While the mechanism of the product works, it doesn’t work for its purpose. The main problem is that any type of string or rope inserted through the wheels stops the motors, meaning the resistance is too low. Sadly, it is a problem I can’t fix as it is a problem with the materials given and used, and not the mechanism itself. However, I am quite proud of the circuitry and base we’ve successfully made throughout this project, and if it were to work then we would be done after inserting a string and adding the final directory part. I would improve the materials we use and ensure that it works with the string prior to building, and also use parts that were meant to be together, as the skewer we had to use due to the wheels being too large caused the wheel to spin slightly slanted. This project is quite environmentally friendly as we mainly used wood for the base, which could be reused if needed. The potential customer if the product had worked would have been fascinated with the capabilities of the product, and could even learn physics from it after searching up the scientific concepts involved online. Our product could be used to create future scientists and help spark their interest in different scientific toys. Finally, our product met the criteria as even if the purpose didn’t work, the mechanism converted chemical energy stored in the batteries to electrical energy to mechanical energy that made the wheels spin, the wheels spinning also create sound and thermal energy in the process.
Science Design: String Launcher Post 3
This video was taken after we finished the initial layout of our product, and there were some circuitry logistics I was confused about. In order to connect two motors to one battery pack, there must be two negative circuits to connect to each motor, however, the battery pack only had one. I discovered this by observing the diagram above on how to create a circuit with a switch and two motors.
Mr. Hussack helped us build a small prototype of the circuit to test if the circuit would actually work, and the concept was plausible with the materials provided. In the video, it could be observed that the circuit does indeed work, but requires tying two negative circuits with the battery pack negative circuit in order to have enough for the two motors. In conclusion, the prototype circuit was a massive success and gave us the green light to move forward without any worries about circuitry. However, this new discovery meant that there was an increased amount of parts to solder, as I needed to solder the circuits together to ensure that they were secure and electricity could flow well throughout the circuit.
It was actually Hajin’s suggestion to solder all the circuits together after he saw the prototype where we tied the wires of circuits together to connect them. He thought that soldering would not only make the circuit more stable but it also increased the neatness and aesthetic appeal of our product. Discovering that we need a new circuit system completely changed how our product looks on the backside, making it vastly different from the initial sketch we had beforehand, however, this could also be seen as an improvement to the string launcher since now the circuit is actually possible.
Science Design: String Launcher Post 2
The initial sketch for the string launcher is shown above, we figured out how to build the mechanics through a DIY video discovered on Youtube. The build required techniques such as soldering, drilling, and laser cutting, and a proper understanding of circuits as we needed to connect two motors to just one battery pack, the motors also spun in different directions depending on which side was positive and negative. I already knew soldering from a circuits class in seventh grade, and laser cutting I could learn by asking one of the design teachers that worked with us during the project.
Science Design: String Launcher Post 1
Our task is to create a product based on one of the four criteria: a toy that converts energy, utilizes a renewable energy source that converts to electrical energy, a device that transfers energy, or a device that can be used to learn physics.
I considered the four options and chose to make a toy that converts energy as it is most appealing to my interest. I recently saw a product named “string launcher” online and instantly thought of it when faced with the criteria; it was perfect- a toy that converted energy in the order of chemical, electrical, mechanical to kinetic, it transferred energy in the process, and it could even be used to learn physics. However, this toy wouldn’t be suitable for kids too young as they might be confused about how to set up and use the string launcher, which negates its effects as a physics concept tool (although that is not the criteria I have chosen). Furthermore, three-year-old kids might eat the string thinking it was spaghetti.
Other products I considered were a basketball launcher, chemical energy to elastic energy to kinetic energy, which I thought was too generic as I already had a project where I had to create one back in middle school. A marble run, gravitational energy to kinetic energy, I personally thought the idea of a marble run was genius but then the string launcher captivated me even more, I also thought the marble run was too simple and I could create more in the time provided. A frisbee launcher, chemical energy to elastic energy to kinetic energy, which I thought was too difficult and the materials would be a hassle to find online. Therefore, I chose to make the string launcher which was already my initial idea anyway.
Writing after I finished all the building, some pros and cons about the product have to be addressed. The product is very unique and many seemed interested after watching some demonstration videos online, all the materials required could also be accessed at school and it didn’t require incredibly advanced techniques in the build process. However, the product was still quite difficult to build as it required a basic understanding of circuitry, and all measurements had to be incredibly precise, or the mechanism wouldn’t work. In addition, the most difficult part is that there is a time frame we have to complete the product, so there aren’t a lot of chances for failure.
