Monday, January 27, 2020
Impact of Digital Technologies on Communication
Impact of Digital Technologies on Communication Abstract The present age in which we live has seen a massive proliferation of digital communication technologies and pervasive computing devices which have made an impact on all aspects of the way people live. Individual life styles have been changed and by extension, the society at large has evolved with changes being noticed in societal culture. Technology has brought about changes to the way people work, enjoy their leisure activities, get educated and interact with each other. Because the digital mediums for communications have become affordable and readily available to all, the manner in which individuals interact with others at the personal or business levels have also been transformed. Face –to- face meetings and interactions are becoming rather infrequent, with such meetings being reserved for special occasions and for special people. On the other hand, finding new people to interact with especially over the internet has never been easier. The neighbourhood has experienced chan ges with residents preferring to stay at home while keeping in touch with their community on the cyberspace. An individual can assume a different identity and experience a different reality in virtual space which can make it possible for them to take risks in relationships. The peripheral relationships of the virtual space can sometimes develop into friendships which can result in interactions in the physical space. Relationships which may have never developed or which may have disintegrated are made possible and kept alive through the use of digital technologies including the mobile phone, the internet and the fax. The community to which one belongs is not necessarily the physical neighbourhood but it may be a global virtual community. This paper attempts to take a look at the changing nature of interpersonal communications in the digital age which has transformed interpersonal relationships and the society at large. The electronic revolution and the digital age of communications started off at the end of the twentieth century with many advances taking place in the fields of telecommunications, computers, digital technology and information technology. The digital revolution resulted in the availability of devices such as the mobile phone, the personal digital assistant or the PDA, satellite communications and the digital television. Internet and the World Wide Web, with its email and conferencing capabilities, as well as the wireless local loop came to be widely used around the world. The availability and proliferation of these devices meant that individuals and the society at large were shaped by the possibilities for new forms of social interactions and social group formations through the medium of the available technologies. It was now possible to have a different sort of a community which could support rapid interactions using mobile and telephone conversation, email, SMS messages, teleconfer encing and videoconferencing, with participants either being on the move or living in geographically distant areas. Enhancements in technology meant that leisure activities were shifted to the home and it was not essential to go to the pub in order to fulfil a desire for social interaction (Wong, 2004). The availability of the handheld internet capable mobile phones has also brought further changes to society and the manner in which individuals interact because it is now possible to communicate through a number of mediums regardless of where an individual may be. Although the costs of having access to the digital communications and computing technologies had created a digital divide, the situation is getting better by the day with mass production resulting in reduced prices for hardware and a larger base of subscribers reducing charges for digital network connectivity. The availability of the digital devices of the pervasive computing age has meant that the manner in which individua ls interact has also changed because, although it is very easy to contact others, non-verbal signals are diminished as a result of the relatively higher costs associated with video communications. Also, the geographic distances between those involved in interactions may mean that there is a limited understanding of the overall picture associated with the locality or region and the communicators may not be in synchronism with each other. Usually physical proximity had been a requirement for individuals to initiate and maintain interactions and a stable dwelling place was required for the more intricate social interactions to be possible. However, the cyberspace has made it possible for an individual to have a permanent virtual address regardless of their physical whereabouts and this personal space is accessible as long as an individual has the capacity for accessing the internet (Geser, 2004, Pp 1-5). The added capabilities related to communications that have been made possible by d igital technology have meant that new commonalities can now be found relatively easily in order to drive interpersonal communications. This is, however, an evolving process and commonalities that have been developed as a result of personal interactions, culture, language, former association related to work or education as well as possibilities for mutual gain etc are still the drivers for the initiation of interpersonal communications. It is the length of interactions and the possibilities related to physical proximity as well as future interests that are the main drivers for more complex forms of interactions which can be aided by digital technology. Interpersonal bonds of solidarity and cooperation can be established with geographically