EM.9-21

EM9. I can describe the properties and interactions of magnets.

EM10. I can describe how the magnetic domains are arranged in a magnetic/non-magnetic material.

EM11. I can explain the connection between electricity and magnetism (electromagnetism).

EM12. I can outline the difference between DC/AC current and its uses

EM13. I can explain why the Earth behaves like a magnet and the consequences of it.

EM14. I can explain the importance of grounding wires and using fuses/circuit breakers.

EM15. I can explain how an electromagnet works and cite applications for them.

EM16. I can explain how a simple motor works (parts and function).

EM17. I can describe how a generator and a transformer work.

EM18. I can explain the importance of transformers to power grids.

EM19. I can explain methods of power production and distribution.

EM20. I can describe the differences of 110v/220v and main advantages and disadvantages of each.

EM21. I can describe the advantages and disadvantages of electrical energy.

EM.9: A magnet is any material that contain iron and attracts iron. They are not new. They were discovered more than 2,000 years ago in Magnesia(now Turkey) and were first discovered as a rock which contained magnetite. And those rocks attracted materials containing iron. They also attracted or repulsed magnetic materials, which is called magnetism. In addition to that, one part of a magnet will always point north when allowed to freely swing. Every magnet has two ends, each one called a magnetic pole and a magnet’s magnetic effect is stronger at the pole. One side is labeled north pole and the other one, south pole. If you bring the north pole of one magnet and the south pole of another, the two attract each other. That’s because unlike poles attract. If two south poles, or north poles are brought together, they will repel, and that’s because like poles repel. This attraction and repulsion is called a magnetic force. (Force= push or pull that causes an object to move). A magnetic force is produced when magnetic poles interact.

Two negative charges repel
Two positive charges repel
A negative charge and a positive charge attract!

EM.10: Magnetic domain= group of atoms that have magnetic fields aligned;

The directions that the domains point to determines if the material is a magnetic material or a non-magnetic material.

Non-magnetic material= Domains point to random directions; the magnetic field of some domains cancel magnetic fields of other domain. The material is not a magnet.

Magnetic material= Most domains point to same direction. In a magnetized material, all or most are arranged in the same direction; the magnetic fields of the domains are aligned.

The left one is a magnetic domain and the left one is a non-magnetic domain

EM.11: Both magnetism and electricity can create a magnet; you can’t have electricity without magnetism and vice versa; they are both able to create each other thus why most materials aren’t magnetic;

EM.12:

AC- depends on the vibration of the electrons when the current is on and the charges move back and forth. In other words, electrons move back and forth. Produced from magnet. It has an advantage over DC; it can be easily lowered to a higher or lower voltage meaning the high voltage can be used to send electrical energy to big distances. And the voltage can also be reduced, making it safer for everyday use.

DC- depends on the movement of the electrons and the charges flower in one direction only. In other words, the electrons flow continuously from one end to the other. When the battery runs out, the current stops. Produced from battery.

EM.13: The Earth behaves like a bar magnet, because it has a magnetic field surrounding it and two magnetic poles.

It has a liquid core that contains iron and it’s believed that as it moves/spins it creates an electric current that makes a magnetic field around the itself. The magnetic field and the two magnetic poles makes the Earth act like a huge magnet and also attracts like one. Thus why the magnetized needle of a compass always points north.

Consequences of it are:

-Since the Earth produces a strong magnetic field, it can make magnets out of ferromagnetic materials;

-Affects the movement of electrically charged particles in space;

Earth as a giant magnet

EM.14: Ground wires are on top of buildings and when thunder strikes the electricity goes to the street(ground). They are needed for safety. Using fuses/circuit breakers prevent further damage that electrical appliances could have; they stop current from breaking when they are getting hot.

EM.15: Electromagnet= solenoid with a ferromagnetic core; it is a strong magnet that can be turned on and off; its magnetic field can be a lot stronger than the magnetic field of the current;

They are used in audiotapes, videotapes, computer hard drives, and credit cards. They are also used to lift hard objects.

