Getting an Understanding of Solar, Wind, and Gas Energy Sources

Compare and Contrast

There are three main types of renewable energy: solar, wind, and gas. Energy is converted using solar panels, wind turbines, and natural gas powerplants. One difference between these renewable energy sources is where the energy comes from. For solar panels, it's from the sun. Wind turbines are generated by wind/air currents, and gas power plants come from oil wells and coal beds. A similarity between the renewable resources is how they are measured; kilo-, mega-, and gigawatts.

Summary of Optimization Process:

To optimize our wind turbine we tested multiple variables and chose the best outcome to apply to our final wind turbine. The variables were...number of wind turbine blades, color of the wires, width of turbine blades, distance from the wind source, angle of turbine blades, and the motor used to harness wind. We changed the variable at least 2 times and finalized with the best option. For our final wind turbine we used 2 blades that were 4"x1/2" with the larger motor. We set the wind turbine 12 inches away from the wind source, rotating the blades at a 30 degree angle. The voltage generated was 0.48.

Outcomes for each variable:

Number of wind turbine blades: For maximum voltage generated, use 2 blades.
Color of wires: To generate voltage, you can use any colored wires.
Width of turbine blades: The wider the width of the turbine blades, the higher the voltage generated (2").
Distance from the wind source: The closer the wind turbine is to the wind source, the more voltage it will generate (12").
Angle of turbine blades: The smaller the angle of the turbine blades, the higher the voltage outcome.
Motor size: The larger the motor, the more voltage generated by the wind turbine.

*Optimization is the action of making a process or item more efficient. It is achieved with testing predictions and different variables until the best outcome is discovered. *

Images!-

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Planter Project- 2/23/24

For this project we were tasked with making indoor or outdoor planters. I decided to make mine a 10x10in box with two sets of legs on all four corners. My first sketch which is shown in the image slide to the left, is a bit different than my final project which you will also see in the image carousel. Due to time, I decided to only make the box and legs, and draw a couple of flowers as decoration. I first used the band saw to cut the width of my pieces. I then used the miter saw to cut the length of my pieces and also the biscuit joiner to glue my pieces together. I used the nail gun to nail my sides and legs together. Finally, I sanded the edges and painted a couple of flowers on the legs for some character.

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Infinity Mirror Final-

During this project I learned how to do lots of new things, like coding. Below are the steps I did to complete this project...

I created a sketch of my mirror.
Second, I made a drawing of my shape on OnShape.
I then cut out 14 hexagon shapes and glued them together with wood glue and clamps.
Next, I cut out 2 full hexagon pieces, one acrylic and one wood.
I glued both reflective pieces to the acrylic and full wooden hexagonal piece.
I created my code and set up my pico.
Next, I drilled a hole into the center piece (full wooden hexagonal) and connected my Pico and wires on one side, with the lights on the other.
Lastly, I glued the acrylic to the top using epoxy, and glued the Pico on the backside.

Infinity Box Progress Checks-

First Class

We used our Onshape file to cut out 14 outline pieces and 1 full piece.

Second Class

We glued together our top 7 pieces and then glued together the 1 full piece and remaining 7 pieces. We also painted the inside of each piece black.

Third and Fourth Class

During this class we put our reflective paper on the wood and the acrylic top. We also soldered the Pico and light strips together and created our code.

Infinity Mirror Idea Development Sketch

This is a quick sketch containing the idea for my infinity mirror. The following picture is the file on OnShape that I created in order to put my pieces together. That is also the same file I transfered to GlowForge to cut.

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Infinity Mirror Prototype

An infinity mirror uses a fluorescent lights and mirrors to create the illusion of multiple lights in one box/mirror. To make the box we used makercase. Makercase is a website that makes boxes with groves in order for sides to fit together into on box. Before transferring them to glowfroge to print, we used OnShape to create 3 holes in both the left and right sides of the box. We then transferred those pieces into glowforge and printed them out using the laser cutter. We glued every piece together except for the lid. In order to create the illusion, you need two mirrors, one that is a "double-sided" created using acrylic. We cut the acrylic piece using the laser cutter and used that as the top piece. The first mirror is on the bottom piece, then a double-sided mirror on top. The LED lights inside the box reflect off of the top mirror towards the bottom mirror and then towards the eye. This is an example of an incident ray.