distant groups and this process has been assisted by the availability of mobile devices which are an advanced evolution of the fixed line telephone as well as the internet. Whereas the fixed line telephone was more attuned to reinforcing the social integration of fixed and stable settings, the mobile phone provides greater freedom. The Theory of Communicative Action by Habermas states that society consists of participants who are attempting to reach a consensus. In the past, the participants in a society were restricted to those who lived within close geographic proximity because they were the only participants who could attempt to reach a consensus. However, the digital age has now made it possible for participants from anywhere to attempt a consensus if desired and the concept of society, friendship and acquaintances for an individual has been very much extended (Alexander, 2002, Chapter 4). Most of the communication that takes place using digital medium is not rich if the message is based on email, SMS or voice only communications. Media is ranked on its ability to carry information and hence the ability of a message to develop or change understanding within a period of time. Face-to-face communications are the richest form of communications while faxes, emails, written text and telephone conversations are considered to be less rich. Participants in interpersonal communications now have a choice related to the medium which they can utilise for their interactions and most initial or routine communications are usually conducted most effortlessly using the less rich digital mediums. With the continued evolution of digital technologies, the richer media will become more widely available and participants to interpersonal communications will be increasingly able to indulge in richer interactions effortlessly. Emotion is present in the less rich media which is prevalent today but it is embedded in text and symbols which need to be studied and deciphered. Individuals who have been used to the richer communications have to learn the intricacies of the new digital media in order to learn to express themselves better. The generation which was born in the digital age or the Cyber Kids seem to be more capable of interacting adequately on the new mediums as compared to the older generation. Richer experiences in communication are only undertaken if the participants have a desire to indulge in such interactions due to having a common past or the initial digital contacts seem to hold promise. Hence, on the surface there is an impression that the society has become more reserved with less socialising but there can be a lot of communication or activity that is not visible. Email communications encourages critical thinking on the basis of a greater level of equality because the social context cues are not present in the message. Social construction of reality and so cial structure is therefore moving towards a greater level of equality in being able to communicate and interact widely because of the availability of digital technologies at least at the initial levels of contact. There are no preferred hours for contact with the electronic text communications and it is considered to be acceptable to send in a message at any time which can be viewed and considered by the recipient. In the past, individuals thought it appropriate to meet in the most appropriate settings for an occasion that could enhance communications. Today they are likely to consider what medium they should select in order to communicate. The decision to select a medium for communication is likely to be based on how well the participants in the communication know each other and their experience with a medium. Social influence with participants in communications is likely to increase with the time that the participants have known each other. The use of email or electronic text can have subliminal messages attached to the text and may convey informality, urgency, authority as well as legitimacy, much like the body language in face-to-face communications. The ability to use web cams and add instant pictures to communications over the internet or when using a mobile phone can add to the level of richness and information that is being exchanged. Scanned documents containing handwriting or sketches attached to email text also add to the information content, but there can be doubts about their authenticity unless they can be verified. Because the existing knowledge base of an individual is employed in critically evaluating lean messages, therefore less rich messages can become meaningful if there have been previous inputs about the communicator. As a result of the massive proliferation of digital technologies, the society at large has started to use these technologies as a matter of habit, transforming the manner in which individuals interact (Alexander, 2002, Cha pter 5). Digital wireless communication technologies have been the greatest drivers for change and spatial mobility. The number of mobile phones has far exceeded the number of television sets and even the least developed African nations now have more mobile wireless phones then land lines. The capabilities associated with the modern mobile phones are being constantly enhanced and they are very likely to become mobile devices with multimedia capabilities that are able to replace mobile computers with a capability for exchanging voice, text, pictures and a lot of other content in the digital format. The feature rich prevalence of mobile phone technology is the highest in Japan which leads Europe and the United States. Those who are introduced to mobile phones gradually progress from emergency and routine use to the more expressive use for communications. Many â€Å"grooming calls†are