Tuesday—Six Flags Adventures
Today we went to Six Flags amusement park. It was a blast! However, fun was only one of the factors focused on today. In fact the bus ride to the park even included a science experiment. My group for the day included Argos Jackie and Toba. We were the first group to be filmed. We were doing physics work with the "Mind Eraser" roller coaster. It was a very intimidating coaster! We worked with equations that found kinetic energy, potential energy, force, velocity, acceleration, speed, and G's. It was really tricky trying to take measurements while being thrown around on a roller coaster. The filming was fun, but it took some getting used to.
Our group also worked with Teacher Argos Cindy and Melissa. We did more experiments, which of course dealt with energy! We learned about gravity and friction. Friction is what causes the ride to eventually slow down. After everyone was finished with experiments, filming, and personal interviews the whole team rode Superman! It was an awesome roller coaster. However, perhaps the most amazing thing was Teacher Argo Bryan's magic pen. It fell out of his pocket on the ride, and magically he found it as he was exiting the ride. It was an awesome ending to an awesome day!
Thursday—National Energy Technology Lab and Fort Martin Power Plant
After a long bus ride, the whole team was extremely exhausted. We got to the hotel around two in the morning, and were not blessed with the gift of sleeping past 6:30! After breakfast at the hotel, we loaded the bus for a visit to the National Energy Technology Labs. Everyone was very tired, but at the same time we were interested in what was being presented to us. We were given a presentation on energy. Then we went to a series of labs that gave information on a wide range of topics.
The first was a computer simulation lab that was used to predict how power plants would function. The next was a fire lab that portrayed the Law of Conservation of Energy and how energy changes forms from heat to light to sound. After a quick snack break we went to, my favorite, a fuel cells lab. The presenter compared the process of making fuel cells to making cookies: in layers you bake. It made us all hungry, but it really helped us understand. This lab was very captivating, and I am eager to learn more about this alternate form of energy.
The last lab of the day was a sequestration lab. Sequestration is the process in which CO2 is pushed into the ground to keep it out of the atmosphere. The scientists had a model prepared for us, which was a very effective visual aid. It showed an inside look at exactly what happens in the sequestration process. After the visiting the labs, we refueled with pizza and, once again, loaded the bus for Fort Martin Power Plant.
After visiting three states, we finally made it to our destination. It was very prestigious for our small group to be allowed in such an amazing environment. We were given an informational presentation on the plant and the coal industry in general. The staff gave us a tour of the emissions scrubbers and coolers that were in the process of being built. They were enormous! It was so incredible to be able to see inside of these huge structures. After the construction tour we were equipped with goggles hard hats and radio headsets (everyone had a great time playing with these!)
We were shown the loading docks on which coal is unloaded from barges, and the many tons of coal in piles waiting to be transformed into the energy that cools our houses and gives us light. Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip was our adventure into the boilers. The temperature in the boilers was almost 120°! That's hot, even if you don't have on hard hats and jeans!
Our last stop was the air conditioned control room. After this exciting adventure, we got on the bus (for last time that day) and traveled to our dinner destination. After dinner we started to realize that the week was coming to an end. The bonds that we had made in the days prior are ones that we would cherish for a lifetime. Tears were shed but we still were looking forward to the fun and exciting adventure ahead.
Q&A with Argonaut Hannah:
What did you find out about alternative sources for fuel at the Department of Energy?
We talked about alternate forms of energy such as ethanol, solar energy, wind power and hydroelectric power. We got to see two energy conserving vehicles that looked exactly like normal models except for the fact that they didn't give off emissions harmful to the environment. I thought the hydrogen vehicle was very interesting. It didn't even have an engine! It simply ran on hydrogen created by running electricity through water. It isn't uncommon to find a gas station that offers water! We got to sit in the vehicles, which had as much room as the vehicles that run on gas.
How was the white water rafting experience?
Today we went whitewater rafting! Everyone had looking forward to this day all week. After arriving at the Cheat River headquarters, we were given an overview of rules and safety guidelines. We were issued a paddle, life jacket, and a helmet, and then loaded on a bus along with other rafters to the river. My "team" was Bryan, Peter, Hiyam and Jackie. We were the last boat, and our tour guide kept us entertained with jokes and stories. The trip down the river was thrilling. We jumped off a small cliff, "surfed", overcame terrifying rapids, and even made a rescue!