed and launched the next day. Each group’s goal was for their rocket to reach the highest apogee, while the point to this project was to find out which rocket would reach the highest apogee. When designing rockets and rocket engines, it is important to take into account things like inertia. Inertia is a force that prevents objects from doing what they are not, like if the was a still object; it wouldn’t move until an equal and opposite force pushed it. It has the same effect on objects in motion; it would need an equal and opposite forces – such as friction – to make it stop moving. So, “objects in motion stay in motion. Objects at rest stay at rest.” Though the groups of students weren’t the ones who built the rocket engines, they were still built and designed by someone. And when the engines were being built, it was necessary to make sure that the rockets would have enough inertia from the engine’s thrust to get it moving and off the ground during lift off. Lift off is when the rockets first get off the ground. After lift off, there's the powered part of the flight, which is when the rocket is going up and is still using the engine, or thrust, to move.



As shown in graph #1, it was found that in general, the lighter the rocket was, the higher it flew. Though group 1’s rocket only reached the 2nd highest apogee, as shown on the graph, the lightest rocket reached the highest apogee. The lightest rocket weighed 42.8 grams and reached an apogee of 107.24, and the rocket that flew the 2nd highest (96.56 meters) only weighed 43.1 grams. The lighter the rocket is, the higher it should fly. When it has a lesser mass, gravity won’t be pulling on it as much. The less something weighs, the less affect gravity has on it. So, if the rocket is lighter, then gravity won’t be pulling as hard. If gravity isn’t pulling as hard, then it’s easier for the rocket to get off the ground in the first place, so it can use the energy it saved to fly even higher.

There were a few rockets that didn’t follow this rule though, like rocket number 4. Even though it only weighed 43.4 grams and was one of the lightest rockets, it still had the lowest apogee; 18.5 meters. Though it is not certain, this was probably because its height was not measured correctly.Another thing that can affect how high a rockets goes is wind. If wind is blowing the rocket sideways, then it would use its energy going that direction rather than going straight up.

Log #5

A V 541 rocket is composed of many different parts, such as; the Payload, the Payload Fairing, the Centaur, the Common Core Booster, Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) and the RD-180 main engine. In the V 541 rocket, multiple Payloads adapters are used to meet different requirements. However, as shown in the picture below //(Ms. Mc - use the actual Figure #),// the Payload Fairing is used to protect the spacecraft. To enforce a good lift off, there are 3 Solid Rocket Boosters to help get the rocket off the ground. Along with these 3 ‘boosters’, the V 541 also has a main Engine. There are also fuel and oxygen tanks-which are called-Atlas V Rocket. Another extremely important part of the rocket is the Centaur; a.k.a. the rocket’s ‘brains’. Basically the Centaur helps the engine by pushing the rocket forward towards the earth’s atmosphere. It will then to the same thing to push the rocket out of earth’s atmosphere. NASA decided to use the V 541 rocket to ship Curiosity (a rover) to mars because the V 541 was capable of going that far in the given amount of time. Not every rocket can do this because it has to be fast enough to get the rover to Mars before mars moves (while rotating around the sun)



//Ms. Mc: good general overview. You didn't upload your picture correctly or fix it after I told you about it (-2). Needed to give the height and mass as well (-1). This launch vehicle was chosen because it has enough lift capacity to get into Earth's orbit and to sent the cruise vehicle with the rover in it off to Mars (-1/2). Please capitalize Earth and Mars as they are proper nouns. Also, include a date and title for each entry (-1/2). Finally, please include the figure # and refer to it in your entry. 5/10//

Log #4 (The labeled parts of a rocket)

The Nose Cone helps to steer the rocket. The Body Tube is the main part of a rocket. The Recovery System is very important when launching some rockets because it will ensure that the rocket will return back to the ground smoothly and intact, ready for further usage. The Recovery Wadding insures that the Recovery System won't get damaged during Ignition. The rocket's Launch Lug makes the rocket go strait up off the launch pad instead of the wrong direction. The Motor Mount's job is to hold the rocket in place, while the Rocket Motor is a safe non-reusable device that powers the rocket during lift off.

//Ms. Mc: good labels and descriptions. The nose cone cuts through the air to reduce air resistance (-1/2). Please include a figure # and refer to it in your text. 9.5/10//

4/10/12 Log #3 Scratch Flight Simulation media type="custom" key="14077972" width="170" height="170"

To start, press the green flag in the top right corner To stop, press the red button Please turn on sound Click the space bar when ever the rocket goes off screen

Meghan C: This was an awesome simulation! I think it could have run a little smoother (gone slower at parts), though. Also, it didn't change backgrounds at all. I loved it and I love the Disney background :)

Aly H: The definitions were great, but I think you should have changed the backgrounds. Overall I like the fluency of the rocket and that it wasn't choppy!

4/9/2012 Log #1

 * Mars is only 1/2 the diameter of earth
 * Mars has things like volcanoes and canyons that can get in the way of a rover
 * The largest volcano on Mars is higher than it's atmosphere
 * Mars' atmosphere is very thin
 * Mars has ice caps which means there is ice and so the rover's wheels would have to be able to travel over that type of terrain
 * It has about as much land as earth
 * The surface gravity is 3.71 m/s 2

//Ms. Mc: good general facts about Mars and its conditions. Needed to relate them to concerns either about getting a rover to Mars or having it work on its surfact (-1). Also, please be sure to make additions when we discuss in class (-2). 7/10 // //(Please put a horizontal rule between your entries and include the date, entry # and title in "Heading 2" for each entry. Entries also should be in chronological order with the last entry coming at the bottom.) //

4/10/12 Log #2 A long time ago the Chinese created some of the first rockets. They would shoot off small rockets attached to the front of arrows where they would be lite & then shoot using a bow. Tsiolkovsky was the first person to propose that rockets be used to help achieve space travel. He said that it could be accomplished with liquid fuel and is known as the Father of Modern Astronautics. Though Tsiolkovsky was the 1st to think of it, Goddard was able to launch a rocket using liquid fuel. His rocket was launched on March 16th, 1926. However, rocketry wasn’t only used in space travel. Rockets could also be used as weapons. For example, the Germans created a V-2 rocket that was meant to be used as a weapon. However, they never got a chance to use it because they lost the war they were in at the time the V-2 had been created. Because of things like this, NASA was formed. Basically NASA is an organization that supports space exploration and rocketry that is for the good of everyone and tries to maintain peace.

The Hero Engine When a rocket is ejecting it's rover

//Ms. Mc: Good summary of some of the important contributions to rocket history but it's important to include dates when discussion history (-1). Also, you left out Sputnik (-1). Your second drawing doesn't relate to your summary or the history of rocketry (-1). Please include figure #s for your drawings (-1/2) and refer to them in your text (i.e., "as seen in Figure 1, . . .). 6.5/1//

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