Capstone Waste and Sustainable Energy
Waste has always appeared in our daily lives taking many forms – food, plastic, medical, and hazardous waste are such examples. It has clogged up oceans, reduced space, and polluted lands which not only affects us but also a large variety of different animals. 2.01 billion tons of waste is generated every year with no signs of decrease (Trends in Solid), which is why we must learn to reuse our waste or even convert it to something we all need: energy. It is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to provide clean and affordable energy to all (SDG#7), so methods have been developed to generate more accessible energy, and more importantly, save the environment. Many countries have spent years developing ways to repurpose waste, utilizing it to produce energy; but there have also been many concerns as to the benefits and costs of these systems, with renewable energy methods such as solar, geothermal, and wind power still being the most environmentally friendly.
Waste Repurpose in Japan
Japan aims to reduce waste through a delicate waste repurpose system for many reasons. Not only do Japanese people believe in Mottainai – the practice of treasuring resources to use them for extended periods of time, but waste can also cause climate change when decomposed food waste produces methane, which is “a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide”. (Fight Climate Change).
According to the Ministry of Environment, in 1960, Japan began disposing of garbage by incineration, the process of burning trash at elevated temperatures, and by 2009 there were 1243 incineration facilities located in Japan, each using varying methods of incineration such as stoker furnaces, fluidized bed furnaces, and gasification fusion resource furnaces to enable ash recycling. They have also developed countermeasure technologies to prevent the spread of Sox (sulfur oxide), HC1 (hydrogen chloride), NOx (nitrogen oxide), smoke, and dioxin produced by these facilities, making it both safe and effective. (Solid Waste Management). Through incineration, Japan could effectively reduce landfills, soil contamination, water contamination, and air pollution, levering the quality of life for its citizens and the world.
Ministry of Environment further states that PET (polyester) bottle recycling technology has also been developed in Japan, using unwanted bottles, food trays, and cans to create a variety of textile products, high-grade PET bottles could even be remade into carpets! Food corporations also take part by combining the material recycling method and chemical recycling method to recreate PET bottles. The material recycling method is when bottles are dissolved under high temperatures and then filtered to produce plastic resin, which would be used in half of the new PET bottles along with chemically recycled material, this results in 100% recycled PET bottles for beverages again. This method has led to a 90% decrease in the usage of petroleum-derived resources, namely gasoline, and reduced CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by 60%. (Solid Waste Management). In conclusion, waste repurpose such as ash and PET recycling is an adequate course of action to take in minimizing pollution and junk on earth.
Pros and Cons of Waste-to-energy
Along with waste repurposing, waste-to-energy systems have been developed to reduce waste while increasing energy production. The non-profit organization Energy Saving Trust from England has stated that the waste-to-energy system can operate in many ways, which include combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery; however, the level of environmental benefits is dependent on the “efficiency of the plant turning waste into energy, and the proportion of waste biodegradable”. (Generating Energy).
Combustion is the process of confining and controlled burning of solid waste destined for landfills to reduce volume and recover energy, it is like incineration, and uses the heat generated while burning waste to vaporize water into steam, this steam can then be sent to the turbine generator to produce energy. (Energy Recovery). Gasification is when garbage is combined with oxygen or steam to produce synthesized gas which can then be made into useful products such as transport fuels, fertilizers, and electricity. (Generating Energy). Pyrolysis requires a process similar to combustion but in lower temperatures as there is no oxygen or inert gases, which means it has lower emissions of some air pollutants associated with combustion. (Generating Energy). Anaerobic digestion generates energy from organic waste such as food and animal products through the usage of an oxygen-free tank to break the material down into biogas and fertilizer.
While these are all fantastic ways to reduce waste and avoid 2-3 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through providing an alternative to fossil fuels, the social, environmental, and financial costs are far too great. (Waste-To-Energy). “Environmental concerns focus on the fear that incinerators emit toxic air pollutants and produce hazardous residues”, (Arrandale), so unless these emissions could be reduced to nothing, waste-to-energy would never be fully environmentally friendly. The costs are also extremely high; the only way a government would get money to repay the amount needed to build the waste-to-energy equipment is by selling the energy to customers and tipping fees for waste disposal. (Arrandale).
The Best Alternative
Due to the fact that waste-to-energy systems aren’t especially viable, countries have pushed for the advancement of renewable “green” energy. The reason “green” energy methods are the best option is their never-ending supply and optimization for the environment, it harnesses nature to effectively produce energy without downsides such as CO2 being produced into the atmosphere. EnergyX, a company pushing sustainable energy, says that there are five main types of renewable energy: solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, and bioenergy. (The 5 Main Types).