Credit cards: one of the appliances electromagnets are used in

EM.16:

1.)  Battery gets connected to wire

2.)  A current is created around the armature producing a field around it

3.)  Current continues to brush, to commutator, to armature, to right side of the armature, to commutator again, to brushes, etc. and the process continues

4.)  While this is going on, since the North pople attracts the South pole and the South pole attracts the North pole, the armature flips and the right side of it flips to the left, and the left side of it flips to the right

5.)  The commutator flips which makes the armature to do so too, making the brushes disconnect from it and the current to stop. When it aligns itself again with the north and south poles, the armature flips all the way and the commutator goes back to its initial position, where the brushes connect to it again and the current continues on. The right side which was moving forward, towards the battery begins to moves away once it flips sides and the left side which was moving away from the battery starts moving towards it once it flips. The sides the current moves always flips whenever the armature flips sides.

(get picture of armature)

The main parts of it are the following->

Brushes- They conduct the current to the armature. They do not move;

Commutator- Flips/rotates with armature; the direction of current changes with each half turn so that the armature spins endlessly;

Armature- Current is in opposite directions on each side of armature, which cuses one side to move up and the other to move down;

EM.17: A generator transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy. It’s the opposite of an electric motor; Electric motor= uses an electric current in a magnet field to produce motion; Generator= uses motion in a magnetic field to make an electric current.

In other words, a generator uses the energy of another material(windmills) to make energy. It doesn’t use electricity and instead uses magnets to produce it.

There are two types of generators:

AC generators- When the current goes back and forth and there is not a direct path;

DC generators- When the current goes straight continuously;

Its parts are:

-Crank: it is used to rotate the armature

-Slip ring: are attached to ends of armature

-Armature: current is induced in it as it rotates

-Brush: current leaves generator through brushes

A transformer increases or decreases voltage. It has two separate coils of insulated wire wrapped around an iron core; one is the primary coil(which is connected to a circuit with a voltage source and an alternating current) and there is the secondary coil(which is connected to a separate circuit that doesn’t have a voltage source)

There are two types of transformers. If the number of loops in the primary and secondary coils of a transformer is the same, then so is the voltage as it started off.

Step-up transformer= increases voltage; if the secondary coil has more loops than the primary coil, the voltage in the second one will be greater.

Step-down transformer= decreases voltage; if there are fewer loops in the secondary coil than the primary coil then it is a step-down transformer.

A transformer

EM.18: Transformers are needed to power grids because:

-They speed up the process of getting the energy from the plant to the houses/buildings;

-So that you have the right amount of voltage to make the product work;

-So that you don’t have an exceeded amount of voltage;

EM.19: There are various ways to produce energy:

-Hydroelectric Energy: Mechanical->Electrical;

Advantages: Reliable; clean; safe; controls amount of energy generated(flow of water)

Disadvantages: Takes a lot of space; expensive; takes land of people; affects environment

Nuclear Energy: Thermal->Mechanical

Advantages: Doesn’t increase global warming; generates a lot of energy; doesn’t take a lot of space to build

Disadvantages: Dangerous; Leftover waste; needs water to construct; hard to control

Biomass: Thermal-> Mechanical-> Electrical

Advantages: Plants trees to compensate; efficient way to get rid of organic waste; renewable

Disadvantages: Pollutes; difficult to produce lots of energy; burning; not cost efficient

Solar Energy: Light-> Heat-> Electric Mechanical-> Electrical

Advantages: Renewable source; clean; no greenhouse gases; free energy

Disadvantages: generates energy only during daytime(because of Sun); expensive; unattractive

Wind Energy: Mechanical-> Electrical

Advantages: Clean; doesn’t occupy grand space; not dangerous; energy is cheap; renewable

Disadvantages: Not cost-efficient; kills birds(flying animals); not reliable

Geothermal Energy: Thermal-> Mechanical-> Electrical

Advantages: No pollution; free

Disadvantages: Installing is not cheap; limited area

Fossil Fuels: Chemical-> Electrical

Advantages: Easy to be transported;

Disadvantages: Not renewable; pollutes a lot

(explain what they are+ get pics)

EM.20: The difference is that 110V has a slower/weaker push and 220V has a faster/stronger push.