made every day in order to maintain relationships which would have not been possible without the technol ogy. These calls are made to confirm that a relationship exists by expressing solidarity, sympathy, concern and affection. The cell phone is used along with a variety of other media including email, SMS, snail mail and face-to-face meetings. Social contacts for otherwise well adjusted individuals are possible even during absence due to work or other causes. Hence, established relationships can be continued and new ones formed quickly if there is a basis for their formation. Switching off a mobile phone may be an expression for indicating the importance that is attached to individuals who are in the current interaction. On the other hand, cell phones also enable the user to control relationships by being able to make choices related to friends. All digital technologies permit an ability to control communications along with making interpersonal communications more effortless. Unlike email communication, the mobile phone is less likely to assist in the creation of new relationships and mostly assists in the maintenance of the existing ones. Communalistic relationships that have existed are easily perpetuated over the mobile phones which can also be used for spontaneous gossip at all times. Women tend to use the phone much more often in order to spontaneously contact their friends then men. Mobile phones can act as an umbilical cord and present an alternative to the traditional ways of passing time. Older people usually prefer voice calls while younger people tend to use the text messaging feature of their mobile to keep up with their group using special symbolic and linguistic language. The mobile phone may be used for short business conversations and long personal intimate conversations with a higher level of certainty about the identity of the communication partner then can be possible with email. Role switching is possible with an office worker acting as a mother using the mobile from her office. The ability to selectively receive calls provides a high level o f control on who is admitted to the inner circle of friends. However, having a mobile means that there is a responsibility for being available and answering to those who attempt to initiate a contact, although the owner can switch off if they so desire, causing concern amongst those who may have tried to initiate a contact. Communication is, therefore, made possible when it may not have occurred due to the efforts that may have been involved in contacting an individual. In Japan, SMS messages are used to form complex and peripheral relationships in which individuals never meet and virtual girlfriends can be introduced through a phone, replacing friends in real life. However, such peripheral friendships mean that there is a tendency towards the development of a very formal society with individuals finding it difficult to form real relationships. Cell phones also make it possible to have fluid arrangements and have meetings at short notice. In South Korea, it is common for workers to have spontaneous parties after work that are arranged through the cell. Nomadic intimacy is made possible for individuals who are constantly on the move including sailors or international business people who can contact their friends at any port of call. In studies undertaken in Japan evidence has been recorded that the Cyber Kid generation which was born after 1985 with internet phones and modern digital communications may be loosing the traditional Japanese virtue of giving due regard to context and situation when communicating. Their preferred interpersonal communication technology is the internet capable mobile phone and this requires whatever is to be said to be communicated regardless of the situation. This is in stark contrast to the pre-war generation whose preferred method of communications is to have face-to-face meetings and written letters with all the regard for the person and the complexities of a situation. Hence, there is ample evidence that the evolving digital tech nologies have changed the manner in which individuals conduct interpersonal communications around the world (Geser, 2004, Pp14 -16) and (Wong, 2004, Pp 75-81). Because of the widespread use of the text-only digital communication technologies that are the most prevalent in the present age, the personality of the communicators changes when they enter the virtual space and send email or other text messages. Along with the personality of the parties to the interpersonal communications, the reality also changes from physical reality to virtual reality. Much more freedom is available on the internet when using email communications because it is possible to hide the physical identity of the communicators. Risks can be taken with what is being said and discussed. The virtual space provides an opportunity to interact with individuals of many different cultures and social backgrounds. The symbols and the text messages are easier to understand if the participants in the communications that are taking place in Cyberspace have a common understanding of the use of language and symbols as well as the expectations that are associated with the conduct of in teractions. The electronic medium which may have been selected imposes selectivity by amplifying or reducing various phenomenon of the world, but the choice of the medium says something about the kind of personality that the communicator wants to present. If sufficient effort is invested, casual encounters over the internet can develop into intimate relationships. This is, however, more likely in a situation where there is little of interest that is available in the immediate physical world. Because there is a growing trend for the