Solar energy is sunlight converted into energy through the usage of photovoltaic panels, it is an easy and cheap way to produce electricity, therefore many countries, like China, have been implementing large-scale solar projects. (The 5 Main Types). The aviation industry has also begun to switch to using solar energy to reduce its carbon footprint. Hydro energy is produced by harnessing water flowing through generators in dams such as the Hoover in Arizona, USA. Hydropower is responsible for 16% of total global energy production and is currently the world’s largest source of sustainable energy, it can also come from waves or tidal power. (The 5 Main Types). Hydroelectricity’s wide range of sources allows it the ability to be used everywhere, it can store energy through pumped storage facilities, providing both alternative energy and storage options. (The 5 Main Types). Geothermal energy refers to the use of heat generated naturally within the earth and carried to the surface in the form of steam, which power plants generate electricity from via drilled wells. (The 5 Main Types). The energy comes from the core, which means it is a reliable form of sustainable energy for a range of nations globally but requires more infrastructure to ensure power generation.
On report of the organization Inspire Clean Energy, wind energy is generated when turbines spin due to naturally occurring wind, along with solar they are considered the most sustainable as turbines and solar panels can be used everywhere in the world without damaging the natural landscape. (What Is Sustainable). Bioenergy is derived from a vast array of biological materials such as food waste or wood pellets and comes in many shapes and forms. Combustion of biological materials to provide energy, and liquid biofuels to power vehicles are also examples of bioenergy, which allows versatility to provide for different energy needs. (The 5 Main Types).
All renewable energy methods come without environmental drawbacks and ensure sustainability for future generations, hence their superiority against the waste-to-energy systems. However, the main factor affecting the production of renewable energy is the cost, these methods have not been refined enough for them to be cheaper than fossil fuels, but soon enough through technological advancements there would be many changes to the pricing.
Conclusion
In short, while waste-to-energy seems to be a great idea, it comes with costs that outweigh the benefits, which is why the best method is to resort to sustainable energy methods to replace fossil fuels. However, waste repurposing by Japan has also proved to be a fruitful alternative to waste-to-energy. Waste is a massive problem that can drastically affect the welfare of everyday citizens, and energy such as electricity still is not accessible to everyone all around the world. As cost is the main downside to sustainable energy sources, people and companies must learn to repurpose waste into helpful items, or large-scale industrial waste into the infrastructure needed to generate renewable energy. Everyone can do their part to save the environment with waste repurposing and a focus on clean energy!
Works Cited
Arrandale, Tom. “Waste-to-Energy: Promises and Problems.” SIRS Issues Researcher, Feb. 1993, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2267215175?searchid=1652420297&accountid=4047. Accessed 13 May 2022.
Drawdown. www.drawdown.org/solutions/waste-to-energy. Accessed 13 May 2022.
Energy Saving Trust. 24 Jan. 2019, energysavingtrust.org.uk/generating-energy-waste-how-it-works/. Accessed 13 May 2022.
Energyx. “The 5 Main Types of Sustainable Energy.” Energyx, 2022, energyx.com/resources/the-5-main-types-of-sustainable-energy/. Accessed 12 May 2022.
Ministry Of Waste. www.ministryofwaste.co/. Accessed 1 June 2022.
“Solid Waste Management and Recycling Technology of Japan.” Ministry of Environment, www.env.go.jp/en/recycle/smcs/attach/swmrt.pdf. Accessed 18 May 2022.
Sturmer, Jake. “Osaka rubbish incinerator Maishima looks like Disneyland but is part of Japan’s waste strategy.” ABC News, 21 May 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-21/the-japanese-waste-incinerator-that-has-its-own-tripadvisor-page/9780872. Accessed 1 June 2022.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. www.epa.gov/smm/energy-recovery-combustion-municipal-solid-waste-msw. Accessed 13 May 2022.
Vectormine. “Waste to energy process scheme with labeled description steps outline diagram.” Vectormine, vectormine.com/item/waste-to-energy-process-scheme-with-labeled-description-steps-outline-diagram/. Accessed 1 June 2022.
“What a Waste 2.0.” The World Bank, datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/trends_in_solid_waste_management.html. Accessed 18 May 2022.
“What Is Sustainable Energy?” Inspire Clean Energy, www.inspirecleanenergy.com/blog/clean-energy-101/what-is-sustainable-energy. Accessed 13 May 2022.
Wikipedia. “Alta Wind Energy Center.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Wind_Energy_Center. Accessed 1 June 2022.
World Wild Life. “Fight Climate Change by Preventing Food Waste.” World Wild Life, www.worldwildlife.org/stories/fight-climate-change-by-preventing-food-waste. Accessed 30 May 2022.
