Marking+Period+3

2/25/08 We have begun Chapter 4. This time we are using the wiki for online notebooks. We'll see how it goes!

2/21/08 Today we watched a presentation on Solar Energy and Biomass.

Solar Energy: Parabolic Troughs are used to focus sun lights on the panels. Solar Energy works by large solar panels absorbing energy from the sun. Water pipes that are connected to the panels get so hot that the water turns to steam, and the steam turns the turbine to create electricity. Advantages of Solar Energy: ~fuel is not needed to power it ~no pollution is released ~very sunny days create a lot of power ~supplies are unlimited Disadvantages of Solar Energy: ~cannot receive energy at night ~expensive to build ~needs large panels for a decent amount of power ~large solar thermal farms can harm desert ecosystems

Biomass: Biomass is an organic material that comes from plants and materials. Crops are finely ground and separated into their compound sugars. Then the sugars are distilled to make ethanol which can be used as an alternative fuel. This causes carbon dioxide to be released and absorbed by crops allowing the cycle to continue. Advantages of Biomass: ~can make a variety of fuels ~available throughout the world ~relatively clean burning Disadvantages of Biomass: ~releases carbon dioxide in the air ~very expensive

2/19/08 In Algebra I we covered section 7.3 today. Notes

2/14/08 Kelly helped us type notes on The Best Way To Study. Click below to read them!

2/13/08 Lab Reports are due on Tuesday. Here are notes from class about things you need to remember.

2/10/08 Notes from our Lab

Energy Lab
Purpose: To find out where kinetic energy comes from.

Hypothesis: Kinetic energy comes from a gravitational force.

Independant Variable: The height of the starting line on the ramp.

Dependant Variable: Kinetic Enery is the dependant variable.

Constant: the car, the ramp, the mass of the car, the height and weight of the car, and the height and length of the ramp.

2/7/08

2/5/08 media type="custom" key="496290" Our research on energy resources is going very well! Learn about the compact curriculum project Team 8 Blue Saves The World.

1/31/08 Energy Conversion Demonstrations [|Click here] for our Voicethread.

1/28/08

We are continuing to research alternate energy resources. Remember to use the graphic organizer to identify the main ideas in the reading and then choose supporting details to write on the notes sheets. We are compiling helpful links on our [|Page Flakes] page.

1/23/08 There are some resources for you on the Physical Science page.

1/22/08 We began our Energy Unit today. Students completed job applications and began training to work for our "Department of Energy". Tomorrow we will begin our research.

1/14/08 Data from the Specific Heat Capacity Lab:



1/9/08 Today we studied Inverse Variation.



1/7/08 Notes from Math class today!



January 3, 2008 Wow! Check out the digital lab report of Jessa and Josh click here and Kristen and Kirsten click here. Warm-Up: For each pair of terms, explain the difference in their meanings.
 * 1) **__Temperature/ Thermal energy__**: Temperature is the **average** kinetic energy in a substance, whereas thermal energy is the **total** energy of the particles.
 * 2) **__Heat/ Thermal energy__**: Heat is the tranfer of energy between objects at different temperatures, while thermal energy is the total amount of energy.
 * 3) **__Conductor/ Insulator:__** A conductor is a substance that conducts thermal energy well, but an insulator does not.
 * 4) **__Conduction/ Convection:__** Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy through direct contact, and convection is the tranfer of thermal energy through the movement of fluid.
 * 5) **__States of Matter/ Change of State:__** A state of matter is a physical form and a change of state is between two forms.