Science Blog #8

Early on February 24, 2009, NASA experienced a devastating failure when a satellite attached to the tip of a Taurus XL rocket failed to separate from the rocket and fell in to the Pacific Ocean, near Antarctica. The Optical Carbon Observatory (OCO) was doomed by the very apparatus that was supposed to protect it. The clamshell shroud wrapped around the satellite to safeguard the satellite’s sensitive equipment did not automatically shed from the satellite upon entering the thickest part of the atmosphere. Therefore, the OCO did not get the boost that it needed to get into orbit, and fell into the Pacific Ocean, along with the rest of the Taurus XL rocket. This was truly a great loss to NASA because this satellite was to provide measurements on harmful gases, and how they are dispersed around the globe. This satellite was going to provide us with valuable information that could help diminish global warming. The Glory satellite, which is also meant to collect data about global warming, will be checked thoroughly before being launched in October on another Taurus XL rocket. This investigation will help avoid devastation like OCO.

In my opinion, I thought that this article was informative, and it provided details about a great loss for NASA. Rockets and satellites cost millions of dollars, and it is just like throwing away a substantial amount of money. But more importantly, valuable information that would help this earth will not be collected. I thought that this article was interesting because it told me a lot about this event. The article is located at http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-02/rip-orbiting-carbon-observatory

Social Studies Blog #3

Cracked sprinklers caused $158,327 in damage to the lower floors of the South Brunswick Police Station in the Municipal Complex on Ridge Road during the late hours of January 18 through the early hours on January 19, 2009. The repairs are almost finished, but the large amount of water given off by the sprinklers significantly damaged furniture, equipment and ceiling tiles. Surprisingly, the water and repairs have not interfered with the police dispatch service yet. Repairs were made to walls, alarms, and fireproof mechanisms. A projector with a lamp, a computer, and the most expensive of all, the carpet, need to be replaced. Hopefully, the repairs will be finished soon, so that the ability for the Communications Department to handle 911 calls is not disrupted in any way.


http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/02/24/south_brunswick_post/news/doc499d784aeabb3278823730.txt

My Roller coaster Website

Eruption

Social Studies Blog #2

The New Jersey Department of Education made state test results public today. The results show that scores for high students dropped slightly. About 83 % of the students were categorized as proficient or advanced proficient in Language Arts and about 75% of them were proficient or advanced proficient in Math.

The middle school students’ scores dropped drastically in comparison to previous years, especially for the 5th and 6th graders. More than 60 percent of these students failed the Language Arts test and about 25% failed the Math test. The scores changed so much because the cut off scores for proficiency changed this year for these middle school students. So the students had to score higher on the tests than in previous years in order to be considered proficient. The cut off scores for the 7th graders also changed but their failure rate was not as high as the 5th and 6th graders. The Education Commissioner, Lucille Davy, said that the proficiency rates for the 6th and 7th graders would have actually increased compared to the previous year if the cut off scores had not changed.

The cut off scores changed so that educators are able to better identify which middle school students need more help as they prepare for high school. New Jersey’s Governor Jon Corzine has announced a change for the state’s high schools. He plans on making the curriculum more rigorous. This is in response to a large number of students entering college and needing extra help.

Tests are administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11. Parents, educators, and other interested people can view the results by either reviewing the 2008 School Report Card which shows statistical data about individual schools, or the Statewide Assessments which provides detailed test results for the elementary, middle school and high school students.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/tough_new_state_tests_spur_hig.html

Class Response Blog #7

As always, I continue to learn new and interesting topics in science class, in a fun and exciting way. Currently, we are studying about the laws of Sir Isaac Newton. One thing that I learned about this topic in science class is that Newton came up with three laws. I learned that Newton’s law of gravity (Newton’s First Law) states that an object will not move forever; it needs momentum to continue moving. It also states that movement will eventually stop. Newton’s Second Law of motion states that the force required to accelerate an object with a large mass is greater than the force required to accelerate an object of smaller mass. Finally, I was taught that Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I also was able to learn about this topic outside of school using the internet. I discovered that the First Law is called “the law of inertia.” Inertia is defined as the resistance to a change in motion. I also found out that it is thought that Newton observed an apple falling from a tree and realized that a force (gravity) acted on the apple to make it accelerate. This was his basis for the Second Law of motion. The sites I reviewed are: http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton/law1.html and http://www.physicsplanet.com/articles/newtons-laws-of-motion.