Advantages of 110V:

-Less dangerous

-It is more commonly found in the USA

Disadvantages of 110V:

-Gets to places slower

Advantages of 220V:

-Gets to places faster;

-Can be transferred to long distances more efficiently

Disadvantages of 220V:

-More dangerous

-Less commonly found in the USA

EM.21:

Advantages of electrical energy are:

-It is clean;

-It’s easy to move from one circuit to another;

-Transmitted to long distances;

-It is safe;

Disadvantages are:

-Pollutes;

-Can be dangerous if one doesn’t take precautions;

-May cause health problems because of the electric and magnetic fields that are formed;

Bibliography for pictures:

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=tZBGv--XbYZwPM:&imgrefurl=http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Quantum_Mechanics/Atomic_Theory/Electrons_in_Atoms/Multi-electron_Atoms&docid=0FCSSiWJlafzNM&imgurl=http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/%2540api/deki/files/4338/%253Dattraction_and_repulsion.JPG&w=513&h=154&ei=XxuQT_ubMY
eQ9QSA35GlBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=688&vpy=182&dur=3444&hovh=123&hovw=410&tx=173&ty=54&sig=11
4836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=53&tbnw=178&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:74  

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=r8ijY8B5yUsEmM:&imgrefurl=http://www.delsea.k12.nj.us/Academic/Classes/highschool/science/physics/FirstYear/Units/Unit07/Notes/BasicMagnetism.htm&docid=pdOvpvew51YbkM&imgurl=http://www.delsea.k12.nj.us/Academic/Classes/highschool/science/physics/FirstYear/Units/Unit07/Notes/Images/Magnetvsnonmag.png&w=465&h=407&ei=ExyQT6HUDIeO8wT2lv2UBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=122&vpy=189&dur=176&hovh=210&hovw=240&tx=146&ty=123&sig=114836916919842941390&page=2&tbnh=129&tbnw=147&start=18&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:18,i:153

http://stargazers.gsfc.nasa.gov/resources/magnet_in_space.htm

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=rK1SE40GFkxk9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.mybudget360.com/endgame-credit-card-nation-40-year-credit-card-bull-market-over/&docid=brl41r2dOeaTFM&imgurl=http://www.mybudget360.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/creditcards.jpg&w=470&h=314&ei=bx2QT9-eMIbc9ASb0pWhBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=377&sig=114836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=199&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:70&tx=120&ty=69

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=uN8wP8_Xn8HZ9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.atltransformers.co.uk/pages/basic-principles.htm&docid=zEn7EOAUvG9qIM&imgurl=http://www.atltransformers.co.uk/uploads/images/763px-Transformer3d_col3_svg.png&w=763&h=573&ei=_R2QT8uULI6w8AStutmABA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=966&vpy=146&dur=386&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=109&ty=106&sig=114836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=127&tbnw=159&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:74

Electricity

For the past two weeks of classes we have been working on electricity.

We were told to build an electric motor, make an electromagnet, make a multiple choice quiz, etc.

Electric Motor

My electric motor was made of one battery, tape, a wire made of copper, a magnet, and a piece of cardboard.

I searched on youtube “how to build an electric motor” and also found some websites talking about them. I got a few ideas from every video I watched, and in the end, this is what I decided:

1.     First I got a very small piece of cardboard, to put my project on top of.

2.     Next, I got a copper wire and made it do an O shape with two ends that were sticking out.

3.     Afterwards, I got two pieces of copper and made it into a shape that looked like the letter L but with a curvy side.

