Self Reflection

1) I feel I have around a CR in Senior Project.  I believe my actual grade in it is an NC though.  (Why?)  I basically sabotaged myself in the beginning by changing my topic as many times as I did.  My original work from when I was doing welding really messed me up.  My 5 minute presentations was pretty much what one would call crap.  No matter what I do I can't seem to get anything higher than an AP on my research checks.  To top it all off, I've been behind in making up my interviews.  I am currently in the meeting my service learning person and  I will have to give up on taking a college class in the spring to make up for lost time.

2) One thing I've done well on?   Only thing i can think of would be the fact that I've stayed sane.  Well, as sane as i can be.  I've done everything to a moderate level.  I'm neither proud nor disappointed in myself. I'm not exactly being "proficient" in an specific categories.  This is the first year I've been on top of my responsibilities in every class; whereas before I would excel in one direction and slack off in the other.

3) Improve?  I'd like to improve my grades in general.  I'm not going for anything extreme. I'm not trying to impress anybody.  I guess I should also improve on the amount of effort I put into something.  I've always been able to get by with putting in the same amount of effort into everything.  I think I've taken that for granted and it's starting to come back to get me. 

Science Fair Proposal

1. Graphene is capable of growing on different metals.  If metals are capable of being a host for carbon then copper would be an eligible host due to it's high electrical and thermal conductive properties.

2. The independent variables would be the amount of copper and hydrogen used in the synthesis process. The dependent variable would be the amount of graphene actually produced.

3. the science fair project has to do with producing graphene sheets on cheaper substances.  Graphene sheets are used to make nanotubes, which are part of my project that is nanotech,

4.  The experiment will be performed at Pomona College. My service learning person will be doing the experiment with the labs and facilities at the school.

5. The science experiment will fall under Physics.

What I've Learned So Far

1) What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?
( I honestly don't understand what the question specifically wants.)
Since I've start my research I've learned about nanotechnology and some of it's applications.  I have also learned the structure or a carbon fiber object.  Though they can differ depending on what the object is, i now understand the basic idea applied in the structure.

2) Evidence: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4muy0_zoom-into-a-carbon-fiber_tech

3) My research on the properties of carbon actually helped me understand all of it's capabilities and qualities.  This link: http://www.dendritics.com/scales/el-carbon.asp plays a major role in my research because carbon is one of the most important substances on this planet.  The source explains all of the things that carbon can be found in such as proteins, gases, and minerals.  It also explains carbon's three forms: diamond, graphite, and fulelerene. All of these each have their own characteristics to make carbon important.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

For my independent component I would like to construct an apparatus that I could measure force and energy on .  I was thinking of something along the lines of a battering ram.  Since I am TRYING to figure out a way to do my project on Nanotech, which has a lot of shock resistant compounds to it, I think it would be appropriate to test other objects' resilience.

It would take much time in order to put together the battering ram. To document and record my time i would save receipts from the equipment needed and estimate how long it would take to create on part of the apparatus.  The time needed to put it together to the point of it actually being functional and effective would cover most of my time requirement.  Then there is the actual testing of the machine on different objects.

This study would relate to my EQ because of it all ends up coming down to the molecular make up of the objects being tested.  Whether the bonds within the object are strong or weak will compare to that of Nanotech bonds is what will tie it to my EQ.

Defining The Essential Question

1) What is the best Physics career to get into today?
2)Best: meaning constant growing and good salary. There is a need for it.
3)
a- The physical engineering field is constantly growing to the point of being impacted.
b- The Navy's nuclear propulsion program.
4) My most important source is a Pdf. Article on Nano-Technology.  It explains nano-technology and the different applications it has in different manufacturing. The article explains the development of new technology and how it used to once be just a theory.  It has helped me to get a better understanding of different applications of physics and that physics is applied almost everywhere.  The article was written by Stephen Rassenfoss.

Second Interview Questions

1. What made you decide to chose science(Physics) as a career?

2. Did the science(Physics) ever come easy to you or is it something that you've worked really  hard for?

3. What would you say is the most interesting thing about what you do?

4. If I wanted to go out and get a job in the science(Physics) field, where would you suggest I start?

5. Do you believe that there is an overall significance of science(Physics) to society?

Presentation and Reflection

1. In what way did the first interview affect your presentation? Please explain, be specific and use an example. 
- My conversation with Ryan Albanese covered a lot over welding.  The main thing that helped my presentation was my understanding of the differences between soldering, welding, and brazing.  I already understood what went on in soldering, but welding and brazing were still just a tad unclear.  His explanation of brazing gave me the understanding and the confidence to speak about the differences in each topic.  What i learned from him allowed me to give a more detailed explanation of brazing, which is one of the more complicated of the three to explain. 


2. What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
- I feel a few things actually stood out.  My visuals were quite clear on what i was talking about and relevant to each individual topic. Also, i could have kept going in my presentation and I feel that is an important factor in this situation.  I felt I was explaining my topic quite thoroughly, perhaps too much, because i ran out the time.


3. What was the most challenging to do and why?
- The most challenging part was trying to fit in all my information to just 5 minutes.  Asking questions seemed to be really easy.  I probably could have even only explained the difference between soldering and welding and met the time requirement.  I think i overdid it with the stuff I was going over, so I'll have to beware of that for the next presentation.

Senior Project Presentation 1

For my 5 minute presentation I plan on going over the difference between welding, soldering, and brazing. 
1. Explain Soldering and how it is used with metals. 
-Show visual of what soldering looks like a long with its equipment.
2. Explain brazing and how it is different from soldering. 
- show visual of working with brazing.
3. Explain welding and all it is used in. 
- Show basic visual of what occurs in welding. Only going over what generally happens because there are too many methods that can be used.


Before each section i cover, i will ask if anyone knows what "brazing, soldering, or welding" are. I will ask questions constantly about what I have just said. ei. "So what is the difference between the metals in soldering and the metals in brazing?"


For each section i will be using a visual model, or pictures, of what each method actually looks like. The pictures will be of the science of what is basically going on. 

Should only be about a minute to a minute and a half.  I'll be going over the same things that relate to each technique so they're all roughly be the same short lesson but with just a different name.

Interview Check

I am interviewing Ryan Albanese, a contractor from San Dimas.  Welding is not his specific profession but he does use it often in his work.  I think it would be interesting to hear from some one who applies the skill to often in their job.
In addition to the 5 questions, i would like to ask him:
-What other fields involve welding that i can look into?
- Are there any safety precautions that are dire to the work?

My Topic.

I have chosen to do welding as my project topic.  I chose this because it has always been of some sort of interest to me. Summer 2010 I went to the Sawdust Festival in Laguna and met a welder named James Koch.  His art inspired me to want to make my own pieces.  After studying welding over the next year, I hope to be able to use my knowledge to get a job in the field.  Though I will need an ROP class to get this certified, having the education for welding could possibly help me to get a job someplace.  When i was looking around i found a few places over in City of Industry that were hiring people with knowledge and were willing to give them the experience.  I hope that after this year I will have a more stable plan in continuing my life by possibly getting  a job that could help me pay for college.