Into the Wild was a project for Math/Physics and Humanities. For Humanities class, we read the book Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer and elaborated on it. Each group made a journal after going on a camping trip to Anza Borrego describing the project's process, the experiences we had, and writing a reflection on the trip itself. For Math/Physics we each made 3 pieces of equipment, a soda can stove, a headlamp, and each group made one compass together.
Headlamp
For electrons to do their job in producing light, there must be a complete circuit so they can flow through the light bulb and then back out. An electric circuit is like a pathway made of wires that electrons can flow through. The battery gives the voltage that makes the electrons move. When the electrons get to the light bulb, it gives it the power to turn on. When the headlamp is on, it closes a gap and the electricity is able to move and make it work. When it’s off, it creates a gap in the circuit and the electrons are not able to flow around. The lights in our headlamp are in parallel because in parallel circuits, the electric current can follow more than one path to return to the source, so the voltage stays the same and if one light bulb turns off, the rest will stay on, unlike series circuits.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. We used LEDs instead of regular bulbs because unlike ordinary bulbs, they don't have an element that will burn out, and they don't get hot.
Resistors are electrical devices which manage the flow of current through a circuit, creating a drop in voltage between two points. Resistors are used in this design by relying on Ohm's Law, which maintains that the voltage shift between two ends of a conductor is held in proportion to the current moving through the conductor. They are necessary because it lowers the voltage to a point where the module can accept the power without burning out.
For electrons to do their job in producing light, there must be a complete circuit so they can flow through the light bulb and then back out. An electric circuit is like a pathway made of wires that electrons can flow through. The battery gives the voltage that makes the electrons move. When the electrons get to the light bulb, it gives it the power to turn on. When the headlamp is on, it closes a gap and the electricity is able to move and make it work. When it’s off, it creates a gap in the circuit and the electrons are not able to flow around. The lights in our headlamp are in parallel because in parallel circuits, the electric current can follow more than one path to return to the source, so the voltage stays the same and if one light bulb turns off, the rest will stay on, unlike series circuits.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. We used LEDs instead of regular bulbs because unlike ordinary bulbs, they don't have an element that will burn out, and they don't get hot.
Resistors are electrical devices which manage the flow of current through a circuit, creating a drop in voltage between two points. Resistors are used in this design by relying on Ohm's Law, which maintains that the voltage shift between two ends of a conductor is held in proportion to the current moving through the conductor. They are necessary because it lowers the voltage to a point where the module can accept the power without burning out.
Soda Can Stove
We used the soda can stoves to cook Dinner on the first day and breakfast on the third day. The soda can stove works by putting in the alcohol in the soda can (alcohol goes through the three triangles at the bottom) and light it up. What it does, is heat up the stove and fuel, causing the fuel to increase its pressure and boil. As more fuel vaporizes, more is burned and the stove heats up even more. Heating of the inner and outer walls helps heat up the fuel in the outer part. Vapor pressure builds up in the outer part, and as the pressure builds up, pressurized fuel is shot out the holes at the top of the can. These holes catch fire from the center flame and the heat from the burning holes continues to heat up the stove. This continues all fuel is gone.
Heat is transferred through conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat is transferred through conduction because it’s transferring heat through direct contact; it is moving from place to place. Heat is also transferred through convection because heat is circulating. Heat is also being transferred through radiation; heat is being transferred waves (space electromagnetic radiation).
We used the soda can stoves to cook Dinner on the first day and breakfast on the third day. The soda can stove works by putting in the alcohol in the soda can (alcohol goes through the three triangles at the bottom) and light it up. What it does, is heat up the stove and fuel, causing the fuel to increase its pressure and boil. As more fuel vaporizes, more is burned and the stove heats up even more. Heating of the inner and outer walls helps heat up the fuel in the outer part. Vapor pressure builds up in the outer part, and as the pressure builds up, pressurized fuel is shot out the holes at the top of the can. These holes catch fire from the center flame and the heat from the burning holes continues to heat up the stove. This continues all fuel is gone.
Heat is transferred through conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat is transferred through conduction because it’s transferring heat through direct contact; it is moving from place to place. Heat is also transferred through convection because heat is circulating. Heat is also being transferred through radiation; heat is being transferred waves (space electromagnetic radiation).
Compass
A compass works by detecting the Earth's natural magnetic fields. A compass is a light weight magnet, generally a magnetized needle, on a free rotating pivot. This allows the needle to better react to nearby magnetic fields. Since opposites attract, the southern pole of the needle is attracted to the Earth's natural magnetic north pole.
A magnetic field is a moving electric charge which the force of magnetism acts on it.
A compass works by detecting the Earth's natural magnetic fields. A compass is a light weight magnet, generally a magnetized needle, on a free rotating pivot. This allows the needle to better react to nearby magnetic fields. Since opposites attract, the southern pole of the needle is attracted to the Earth's natural magnetic north pole.
A magnetic field is a moving electric charge which the force of magnetism acts on it.
Overall Experience Section
My favorite part of the project was the camping trip to Anza Borrego because we got to test all of our math equipment and I really enjoyed this part of the project because we interacted with each other and grew close. We got to talk to people who you never talked to or would have never thought of talking to. It was nice to go camping together, i had a lot of fun.
My favorite part of the project was the camping trip to Anza Borrego because we got to test all of our math equipment and I really enjoyed this part of the project because we interacted with each other and grew close. We got to talk to people who you never talked to or would have never thought of talking to. It was nice to go camping together, i had a lot of fun.