Definition of "Green"
- Conserve the environment
- Reduce negative impacts to the environment
- Sustainable development
Scenario:
Green Technology in Chinatown and how it can be incorporated into the surroundings, stalls and environment.
Observation:
- Not much energy (light energy) used in DAY
- Most Green tech --> Lower efficiency
- People’s mindset --> NOT want to sacrifice efficiency for Green tech
- Method must be realistic --> applied by the public
Possible Green technologies:
1) Energy conservation/ green energy
- Solar Panels
- Energy saving light bulbs & appliances
2) Reducing waste
- Biodegradable and recyclable disposable utensils
- Placing of recycling bins at strategic locations
Solar Panels:
- Solar panels generate electricity using light energy
- Works on the principles of the Photovoltaic effect
- Uses semiconductors to absorb solar energy, knocking out electrons in the silicon atoms
- Current technology only has up to 20% efficiency
- Can convert 20% of the light energy into electrical energy
Usage of Solar Panels (advantages) :
- Renewable energy --> Eco Friendly
- Abundance of Solar energy in day
Limitations:
- Roofs in Chinatown do not face the sun
- Solar panels need direct sunlight to function
- Roadside stalls do not need lighting in the day
~ Most of the stalls in Chinatown are roadside stalls
~ Do not need much electricity in the day
- Expensive
~ Takes around $480, 000 to build a 50 Kilo watt hour system
- Around 10 years to breakeven
- URA allows solar panels to be placed only on the rear roof
~ Decrease of area available for solar panels
Therefore:
1) Solar panels are not practical
2) Electricity generated and not used would be wasted
Can be channelled to the power grid for cash
However in the night more money is needed to draw the same amount of electricity
Batteries cannot be used to store energy due to their low capacity and short lifespan
Energy Saving Lights:
- Energy saving lights are called Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
- Produce energy by running an electrical current through argon gas.
- Five times more efficient than incandescent light bulbs
~ Incandescent lights produce light by running a current through a metallic filament
~ However it is inefficient as energy is also being converted into heat energy
Usage of Energy Saving Lights :
-Reduces energy uptake
-Widely available
-Additional costs
~ Shop owners might not be willing to invest
Viability of Energy saving light bulbs:
- Advantages outweigh disadvantages
- Short breakeven point
~ The breakeven point of an appliance is the period of time it takes for it to save an amount of money equal to its additional cost.
~ It takes 50 hours for a CFL to breakeven
~ Eco-friendly
Biodegradable and Recyclable Disposable Utensils:
- Roadside food stalls use disposable cutlery
- Most disposable utensils are harmful to the environment
~ Non-biodegradable
~ Styrofoam plates are poisonous
- Biodegradable and recyclable utensils would reduce negative impacts to the environment
Limitations to Recyclable Disposable Utensils:
- Added cost
- Not widely available
An example of a Recyclable Disposable Utensil --> Corn Starch Disposable Cutlery
- Uses the polymer like structure of corn starch to make disposable cutlery
- Heat resistant up to 220 degrees F
- Takes around 120 days to decompose instead of 100s of years for conventional disposable cutlery
Recycling Bins:
- Recycling bins promote recycling
- Makes it more convenient
~ Sorts out trash beforehand
- Easy to install
- However locations have to be picked wisely to maximize capabilities
Conclusion:
Each method must has its own advantages and disadvantages, more importantly we should start with ourselves and do a part for OUR earth and OUR home, facing global warming and severe pollution as the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure!"
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Moon
Report of the MOON
Every night, lying on my bed, I would occasionally look up into the sky and observe the moon. My first impression of the moon is that it is very rough and have a lot of craters. The moon does look very rough even from my house.
Evidence of hypothesis:
- It is the largest crater on the Moon and the largest known crater in the Solar System. At 13 km deep, its floor is the lowest elevation on the Moon.
- The other major geologic process that has affected the Moon's surface is impact cratering, with craters formed when asteroids and comets collide with the lunar surface. There are estimated to be roughly 300,000 craters wider than 1 km on the Moon's near side alone.
-The lack of an atmosphere, weather and recent geological processes mean that many of these craters are well-preserved. While only a few multi-ring basins have been definitively dated, they are useful for assigning relative ages. Since impact craters accumulate at a nearly constant rate, counting the number of craters per unit area can be used to estimate the age of the surface.
Other pictures
Conclusion:
-Because the moon surface is rough, the light rays will be reflected diffusely!
Every night, lying on my bed, I would occasionally look up into the sky and observe the moon. My first impression of the moon is that it is very rough and have a lot of craters. The moon does look very rough even from my house.
Evidence of hypothesis:
- It is the largest crater on the Moon and the largest known crater in the Solar System. At 13 km deep, its floor is the lowest elevation on the Moon.
- The other major geologic process that has affected the Moon's surface is impact cratering, with craters formed when asteroids and comets collide with the lunar surface. There are estimated to be roughly 300,000 craters wider than 1 km on the Moon's near side alone.
