Tuesday, June 24, 2008
There's only one way to study physics and energy when you're a JASON Argonaut, and that's to take a field trip to… Six Flags! This is my kind of science!
When I heard that we were going to learn about roller coaster physics and how energy comes into play in the construction of roller coasters by doing some "first-hand" experimentation, I knew I had hit the jackpot. I am a roller coaster fanatic. I was so in my element!
Along with the other Argonauts, I received instruction about the day's "activities," camouflaged as scientific experimentation. It was our job to determine how energy is transferred in the "real world." No textbooks or formaldehyde-filled labs for us. Instead, we divided into three teams and completed experiments at three stations, each telling us a little more about how energy is transferred from one state to the next: potential to kinetic.
When I learned that I was teamed up with Anthony and Hiyam, I knew that we had the potential to have the greatest day ever! Transfering our enthusiasm from one to the other, we headed to our first station at the roller coaster "Roar," where Teacher Argonaut Cindy told us we were going to measure the force exerted on us at different points on the roller coaster ride, using a force-o-meter. Being the "guinea pig" in this type of experiment really rocks!
Assuming that a force-o-meter was a very expensive, high-tech, electronic device, you can imagine my surprise when Cindy handed me a hand-made device consisting of a clear plastic can with a lid on it, a rubber band, and a washer! The rubber band was attached to the underside of the lid and hung down inside the can, with a washer tied to the end opposite the lid. Incremental marks on the can helped us measure the differences in G-forces being exerted on us at different points in the ride. As the washer "sprung" up and down, we were able to establish the areas where the greatest and least amount of force was exerted. Our force-o-meter may have been hand-made and not too high-tech, but it worked really well, though I must confess it was difficult to remember to keep an eye on the force-o-meter between laughing, screaming, and having a great time! In the end, we discovered that as we went down the hills, zero G-forces were exerted, but when we actually got to the bottom of the hills, we experienced the greatest amount of force exerted upon us. Finally, I understand the physics behind that crushing feeling when I reach the bottom of the hill!
Of course, while we were riding the "Roar" (strictly for scientific purposes), we were also experiencing the transfer of energies. The potential energy at the top of the hill was converted into kinetic energy as we roared toward the bottom. Because of the friction caused by the roller coaster cars gliding along the tracks, some of the potential energy was converted to sound energy and some to heat energy. All of this was happening in split seconds, and I was experiencing it first-hand. Never mind the fact that as all of this energy transfer was happening, the only energy transfer I was completely aware of was the energy I was transferring from my lungs into the air in the form of a scream!
Our tests were not complete, though. All we knew about the "Roar" so far was where the g-forces of exertion were the greatest. We still had to measure how long it took to get down each hill. (I was hoping we would find another excuse to get back on the ride!) None of us had a stopwatch, so Anthony bravely offered to use his iPod to time our descents. Later, though, as the reality hit that he would be trying to hang on to an iPod while descending at rapid rates, with a G-force of 3 pounding against him, Anthony regretted his enthusiastic contribution to science. I am happy to say that Anthony's iPod survived, and we got our measurements.
After completing both of these "physics-oriented rides" on the Roar, my teammates and I discovered that the faster we went down the roller coaster hills, the less gravity was working on us during the fall and the more gravity was working on us at the bottom of the hill.
Two more stations and two more roller coasters awaited us. At these stations, my teammates and I learned about the effects of centrifugal force as we felt ourselves plastered against the backs of our seats while racing around the many spirals of the coasters. We also learned about the Law of Conservation of Energy and its importance in the construction of roller coasters. For instance, the first hill is always the highest because you can't get more energy out of something than you put into it. That means that unless you have a large drop at the beginning of the ride, creating a great amount of energy, your car is going to stall before you get to the end of the ride. And that would be a real bummer!