modern digital communications technologies to be widely adopted by businesses and the society at large, the chances of physical interactions becomes diminished as compared to interactions on the virtual space. Hence, the manner in which interactions and communications used to take place in a society at large is changed by technology and so also is the manner in which relationships are formed and maintained (Leaning, 2004). Digital divides exist between us ers and non-users of a technology as well as the experienced users and those who are the relatively new users of a digital communication medium. Digital divides can also exist because of culture, limited earnings and levels of education. Women have a tendency of using the phone more frequently and a lower tendency to use the internet. New immigrants in countries with a well developed digital communications infrastructure, especially women have a tendency to shy away from using the communications technologies that are widely available and tend not to have access to computers, resulting in loneliness and a lowered capacity to integrate. Internet and mobile phone users and non-users are not the same set of people and tend to have infrequent communication between each other. The society, however, has a preference for a proliferation of the internet over the mobile phone with governments attempting to promote the proliferation of internet connections rather then subsidising mobile phone connectivity. Hence, interpersonal communication has indeed been transformed by digital technologies and those without access to these technologies have difficulties assimilating and interacting with others in a society (Rice, 2003). The neighbourhood today is no longer the place that it used to be. Studies have indicated that in North America, many neighbourhood communities do not interact across racial lines. As an example, African-Americans and White Americans who live in the Nashville area do not interact across racial lines, preferring instead to develop relations with friends outside the neighbourhood (Wellman, 2001, Pp 16). The community of workers that work for the same employer do not live in the same neighbourhood and car, plane, fax, mobile as well as the internet permit relationships to be maintained outside of a neighbourhood. Hence, a change has occurred in the society as a result of technology. Cheap transportation technologies and not just digital technologies have made interactions at the local level unnecessary and individuals are constantly on the move, changing their residence every so often. Neighbourhood ties are, therefore, weak ties and stronger ties are with family and old friends from th e younger years. These ties are maintained through digital technologies and not as a result of interactions arising out of living near by. The cities are very large settlements of people who are more interested in seeing to their economic success by working at well paid jobs and living in decent neighbourhoods. It is the communication technologies which make the modern lifestyle possible unlike the olden days when it was just not possibly have the freedoms that are available today. Community has, therefore, left the neighbourhood and may even exist globally. Community interactions do not take place in public places but have moved inside the home where emailing and phone calling as well as the use of web cams keeps the interpersonal relationships alive. The trend for neighbourhood socialising is on the decline not just in the Americas, but also in Japan and the Middle East. Although informal ties can exist with thousands of people, relatively few are close ties that are actively main tained. Technology provides an enhancement of choices related to the milieus in which individuals can participate. Most ties are now maintained with individuals who have shared interests and the personal support group could be widely dispersed. The choices related to the ability to select those in close relationships were simply not available in the past without the digital communication technologies. Parents and children often provide the strongest support in a family, although they rarely live close by when the siblings have grown. Communities are in constant flux and the migration from third world countries into the developed world has meant that there is a trend towards global interpersonal communications or contacts with friends or acquaintances of the same background. The internet has become an integral part of daily life and has broadened the community. Initial contacts by email can result in phone contacts or face-to-face meetings. Internet groups do provide support to membe rs, especially those who may be somewhat isolated in a new locality and this support has been known to reduce depression. Support is still provided to people who have weak ties with online communities and stronger ties are possible especially amongst those people who have previously met. Groups of people interacting over the internet can get more personal or intimate with the passage of time. High bandwidth wireless has made it possible to assume an internet identity which can be accessed from anywhere in the world, a new city, a hotel room or a new office and old relationships are maintained even with movements over vast distances. The power of the computer mediated person-to-person contact is set to increase with a tendency to invisibly maintain and strengthen community links of choice (Wellman, 2001, Pp 30-45), (Alexander, 2002, Chapter 6) and (Sessions, 2000). It can, therefore, be safely concluded that the evolving digital communications technologies have indeed transformed the way in which interpersonal communications are conducted and maintained, with even more surprises lying ahead. Because