4.     I got tape and glued the two pieces of wire to the battery.

5.     I got a magnet and put it on top of my battery.

6.     I put my project on top of the piece of cardboard.

7.     I got the O shaped copper wire and put the two ends that were sticking out on the wires with an L on it.

Sorry if my explanation wasn’t very clear, so here is a picture and a video of my project so that you can understand it better:

This is my video:

And my image:

It wasn’t that hard to make it. My first one didn’t work actually, therefore I made a second one, which fortunately did. I learned that an electric motor can be used for lots of things for example cars, vacuum-cleaners, dishwashers, computer printers, fax machines, subway systems, sewage treatment plants, etc.

I observed that the copper would get really hot once I put it in its place, but it would cool down when I took it off or when I took off the magnet.

It works like this:

The electrons flow to the paper clips(in my case I used a wire) and then to the other copper wire and through the paths, until it got to the other side. While this happens, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet makes the coil move and making the wire spin. The electrons and the magnet got into perfect balance, so an insulator was needed and with it the current stopped, breaking the balance and completing the circle.

Electromagnets

As soon as we came back to school, we were assigned into groups and told to build an electromagnet. My assigned group was Felipe Santanna and Emyr Diniz. The materials we needed were simple: a nail, copper wire, a battery and some paper clips.

We had to wrap the copper wire around the nail and touch the ends of the wire to the battery. We had to wrap the wire around the nail very tightly so that our end results would be alright. Then, we had to try to pick up the paper clips and see if it stuck, and if it did it worked.

I observed that when the wire is connect to the negative and positive charges, the battery starts getting very hot and the nail becomes magnetic. I also observed that when my group and I disconnected the wires, the battery stopped getting hot and the nail stopped attracting the paper clips.

I learned that an electromagnet can be turned off and on. And the nail attracts the paper clips because of the flow of electrons. If it was not a complete circuit the electrons would not flow; the electrons created a magnetic field, which turned the nail into a magnet.

On the following week of school, Ms. Silva gave us twenty one questions, and told her that eight of those we had already learned and that we were going to review those eight topics. She separated us into groups; mine was the same one, Emyr and Felipe. She assigned each group a topic, and in the end we were all going to present it in front of the class. My assigned group was EM7. Here are the topics:

EM1: I can explain how electric charges interact.

EM2: I can give examples of how charges can be transferred between materials and explain them.

EM3: I can explain how an electric current is produced.

EM4: I can compare conductors with insulators.

EM5: I can explain how resistance affects current.

EM6: I can use Ohm’s law to calculate resistance, current and voltage.

EM7: I can build series and parallel circuits and describe its parts.

EM8: I can explain the relationship between power, voltage and current.

I understood some of the topics more than the others, but in the end I did understand all. Here is what I learned.

EM1:
Positive + negative charges attract each other;
Positive + positive charges repel;
Negative + negative charges repel each other;
Like charges a

All charges have invisible electric fields around them. It's an invisible region around an object that pulls or repels another charge.
The positive charges electric force is pulling outward, while the electric force of the negative charge is pulling inwards.

EM2:
There are three ways of charges being transferred between materials: Friction(rubbing), conduction(direct contact) and induction(is caused by electric field of second object).
Friction-> electrons are transferred from one uncharged object to another one by rubbing.
Conduction-> electrons are transferred from a charged object to another one by direct contact.
Induction-> movement of electrons to one part of an object that is caused by the electric field of the second object.

Person is rubbing hands; caused by friction

Person is directly touching cell phone; caused by conduction

Negative charges on fingers are being attracted to positive charges on
doorknob while the negative charges are "moving away" from the negative charges on finger
and the positive charges on finger are "moving away" from positive charges on doorknob; caused by induction

EM3:
Electric current is when the flow of electrons is a circuit and flowing continuously from one place to another.

An electric current can only be produced by voltage. A current is what creates an electric circuit(complete and unbroken path through which electric charges can flow). To produce electric current charges must flow continuously from one place to another. And current requires an electric circuit.

EM4: 
Conductor is a material through which charges can flow easily because the electrons are loosely bound;
Examples of conductors- are silver, copper, aluminum, iron, etc.

