Riley's 8th Grade Page

A Year of Documented Learning

2009-05-06T07:52:00.001-07:00

In my opinion, astonomy was a fascinating subject. I learned The moon does not produce its own light, it actually reflects light from the sun.
The sun hits the moon in different angles which make the moon look smaller or bigger which are its phases. Also I learned that an eclipse is when an object in space comes in between the Sun and a third object. The result is a shadow casted on that object. There are two types of eclipses: Lunar eclipse and Solar eclipse.

As we moved to Earth's atmosphere I really enjoyed learning that The Earth's abundant atmosphere can make life possible here on Earth and not on other planets with no atmosphere.The atmosphere is almost like a force field. It can break small meteorites before they can even hit Earth. The moon in fact has many meteor craters because it does not have an atmosphere. But Earth has received as many incoming meteorites as the moon has; but the atmosphere burns them up before they can land onto Earth. Also the craters on Earth are quickly eroded by weather, which is due to the atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere has many gases that are needed to support life. It is full of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Water Vapors,Carbon Dioxide and other gases. Nitrogen is the most plentiful gas in our atmosphere. It is very necessary to life.

I thought it was facinating and surprising that in a Earthquake you should drop on the floor and cover yourself for protection, If outside stay away from buildings, stay away from glass or anything that can potentially fall, if your in a crowded area stay calm and find the nearest exit, and finally be prepared for the after shocks of the earthquake.

Also In Earth's water I founded it interesting that in Colorado Springs nearly 75 percent of our water comes directly from snow-melt near the Continental Divide. The snow-melts are mostly on the western slope of the Continental Divide as we are on the east part of it. Years ago, the complex water system was built to get water in Colorado Springs. The snow melts melt and gravity pulls them down the mountain and eventually ends up in the Homestake Reservoir. Then, the water travels to the Turquoise Lake which is a holding place for the water. The water keeps moving to reservoirs like Twin Lakes and Bear Creek. Lastly, the water is at the Otero Pump Station and then to Colorado Springs. This is about a 200 mile journey.

Where does Colorado Springs waters come from?

2009-04-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

In Colorado Springs nearly 75 percent of our water comes directly from snow-melt near the Continental Divide. The snow-melts are mostly on the western slope of the Continental Divide as we are on the east part of it. Years ago, the complex water system was built to get water in Colorado Springs. The snow melts melt and gravity pulls them down the mountain and eventually ends up in the Homestake Reservoir. Then, the water travels to the Turquoise Lake which is a holding place for the water. The water keeps moving to reservoirs like Twin Lakes and Bear Creek. Lastly, the water is at the Otero Pump Station and then to Colorado Springs. This is about a 200 mile journey.

Pixton

2009-04-22T07:56:00.001-07:00

Water Cycle

2009-04-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

* What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is a continuous process in which water moves through the environment.
* Does the water cycle have a beginning or end?
No because it is a never ending cycle, like a circle.
* Starting with a puddle on a sunny day, describe how water might move through the water
cycle and eventually falls back as rain
The puddle evaporates into water vapor and travels up to the clouds. The clouds will condensate and eventually will not be able to hold the moisture. it will finally fall back down as precipitation.

* Create a diagram (using Google docs or word) of the puddle to rain scenario you created for extra credit.

Bibilography

2009-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

A Recycling Revolution
http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-benefits.html
This website helped me learn facts about what can happen if we recycled. As in: Recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2000, up from 34 million tons in 1990-doubling in just 10 years. it also told me how we can benefit from recycling in many aspects like new jobs and conserving our resources

Recycling saves energy and resources
http://www.hcdoes.org/sw/benefits_of_recycling.htm
After visiting this website I learned many facts about how recycling saves energy and resources, decreases pollution, decreases tree cutting, reduces reliance on imported oil, and reduces our reliance on landfills. All these components help with global warming and other problems on Earth.

Recycling
http://earth911.com/recycling/
In this insightful website I learned that recycling is a process of taking a product at the end of its useful life and using all or part of it to make another product. Also that recycling reduces waste sent to landfills, and making new products out of recycled ones reduces the amount of energy needed in production. And that it’s important to recycle lots of products, including those that you might not initially think of recycling. This includes batteries, electronics, motor oil, paint and any product that has “Caution” or “Warning” on the label.

How to Go Green: Recycling
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/recycling/
This website told me many great new things about recycling. Like how recycling got it's start almost four decades ago, when a U.S. paper company wanted a symbol to communicate its products’ recycled content to customers. That is how the famous symbol for recycling came about. To many people, recycling conjures up the blue plastic bins and bottle drives. But recycling is a design principal, a law of nature, a source of creativity, and a source of prosperity.

Group 3 Presentation

2009-04-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Questions & Answers

2009-04-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Riley's Questions (so far)
Q:What, specifically about your topic, are you going to research? Why it is important and all the benefits people get from it.

A: On the topic of recycling I will research how average people can improve at recycling and why this will benefit themselves and the Earth.

Q:What conclusions did you come to? What do you recommend average citizens do to make a difference?

http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-benefits.html
http://www.hcdoes.org/sw/benefits_of_recycling.htm

A: Well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, land filling, and incineration. Also recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries. Recycling would improve many things. It would save energy and resources, decrease pollution, decrease tree cutting, reduces reliance on imported oil, and reduces our reliance on landfills.
*For every ton of paper made from recycled materials saves 17 trees, 6.953 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy.
*Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000 – 2,000 gallons of gasoline.
*Making cars from recycling aluminum decreases related air pollution by 95 percent.
*If all morning newspapers in the US were recycled for one day, the equivalent of 41,000 trees would be saved and 6 million tons of waste would never end up in landfills.
Most of the time, unless you live in a rural area, you can separate your recyclable material and put them out on a specific day, just like you put out your trash. Even if your town doesn't pick up materials, there is almost always a place for you to drop them off to be recycled. So you really have no excuse not to recycle.

Q:What would happen if, worst-case scenario, nobody listened to your recommendations?

A:If no one recycled, we would eventually run out of finite resources and space to bury rubbish And then the toxics would be released by burning and our seas wpuld be used as a dumping ground which will kill the fish. If all sealife die, it wouldn't take long for humans to die.

Q:What would happen if, best-case scenario, everybody listened to your recommendations?
We could stop our land fills from getting bigger, saves trees, and have a healthier tomorrow

Penny Activity

2009-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

At first I thought that only 5 drops would be able to fit on the penny before it overflowed. But as I did the experiment I found that i could fit 13 drops on it. Wow! I think this might have to with precipation because when a cloud gets at a certain point it overflows and precipitates as well.

3 Gorges Dam

2009-03-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

As engineers the 3 Gorges Dam is a great example of many solutions to energy and ecosystem problems. the energy the 3 gorges dam produce can give energy to many people in the surrounding area. A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. A hydroelectric generator converts this mechanical energy into electricity. The Chang River is located in the heart of China and runs through the middle of it. It is also the longest river in China.

There are many local farms and a small cities. Many will have to evacuate in order to build this dam. It will help flooding problems and save many lives and agriculture. The vegetation is very green around the river with many small towns, cities, and farms. To see this flooding first hand makes us wonder if the Earth is going through global warming or climate changes. If flooding happens at the Chang River; it might be also happening around the world.

Also, the dam has been known to cause landslides, altering entire ecosystems, and other serious environmental issues. It has led to a particularly strong lake effect. And many waterborne diseases have increased. Because humanity has built this huge dam, it has become China's biggest potential environmental nightmare. But the Government officials have long defended the 24 billion dollar project is a major source of renewable power for the energy-hungry nation.

Earthquake Webquest!

2009-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

1. Earthquakes tend to happen on the plates of the coasts.
2. I think this happens because the plate tectonics are always in a constant motion
3. This are is called a mid-ocean ridge...
4. 3 small earthquakes occurred on the Ute Pass on January 18, 1997. It shook the area at a magnitude of 3.1. People could feel it but only for a few seconds. 3.1 magnitude could be felt but minimal damage occurs. The Earth shook slightly, so there was energy in the earth=quake.
5. A 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Kermadec Islands, New Zealand at 7:11 on January 18. 2009. These islands are inhabited so there was no casualties or high damage was reported. Earthquakes occur frequently on this sub-tropical island but none are more then 7.0 magnitude usually.

6. If there is an earthquake occurring remember to drop on the floor and cover yourself for protection, If outside stay away from buildings, stay away from glass or anything that can potentially fall, if your in a crowded area stay calm and find the nearest exit, and finally be prepared for the after shocks of the earthquake.

Weather fronts

2008-12-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

COLD FRONT: Occurs when rapidly moving cold air runs into slow moving warm air mass. The cold air remains closer to Earth. The warm air rises and cools

WARM FRONT: Slow moving warm air mass collides with cold air masses. Warm air rises.

STATIONARY FRONT: Cold and warm masses meet but neither one has the force to move one another. Kind of like a tug of war.

OCCLUDED FRONT: A warm air mass is caught between two cold air masses

Cloud Formation

2008-12-02T07:55:00.001-08:00

My Voyages!

2008-11-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Travel time:9 days to London
Direction traveling:East
Were you successful?yes
How many attempts?Once
How were you successful?I made it to London in 9 days
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Took advantage of Prevailing Westerlies

Travel time:12 Days to Sydney
Direction traveling:Southwest
Were you successful?yes
How many attempts?1
How were you successful?I made it even though i was along and difficult journey
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Took advantage of trade winds going Southwest but it was hard with the other trade winds

Travel time:15 days to Cape
Direction traveling:North, Northeast
Were you successful?yes
How many attempts?2
How were you successful?I finally made it to Cape town
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Took advantage of Prevailing Westerlies

Atmosphere Factors Affecting Climate

2008-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

hey here is my post! above

Photochemical smog

2008-11-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

Chemical smog us the brown haze that develops over sunny cities. It forms when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides interact with sunlight. Many of the causes are man-made. Such as burning fossil fuels, keeping houses warm in the winter, power plants, and other man-made actions. In London, winter of 1952, being very cold, many people were using coal as the major fuel. Smoke mixed with fog made it difficult to disperse. 4,000 more people died then was expected during that time of year. Photochemical smog can also cause impaired respiratory function, cause rubber and fabric to deteriorate. We can help by using alternative energy resources, driving less,and turning the heat down.

