Zech,+Adam

I really quite enjoyed these graphics. My favorite graphic was the second one, the tree. It clearly explained what made up mixtures and pure substances, which make up matter. Its a small graphic, but I think that it is a good one.

Adam, Your post is too short! Check the rubric. MW

8/28 I learned that you could separate the dye from the m&m's. I've done an experiment in the past with distillation dyes. I've never known that I could do that with M&M's. I think that its cool to see the different pigments filter away from the dye. There was one graphic that caught my mind and that was the first one. I think it was a great example of filtering. It reminded me of a coffee filter, which is the first thing that usually come to my mind when I'm thinking of distillation. I'm glad that it was an example because it reassures me that I know some stuff about the topic.

8/31 Measurements are important to me for a lot of reasons. For one, if I don't pay attention to what weight of disc I'm using in track, I could get disqualified. If the person measuring my throw is using the wrong units, i could lose an event. Measurements don't always have to be about sports. We need the correct measurements in all kinds of building or else they would fall on me. Also, if i was driving across a bridge, I would like to know that it was built in the correct measurements or I could crash.

Adam, Good point. MW

9/8 I found this article to be really fascinating. I never knew that there was something as a "Official Kilogram". I think that it is amazing that the official kilogram is made out of what it is. And to make it even more amazing, is that it was made in 1889. I understand that this official kilogram is important, but does it really need to be protected. Couldn't we easily just make another one if something were to happen to it? I'm sure we've done enough with the kilogram over the years, wouldn't we have picked up on more than one "exact" kilogram? It's something to think about.

Adam, I suppose it could be redefined but so many things would have to be altered that it would be pretty difficult and confusing. MW

9/15 I think that airline security is interesting. I travel a lot and have been to many airports. I still find it amazing how the airport security staff can scan and process our luggage at the rate that they do it. I find it interesting how the x ray machine can actually determine if something is "explosive". It is neat to think about how easy it looks to us, who just pass it by, when in reality, it is an enormous task that should not be taken lightly.

10/7 I learned that mole day is celebrated from 6:02 am to 6:02 pm. When I think of a holiday, I think of it lasting all day. But I can see why it would be from 6:02 am to 6:02 pm, because of 6.02x10^23. I think it's funny that Mole day has it's own song to go along with the holiday. I believe that it is creative in the way Avogado's number fits into the date but I don't really think that the mole deserves it's own holiday though. True it is very important in chemistry, but to honor it with a day? I think we should call it Avogadro day instead. He discovered the number, and he wasn't even credited with it until after he died. Avogadro should have the day named after him if anything, not the mole itself.

11/2 I found this article to be both interesting and confusing. Do they mean that all dust is explosive? Or is just sugar dust explosive? The article said that anything that weighs less then 420 um should be considered explosive. So would that mean that the dust that collects on top of my desks and dressers in my room are explosive? I believe that factories dust should be monitored so that explosions like the one explained in the article don't happen. What if a dust explosion went off at Three Mile Island? That would be catastrophic. I don't think that a monthly inspection would be counter productive at all, it may even save lives.

Adam, Good points. MW

12/4 I never knew the reason you gasp for air after holding your breath. After reading this article I realized that the reason you do this is that your body is expelling a build up of Co2. I always thought that it was because you needed oxygen badly. I guess that it is dangerous to breath in helium or Sulfur Hexafluride. I already knew about the expanding balloon when filled with Sulfur Hexafluride. But know I know why it happens. I also know why a balloon filled with helium deflates over time. I always thought that the helium just like, died or something. Now I know that it actually leaks out of the balloon.

Adam, Funny comment on helium balloon. :) MW

12/17 The motion detector article was very interesting. I'm amazed about how complicated an every day item can be. For instance, they use radar which is in military equipment and planes and high tech things like this used in a little motion detecting device used in every day activities. I was also surprised that there were three different ways that the devices were made like they use radar, heat, and sonar. They are much more complicated than I would have ever thought of. I think its funny that all the years of my adolescents, I had just assumed things worked the way they did just because, but now I know //how things happen.

Adam, Life is much more enriching when one knows the why behind things! Good post. MW//