of changes that have taken place in personal communications, the society at large and its culture is also being transformed (Wellman, 2001), (Sessions, 2000) and (Wong, 2004). References / Bibliography Web Sources Alakeson, Vidhya et al. (2003). â€Å"Social Responsibility in the Information Society†. Digital Europe. April 10, 2005. http://www.digital-eu.org/uploadstore/theme_reports/social_report.pdf Alexander, Patricia Margaret. (2002). â€Å"Towards reconstructing meaning when text is communicated electronically†. University of Pretoria. April 9, 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08192002-155431/ Anton, Annie I and Collin Potts. (2004). â€Å"Requirements Engineering in the Long-Term: Fifty Years of Telephony Feature Evolution†. North Carolina State University. April 10, 2005. http://www.csc.ncsu.edu/faculty/anton/pubs/icre2000.pdf Arafeh, Sousan. (2004). â€Å"The Implications of Information and Communications Technologies for Distance Education: Looking Toward the Future†. SRI International. April 9, 2005. http://www.sri.com/policy/csted/reports/sandt/it/Distance_Ed_Lit_Review_FINAL_6-9-04.pdf Berg, Martin. (2002). â€Å"Digital Structure and Communicative Politics†. Lund University. April 10, 2005. http://www2.soc.lu.se/~socmberg/sox202.pdf Braman, Sandra. (2004). â€Å"Technology†. University of Minnesota. April 10, 2005. http://www.uwm.edu/~braman/bramanpdfs/technology.pdf Campbell-Bonner, Katy and Louise Grisdale. (1991). â€Å"Applying Principles of Collaboration to Videodisc Design: Profile of a Successful Project†. Canadian Journal of Educational Communication, VOL. 20, NO. 3. PAGES 189 203. ISSN 07104340. April 9, 2005. http://www.amtec.ca/cjlt/vol20no3.pdf Chaney, H. Lillian and Julie A. Lyden. â€Å"Subtextual Communication Impression Management: An Empirical Study†. The University of Memphis. April 10, 2005. http://www.alliedacademies.org/communication/amcj1-1.pdf Comba, Valentina. (2002). â€Å"Managing Interpersonal Relations: Information Professionals and Communications in the Digital Age†. 8th European Conference of Medical and Health Libraries Cologne, Germany. April 9, 2005. http://www.zbmed.de/fileadmin/pdf_dateien/EAHIL_2002/comba-proc.pdf David, Paul A and Dominique Foray. (2003). â€Å"Economic Fundamentals of the Knowledge Society†. Policy Futures in Education, Volume 1, Number 1, 2003. April 9, 2005. http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/viewpdf.asp?j=pfievol=1issue=1year=2003article=2_David_PFIE_1_1id=64.86.18.3 De Maggio Paul et al. (2001). â€Å"Social Implications of the Internet†. Annual Review of Sociology. April 9, 2005. http://www.webuse.umd.edu/handouts/publications/ARS2001.pdf Doyle, Terrance A. (2005). â€Å"Computer Mediated Communications and Relationships†. North Virginia Community College. April 10, 2005. http://novaonline.nv.cc.va.us/eli/spd110td/interper/message/Linkscmc.html Emiliani, Pier Luigi, and Constantine Stephanidis. (2004). â€Å"Future Strategies†. Stakes. April 9, 2005. http://www.stakes.fi/cost219/bookcpt4.doc Engelen, Jan and Ren, Besson. (2004). â€Å"Telematics Project 1109†. Stakes. April 9, 2005. http://www.stakes.fi/include/accform.doc Gackenbach, Jayne et al. (2004). â€Å"The Co evolution of Technology and Consciousness†. Academic Pres. April 10, 2005. http://www.spiritwatch.ca/CHAPTER13.htm Geser, Hans. (2004). â€Å"Towards a Sociological Theory of Mobile Phone†. University of Zurich. April 10, 2005. http://socio.ch/mobile/t_geser1.pdf Glocom. (2004). â€Å"Glocom Review†. Glocom. April 9, 2005. http://www.glocom.ac.jp/odp/library/gr199809.pdf Guillen, Mauro F and Sandra L. Suarez. (2004). â€Å"Explaining the Global Digital Divide: Economic, Political and Sociological Drivers of Cross – National Internet Use†. Guillen, Mauro F and Sandra L. Suarez. April 10, 2005. http://emertech.wharton.upenn.edu/Working_Papers/InternetPolPaper5.SocForces.pdf Hamilton-Piercy, Nick and S. V. Vasudevan. (2004). â€Å"All-Digital: Whether and How to Get There†. Big Bang Networks Inc. April 9, 2005. http://www.bigbandnet.com/documents/Transition_to_the_All-Digital_Network.pdf Hector, Chris. (2004). â€Å"The Use of New Technology and Rising Inequality in New Zealand: Evidence from Unit Record Data†. University of Waikato. April 10, 2005. http://www.vms.vuw.ac.nz/vuw/fca/vms/files/HectorChris%20.pdf Kiroff, Lydia. (2004). â€Å"IT and E-Architecture – A Technological Breakthrough, A Technology Race or a New Paradigm in Business†. UNITEC Institute of Technology. April 9, 2005. http://buildnet.csir.co.za/constructitafrica/authors/Papers/w78-017.pdf Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (2004). â€Å"Interpersonal Communication 2004†. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. April 10, 2005. http://www.erlbaum.com/Catalogs/InterperCat04.pdf Leaning, Marcus. (2004). â€Å"The Influences of Technology: Understanding how technology contributes to who we are online†. Interdesciplinery.net. April 10, 2005. http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/ati/Visions/V1/leaning%20paper.pdf Mason, Shana, M and Kenneth L. Hacker. (2003). â€Å"Applying Communication Theory to Digital Divide Research†. IT and Society. April 9, 2005. http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/itandsociety/v01i05/v01i05a03.pdf McDaniel. (2004). â€Å"Cyberspace†. University of Western Ontario. April 10, 2005. http://publish.uwo.ca/~mcdaniel/weblinks/cyber.html Melissa Caals. (2003). â€Å"A Critical Review of Research into Differences between Men and Women in the Use of Media for Interpersonal Communication†. University of Aberdeen. April 10, 2005. http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/msc0201.html Moore, Andrew. (2005). â€Å"Language and Technology†. Andrew Moore. April 10, 2005. http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/lang/languageandtechnology.htm Net Life Research Group. (2004). â€Å"Net Life Resources†. Net Life Research Group. April 10, 2005. http://www.informatik.umu.se/nlrg/nlr.html PCMLP, Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy et al. (2001). â€Å"Preventing the Digital Television and Technological Divide†. PCMLP. April 9, 2005. http://www.net-consumers.org/erica/files/study.pdf Rees, Jim. (2002). â€Å"People and Productivity: Making the Connection†. American Teleservices Association. April 9, 2005. http://www.us.randstad.com/global/doc/JR_Keynote_October_8_2002.pdf Rice, Ronald E and James E. Katz. (2003). â€Å"Comparing internet and mobile phone usage: digital divides of usag
