Work Log 3/17-3/20

What I did:

Tuesday: Christian and I tried refininf our new propeller blades for our water turbine, but to no avail. We will definitely need to remake our turbine. 

Wednesday: Day spent watching presentations: Short day

Thursday: Christian and I came up with the design for our new turbine, we mostly practiced for our presentation the next day. 

Friday: Presented. Rest of the day was spent refining design for water turbine and searching for materials. 

What my teammamtes did:

Tuesday: Chrstian helped me with brainstorming, Monica went over the PP. 

Wednesday: Short day

Thursday: Chrsitian, Monica and I practiced for our presentatrion the next day. 

Friday: Christian helped me in researching the water turbine materials that we would need. 

What I learned:

I learned about the really most efficient, and for us, most feasible option for our final water turbine. And some good presentational skills! 

Work Log: 3/9-3/11

What I did:

Monday: Christian and I worked on making the new blades for the turbine, which meant using the table saw to cut out PVC and using a heat gun to bend them in the right direction. 

Tuesday: The solar panelled car got damaged today, and stopped working, so I went out and bought a new one. I refitted it, and it works beter than the last, heavier, remote controlled car. It's also a Ferrari! 

Wednesday: We met with Spencer, and talked about our final weeks goals. Christian, who was a key person in the turbine construction, left early, so I spoke with Monica about our science presentation. 

What my teammates did:

Monday: Chrsitian helped me with making the blades for the turbine, while Monica worked on the PowerPoint. 

Tuesday: Chrsitian helped me in trying to fix the broken car, but it couldnt be fixed. 

Wednesday: Monica and I went over the PowerPoint, fixing some mistake and practicing. 

What I learned: 

I learned that a remote controlled car cannot withstand being around teenagers for too long, and that the best design for a turbine is the one based off a simple propeller. 

Work Log 3/2-3/6

What I did:

Monday: Christian and I worked on attaching the flaps to the wind turbine. 

Tuesday: I attached the solar panel to the larger, working car. Chrsitian and I discoveres some malfunctions in the turbine design. 

Wednesday: Christian and I attempted to improve on the design of the water turbine, by lining it, so no water would leak through. 

Thursday: I cleaned up the inside of the remote controlled car, made it neat, so the wires would not disconnect and become tangled, I also brought in a water pump for the turbine. 

Friday: Christian and I decided that we were going to completely refit the turbine design, since it wasnt working as good as we had hoped. 

What my teammates did:

All week, Christian and I worked on the physical projects, while Monica researched, and wrote the PowerPoint Presentation outline. 

What I learned: 

I learned from Christian on how we could improve ourturbine design, while Monica informed me on the mechanics of Solar Panels. 

Week 2/23-2/27

What I did:

Monday: Christian brought in his Turbine wheels (hamster wheels) and we tried figuring out a way to connect them, and create flaps. 

Tuesday: I brought in the remote controlled car and a frame that I had built for it, but due to electrical malfunctions, we cannot use the small car any longer.

Wednesday: I brought in zip-ties and metal strips, to tie the wheels together and to make flaps. It worked rather well.

Thursday: Christian and I figured out the best way to wire together the solar paneled car, and determined to buy a rechargeable 9V battery.

Friday:  Success!!! The solar powered car works fabulously!!!

What my teammates did: 

Monday: Christian brought in the wheels, and all three of us tried figuring out a way to connect them.

Tuesday: Christian and I worked on the frame of the car.  

Wednesday: Monica studied about Cubric Oxide, and Christian helped me connect the waterwheel and the flaps.

Thursday: Both teammates and I figured out how to wire the larger car. 

Friday: Christian and I got the car to work!

What I learned:

All wekk, i learned how to succesfully wire and create a solar powered and car, and how to make a decent water turbine! 

Week 2/17-2/20

What I did:

Tuesday: see prior post

Wednesday: Today Christian and I tried to figure out a way to charge the batteries of the car with the solar panel, until we realized we didnt have rechargeable batteries! Tomorrow I must bring those.

Thursday: Started making the homemade solar panels, which was an interesting experience. 

Friday: Finished the solar panels, started rewiring the car and Christian and I figured out a way to charge the batteries while the car was moving. 

What my teammates did:

Wednesday: Christian helped me fiddle with the car batteries and we checked in with Spencer. 

Thursday: Chrisitian and I made the solar panels today, although some help with cleaning up would have been nice. (Monica missing from school)

Friday: (Monica M.I.A. again) Christian helped with the solar panels and figuring out the way to remake the power source of the car. 

