Search found 167 matches

by shawn
Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:57 am
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Very funny water-car tech
Replies: 0
Views: 12037

Very funny water-car tech

They tried to suppress it! Here's a site that claims that HHO (hydrogen and oxygen gas electrolyzed but kept in the same chamber like in the hydrogen rocket from Estes) will turn your car into a super-efficient machine. Always good for a laugh, but you can have your students try to figure out whenc...
by shawn
Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:42 am
Forum: Lesson Plans
Topic: New HS energy course 2008
Replies: 1
Views: 12013

Help for Mr. D

Mr. D, How can we get in touch with you? All we know is that your last name begins with D, that you're male, and that you seem to be writing from an internet connection associated with Home Depot HQ in Atlanta. What do you think the students will want to experience in the course? There is no registr...
by shawn
Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:49 am
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Measuring video game consoles' power
Replies: 1
Views: 13610

Measuring video game consoles' power

A while back I posted a link (in our links section, I think) to an online article comparing the energy use of some different game consoles, like PlayStation. Today I found another article comparing the current popular consoles: PlayStation3, Wii, and XBox 360. Turns out the Wii is a super-miser comp...
by shawn
Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:34 am
Forum: Energy Science
Topic: Innovative schemes to generate electricity
Replies: 0
Views: 11172

Innovative schemes to generate electricity

About twice a year, I hear about schemes to generate electricity in ways very different to the turbines that currently (no pun intended) generate most of our electricity. One that keeps popping up with students is the idea of putting piezo-electric generators underfoot at high-traffic areas, like su...
by shawn
Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:17 pm
Forum: Books, Audio, and Videos
Topic: Books for K-3 on energy
Replies: 1
Views: 11942

re: energy books for k-3

I've heard this question before. There certainly is an explosion of books for grades 4-8 about energy, but very few k-3. I haven't ever taught below the 4th grade, so I am not an expert on what's appropriate. The "True Book" series on Environment and Conservation by Christine Petersen are ...
by shawn
Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:22 pm
Forum: Lesson Plans
Topic: teaching energy
Replies: 3
Views: 17485

re: defining energy

Greg, I think you make some good points about how shallowly many try to teach energy. There are several approaches to take to refine the concept of energy with your students. First, you should measure what they think energy is. You could (and probably already do) discuss food calories. How could all...
by shawn
Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:49 am
Forum: Energy Science
Topic: When to replace inefficient appliances
Replies: 3
Views: 16198

CFL reliability

Of the twenty compact fluorescents I have bought in the past 11 years: The oldest ($20) is still working fine, as are all the rest, most of which I bought in 2000. Except... One was broken in the box, but I only paid $1 for it and for several of its companions, so I didn't complain. Had I never boug...
by shawn
Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:17 am
Forum: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Topic: Portable Fuel Cell System
Replies: 2
Views: 16077

re: portable fuel cell system

Can you give us more of the context of your project? You make it clear that it needs to be portable, but how big, how heavy, how powerful a stack, and how much energy to store?
Is it for education? For what goals?
Are the items at the FuelCell Store useful?
http://www.fuelcellstore.com/
by shawn
Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:18 am
Forum: Lesson Plans
Topic: STEM Chemistry
Replies: 2
Views: 14660

STEM Chemistry energy transfer engineering

You might be able to generate hydrogen from wind using a tabletop turbine and a small fuel cell. At the Massachusetts Science Fair, I reviewed a project where students used a LEGO motor as a generator to power LEDs in series, thus proving the dynamo could provide enough voltage to make it through th...
by shawn
Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:02 am
Forum: Lesson Plans
Topic: STEM Chemistry
Replies: 2
Views: 14660

Engineering challenges for STEM chemistry

One big chemical engineering challenge for sustainable energy is to make better-performing batteries. Could you have students learn about the manufacturing process, try to make some batteries in the classroom, and discuss how they might turn them into salable items?
by shawn
Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:41 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Electricity meters--WattsUp v. Kill A Watt
Replies: 3
Views: 16798

thewattdb.com

I followed the link to "thewattdb" mentioned in the previous post by Paul. Pros: Gather meaningful information, including "Active," "Standby," and "Off" rates. A focus on how much power the devices use in "vampire" mode (standby). I'd like to point o...
by shawn
Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:40 pm
Forum: Energy Science
Topic: When to replace inefficient appliances
Replies: 3
Views: 16198

When to replace inefficient appliances

A web page for a local renewable store suggests: Buy a 5-pack of CF bulbs and wait until a conventional bulb dies. Replacing a functional Edison bulb for without reason is not very treehuggerish. Should you wait until your SUV falls apart before replacing it with a hybrid? Should you keep using your...
by shawn
Sun Jun 03, 2007 5:56 pm
Forum: Energy Science
Topic: help me help my freezer?
Replies: 1
Views: 11721

re: help me help my freezer?

Guess list: 1. Water is condensing on the thermostat, so it's always warmer than its surroundings, so the refrigerator always thinks its warmer than it is. I have no idea how this could happen, except that it is more humid than it has ever been (darn Global Humidifying). 2. The thermostat isn't work...
by shawn
Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:37 pm
Forum: Junior Solar Sprint (Miniature Solar Cars)
Topic: JSS Exhibit at Altwheels
Replies: 1
Views: 12255

Energy activity card

Altwheels organizers are thinking about offering a punch-card for visitors, especially students, to carry around the exhibits, getting marks for learning about different alternatives.
http://altwheels.org
At the end of their journey, students could receive a certificate showing what they studied.
by shawn
Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:19 am
Forum: Junior Solar Sprint (Miniature Solar Cars)
Topic: JSS Exhibit at Altwheels
Replies: 1
Views: 12255

JSS Exhibit at Altwheels

I am interested in trying to get Junior Solar Sprint teams to exhibit their cars at Altwheels, September 28 and 29 in Boston, and every year. I imagine an exhibition race if the weather is good, with alumni invited to bring cars from years past. This year I will start by inviting teams from the Cape...