Happy Spring Break

Hey guys,

Sorry I have been off the grid for so long, just been catching up on a lot of work and getting into the rhythm of working at Audubon's after school program.  I thought I would try and post something that I found interesting, scientific, or cool.  During my time over the past two weeks not teaching I have been doing a lot of reading so I thought I would recommend a book to all of you guys - The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

This book is about a young boy named Matt that is a clone of a drug lord named El Patron.  Since El Patron holds so much power, he has created a clone that has its full mental ability unlike the others that have been created to only perform only a few tasks.  This book is about forming an identity and the struggle a person goes through to survive who is different then everyone else. I highly recommend this book because I could not put the book down from the moment I picked it up and I think you guys will feel the same way.  

I will be better in the future about posting topics that I think you all will enjoy.  Have a safe spring break and enjoy your time off.

Mr. Bean

Thanks for the memories...

Hey guys, made it to Oklahoma City safe and sound.  I just wanted to write and say thank you to all the students of Hawthorne.  You have made the last 10 weeks an unforgettable experience and one that I will certainly never forget.  I will continue to post cool scientific things here so you can explore the wonderful world of science on your own time.  I will also let you know of any upcoming rugby games if you are so inclined to watch the greatest sport in this world.  Once again thanks a bunch and good luck with the rest of the school year.  I will certainly be back to visit and say hi every once in a while.

One love,

Mr. Bean

Here is a video for all of you to remember me by.  It is me spinning to win in Park Lane Terrain Park in Breckenridge, CO.

3/1/12 - Concept/Modern Car Review

Hey guys, I know I said I would do an example of a car I liked and a car that I did not like on here.  The cars I have selected are below.

Good Car Design

2012 Nissan Leaf

Photo courtesy of www.autoblog.com

The Nissan Leaf is a cutting edge new car model that I chose as my car that has a good design.  The Leaf is 175 inches long and just under 70 inches wide and is run on an all electric motor.  Nissan claims that a driver can travel 73 miles on a fully charged battery which translates into a 99 miles per gallon gasoline fuel efficiency.  Not only is it affordable at around $33,000, it's design allows for a very energy efficient vehicle.  Based on what I learned from the K'NEX experience, I know that the more aerodynamic the car is, the more efficient it will be and this is exactly what Nissan has done.  With a curvy front to create less drag, the Leaf will travel further on less energy.  The car is very light at 3,354 pounds and although it has four wheels, the tires are only 16 inches wide.  All in all, this is a very good car design and because it is run on only electricity, it is a step in the right direction in us reducing our impact on the environment.

Bad Car Design

2012 Mercedes Benz G-Class

Photo courtesy of www.chicagoautoshow.com

The Mercedes Benz G-Class is a car that has a very large and bulky design.  Although it is only 9 inches longer (184 inches) and 2 inches wider (71 inches) than the Nissan Leaf, it ways a ridiculous 5,622 pounds.  All that extra weight contributes to its poor gas mileage at 12 miles per gallon in the city and 15 mph on the highway. Unfortunately, the motor runs only on gasoline so that means that this huge car causes more than its fair share of pollution to the environment.  I believe this is a poorly designed car because it is extremely tall which creates more air resistance on the car, requiring the car to use more energy to get from one place to another.  Another thing that adds to the poor design is the weight of the car because the more a car weighs, the more energy is required to move it.  Not only is this car extremely expensive retailing at $107,000, it is uneconomical and harmful to the environment.  I understand some people may need a car like this for the extreme climates they live in, but a normal person in Chicago does not need a car like this to get from place to place on an everyday basis.

The last paragraph you must compare and contrast the two cars.  I have decided to do a Venn Diagram because ti is an easier way for me to organize my thoughts but you are free to do either option.  

Good luck and I will see you tomorrow.