Infinity Mirror Sketch

We can apply physics to understand how our infinity mirror works in the way that light moves throughout space and time. An infinity mirror uses LED lights and mirrors to create the illusion of the lights going forever. The lights are first placed into or surrounded by an opaque object. Then a mirror, which is opaque is placed in the center of the box. Placed on top of the mirror is a strip of luminous lights. The lid of the mirror is a double-sided translucent mirror. Photons and waves from a luminous object travel towards the first mirror. After the light travels through the first mirror, it reflects off the bottom mirror and out into the eye. This creates an incident ray which is then reflected/refracted off a surface and then a reflected ray travels towards our eyes. In this case the luminous object is the LED light, the light inside the box reflects off of the top mirror towards the bottom mirror and then towards the eye. This happens with every LED light in the box.

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6 lights blinking in succession

The video shown above is 6 LED lights tapped into a 2" by 3" cardboard piece. We were asked to create multiple patterns as you can see in the video above.

Circuit Python Code

Above is an image of my Phython Code that is used for the LED lights.

Infinity Mirror Project Brief

Below is the project brief for our Infinity mirror project. This project will use coding, pico, and physical properties to create an infinity mirror or table. An infinity mirror is filled with LEDs that appear to never end, creating an illusion.

Homecoming!

Homecoming Lantern Project

This project is a project relating to 50 years of Hip Hop and using a CAD platform, OnShape. We used OnShape to create our lantern designs and Glowforge to laser cut our projects.

Box Project!

For our first Foundation of Engineering project, we created a box. The first step was to sketch our box and figure out the measurements for the box. We also determined the type of lid we wanted for our boxes; I used hinges for my lid. To begin we used 2x4 and cut them in half vertically, to create two thin pieces. Next, we used the planer and table saw. For the table saw, we cut off curved edges on both sides of the wood and we used the planer to even everyone's wood out (1/16"). Up next is the miter saw. The miter saw was a very important machine for me throughout this process. I used the miter saw to cut my sides evenly and fix up any minor mistakes. Before I used the biscuit joiner, I created a piece of wood with my name on it using the CNC Router (this piece is in the center of one of my sides). Next, we used the biscuit joiner, to combine our wood. After I combined the wood planks together, I clamped it down on a table-using another 2x4- to hold it in place, so it will maintain its' shape. After my wood was evened out and clamped together, I used the nail gun to merge my box together. Once my box was together, I sanded all 5 sides using a 60 grit sandpaper and sanded my top separately using 120 grit. I smushed wood putty into any holes or gaps in my wood and once it dried, I sanded my box once again. For the final touches of my box, I stained it with an English chestnut shade and added on my hinges! That is how I completed my box.

Craftsmanship is the look and finish of a specific material. It's also the quality of design or skill of your project or item. For good craftsmanship you want your item to have straight and even edges, even stain/color throughout your project, and a overall clean look. I would give my box a 9/10 for craftsmanship because my edges are straight and I have even color throughout, but my lid doesn't close all the way, which messes up the clean look you want for good craftsmanship.

If I could work on my box again, I would do a couple of things differently. First, I would work more efficiently because I am more confident in using the tools. I would also be more precise in my measurements and spend more time sanding my box. I would do these things because it would make my box look more professional and I wouldn't be as stressed with time.

ScrapWood Project- Marielle O'Neill

Scrap Wood Project

During this project we were given the option to make a coaster with our teacher or create our own project/gift we could give to others. I chose to make my own gift for my parents, which was two personalized key chains with accessories. I engraved the anniversary date onto a heart "puzzle piece", created a Christmas tree, letters for the beginning of my parents' names, and a star that included negative space in the center. I mostly used software like Inkscape, OnShape, and Glowforge. I also used the laser cutter, a little bit of sanding, and wood glue. My end result was worth the many trails and errors.

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