Baker,+Tessa


 * Could Cell Phone Radiation Damage Our Brains?** (1/24)

This article was very intriguing to me because I always use my cell phone. So when I first began reading the article I was concerned by this question, only to be relieved that there is no worry needed, or at least there is no proven fact that it will damage your brain. Cell phones only give off radiation that causes the skin to heat up only by a fraction of a degree which is less then exposure to the sun. The radiation from cell phones is 15,000,000 times less then radiation from X-rays and gamma rays. Although the amount of radiation given off by cell phones is not the same for every phone,the Federal Communications Commission has set a limit to the specific absorption rate of 1.6 kilograms of body weight. The only dilemma was the maximum value was decided on the assumption of every person weighs an average of 200 pounds which poses problems since many kids and teens have a cell phone. There is no actual data to pull conclusions from, leaving the studies not very conclusive.

Tessa, Even though studies are inconclusive it sounds like the preponderance of evidence supports that cell phones are harmless. 5 stars. MW


 * Redefining The Kilogram** (2/8)

This article talks about the SI kilogram and how the international standard lost about 50 µ over time compared to the copies. This article relates to our class in many ways. We do a lot of conversions and the kilogram is a main one. Another way this article relates is because it's all about measurement and we just got through a measurement unit. A third way this article relates to our class is because we learned about accuracy and the standard is not accurate anymore due to the fact it lost weight.

Tessa, OK. You found 3 points. Pretty basic but 5 stars. MW


 * Motion Detectors** (2/25)

This article is about the techniques and the way motion detectors work. I found all three of the techniques to be very interesting. It seems the light source and photo sensor seem to be the more easy to understand and when I was reading about it I thought about a garage door opener just like the example they used on the back. The next technique they explained was the pulses and sensors used to monitor the reflection pattern. When an object passes by, the motion is detected by the reflection pattern changes. The third example they gave us was the most interesting to me. Third technique used sensors to monitor the infrared radiation. All warm objects give off infrared radiation, and any fast changes in the infrared input signals that "someone is coming". I found to be interesting in the way that it worked, and it seemed extremely technical and I was intrigued by it.

Tessa, Looks good! You summarized some interesting points nicely. 5 stars! MW