In this project, we were asked to do a multitude of things. We built and designed energy-efficient, solar houses using many different day-lighting techniques while learning about atoms and molecular structure and the way our solar system works. We were also asked to come up with designs for the new science building that San Marin High will actually build. My partners and fellow engineers in this project were Izagani Aquino and John Walsh.
Solar System Models
To start off this project, we learned about our solar system. We were asked to make a model of the solar system. The model is not what you are thinking, however. Our model could be anything that represents the solar system. Ours was an equation. We created an equation to predict the escape velocity of a planet, assuming the atmosphere of Earth. The escape velocity is the minimum velocity an object needs to escape the planet. We used the escape velocity of Earth, 11.2 km/s, and the acceleration due to gravity of the Earth, 9.8 m/s², to create the equation: 9.8/ the planet´s acceleration due to gravity = 11.2/x, x being the planet´s escape velocity.
Earth Science
In this project we also learned about the layers of the Earth, the hemispheres, and the angle of the sun. We learned about important parts of the Earth and a little bit about seismology. Here are some vocabulary words we learned:
Crust- The outermost layer of the Earth.
Mantle- The layer of the Earth made of molten rock that is located between the crust and Outer Core.
Outer Core- A liquid layer on the outside of the solid Inner Core made of different melted rock than the mantle.
Inner Core- A solid, dense sphere of rock in the center of the planet.
Moho Discontinuity- A layer between the Crust and Mantle
Hemisphere- Parts of the Earth North and South of the Equator.
Equator- A line across the center of the Earth that is an equal distance from both poles.
Crust- The outermost layer of the Earth.
Mantle- The layer of the Earth made of molten rock that is located between the crust and Outer Core.
Outer Core- A liquid layer on the outside of the solid Inner Core made of different melted rock than the mantle.
Inner Core- A solid, dense sphere of rock in the center of the planet.
Moho Discontinuity- A layer between the Crust and Mantle
Hemisphere- Parts of the Earth North and South of the Equator.
Equator- A line across the center of the Earth that is an equal distance from both poles.
Solar Houses
During this project we built energy efficient solar houses. The houses had some requirements, however. They had to use four specified day-lighting techniques, clerestory windows, skylights, solar tubes, and light shelves, and they had to be 1000 sq. ft.
Clerestory Windows- large long windows that run along the top of a wall. Meant to let in light, not look out of.
Skylights- Panels of glass on the roof of a room used to let in light when the sun is at a more vertical angle.
Solar Tubes- Tubes on the roof of a room that diffuse artificial light into a room.
Light Shelves- Shelves that reflect light into a room, usually a light colored ceiling to bounce the light again.
We decided to really think outside the box when we designed this house. The house is based on a mushroom. There is a stem that holds up the house, which is a one-story circular pad. Inside the stem, there is an elevator that takes you into the living room of the house. The living room/kitchen is in the center of the house. Branching out from the center of the house, we have 2 regular bedrooms, a master including a bathroom, and a bathroom. We also included day-lighting techniques throughout our house. In the living room/kitchen area, we have a solar tube, the Master Bedroom has clerestory windows running along it, Bedroom #1 has windows with a light shelf, Bedroom #2 has just windows, and the bathroom has a skylight.
Clerestory Windows- large long windows that run along the top of a wall. Meant to let in light, not look out of.
Skylights- Panels of glass on the roof of a room used to let in light when the sun is at a more vertical angle.
Solar Tubes- Tubes on the roof of a room that diffuse artificial light into a room.
Light Shelves- Shelves that reflect light into a room, usually a light colored ceiling to bounce the light again.
We decided to really think outside the box when we designed this house. The house is based on a mushroom. There is a stem that holds up the house, which is a one-story circular pad. Inside the stem, there is an elevator that takes you into the living room of the house. The living room/kitchen is in the center of the house. Branching out from the center of the house, we have 2 regular bedrooms, a master including a bathroom, and a bathroom. We also included day-lighting techniques throughout our house. In the living room/kitchen area, we have a solar tube, the Master Bedroom has clerestory windows running along it, Bedroom #1 has windows with a light shelf, Bedroom #2 has just windows, and the bathroom has a skylight.
During this part of the project, we also studied energy consumption and electricity. Here is the Justification Document for all of my period:
Atoms
Another thing we learned about in during this project was atoms. We learned all about atoms and molecules and how very big we are. Here are some Vocab. terms we used in this part of the project:
Molecule- 2 or more atoms bonded together.
Atom- the building blocks of molecules.
Heat - A form of energy due to movement or vibration of molecules.
Proton- A stable subatomic particle that is positively charged.
