Energy and Place Project
Essential Questions:
How does energy impact place?
How does your sense of place, environmental ethic, and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption?
Project Reflection
During my debate, we discussed the issue of nuclear power and my team and I argued against nuclear power. Coming into this project, I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about nuclear power and was undecided about whether I supported it or not. However, after the debate, it is hard not to partially support nuclear power. I think that we can start depending on nuclear power more heavily while we develop a long-term plan for energy production. However, I don’t believe that it should be our main power source because it isn’t renewable and we will extinguish our supply of nuclear fuel. Before beginning this project, I didn’t have a strong opinion about nuclear power. However, during the research stages of this project, especially the research for my position, I was not in support of nuclear power because I was mainly investigating the negative aspects of the motion. However, after sitting through the debate, my opinion has changed and I believe that we should be using nuclear power slightly more heavily than we are currently.
To see more, click here.
During my debate, we discussed the issue of nuclear power and my team and I argued against nuclear power. Coming into this project, I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about nuclear power and was undecided about whether I supported it or not. However, after the debate, it is hard not to partially support nuclear power. I think that we can start depending on nuclear power more heavily while we develop a long-term plan for energy production. However, I don’t believe that it should be our main power source because it isn’t renewable and we will extinguish our supply of nuclear fuel. Before beginning this project, I didn’t have a strong opinion about nuclear power. However, during the research stages of this project, especially the research for my position, I was not in support of nuclear power because I was mainly investigating the negative aspects of the motion. However, after sitting through the debate, my opinion has changed and I believe that we should be using nuclear power slightly more heavily than we are currently.
To see more, click here.
The Science of Materials Project
Rebuilding Our Broken Bridges
Sarah Lawton
In 2008, one quarter of the bridges in the United States were structurally unsound or functionally obsolete, most likely due to delayed maintenance of bridges and extreme underfunding for maintenance (Forbes). After the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) graded the U.S. infrastructure a “D”, the ASCE estimated that in order to bring that grade up to a “B,” we needed a budget of about 2.2 trillion dollars. However, a new technology suggests an easier and cheaper way to fix concrete structures before water can maneuver it’s way to the steel substructure.
Researchers at University of Cardiff, the University of Bath, and the University of Cambridge believe that the answer to the instability of concrete structures around the world lies in a new scientific development commonly referred to as self-healing concrete. Self-healing concrete will tackle the durability issues of concrete and reduce maintenance costs.
Concrete is a composite material because it is composed of ceramics and metals. Concrete is mainly composed of lime (calcium oxide), a stone called aggregate, and sand. Although concrete is cheap to produce and can withstand large amounts of weight, it is also very brittle and has low tensile strength, which is the maximum stress a material can withstand while being pulled or stretched before breaking. To strengthen concrete structures, engineers reinforce the structures with steel. However, when concrete cracks, even minimally, water enters the cracks and will eventually maneuver towards the steel reinforcements. The water causes the steel to rust, which makes the structure instable.
To view the entire document, click here.
Sarah Lawton
In 2008, one quarter of the bridges in the United States were structurally unsound or functionally obsolete, most likely due to delayed maintenance of bridges and extreme underfunding for maintenance (Forbes). After the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) graded the U.S. infrastructure a “D”, the ASCE estimated that in order to bring that grade up to a “B,” we needed a budget of about 2.2 trillion dollars. However, a new technology suggests an easier and cheaper way to fix concrete structures before water can maneuver it’s way to the steel substructure.
Researchers at University of Cardiff, the University of Bath, and the University of Cambridge believe that the answer to the instability of concrete structures around the world lies in a new scientific development commonly referred to as self-healing concrete. Self-healing concrete will tackle the durability issues of concrete and reduce maintenance costs.
Concrete is a composite material because it is composed of ceramics and metals. Concrete is mainly composed of lime (calcium oxide), a stone called aggregate, and sand. Although concrete is cheap to produce and can withstand large amounts of weight, it is also very brittle and has low tensile strength, which is the maximum stress a material can withstand while being pulled or stretched before breaking. To strengthen concrete structures, engineers reinforce the structures with steel. However, when concrete cracks, even minimally, water enters the cracks and will eventually maneuver towards the steel reinforcements. The water causes the steel to rust, which makes the structure instable.
To view the entire document, click here.
Science of Materials Project Reflection
“How has the chemistry of materials shaped our past, present and how may it shape our future?”
The chemistry of materials has improved our lives by helping society develop items that fit our exact needs. Different materials behave different ways; therefore some materials are better for certain tasks than others. Leading up to the present, there have been many failures in society due to materials, such as collapsed bridges. Now that we have a thorough understanding of the chemistry of materials, we can choose what material we want to use to make something based on its properties or manipulate a material to have the desired properties. In the future, we can use our knowledge of the chemistry of materials to innovate technology existing today or create new technology.
“How does the structure of matter on the atomic, molecular, microscopic and macroscopic levels determine a material’s properties?”
A material’s properties depend on many factors in the substance’s chemical makeup. On the atomic level, elements are always striving for a full octet which makes them less stable and more reactive. Ionically, covalently, and metallically bonded molecules have different structures, melting points, and conductivity based on the strength of the bonds. For example, a substance bonded covalently will have a lower melting point than an ionically bonded substance because ionic bonds are stronger and harder to break. Microscopically, substances such as polymers have varying properties based on the architecture of the polymer (i.e. cross-linked polymers are more durable that a linear polymer). Finally, properties can be affected by crystal size, shape, in a polymer’s case, length, and many other macroscopic structures.
The chemistry of materials has improved our lives by helping society develop items that fit our exact needs. Different materials behave different ways; therefore some materials are better for certain tasks than others. Leading up to the present, there have been many failures in society due to materials, such as collapsed bridges. Now that we have a thorough understanding of the chemistry of materials, we can choose what material we want to use to make something based on its properties or manipulate a material to have the desired properties. In the future, we can use our knowledge of the chemistry of materials to innovate technology existing today or create new technology.
“How does the structure of matter on the atomic, molecular, microscopic and macroscopic levels determine a material’s properties?”
A material’s properties depend on many factors in the substance’s chemical makeup. On the atomic level, elements are always striving for a full octet which makes them less stable and more reactive. Ionically, covalently, and metallically bonded molecules have different structures, melting points, and conductivity based on the strength of the bonds. For example, a substance bonded covalently will have a lower melting point than an ionically bonded substance because ionic bonds are stronger and harder to break. Microscopically, substances such as polymers have varying properties based on the architecture of the polymer (i.e. cross-linked polymers are more durable that a linear polymer). Finally, properties can be affected by crystal size, shape, in a polymer’s case, length, and many other macroscopic structures.