Copper is a good conductor

Insulators is a material which charges cannot flow easily because the electrons are tightly bound; they are good to stop flow of charges. Some only slow down the current, while others(very few) stop the current.
Examples of insulators- are rubber, glass, sand, plastic, wood, etc.

Sand is a good insulator

EM5:
Firstly, one should know that when the resistance is high, the current is low; and when the current is high, resistance is low.
Four things that affect resistance are heat, length, material and width;
Heat- The electrical resistance of most materials increases as temperature increases and as the temperature of most materials decreases, so does resistance.

Length- The longer the wire, the more the resistance and the shorter the wire the less the resistance; Long wires have more resistance than short wires because less electrons flow through the long pipe than through the short one. The electrons in the long pipe slows it down because it bumps into more of the circuit's inner wall. 

Width- The wire with small diameter has less electrons flowing through it than the wire with the large diameter because in the small one, there is less area through which the electrons can flow. Thin wires also have more resistance than thick wires.

Material- Insulators are tightly bound, making it hard for electrons to flow; Conductors are loosely bound, making it easier for electrons to flow; It depends on whether the material is an insulator or a conductor;

EM6:
Resistance= voltage/current.
Voltage(V)- the more energy electrons have, the stronger the voltage;
Current(I) or (A-amperes)- think of a waterfall: would represent how much water goes through the edge  in a second;
Resistance(R) or (Ohms)- what stops material from flowing;
The voltage causes a current because the pressure from the voltage pushes the current;

EM7:
In a series circuit, the charges have only one path to take, while in a parallel circuit there are various different parts for charges to take.

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Some differences in both are:
-The lightbulbs in the parallel circuit are always brighter than the ones in the series circuit because the electrons don't have to pass through all the lightbulbs/resistors.
-The resistance in the series circuit is greater than the ones in the parallel circuit since the electrons have to pass through all the lightbulbs and if one adds the resistance of all 3 lightbulbs it's greater than the resistance of only 1.
-In the parallel circuit the current is stronger because there are more paths for the current to flow through.
Battery-> energy source;
Lightbulb-> resistor;
Wire-> conductor;

EM8: Power= voltage x current
I've explained what voltage and current are previously, however I haven't explain what is power:
Power(W-watts)- Rate at which energy is transformed from one form to another form.
Example: Hairdryers-> electrical energy to thermal energy to dry your hair

Multiple Choice Electricity Quizzes

We were told to create a quiz about electricity with ten multiple choice questions(however no formulas, definitions or “all of the above” on our questions) and we had to put a link to it on our blog. Mine is on the post before this one J. Our teacher also told us to take a few of our classmates’ quizzes to prepare for hers. Ms. Silva was going to make one, using the questions we asked on our multiple choice quizzes.

After that we had more lessons on electromagnetism. 

Bibliography of pictures:
http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=1GH0XFcDFBtiJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4812162/woman_rubbing_hands_together&docid=bHVbrrRMJ3Cl5M&imgurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x4812162/Woman_rubbing_hands_together_33dlj0753rfs.jpg&w=431&h=670&ei=16GUT9ryJ4TY9ATy7tmqBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=267&vpy=219&dur=1814&hovh=280&hovw=180&tx=126&ty=178&sig=114836916919842941390&page=2&tbnh=131&tbnw=76&start=19&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:19,i:112

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=4H9SRUdeFoDi5M:&imgrefurl=http://mybelojardim.com/nanotecnologia-criando-bateria-eternas/&docid=Cd5aScR0TyfZxM&imgurl=http://mybelojardim.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/touching-cell-phone3.jpg&w=400&h=337&ei=26KUT6yYK4W88ATv2Pz-Aw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=760&vpy=180&dur=1429&hovh=206&hovw=245&tx=122&ty=98&sig=114836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0,i:78

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=6GFV6o0bmXyo7M:&imgrefurl=http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Hate-Touching-Doorknobs/148073&docid=rw4YrkeB6LAZkM&imgurl=http://g.epcdn.net/ups/d17/kpsdtb2kj1.jpg&w=125&h=103&ei=FKOUT5WdAoGw8ASrqZ2LBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=847&vpy=76&dur=626&hovh=82&hovw=100&tx=93&ty=20&sig=114836916919842941390&page=2&tbnh=82&tbnw=100&start=19&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:19,i:118

