Bethany+Knepper

After reading this article I learned a few things. First, I thought it was interesting how AstroTurf got it's name. I did not know that it is called AstroTurf because the turf was first used in the Texas Astrodome. I also learned that there are two layers that make up an all-weather track, and they are bonded together using vulcanization. Of the many things that can applied to the classroom, one is how the turf heats up so much faster than the air. In a 15 minute period the air heated up 2.1 degrees celcius and the turf heated up 3.5 degrees celcius. This is an application of how certain colors and materials absorb heat better than others.

I read the article entitled “Inside the Solar-Hydrogen House: No More Power Bills –Ever” which was about a 51 year old man who created a solar powered energy system for his home. This energy system powers all his electrical appliances and takes the responsibility of heating his home. He also uses this system to power his car, motorcycle and speedboat. The fuel needed to create all this energy is sunlight and water. He has created a system that splits the water molecule into the hydrogen and oxygen. He then stores the hydrogen and uses it year round. The only waste of this energy system is water. This pertains to our class because the splitting of the water molecule is all chemistry. I learned how one person could create a system that discontinues all his electric and heating bills for the rest of his life. That is so cool. The only problem is he spent $500,000 that will never pay off financially, however this energy system is ridiculously sweet.

What I found interesting about the Einstein article is that when we look at a clock, what we are actually seeing is the light traveling from the clock to our eye, which then has to register the clock's image on our eye and our brain. Because of the time it takes for the light of the clock to travel to our eyes, the time we are actually seeing is a split second slow. That seems really cool to me because i never really thought about how long it takes for light to travel to my eyes. So basically everything i am seeing actually occurs after i am seeing it. That is simply crazy.

Although these alternate periodic tables address certain so called “flaws” in the current periodic table, I doubt that the science world will ever accept anything but the table that is currently the standard. Honestly, I think it would make a lot of sense for Hydrogen to be placed directly next to Helium, and join the halogens. However, that would make it more confusing when trying to understand that the first sub-shell of electrons is 1s when both hydrogen and helium are above the p sub-shell. And all the other alternatives may address some issues that our current table has, however they bring up flaws in themselves. Not to mention that most of the alternative tables are quite confusing and tedious when trying to find a certain element. I do not think that our periodic table will ever look any different then it does today with the exception of the discovery of some unknown elements.
 * THE MANY LOOKS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE**