Gallagher,+Damian

February 25, 2011 **Motion Detectors** The article that was assigned to read today was once again intriguing. I never really thought about the various motion detectors that are in the world today. Who knew that there are three different techniques (besides scientists). Within the article, there were three things that I found very interesting and could be related to class. The first thing that I found interesting was the fact that some motion detectors use a light source. I remember, when I was younger, I loved to play spy. I had all of the gadgets including a motion detector. I had to connect each of "lasers" to a certain point, so the devices "talked" to each other. Using light within the class of chemistry could be really astounding. I developed a possible lab to use this technique. If we had a laser that could heat up, we could measure distance in sync with temperature, and see if we could boil a little bit of water. I'm not sure of how the results would turn out, or if it is even possible! The next thing that I found pretty cool was that elevator doors operate on light technique too. But I actually more surprised. I have almost gotten crushed by elevator doors, simply because the elevator's reaction time was slim... to none. I guess that, that was just it. The reaction time was really slow. But I guess if you have two heavy doors trying to close, that it wouldn't be too easy just return so simply. This pertaining to chemistry is tough inference. I guess, in terms of reaction time, when we tested physical and chemical reactions, we noticed some reactions. With the chemical reactions, we could see a change (defining why it is chemical) and each reaction took some time to react. The very last, but certainly not least thing that I found interesting within this article would be that some animals RELY on motion detecting to survive. I always knew that bats used motion sensing to not bump into things, but thats because their eyesight is terrible. I had no idea that rattle snakes used it too. I thing that it is pretty stellar that something so scientific can be around us every day. I wonder how we could use this in class? Maybe we could set a bat loose in the room and see how long it takes before the bat can run into something? Sounds like a fun day to me! But how would be catch it? The are some important questions. To conclude, in class we read an article about motion detectors. I stated three things that I found interesting and supported those reasons with examples relating to chemistry.

Damian, Very interesting reflections ( no pun intended). I hope you will soon see the connections to chemistry. BTW a fishing net is probably the best thing to catch a bat. I doubt it would run into anything. They are very agile - much more than elevator doors! 5 stars! MW

February 8, 2011 **Redefining The Kilogram** The article that was assigned to read was really quite interesting. From the day in elementary school when we first started to learn how to measure, no one took it seriously. I mean, who would this that 0.01 mm could really make a difference? In the study of chemistry, one really learns and appreciates how important measurement is. This article increase my overall opinion of measurement. To think that someone devotes their time to making sure that somewhere in Paris, France, a kilogram is actually a kilogram. It's really quite crazy. In the article, there were three things I found interesting. The first thing would be that the kilogram is the only measurement left of the SI units still measured physically, rather than appreciated as a physical property of nature. To me, the fact that you can not say a kilogram is 1000 grams is insane. However, in chemistry, I appreciate the fact that there is someone out there doing research, and PROVING that what a kilogram is. The next interesting thing I noticed would be that the international prototype (which is in Paris, France) is made of platinum iridium alloy, AND, actually has lost 50 µm over time compared to the copies of it. Now, you would think that it would be the opposite. Finally, the last thing that I definitely found very cool is wanting to know more about measurement started right after the Enlightenment. Someone would probably think that the Enlightenment is nothing, but it really is awesome. See, last semester I took AP Art History. As I learned, the Enlightenment brought out the sciences for people. With sciences exposed, people now had explanations for every day things that happens around them. So being able to make a connection between classes is something that I can appreciate. Continuing, finding out from the article that measuring started around the Enlightenment really gives me a sense of time, and connections between my classes. To conclude, the article on the kilogram was really quite interesting. It reassured my previous knowledge, and even taught me that even "the" kilogram can loose a little bit of its' weight.

Damian, Outstanding post! Great connections to our class and to prior learning! I found it interesting that the Enlightenment was a time of appreciation of science. 5 humongous stars!!! MW

January 23, 2011 **Could Cell Phone Radiation Damage Our Brains?** This article was about whether or not a human being could develop serious brain damage from using cell phones. When this story was circulating around the news many years ago, I had a feeling that it was never true. As a result, or rather a discovery from this article, it would be very hard for cell phones to cause brain damage. Someone would have to have their cell phone glued to their head for days a time. I did learn something new though. I had no idea that cell phones admitted radiation. However, they do not admit as much as an X-ray machine, but there is some. I wonder why people hypothesized that cell phones are so dangerous. Maybe it was because something so new, had to have some flaw. Whether or not this hypothesis was true, someone wanted to find out more information about cell phones. Reading this article really made it clear to me that discovering something new every day can benefit a person. I learned that being careful with cellphone usage could benefit my health. Damian, As you say - you were right to be skeptical! Good post. 5 stars. MW