Wible,+Rachel

Damage From Phones? I read the article "Could Cell Phone Radiation Damage Our Brains?" and found it quite interesting. To begin with, it stated that because cells phones emit radiation, they heat up our skin a fraction of an inch. To my overall skin temperature, thats less than a couple minutes on the beach or a run around the neighborhood. I believe that cell phones won't cause us radiation and if they did, the damage would be miniscule. Also, studies have shown microwaves emit more radiation than our cell phones so shouldn't we be more worried about those, which are found in majority of American households? Additionally, it broaches the topic of brain cancer which cell phones apparently can cause. It seems everything in our lives these days are harmful to us somehow? How many times throughout the past have we as Americans invented something, only to learn later that it was detrimental to our society? For examply, as we've previously read in chaper one, CFC's were the best thing ever invented, now with research we know it's caused damage to the ozone layer and while not be back to normal over half a century. No matter what we invent, it will always have a certain number of cons, we as citizens however must decide if they outweigh the benefits.

Rachel, WOW! Great insight and a fantastic post. Weighing the costs and benefits is a very advanced thinking skill! 5 huge stars!! MW

Redefining the Kilogram The article "Redefining the Kilogram" brought up a valid point in which I feel the scientific community should elaborately investigate and define. The kilogram, one of the seven SI base units, is the last SI base unit to still be viewed as a physical comparison. Instead of so many wavelengths of light or a certain amount of atoms, it is classified as a metal piece located in Paris. So when you weigh an object in kilograms, you aren't comparing it to an unvarying scientific value, you are comparing it to a lump of metal which is proven to have lost weight. If the whole point of science is to investigate the world around us, how can we do that when we have nothing standard to compare our data to? This is not an accurate way to represent the kilogram, it may be precise compared to all the copies made, but it is not unchanging thus inaccurate. I feel that if they are able to assign an unwavering value to the other six base units, they should to the kilogram, a value increasingly vital not just in countries that use the metric system, but the United States too. The kilogram is relevant to our chemistry class because we use the metric system to weigh objects. Even if it is weighed in grams, they are just a fraction of a kilogram. This is because the metric system is based on 100's. Additionally, we learned about the SI base units, studying them and comparing them to our standards of measurement. Lastly, this relates to class because it shows in science, everything can be logically solved, just like this hurdle will be, even if we may need to develop more complex technologies to do so.

Rachel, Insanely good piece of writing! Well developed and on the mark! 5 huge stars! MW

Motion Detectors When reading this article, I was surprised at how motion detectors worked. We've all seen them in our everyday lives, but majority of us have no clue why the elevator door opens when we're standing there or how house alarms are set off by the slightest movement. Now, I know that there's three types of motion sensors, each used in different environments. The first is using a light source aimed at a photo sensor, and when the beam is broken, the alarm sounds. The second type is when a pulse is sent out and he path is monitored, when the pulse hits an object, it is reflected. Lastly, devices monitor infrared radiation, including in the form of body heat. When levels change, you know something is not normal. Basically, all motion detectors work when a certain light is shone on a surface and electrons are ejected. These devices measure the output of those electrons and go off when they surpass the threshold. Also when reading this article, I was amazed at how we all view Einstein as the scientist who discovered the theory of relativity and created the equation e=mc2 but really, he won the nobel peace prize for his work in the field of photoelectric effects. This article relates to the class because we are currently learning about the atom and the role electrons play. In an atom, the electrons remain outside of the nucleus containing a negative charge. But as stated in the article, when you view electrons from a motion detector stance, they're ejected causing that burglar to be caught, or those sliding doors to open.

Rachel, Always a great idea to be able to take a different viewpoint. That was actually part of Einstein's genuis. he imagined that he was on a light beam! 5 huge stars! MW