Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

(a) is an example of a longitudinal wave and (b) is an example of a transverse wave.

This month during Science class we have been learning about transverse and longitudinal Waves. Transverse waves are waves that moves the medium at right angles to the direction in which the waves travel. Longitudinal waves are waves that moves the medium parallel to the direction in which the waves travel. Both of these waves have similar characteristics. They both have a crest, which is the high part of a wave, and a trough, which is the low part of a wave. The wave is measured by its amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and speed. In class we did many activities that correspond with waves. Such as using a slinky. When you push the slinky on one side, you can see the wave traveling through to the other side. When we were diagramming transverse waves we used a spring rope. With a partner holding the other side, we moved our hand up and down. Starting slowly, we noticed that it looked like a wave in the ocean. As we speed up, the waves became smaller and they would pass a point more frequently. I learned a lot about waves in the past weeks but when I searched transverse and longitudinal waves, I learned something new. I learned that water waves travel in a clockwise cycle. I also learned about a Rayleigh surface wave. These water waves move in a counter-clockwise cycle but deeper in the wave, it turns into a clockwise motion.

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html
http://sol.sci.uop.edu/~jfalward/physics17/chapter10/slinky.jpg(picture)

Robots Helping the Disabled

For the past three years, Professor Charles Kemp and Johnathan Glass have been working together on a robot that could potentially help the disabled fetch the necessities they need at home. The robot, called El-E, is 5 feet tall and moves around on wheels. With one robotic arm, it can pick up anything from a water bottle to handing the elderly their vitamins. The El-E is not yet able to pick up cell phones or other small devices but Kemp and his colleagues are still working hard to make this robot the best it can possibly be. Along with the robotic arm, the incredible robot has other human-like features such as, two eyes. I believe this is a great use of technology. I think that these robots can help many people around the world. For some people it may seem like an easy thing to reach out for the television clicker but for some it is extremely difficult. I think the robot will make many peoples life easier. Finally, I believe this is more of what we need in this world. People using their smarts to create robots or aids for people who really need it.

I got my information from:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/01/robot.health.aide/index.html

Symbiosis: A Relationship Between A Vine and Tree

Above, the vine wrapped around the tree is a relationship known as parasitism. Parasitism is a relationship where one living thing benefits while the other is harmed. While this picture might look like an innocent tree with leaves gently laid around it, the vine is actually choking the tree. There are many reasons to explain this unique relationship. First, the vine grows in the canopy of a tree and blocks the process of photosynthesis by covering and killing the trees leaves. When the vines become too heavy they also cause the tree to topple and die. Secondly, competition comes into play. The vines compete with the tree's roots for necessary elements, such as nitrogen. This is important to nature because vine seeds, such as ivy, can spread to other forests where it can strangle native vegetation and injure other trees. Often what needs to happen in order for the trees to live in vine covered areas is for a few trees and vines to be cut back. If this does not happen, entire forests could be blighted.

This website helped me get my information:
http://www.treesatlanta.org/vines.html
The picture I originally found was deleted so I got this tree from:
http://www.larryhester.com/tree-vines-s.jpg

Hydrothermal Vents/ Alvin

Hydrothermal vents are cracks in the ocean floor that send out jets of hot water. Instead of sunlight many underwater creatures get their energy from these vents. Along with the water minerals and bacteria are carried into the ocean water. The sizes can range from one inch to six feet. Several dozen vents have been discovered. My student teacher is apart of a program called an Alvin. An Alvin is a three person submarine that goes under water and searches for hydrothermal vents and experiments to find out more about them. During the French's Project FAMOUS in 1997 they noticed the first sighting of vents and unknown creatures using Alvin. Since 1977, other hot springs and creatures have been found at many sites along the East Pacific Rise.

I got my information from: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/exploring.html

Smart Students, even SMARTer Technology.

Earlier this week my science class recieved a SMART Board. You use a projector to project onto the SMART Board your computer. This includes, the internet, Word documents and coloring pages. The board is touch screen. Using special pens you can write on any document you choose. So far we have used the SMART Board to watch vidoes on ecology and label organizers using the pens. The SMART Board was created in 1991 and was the first interactive whiteboard. Ever since, it has been the leading interactive whiteboard, "Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer." Two new things i learned about the SMART Board is that it was the first interactive whiteboard, and that the SMART Board is used by astronauts. I think the SMART Borad is one of the best inventions in modern day. With this board students around the world can have a fun, easy way to learn. I believe the SMART Board will be a great success for years to come. My students and I are very fortunate to be able to have one of these pieces of history in our classroom.

I got my information from:
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/News+and+research/Research/International/
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/
and go to
http://www.smarttech.com for more.

Math Is...

What is math? Math is adding and subtracting numbers to find an answer. Math is multiplying and dividing to find an answer too. Along with that math is my life. My parents use math to pay taxes and mortgages and I use it in school. Math is percents and decimals. Math is solving equations and solving for x, almost impossible without using math.Math is also learning. Math is counting, 123+4. Math is my life.

Extra Credit: Edgar Allen Poe Poem

The City In the Sea
by Edgar Allen Poe

Lo! Death has reared himself a throne
In a strange city lying alone
Far down within the dim West,
Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best
Have gone to their eternal rest.
There shrines and palaces and towers
(Time-eaten towers that tremble not!)
Resemble nothing that is ours.
Around, by lifting winds forgot,
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters lie.

No rays from the holy heaven come down
On the long night-time of that town;
But light from out the lurid sea
Streams up the turrets silently-
Gleams up the pinnacles far and free-
Up domes- up spires- up kingly halls-
Up fanes- up Babylon-like walls-
Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers
Of sculptured ivy and stone flowers-
Up many and many a marvellous shrine
Whose wreathed friezes intertwine
The viol, the violet, and the vine.
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters lie.
So blend the turrets and shadows there
That all seem pendulous in air,
While from a proud tower in the town
Death looks gigantically down.

There open fanes and gaping graves
Yawn level with the luminous waves;
But not the riches there that lie
In each idol's diamond eye-
Not the gaily-jewelled dead
Tempt the waters from their bed;
For no ripples curl, alas!
Along that wilderness of glass-
No swellings tell that winds may be
Upon some far-off happier sea-
No heavings hint that winds have been
On seas less hideously serene.

But lo, a stir is in the air!
The wave- there is a movement there!
As if the towers had thrust aside,
In slightly sinking, the dull tide-
As if their tops had feebly given
A void within the filmy Heaven.
The waves have now a redder glow-
The hours are breathing faint and low-
And when, amid no earthly moans,
Down, down that town shall settle hence,
Hell, rising from a thousand thrones,
Shall do it reverence.



Weather is elaborately described in Edgar's poem. He describes the lifting winds, beneath the sky and the melancholy waters that lie. He describes the sun's reflection on the sea and the water currents because of wind and air pressure. He also describes the sun's rays from above. Edgar's knowledge enhances the poem by creating pictures in my head of what all of the scenes look like. Also, he can describe everything and anything about weather.
This poem wouldn't be the same without the mention of weather. It wouldn't because Edgar Allen Poe's poem is called The City In the Sea, meaning that the poem is about weather in general. The poet used metaphors, imagery and setting to describe the weather in this poem. He used metaphors such as, "For no ripples curl, alas! Along that wilderness of glass-" In this metaphor he compares the sea to glass. This poem helped me learn about how weather is simple and it is all related. Also, it tought me more about winds and the sea and water.

I found this poem at:
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/poe/cityin.html