I found this topic to be very fun and interesting to learn. I really like what we are doing because now, we are building rollercoasters and skate parks to show how the laws work, and this is really fun to do. Overall, I like this topic and the way we are learning it.

Less trees affect us all

Trees in the western United States are in trouble because temperatures are on the rise and there are drought-like conditions in this region. Warmer weather and decreased water supply mean dwindling forests are no longer absorbing greenhouse gases and this makes them more vulnerable to pests and fires. Studies have shown that in areas where temperatures rose by one degree Fahrenheit and average rainfall and snow pack runoff decreased; trees have a higher mortality rate. These areas include the Pacific Northwest, California, and the inland Western States. The growth rate for trees has not changed, so the forests are losing trees faster then they are being replaced!! Therefore, forests will be comprised of mostly fewer, smaller trees. These smaller trees are not able to convert as much CO2 as the larger trees. Animal species depend on the trees to convert CO2 to oxygen. So these habitats with smaller trees would no longer be an acceptable living area for certain species.

Analysts are unsure if the warming temperatures are a result of global warming or just part of a natural climate cycle. One thing is for sure, the trees are in danger and something needs to be done to help them. http://http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/23trees.html?ref=science

In my opinion, this article was very informative and it made me think about the damages warming temperatures are causing. Trees are crucial to the survival of humans, and how do we repay them, by killing them. And by killing the trees, we also damage everything else on earth, because all living things depend on trees and plants to supply a clean, breathable supply of oxygen. If all of us take action to help this cause, we can guarantee a brighter future for us and trees to come.

Social Studies Inauguration Blog

The topic that I chose to research was the inauguration of the 44th president, Barack Obama. The inauguration is the event in which the president-elect and the vice president-elect, swear in to office and become the new president and vice president. This inauguration that I researched is truly historical because it is the inauguration of our first African American president.

The first article that I found on the inauguration was descriptive about the day’s events. On Tuesday, America celebrated its first African American president. At 4 a.m. a large crowd began assembling to witness what turned out to be a very historic day. Barack Obama, after swearing in on the same bible that Lincoln used, gave a very persuasive speech. In his words, he vowed to make America a better country by stopping conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping with the economical crisis, and ensuring the lives of all Americans would be better. He stated that our nation’s challenges are overwhelming, but, as seen in our past history, we are a country with great determination. “Greatness is never given, it is earned,” he said (page 1). All over America, people gathered in bars and on the street and children assembled in schools to watch the historic day’s events. Leaders from around the world offered congratulations. After the address, Obama went into the capitol and signed his first documents, including cabinet nominations. The Obama family was driven to the White House where the first family watched the rest of the parade from outside their new home. I found this article to be very interesting and descriptive and I enjoyed researching this historical topic. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.inauguration/index.html#cnnSTCText


The second article that I read discussed the size of the crowd that attended the National Mall to witness the inauguration. Prior to the event, it was estimated that about 2 million people would attend. Satellite images are indicating the actual size of the crowd may be at about 1 million, according to Clark McPhail, a professor emeritus of the University of Illinois. “It was sparser than I thought,” said MchPail. “There were lots of open spaces.” (page 1) The Associated Press placed the count of the crowd to be more than 1 million. And the Washington Post estimated total onlookers to be 1.8 million. The Park Service no longer provides a count of the inauguration crowd, but because of the historical aspect of this inauguration, the Service hopes to provide an accurate number later this year. At that time, we will know if this inauguration sets the record for the most attendees. The current record is held by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who inauguration was attended by 1.2 million people. I found this article to be interesting and informative. I believe that when the Park Service announces the count of the crowd, this inauguration crowd will set the record. It was such a historical day for our country. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-inaug-crowds21-2009jan21,0,3359744.story

In my opinion, the inauguration of Barack Obama as our country’s 44th president is a very cool change for the United States of America. He has many new and exciting plans for our country. I am very excited to have witnessed history.