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=4JnDfmGZpFHnLM:&imgrefurl=http://gonzalolira.blogspot.com/2011/09/forget-goldwhat-matters-is-copper.html&docid=1GzNcYYLipsUjM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE0YYNrkz7HfbwxDmH1NSknRIb0KRjj6yxD-kAysNVupMGpP11hfeQj6Hw04OWuVpJaRdqajsvcNyVZWFSsIqrOFO3ZkR4Deoqn04Vh4tVHCHJULYDA59mbtXx-7ZiQ9xQs3h2DC2nz4/s1600/0428_copper12.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=JqWUT8rOMoOO8wSbjICBBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=120&vpy=293&dur=988&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=145&ty=137&sig=114836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=145&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:93

http://www.google.com.br/imgres?um=1&hl=pt-BR&biw=1280&bih=629&tbm=isch&tbnid=UtRVpi0fKCADTM:&imgrefurl=http://thevirtuosi.blogspot.com/2011/07/grains-of-sand.html&docid=NcMGqwf8mx-uiM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk-xpbe2wq2oF_cl4bdTclsYFm3_wuYrwKVLAKnitc0h6cL8hqNK1U9awTPhhfhLX8Asu7PuZI8kcuFBk0yS_PMIOBuS9UhMSYVWJoYmzwqaoIxXkJkoGHfrM6ynzh377ZsBugwGeIpA/s1600/SandUDunesUSoft.jpg&w=1280&h=1024&ei=sqWUT9-HIYSm9AS7oaiNBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=290&vpy=181&dur=247&hovh=168&hovw=212&tx=70&ty=123&sig=114836916919842941390&page=1&tbnh=116&tbnw=150&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:132
                                                           

Go take my electricity quiz! :)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDZGZGRRdXFKSm90NU9iUldVSTRXcFE6MQ#gid=0

Zoinks! presents: The Cell Game

After learning a lot more about nutrients and cells in class, our teacher, Ms. Silva decided assigned to us a very creative project. We were assigned to work in Zoinks! and had to make a game, video, or whatever we chose to make and teach our audience(in this case younger students) about cells, some nutrients, diffusion, etc. 

The goal of this project was for us to review cells and for our teacher to see if we had really learned everything- in a new and creative way. 

At first I had decided to make a video, but it would be too complicated, but I was still stuck with the video idea in my head for a few days. However, I thought that a game board might be fun as well, since I love decorating and designing. So my plan was to make cards asking the question, and saying the answer. Although, I had to be more creative then just doing that, or else it would be boring...

After making sure I was going to make a game board, I started planning out and writing creative things for my game board. 

I first came up with the rules/steps of the game, then all the questions(more then 40), after I cut out all the papers to make the questions and the answers(surprisingly it took a lot of work), and afterwards I answered them. Answering them took some time as well, but I had good resources- my science book, my tests, worksheets, the internet, notes that I took in class and of course, all that I had learned with Ms. Silva and our class. 

After this, I got a "paper"(it has got some layers though so I wouldn't exactly call it paper nor cardboard paper), then I cut out some pieces of papers to make them as the steps the players would have to go in order to win the game. After doing so, I outlined what the steps would have to say, and wrote on them what would the player have to do if he/she got it right or wrong(right was in gold while wrong was in silver). 

Coming up with the name of the game wasn't very easy, even if it seems like an easy name, however I'm not very good at naming things. I came up with the name "The Cell Game"and got gold paint and painted it on top of the "paper" I cut out. 

Finally, I played it to see it everything worked out and had to check all the questions and answers to see if I hadn't made any mistakes.

Summed up, this project doesn't look like it was very hard, but it took a lot of hard work and it took me about two weeks to come up with it. 