Atmosphere

2008-10-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

The Earth's abundant atmosphere can make life possible here on Earth and not on other planets with no atmosphere.The atmosphere is almost like a force field. It can break small meteorites before they can even hit Earth. The moon in fact has many meteor craters because it does not have an atmosphere. But Earth has received as many incoming meteorites as the moon has; but the atmosphere burns them up before they can land onto Earth. Also the craters on Earth are quickly eroded by weather, which is due to the atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere has many gases that are needed to support life. It is full of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Water Vapors,Carbon Dioxide and other gases. Nitrogen is the most plentiful gas in our atmosphere. It is very necessary to life. The second most gas is Oxygen. It is also very important for the needs of life because plants and animals take Oxygen directly from air and use it to release energy from their food. Also Carbon Dioxide which is essential to life because it produces food. Earth's atmosphere makes conditions on Earth suitable for living things. Other planets have no atmosphere thus the weather can be "extreme", no liquid water, or the right gases need to live.

Space Exploration

2008-10-08T07:37:00.001-07:00

The Science of Rockets

2008-10-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

The Science of Rockets!
By Riley Marlene Bratzler

Its a device that expels gas one direction to move in opposite direction

One of the first rockets in China, in 1100's

Chinese used rockets for fireworks...

As well as military rockets.

The first culture used rockets was China, in 1100's

Reaction force that propels a rocket forward is thrust.

It moves forward because gases shooting out.

Advantage to multi-step rocket is total weight reduced.

Summaries

2008-10-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

THE SCIENCE OF ROCKETS
NASA uses atlas rockets to launch probes into space, and satellites into orbit around Earth. It is made of 3 stages. the first stage is called Atlas: it uses both solid-fuel boosters and liquid-fuel boosters. They use the liquid-fueled boosters to maneuver into proper orbit which is called centaur. The third is payload which is released from the centaur.

THE SPACE PROGRAM
NASA wanted to see if humans could explore the unknown space. Apollo 13 went very smoothly at fist but then oxygen tanks exploded. All of the astronaut barely survived. NASA still explores space today.

EXPLORING SPACE TODAY
Floating robots: A new type of technology that floats next to an astronaut using small internal fans. It is powered by solar cells, and can detect temperature, pressure, and air quality. It even allows astronaut to talk to each other.

USING SPACE SCIENCE ON EARTH
Less than 1% of the U.S. budget is spent on the space program. Some people think it is a waste of time and should be here on Earth trying to solve medical mysteries. But NASA says we can learn more about Earth in space and it is good for the economy because NASA has a lot of job openings.

presentation

2008-09-29T14:01:00.001-07:00

Voki

2008-09-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

Get a Voki now!

Gizmo-Seasons

2008-09-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

After doing the Gizmo on seasons, I have concluded that the tilt of the Earth is the key component to why we have the changing of seasons. Without the axis every single part of the Earth would have the same amount of direct sunlight. Which would cause all parts of the Earth to have the same seasons or not that much change at all.

Zoom

2008-09-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Although the world seems to be a known place, we are only looking at a snall picture of the miraculous painting of life. The book "Zoom" shows you how to broaden your thinking and help you see the world in a whole new way. The book also shows how little humanity actually observes the world's wonders and how we need to step back and look at the whole picture. Which is a very good life skill in the real world. With the first picture I thought that it was a monster's foot, but when they zoomed out it was the comb of a rooster. How could I be more wrong? As the book went on, pretty much the same thing happened.
Perspective is how you look at things. It's your own opinion on a subject. When we looked at the book everybody had their own inferrence, they were either right or wrong...it doesn't matter!
In everyday practice, scientists use the same technique as we did on Zoom. They use it to discover new things about astronomy or anything in life. We will look closely to the inner core of the Earth all the way out to the galaxy!

Enigma Box

2008-08-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

Without science the world would be a dark, unknown place. A place where the unknown world would never be solved. Luckily, that world does not exist thanks to spectacular scientists. But scientists have their way to solve life's mysteries, like the Enigma Box. I applied the skills of observations, inferring, classifying, and making models in order to solve this complex puzzle.
When Mrs. Casey showed us the Enigma Box I noticed to beguiling holes at the top. One was big, and she used it to pour the water. The second hole is small and why you use it or what it does I don't know. There is a filter like tubing at the bottom where the water will pour out. After 470mL. the water finally started to ease out at a steady speed.
I think that there are weights inside of the box. When the right amount of water is put in the box the weights counter act and all the water pours out.
As we finally gave up trying to figure out what the secret was, Mrs. Casey told us what the Enigma Box really was, I must say it made total sense to me after she explained it. In the box there is a rubber tube shaped in a loop. When the water pours in the box, the pressure does not seem to phase. But when the right amount of water is in, it will go over the flow line and flow out. The Enigma Box is finally revealed!