Metals Used Today

Resource: http://www.crockhamhill.kent.sch.uk/teachers/science/materials/metal/metal_use.htm

Today, metals are encountered everywhere and is useful for many things. Iron is a strong element that is used to build structures like bridges for example. Steel is made by iron and is even stronger than iron. Steel is used much of our building today, but it can be found in knives, kitchen ware, or even weapons like swords. Although, Iron and steel may get rusted when wet, so it must be protected by a layer of paint. Copper is another element used. It is easy to bend, so it can be used for many items that may take different types of shapes. For example, it may become a water pipe of wire for a light bulb. Another type of metal is aluminium. Lead is a very heavy metal, but it is also very soft. Today is it used for plant troughs possibly and used to be used for water pipes until it was found poisonous.

The website was very informative and relate able. I liked the point where it gave me real world examples, but the website or info itself was very simplistic. This may be a good or bad thing, but I think it was an ok source for information. This website may open or give knowledge to people who know little to none about metals.

Diet Coca-Cola and Mentos

Resources: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14114-science-of-mentosdiet-coke-explosions-explained.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vk4_2xboOE
Many of us know about the explosions that Mentos and diet Coke make. However, how many of us know just exactly why it happens? This explosion can shoot up to 7 meters when the Mentos is whole, but when it's crushed and dropped into it, it can only go about 30 centimeters. What a huge difference! A good portion of people probably assume it's how the gum candy reacts with the caffeine. You'd be wrong. The caffeine shows no difference in the explosion and the reaction. Crossing caffeine out of play. So what exactly is it?
The ideas of what causes the chemical reactions was tested by Mythbusters and then others got interested. After testing their theories of the reactants, we were able to narrow out things that didn't work. Though there is still some mystery to this explosion we have come to the conclusion that chemicals responsible for the reaction are gum arabic and gelatine in the sweets, potassium benzoate and aspartame in the Coke. Also, the tension of both the liquid coca-cola and the surface tension on the mentos cause bubbles. The tension on the mentos disrupts polar attractions in the water molecules. So, when dropped fast it sinks to the bottom and other bubbles push another up causing the rocket of soda.
Middle School teachers everywhere are taking their kids on the field and giving them the amusement of learning with some fun added. My friend and I had done this experiment once, and it truly was a load of fun and a supplier of laughter, all at the same time of learning. This explosion is still with some mystery of how exactly everything works. So, try it with other variables to test the theories that are left and see if they can be changed or altered. Have fun with it(:

Best tasting Bacon

Once again we go into the world of taste testing, but this time we're rating hot, juicy, mouth watering BACON! I was on Yahoo when I came across another interesting topic, "Best tasting bacon". While reading the article, they had listed the best tasting bacon in America:

#1 Nature's Rancher Uncured Hickory Smoked Bacon

#2 Farmland Hickory Smoked Bacon

#3 Oscar Mayer Naturally Hardwood Smoked Thick Cut Bacon

I liked reading the article because bacon is very delicious.

Taste Test: Is Mexican Coke Better?

The other day I was on Yahoo when I saw a very interesting article comparing and contrasting American and Mexican Coca-Cola. The difference between the two is that American Coke comes in aluminum cans and plastic bottles, and is made with corn syrup; Mexican Coke comes in glass bottles and is made with actual sugar.

An experiment had taken place, there was a glass bottle of Mexican Coke and a can of American Coke. Both products were put into cups and given to blindfolded test subjects known "the Tasters", another group called "the Feelers" was given the glass bottle and the can.


In the aftermath of the experiment, a great majority of the Tasters prefered the American Coke, while a great majority of the feelers prefered the glass bottle of Mexican Coke. It seemed that the experiment of the Coke products came to a draw; Aerican Coke winning the taste test and Mexican Coke winning the feeling test.

I thought this was an interesting article taking a look into the world of artificial beverage products.

Today we had a very cool exercise with water in Dr. Boyd’s class. We all tried to make a needle to float on the water. That didn’t work out so well considering that the needles weren’t exactly straight. This is called surface tension.
Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_tension). In other words, it allows something to rest on top of the liquid. This is all possible because of the teamwork of other molecules. Many bugs are able to sit and run on top of the water, such as water striders. Another example of surface tension is competition diving. In the video I'm going to show you, notice the water spraying into the pool. The purpose of this spraying water is to reduce surface tension, that way there is a less impact on the diver.

5 great paper airplane designs

You might think of them as child's play, but there's a surprising amount of history behind paper airplanes.

Thought to have been invented by the Chinese several thousand years ago, these useful toys have helped guide some of history's most famous aviators. Leonardo da Vinci built them to test his ornithopter. The Wright Brothers used them to prototype their historic Flyer. During the early part of the 20th century, designers at Lockheed and Heinkel put them to work in the development of new warplanes.

But today, even with the benefit of modern aerodynamics, physics, and materials, the creation of a good paper airplane is still as much art as it is science. Grab a stack of 8.5" x 11" paper, find a clean, flat surface, and get ready to fold. Here are five of our favorite flying wonders.

The Record Holder
Where better to start than with a world record holder? Florida resident Ken Blackburn used this design to set the world record for paper-airplane flight time back in 1998, clocking an astonishing 27.6 seconds. Although Blackburn's record has been surpassed, the design is still superb, and it's surprisingly easy to make. Perhaps you can outfly him.

The Sabertooth
The cool split nose of the Sabertooth makes it a mean-looking contender. A little harder to build, it'll really help if you use paper that's marked on one side, just like in the video. The build requires you to flip the sheet over a number of times -- miss one and you'll probably get hopelessly lost. Or end up winging it.

The Cobra
Satisfyingly ingenious to build, the cunning design of the Cobra is made easy to follow by this clear video. Two concertinaed folds shorten the length considerably, adding plenty of weight up front, and the result is a clean-looking, classic snub-nosed plane that flies straight and true.

The Arrow
Can a paper airplane be classified as a weapon? Before you answer, try hurling The Arrow. Good for 30-40 feet of dead-straight flight, this slender projectile is razor sharp and worryingly effective. Don't shoot your eye out, kid.

The Spirit
Ready for something a little more intricate? Starting with a square-shaped piece of paper, the Spirit requires finesse in the last few steps, otherwise you'll end up with something that looks like a pig and flies like a cow. Get it right, though, and you'll be the envy of all your friends…as long as you have friends that are impressed with cool paper airplanes.


I remember doing a science project on paper airplanes in the sixth grade, I took five different disigns and see which one would go the farthest; very cool, very fun.

reference:http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/high-fliers-5-great-paper-airplane-designs-211731336.html

Diet crutches: What works, what doesn't.

Let's face it: The rules of weight loss—eat less, move more, treats in moderation— are a drag. And they don't fit with most dieters' quick-fix, thinner-by-dinner expectations. Cue diet crutches: tricks, based on scant science, that may speed up results. So if a friend swears that munching on grapefruit gets her into skinny jeans, or a coworker credits ice water for his sleek physique, should you try it too?Not so fast. Some diet crutches are helpful, some harmful, and some won't do much either way. We asked registered dietitians for the bottom line ("skip it," "try it," or "do it right") on the most common diet crutches.

After reading all of the 17 dietary cruches, I find that this is a great thing to incorparate into my life, it said things about water, skiping meals, drinking diet soda, ect.