Self-evaluation: I honestly think that I did a good job- I put a lot of thought into this project and worked hard to make it good. I also truly liked this project, it was fun and different and I hope we do something as fun as this again soon! It was a good way to review everything and to learn new things which you realized you hadn't known about before. I enjoyed it a lot and think my project turned out very good.

Youtube link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QQ3qCw09-M

A little preview of The Cell Game 

The Cell Game

Screenshot of video 

Egg Lab!

In science class we were learning all about osmosis and diffusion, and so that we could understand it better, our teacher, Ms. Silva gave us a very interesting project. The project was to be done in group of threes. Firstly, Ms. Silva took off the shell of the eggs for us, so that we could examine them in different kinds of solutions for some days. Our group could choose whichever solutions we wanted. The group assigned to me was Marina Silveira and Rodrigo Ussier. The two solutions we chose were corn syrup and distilled water. We had to put the two de-shelled eggs in each of the two cups which contained corn syrup in one of them, while on the other, distilled water. We were supposed to make observations and measure the eggs for each of the days. Some of the materials we used were: 

-2 de-shelled eggs

-2 plastic cups

-a graduated cylinder

-80 mL of corn syrup 

-80 mL of distilled water

-a ruler and a string to measure the circumference of the eggs

-weight scale to weigh the eggs 

Predictions: One of our predictions were that the egg that was in the corn syrup was going to get smaller because the concentration of water inside it was bigger then the concentration outside of the egg. On the other hand, we thought that the egg in the distilled water was going to get larger since the concentration of water is more outside then inside since it’s 100% water/H20 in the solution, therefore no other solution could be as concentrated as water, thus why the egg would get larger. We predicted that the distilled water would have less liquid as well. Adding on to that, we thought that the egg dipped in corn syrup was going to get darker and sticky because of the dark and sticky substance that was added to the egg. 

What did we do: On the first day, my team and I measured both eggs and took notes on their appearance, mass and circumference. Then, we added 80 mL of our substances to the cup the eggs were on, which in this case were corn syrup in one cup and distilled water on the other one. We let the eggs and the solutions react in a 24-hour period so that we could measure it again on the following day. 

On the second day, my team and I measured both eggs again and took annotations as how it looked and how they changed. We let the eggs and solutions react again for a 24-hour period so that we could measure on the next day.

On the third day we measured the eggs yet again and we broke them in the middle to take notes on how they looked inside and compared our results with the other groups’ results; we had to average it to make a chart and a graph. Although, the chart/graph part was individual. 

Tables and graphs of the final results: 

Observations: Some of our observations were that before putting the egg in the solution, on Day 1, the eggs were yellow and a bit translucid; it was soft, humid and opaque. The eggs were “wrinkly” and the distilled water was very transparent and “liquidy” while the corn syrup looked very dense and was very sticky. After putting our eggs in the solutions, we noticed that the eggs sank a little bit.

On Day 2, we observed that on the egg that had the corn syrup solution there were air bubbles around the egg’s surface. The egg was even more “wrinkly” and it partially sunk- it floated more then before. While the corn syrup was more “watery” and had some particles floating in it. It was more yellow then orange. Still on Day 2, we noticed that the egg in distilled water also had air bubbles around the egg’s surface and it sank more. The egg was whiter and less “wrinkly”; while the water had no substancial difference.

On Day 3, we noticed that the egg in distilled water looked like a balloon filled with water and felt heavier; while the corn syrup egg was very opaque and “wrinkly” and the corn syrup was very “liquidy” and yellow. Still on Day 3, after opening the eggs, we noticed that the egg’s(in the corn syrup) shell was very brown and the yolk was very sticky because of the corn syrup and the sugar. The yolk was crystalized and rough(though inside the yolk was soft) and yellow. When we cut in half the other egg, the one in distilled water, it popped open, flying water everywhere. The shell was white and the yolk softer then the corn syrup’s egg’s yolk. It was also very less sticky.