Enrique’s Unique Cuban Revolution Journal
In the Sway above, you learn all about a fictional Cuban adolescent as he grows up against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution. Informative yet interesting, the three entries contain numerous historical facts, significant character development, and an intriguing story that will take you through the famous Cuban Revolution. Take a look if you would like to learn more about this legendary historical event!
While many changes did occur to Cuba due to this significant event, some things still stayed the same, such as Cuba’s dependence on the U.S. to buy their sugarcane to support the economy, and historians can even argue the corrupt government system continued. Before the revolution during Batista’s regime, sugarcane was used to help support a large part of the economy, which allowed for locations like casinos, bars, and clubs to open up, resulting in more tourists. Since America provided 75% of imports and bought 66% of exports, Cuba’s economy heavily relied on them. After the revolution, Cuba still relied on the U.S. to provide imports and export sugarcane, which shows continuity. When the rebels first took over the government Castro didn’t have much power, but slowly he started taking increasingly more, until he had full control over the whole government, using the prime minister as a puppet. This shows the continuation of corruption within the government, as once again an individual is in control of everything. Important changes that happened as an effect of the revolution include price controls, price cuts, minimum wages, a cabinet, and the Agrarian Law reform, all of which I have talked about in more detail within the journals above. Castro also established universal health care that still exists to this day, and a rigorous education program, effectively raising the literacy rate in Cuba to near 100%. These changes all aim to help improve the living conditions of the lower class, leading to Castro gaining a great deal of popularity. In conclusion, the Cuban revolution brought many positive changes to Cuban lives, and a lot changed for the better, even if there were continuities, the revolution adequately accomplished its goal: to improve the lives of Cuban citizens, especially the lower classes.
Cuban Rebels Square Up For a Revolution
The Cuban Revolution takes place during 1953-1959, with a rebel group by the name of M-26-7 overthrowing Fulgencio Batista, the dictator of Cuba at the time. Cuba was going through many corrupt leaders, and American tourists flooded the country with riches while poor locals suffered in rural areas. If you would like to learn more about why Fidel Castro, the leader of M-26-7, had 638 asassination attempts by the CIA, then watch the video above to know more about the revolution.
Bomb: Exploding with Facts and Ideas
“Bomb” is a literary non-fiction book by Steve Sheinkin about the development of atomic bombs during WWII. It covers multiple perspectives, from physicists working on the secret “Manhattan Project”, to Soviet spies gathering intelligence using tradecraft. Quotes from real figures can be seen throughout the book, effectively explaining why certain decisions were made, and how people were impacted by factors such as politics and the atomic bomb. The factual and storytelling aspect of this book weave together beautifully, making it both interesting and educational to read.
This book was an enjoyable read, with central ideas and themes such as the ones I’ve discovered below while reading.
Politics played a large role in the war and had heavy impacts on people’s decisions. It was a very important factor throughout the book.
This was the first and reoccurring theme in the book. Soviet spies in WWII gathered lots of information on the construction of the atomic bomb, they were the main reason the Soviet Union even had such a destructive force. This resulted in a cause and effect where the FBI was often suspicious of people just because they were communists, showing the theme certain connections and associations can lead to mistrust from others.
The idea of trust is also evident throughout the book, spies within important operations, honesty in relationships, even faith in a leader’s loyalty let readers know the author believes that trust and honesty are essential to having good relations. This theme has been vital to pivotal decisions in history, often changing character perceptions of one another.
The main topic of this book is the atomic bomb, it can be seen impacting various important decisions and people as it is the source of “victory” in WWII. I also found how the atomic bomb can bring both negative and positive effects to certain individuals, such as Oppenheimer, known as the “father of the atomic bomb. it was interesting to see the author bring up questions of morality- if a weapon of mass destruction and arms race really is the right thing to do. This all comes to the conclusion that the atomic bomb affected people in various ways.
Thanks for looking through my post, I hope you find time to check out this amazing book.
Contemporary Fiction Book Talk
In the book talk linked above, I give a brief summary and in-depth analysis of the theme in “Hush” by Jacqueline Woodson. This book is narrated through the perspective of Evie, whose father is a black cop testifying for an unjust shooting of a black boy. As a result, her family enters the witness protection program, needing to change their identities and start a whole new life in a contrasting environment. Throughout the book, character development is evident as all members of the family learn to accept their unfamiliar conditions, and embracement of change also brings the theme to light: accepting and embracing change will often lead to positive effects related to our life goals and developments.
Am I a Humanist?
Humanism Infographic by Curtis Choi
I am 92% humanist.
I strongly agree with humanist values and ideas. Everyone has the potential to succeed in life, and your social status should be decided by individual achievements, not bloodline. People should be able to make decisions based on their own values, without the need of being obedient to religion. Religion should also always be separate from the government since some beliefs in religions can cause the wrong actions being taken.