Teacher Argonaut Melissa helped my teammates and I discover the relationship between kinetic and potential energy at the top and bottom of the hills. Using the kinetic energy equation, KE=1/2mv2, and the potential energy equation, PE=mgh, we discovered that potential energy is the greatest at the top of each hill, and kinetic energy is the greatest at the bottom of each hill. We also learned that potential energy equals zero at the bottom of each hill. This discovery led us to the realization that there is a definite, measurable relationship between kinetic energy and g-forces. Engineers use this information to make roller coasters as awesome as they can while still being safe.
I can't believe it, but in the midst of all this fun, I have actually learned a great deal about science! And, somehow, I think this information is going to stick with me a lot longer than if I had read it in a textbook somewhere! You just gotta love JASON!
Friday, June 27, 2008
My love for JASON grew even greater when I learned that our next great adventure was to go white water rafting! Even though my mind raced through all the possible energy scenarios that could be created from the white water rafting experience (energy conservation, transfer of potential and kinetic energy, harnessing water energy, etc.), when I voiced my desire to know which of these intricate theories we were going to be testing, roars of laughter from "Argo Mom" Whitney filled our raft. It turns out, this was just a pleasure trip! Oh well, at least I'm energy conscious!
Once I knew this was all about fun, I committed myself to having the most fun possible. No need to disappoint.
After suiting up and being briefed for safety, Cindy, Whitney, Toba, Tim, and I disembarked. We were complete naturals! We had a handle on white water rafting in no time!
I felt my heartbeat quicken as we raced our way toward our first hill, then splash! The real fun had begun! Half rafting, half swimming, we were sent flying down a Category 2 rapid. After my first rapid was over, I was half-wishing we could paddle back up and do it again, when, to my surprise, that is exactly what Old Buddy, our guide, said he wanted us to do. Just in case we weren't already wet enough, part way up the hill we rammed the front end of the raft, sending the water's strong current directly into our faces. So cool—or actually, so cold!
The first half of the ride was nothing compared to the lightning-fast currents, steep drops, and vigorous decking that was the second course of the rapids. Laughing uncontrollably, I paddled as hard as I could down rapids, between rocks, and up waves of the Category 3 (and maybe even 4) river. Half rafting, half flying through the air, we raced our way to the end of the river.
When our trip was over, I found myself feeling very smug when Argo Tim gave a debriefing about all of the energy transfer we had experienced. I smiled at Whitney, puffed out my chest, and joined in this intellectual conversation. Tim and I discussed the potential-kinetic energy transfer as the rushing water shot our raft forward. Then, there were those pesky rocks that kept reminding us of the impact that occurs when a rushing object is suddenly stopped dead in its tracks, converting kinetic energy back to potential energy! While Tim, Toba, and I had been contemplating all of the energy equations and transfers that applied to our trip, the other Argos were simply concentrating on staying in the boat.
Q&A with Argo Joey:
What was it like to chat with a US Congressman on the steps of the Capitol Building?
One of my favorite parts of the day was talking with Congressman Mollohan about alternative energy sources and fossil fuels. Congressman Mollohan discussed the benefits of using coal for energy. He explained that we can't completely go to alternative fuels like wind, solar, nuclear, or geothermal energies now because we are too reliant on fossil fuels. However, having the back-up plan to use coal while we are working towards alternative fuels will ultimately help reduce climate change. In this way, coal will make a huge contribution. Congressman Mollohan was amazingly enthusiastic and very convincing. In only a short amount of time, Congressman Mollohan had me all "fired up" about fossil fuels.
What was it like touring an actual coal power plant?
We traveled to the Fort Martin Power Plant, a plant that uses coal energy to power the surrounding community. That plant is awesome! We got to see every step of the process by which coal is turned into energy—from the coal being loaded onto conveyor belts in buckets to it being burned for fuel. The best part of the whole plant was the boiler room, where the coal is moved into the furnaces and burned for fuel. That place was awesome, and extremely hot. Nevertheless, Argo Toba, forever styling, refused to take off his fleece, so he was pleased when we left the plant and rediscovered cool air.