-The lack of an atmosphere, weather and recent geological processes mean that many of these craters are well-preserved. While only a few multi-ring basins have been definitively dated, they are useful for assigning relative ages. Since impact craters accumulate at a nearly constant rate, counting the number of craters per unit area can be used to estimate the age of the surface.
Other pictures
Conclusion:
-Because the moon surface is rough, the light rays will be reflected diffusely!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Oil spills and its danger!
What does oil do?
Oil is a product that we often use to keep warm, can cause hypothermia in marine animals. As oil mixes with water, it forms a substance called "mousse," which sticks to feathers and fur.
example:
A bird's feathers are filled with air spaces that act as insulation and keeps the bird warm. When a bird gets coated with oil, the feathers lose their insulating ability and the bird could die of hypothermia.
Effects of oil spill:
The effects of an oil spill depend on a variety of factors, including the weather and other environmental conditions, the composition of the oil and how close it gets to shore. But here are some ways an oil spill can impact marine life
1)Poisoning and Internal Damage
Animals can be poisoned or suffer internal damage from ingesting oil. Effects include ulcers and damage to red blood cells, kidneys, liver and to the immune system.
2)Increased Predation
Oil can weigh down feathers and fur, making it difficult for birds and pinnipeds to escape from predators. If they are covered with enough oil, birds or pinnipeds may actually drown.
3）Decreased Reproduction
Oil spills can effect the eggs of marine life such as fish and sea turtles
4）Fouling of Habitat
Oil spills in the can effect ocean habitat, both offshore and onshore.
AN EXAMPLE OF A SEVERE OIL SPILL!!!
- The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
The oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled an estimated 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. Hundreds of thousands of birds, fish and animals died right away! The Exxon Valdez oil spill is considered one of the worst human-caused marine environmental disasters ever to occur.
Oil is a product that we often use to keep warm, can cause hypothermia in marine animals. As oil mixes with water, it forms a substance called "mousse," which sticks to feathers and fur.
example:
A bird's feathers are filled with air spaces that act as insulation and keeps the bird warm. When a bird gets coated with oil, the feathers lose their insulating ability and the bird could die of hypothermia.
Effects of oil spill:
The effects of an oil spill depend on a variety of factors, including the weather and other environmental conditions, the composition of the oil and how close it gets to shore. But here are some ways an oil spill can impact marine life
1)Poisoning and Internal Damage
Animals can be poisoned or suffer internal damage from ingesting oil. Effects include ulcers and damage to red blood cells, kidneys, liver and to the immune system.
2)Increased Predation
Oil can weigh down feathers and fur, making it difficult for birds and pinnipeds to escape from predators. If they are covered with enough oil, birds or pinnipeds may actually drown.
3）Decreased Reproduction
Oil spills can effect the eggs of marine life such as fish and sea turtles
4）Fouling of Habitat
Oil spills in the can effect ocean habitat, both offshore and onshore.
AN EXAMPLE OF A SEVERE OIL SPILL!!!
- The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
The oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled an estimated 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. Hundreds of thousands of birds, fish and animals died right away! The Exxon Valdez oil spill is considered one of the worst human-caused marine environmental disasters ever to occur.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Term 2 Reflections
Term 2 was the most enjoyable but confusing term of the year for me!
I learnt a lot including my favourite segments Acids and Bases, ending chemistry for the year. We then touched on physics,
1) Mirrors
2) reflection and refraction
3) Light
This was the most confusing chapter of the year for me. Physics is a whole lot different from biology and chemistry which requires more concept and application. This really proves to be a big feat for me as i did not go through term 2 that smoothly, facing ups and downs, however, this just makes science more interesting! i faced a lot of troubles and many problems. Luckily, i had friends, teachers and my family members there for me to clarify my doubts and help me with my problems.
During the examination period, i was plagued with the national competitions, one after the other, giving me no time to concentrate and brush up on my sciences which i proved to be rather poor at it then, then i was thinking to myself that if i really did flunk my test, my science examination dream would be flushed away! Therefore, i knew that time management was the key to my term 2 results! My training was 6 days a week, some including morning training! I studied before training everyday to make use well of that time and when i reach home, i will complete my homework. I was indeed worried but had faith that i would do well.
The day came, the test results, the teacher announced the results and to my utmost surprise and joy, i got 3rd in class! The feeling was really so great! I managed to survive through it and even got better results than others who did not have so much training load. It was another high A1, as if a magnet, drawing the exemption of the End-Of-Year examinations closer and closer!
I learnt a lot including my favourite segments Acids and Bases, ending chemistry for the year. We then touched on physics,
1) Mirrors
2) reflection and refraction
3) Light
This was the most confusing chapter of the year for me. Physics is a whole lot different from biology and chemistry which requires more concept and application. This really proves to be a big feat for me as i did not go through term 2 that smoothly, facing ups and downs, however, this just makes science more interesting! i faced a lot of troubles and many problems. Luckily, i had friends, teachers and my family members there for me to clarify my doubts and help me with my problems.