 Conclusion: To conclude, I want to compare some of our predictions to the final results. We predicted that the egg in corn syrup was going to get smaller- which is correct since as from the mass, it went from 72.7 g to 69.1 and the circumference went from 16 cm on Day 1 to 14.4 cm on Day 3. We were correct when we thought the corn syrup egg was going to be darker and more sticky because of the corn syrup which is water + sugar=fructose glucose. As for the distilled water, we predicted that it was going to increase in mass and in size which it did. In mass, it went from a 67.9 g on Day 1 to 77.6 g on Day 3. As for the circumference, it started off at 15.3 cm on Day 1 and ended at 16 cm on Day 3, meaning it increased in size as well.

As for the amount of solution in the cups, for the corn syrup, the amount increased, from 80 mL on Day 1, to 86.5 mL on Day 2, to 79 mL on Day 3. The amount of solution in distilled water decreased. It started off with 80 mL as well on Day 1, then 71 mL on Day 2, and 60.3 mL on Day 2. Our prediction that the distilled water would have less liquid was correct.

What happened to the eggs was that in corn syrup, which had a lot of sugar and less H20 happened one of the processes now well known in our science class. Osmosis happened because of the low concentration of the H20 in corn syrup and high concentration of H20 in the egg, for it to balance out. The egg had proteins(amino acids) and thus why diffusion happened as well.

While the egg in distilled water, had less H20 then the water itself which was 100% pure water. The concentration in the water was higher then in the egg, therefore osmosis happened and diffusion also did because of the proteins in the eggs. 

*The independent variables were the type of solution the egg was in and the dependent variable was the mass, circumference and the volume of liquid in the cup.

Osmosis/diffusion in real life: When we are thirsty, it’s because our cells have less water inside them. We need water for chemical reactions and if we don’t have enough water, chemical reactions can’t be performed. Water is essential to our body. When we do drink water, our cells have less water then the outside of the cell and osmosis happens. Osmosis is when water goes from a high to a low concentration. If there is more water on the outside of the cell, it goes to the inside, balancing it and making it equal. While diffusion, has to do only with solutes. An example is when an amino acid (since proteins are too big to pass) pass from a high to low concentration.

Possible errors: Some of the errors that could have happened in our procedure was that when we were measuring the eggs with the string, the person who did so(me in this case) could have measured at a different part of the egg; Water or corn syrup could have spilled; we could have not gotten all the water out of the cylinder after washing it to measure the following solution/could have not washed the cylinder which contained the previous solution affecting the results of the following solution; when comparing our answers with the other group’s they could have done something wrong as well or we could have done the average wrong;

As for materials, the cup could have been too small and could have squeezed the egg; the string that was used to measure the circumference of the eggs could have stretched a few more cm; the cylinder wasn’t washed well enough;

Evaluation: Overall, we had a lot of fun and I found all of this very interesting. I didn’t really understand the process of osmosis and diffusion before, although after that, I really did understand it more. My group was very helpful and I’m thankful to be put into a good group who works equally. We helped each other a lot and worked in teamwork- which is essential when participating in something like an experiment or a project. We really divided the tasks so that everyone could have something to do and so that each one would work equally. We even named our eggs: Nemayê and Bob! 


As for fixing our errors we could compare our averages or maybe work it out more then one time(I did three times though); we could have tried not to make any liquids spill; we could have tapped the cylinder so that all the water could have gone out after washing- and we could have washed it twice to make sure it’s clean;

This was an amazing experience which I learned a lot from, and hope to do more fun ones like this one in the future!

See you next time,

Débora Cunha

P.S.: 

Some of the pictures:

Egg in distilled water on Day 3

Egg in corn syrup on Day 3 

Yolk and egg shell of egg in distilled water after we cut it in half 

From left to right: Me(Débora Cunha), Marina Silveira and Rodrigo Ussier jotting down our observations of the eggs 

Shell and yolk of egg in corn syrup on Day 3- after we cut it in half 

From left to right: Me(Débora Cunha), Marina Silveira and Rodrigo Ussier after cutting our eggs in half 

Both eggs cut in half- distilled water and corn syrup