Electron- A stable subatomic particle that is negatively charged.
Neutron- A stable subatomic particle with no electrical charge.
Radiation- heat transferring through space as a wave.
Conduction- heat transferring through or within a solid object.
Convection- heat circulation within a fluid (liquid or gas).
Insulation- a material with good resistance to conduction.
Specific Heat Capacity- A measure of how well a substance holds heat.
Molecule- 2 or more atoms bonded together.
Atom- the building blocks of molecules.
Heat - A form of energy due to movement or vibration of molecules.
Proton- A stable subatomic particle that is positively charged.
Electron- A stable subatomic particle that is negatively charged.
Neutron- A stable subatomic particle with no electrical charge.
Radiation- heat transferring through space as a wave.
Conduction- heat transferring through or within a solid object.
Convection- heat circulation within a fluid (liquid or gas).
Insulation- a material with good resistance to conduction.
Specific Heat Capacity- A measure of how well a substance holds heat.
Science Building Design
This part of the project was the most fun. We needed to design a science building for the school. For our design, we chose a horseshoe shape that tied in with San Marin´s mascot of a mustang. The building was designed like a frame with a courtyard in the middle. In the frame, we had 10 classrooms, a bathroom and a storage area/prep room. For the interior of the building, we chose a very similar setup to the current STEM room. We have 8 movable black tables, each with four cushioned stools with backrests, a large counter top running along two opposite walls, with four sinks in the back. The whiteboard and teacher´s desk will still be up front. In the courtyard, we have a small garden, a stage, and table to work on. We wanted the courtyard to be a place for people to hang out and a good place for outdoor learning. We thought outdoor STEM presentations could also take place there. Here are the slideshows we used for our presentation:
-Reflection
Overall, this project was a great success. It got a little bumpy along the way but it definitely pulled through in the end. One con that we encountered came from the Solar System model part of the experiment. We decided to predict two things with our model, mean temperature and escape velocity. We were given the distance of Planet X from the Sun and tried to give a close-to-accurate response as number, using Pluto as a reference point. The distance we were given was much much larger than Pluto´s distance from the sun. This made us guess the number, and due to our inexperience, we concluded that it could as well be -9,000 degrees Celsius because Pluto was -225 degrees Celsius and this was much farther. There was only one problem. -9,000 C is not physically possible! This taught me to always check my answers. That was a low point, but good news came with our solar house. We came up with a really cool design, that we really enjoyed making. Building the "Mushroom House" was definitely a high point for me because I really enjoyed designing it. I loved being able to be so creative and create a design that makes you want to explore the house. This taught me how to really let loose with my creativity. Unfortunately, we didn't have the same fortune with the Science Building project. When we had the Presentation all ready and it was a day before Presenting Day, we found out that the entire Tinker Cad we had the building designed on had completely disappeared! We checked everywhere but it had just gone. This taught me to always double-check my work. That was a very frustrating low point in the project. Although our Tinker Cad had disappeared, our presentation actually went pretty well in our eyes. We were able to cover everything we needed to talk about and packed in a bunch of information. This part taught me public-speaking and how to reduce statements to the bare minimum. This project was definitely a great learning experience for me.
Overall, this project was a great success. It got a little bumpy along the way but it definitely pulled through in the end. One con that we encountered came from the Solar System model part of the experiment. We decided to predict two things with our model, mean temperature and escape velocity. We were given the distance of Planet X from the Sun and tried to give a close-to-accurate response as number, using Pluto as a reference point. The distance we were given was much much larger than Pluto´s distance from the sun. This made us guess the number, and due to our inexperience, we concluded that it could as well be -9,000 degrees Celsius because Pluto was -225 degrees Celsius and this was much farther. There was only one problem. -9,000 C is not physically possible! This taught me to always check my answers. That was a low point, but good news came with our solar house. We came up with a really cool design, that we really enjoyed making. Building the "Mushroom House" was definitely a high point for me because I really enjoyed designing it. I loved being able to be so creative and create a design that makes you want to explore the house. This taught me how to really let loose with my creativity. Unfortunately, we didn't have the same fortune with the Science Building project. When we had the Presentation all ready and it was a day before Presenting Day, we found out that the entire Tinker Cad we had the building designed on had completely disappeared! We checked everywhere but it had just gone. This taught me to always double-check my work. That was a very frustrating low point in the project. Although our Tinker Cad had disappeared, our presentation actually went pretty well in our eyes. We were able to cover everything we needed to talk about and packed in a bunch of information. This part taught me public-speaking and how to reduce statements to the bare minimum. This project was definitely a great learning experience for me.