What I learned:

This week I helped figure out a way to rewire the car and how to make a body for the car we have strong enough to support the solar panel. 

 

2-17-09

What I did:

Today I hooked up the commercial solar panel to the little remote controlled car, with Christians help. And it worked! Sort of. For a split second. Chrsitian, Monica and I also worked on making the homemade solar panels as well.

What my teammates did:

Christian helped me with hooking up the solar panel to the car, and Monica helped me in making the homemade solar panels. 

What I learned:

I learned how to hook up a solar panels to a car!

2-13-09

What I did:

Today Christian and I took care of the remote controlled cars, which suffered some minor unjuries. I fixed the broken axle, which allowed the wheels to turn freely. 

What my teammates did:

Christian fixed the car when it broke in half, and Monica researched. 

What I learned:

I realized that copper plating is a bit more expensive than we imagined, running about $130 for a 4x10 sheet. 

2-12-09

What I did:

Today was another day of inspecting wiring, and Christian and I also spoke to Darrel and figured out the finer points of wiring the solar panels to the car. 

What my teammates did:

Christian once again helped me with the wiring, and Monica searched for a suitable source for copper plating. 

What I learned:

I learned more about the fine tuning of the wiring done when connecting the solar panels. 

2-11-09

What I did:

Today Monica was absent, so Christian and I spent the day taking apart the remote controlled cars and inspecting the power sources. We discovered that wiring is not as difficult as we imagined, we sinply have to do it carefully and precisely. 

What my teammamtes did:

Monica was absent, but Christian helped me with the wiring of the car.

What I learned:

I learned about the wiring of the remote controlled car. 

2-10-09

What I did:
I went over the steps on how to make a solar powered remote controlled car, and I found several other options. Connecting the solar panel is complicated, but I think we'll be able to manage.

What my teammates did:
Christian was absent yet again, and Monica fiddled with the remote controlled car.

What I learned:
I learned more on how to connect the solar panels to the car.

2-9-09

What I did:
Today, one of my group mates, Christian, was absent and he was supposed to bring the supplies for the Solar Panel. Since we couldn't begin without him, I took apart our remote controlled car and figured out the wiring, for later.

What my teammates did:
Monica had to redo the calendar for our group, and Christian was absent.

What I learned:
I learned how to fix a remote controlled car that didnt function properly.

2-6-09

What I did:
And yet another day of researching, watching videos, and sitting in front of the computer. Hopefully, by Monday, we will begin the building, since we will have the materials and everything ready to begin.

What my teammates did:
My teammates did the same as I, researching, and reading up on topics that we believed would help in our pursuit of turbine and solar knowledge.

What I learned:
I learned that turbine blades can be created out of PVC pipes, which are a cheap alternative to the light wood we had imagined.

2-5-09

What I did:

Today was yet another day of product proposal and research. We actually got our product proposal approved today (got the "green light", as Spencer says), which was nice. C hrsitian and I also found a new turbine design that we think we will try out. 

What my teammates did:

My teammates helped me with the product proposal and with researching. Especially Chrsitian, who helped me find new turbine designs that would be easier to create. Monica finished the work calendar for our group. 

What I learned: 

I learned about a new water turbine design today, with the help of my teammates. 

2-3-09

What I did:
(I forgot to post this yesterday, so I'm posting it now) Today was another day of conferencing with the teachers about or proposals, which is what Monica, Christian and I did.

What my teammates did:
My teammates helped me with the proposal, and together we conferenced with the teachers.

What I learned:
I learned about how the alternative energies are better in some cases than usual means of energy.

2-4-09

What I did:
Today was another day spent on checking and rewriting the product proposal, and looking up videos on youtube of solar powered RC cars., like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GGUpOY7Li8

What my teammates did:
My teammates helped me with the product proposal, Christian helped me look up videos and information on solar powered vehicles, and Monica wrote the calendar for our schedule.

What I learned:
I learned pretty much the same as before, and my teammates provided their opinions on what they thought we should do.

Work Blog

Personal:
Today we went over our product proposal, and changed what Andrew and Spencer told us to do. i looked up the steps to creating a solar powered remote controlled car, and it was surprisingly simple, it just included a lot of products.

Teammates:
Like I said, as a group we worked on our product proposal, and we also looked up the steps to making a solar powered remote controlled car. It is actually a lot simpler than we ever imagined.

What I learned:
I didnt learn much from my teammates today, since we were only going over the product proposal that we had written before.