During the examination period, i was plagued with the national competitions, one after the other, giving me no time to concentrate and brush up on my sciences which i proved to be rather poor at it then, then i was thinking to myself that if i really did flunk my test, my science examination dream would be flushed away! Therefore, i knew that time management was the key to my term 2 results! My training was 6 days a week, some including morning training! I studied before training everyday to make use well of that time and when i reach home, i will complete my homework. I was indeed worried but had faith that i would do well.
The day came, the test results, the teacher announced the results and to my utmost surprise and joy, i got 3rd in class! The feeling was really so great! I managed to survive through it and even got better results than others who did not have so much training load. It was another high A1, as if a magnet, drawing the exemption of the End-Of-Year examinations closer and closer!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Shrimp and goby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR9X3gFTpL0&feature=related
Shrimp is very hardworking but is blind.
Goby can see but is lazy
Both together is a super-team, the shrimp do all the work and the goby be the eyes of the shrimp!
This is a touching yet fruitful video I hope to share with everyone!
TEAMWORK
T à together
E à everyone
A à achieves
M à more
Everyone is gifted in one way or another
goby can see but does not have the hardworking attitude
shrimp is blind yet is very diligent and achieves a lot!
“ one is too small a number to achieve greatness”
“ Unity is Strength, Strength is Unity”
“ 2 minds are always better than 1”
“ Heaven is fair, people are good in their own ways ”
Reflection
Seeing the team together, making up their home and helping each other in needs and time in crisis really warms my heart and make me think a lot. Sometimes in life we all feel we can achieve great heights just by counting on ourselves, however, there are times that we need assistance to climb the extra mile and with friends or any help, we are able to have greater achievements
and also through that process, foster good relationships and also learn to have teamwork which will be essential in our everyday life, whether in work, studies, projects or even games!!
Shrimp is very hardworking but is blind.
Goby can see but is lazy
Both together is a super-team, the shrimp do all the work and the goby be the eyes of the shrimp!
This is a touching yet fruitful video I hope to share with everyone!
TEAMWORK
T à together
E à everyone
A à achieves
M à more
Everyone is gifted in one way or another
goby can see but does not have the hardworking attitude
shrimp is blind yet is very diligent and achieves a lot!
“ one is too small a number to achieve greatness”
“ Unity is Strength, Strength is Unity”
“ 2 minds are always better than 1”
“ Heaven is fair, people are good in their own ways ”
Reflection
Seeing the team together, making up their home and helping each other in needs and time in crisis really warms my heart and make me think a lot. Sometimes in life we all feel we can achieve great heights just by counting on ourselves, however, there are times that we need assistance to climb the extra mile and with friends or any help, we are able to have greater achievements
and also through that process, foster good relationships and also learn to have teamwork which will be essential in our everyday life, whether in work, studies, projects or even games!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Beryllium Chloride
WHAT SO WRONG ABOUT Beryllium Chloride ?????
Beryllium is a metal
Chloride is a non-metal
Beryllium Chloride should be an ionic bond between a non-metal and a metal
However, Beryllium Chloride and Aluminium chloride are the only exceptions, WHY?
INFORMATION OF Beryllium Chloride
Beryllium chloride is the compound with the formula BeCl2. It is a colourless, hygroscopic solid that dissolves well in many polar solvents. Its properties are similar to those of aluminium chloride.
These reactions are so significant as it is a covalent bond between a metal and a non-metal.
Beryllium chloride is made by the reaction between metal and chlorine at high temperatures:
Be + Cl2 → BeCl2
BeCl2 can also be prepared by carbothermal reduction of beryllium oxide in the presence of chlorine. BeCl2 can be prepared by treating Be metal with hydrogen chloride.
USES OF Beryllium Chloride
e.g
Beryllium Chloride is used as a chemical reagent for refining beryllium ores.
Beryllium is a metal
Chloride is a non-metal
Beryllium Chloride should be an ionic bond between a non-metal and a metal
However, Beryllium Chloride and Aluminium chloride are the only exceptions, WHY?
INFORMATION OF Beryllium Chloride
Beryllium chloride is the compound with the formula BeCl2. It is a colourless, hygroscopic solid that dissolves well in many polar solvents. Its properties are similar to those of aluminium chloride.
These reactions are so significant as it is a covalent bond between a metal and a non-metal.
Beryllium chloride is made by the reaction between metal and chlorine at high temperatures:
Be + Cl2 → BeCl2
BeCl2 can also be prepared by carbothermal reduction of beryllium oxide in the presence of chlorine. BeCl2 can be prepared by treating Be metal with hydrogen chloride.
USES OF Beryllium Chloride
e.g
Beryllium Chloride is used as a chemical reagent for refining beryllium ores.
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