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Mousetrap Car Essay
The purpose of this project is to determine the effect the size of an automobile’s wheel radius will have on that vehicle’s performance. To determine this, the distance a car travels when tested with the same propulsion force but different wheel diameter is measured. We expect that there will be an optimum size that should be utilized in order to achieve maximum efficiency. A larger or smaller wheel size should change the distance that the car will travel. The cars we will test will be made of common and inexpensive materials. The design of the cars will consist of simple wheel and axel setups and a lever; two simple machines that can be used to cause forward movement. The means of propulsion for our cars will be spring-loaded mousetrap with a length of string that connects to the axel supporting the wheels being tested. As the trap is set the lever will pull the line and thus rotate the axel causing movement. The size of the wheel should have a direct relationship with the distance that the car will travel. Small wheels will require more revolutions to move the same distance while large wheels will require more torque to make them begin to turn. The goal of the project is to find the most efficient use of the energy provided by the mousetrap for both speed and distance by adjusting the size of the wheel. A mousetrap car is a combination of two simple machines designed to operate much like a gas-powered car. However, a mousetrap is used instead of an internal combustion engine for the motor. The most common design involves positioning the mousetrap on the chassis of the cars and attaching an extended lever on the trap to one of the car’s axles by using a length of string. The end of the string on the mousetrap is tied to the arm of the trap while the opposite end is wound around the axle. When the mousetrap is â€Å"loaded,†potential energy is stored. The pulling force of the arm turns the potential energy into kinetic energy, causing the wheels to turn and boosting the vehicle. The mousetrap will provide a limited amount energy that the car can use as propulsion force that causes forward movement. The length of the string connecting the lever on the trap to the axel will remain constant through out the duration of the experiment. This will ensure that each of the wheel sizes will receive the same amount of energy. The wheels will also be made of the same material so that each will have the same traction, be about the same weight, and attach to the axel in a similar fashion. Since the radius is directly proportional to the circumference, larger diameter will obviously have larger circumferences. This is important because the circumference the part that actually touches the track. The larger the circumference of the wheel is as compared to the radius of the axel, the more mechanical advantage the wheel will have. Mechanical advantage is a phenomenon that increases the efficiency of a simple machine. Engineers try to design cars that make the most of this force when designing cars and other motor vehicles. A circumference of five inches will travel 25 inches in five revolutions while a circumference of three inches will travel only 15 inches with the same number of revolutions. The larger wheels seem to make more efficient use of the revolutions provided by the springing mousetrap. However the larger diameter also requires more energy to make them revolve. The energy required to turn an axel is known as torque. The more torque an engine (or a mousetrap) can provide, the faster the car will accelerate. Acceleration is also important to the efficiency of the mousetrap car. The faster a car can accelerate, the more momentum it can build up. Momentum is a force that keeps moving objects moving in the same general direction and force until some outside force acts upon the object. Momentum will conserve the energy from the mousetrap while providing thrust. If the wheels are too small, the axels will have to revolve more times to build up any significant momentum. If they are too large, they will require much more torque, which would reduce the amount of energy available to turn the axel once momentum is built up. Friction also plays a major role in the performance of mousetrap-powered cars. Friction between the car’s wheels and the surface it is traveling on is beneficial to the operation of the vehicle. This traction helps the wheels to propel the cars across further distances and at greater speeds. However, friction can also occur between the axles and the cars, which can be detrimental to performance. To combat this, lubricants are used on the axels where they are in contact with the chassis of the car. Also, more mass involved with the rotation of the axels will cause more friction. Therefore, heavier cars will be much less successful than vehicles using much lighter materials due to the amount of friction and inertia, which will not allow the car to travel as far or as fast under the same conditions. Methods The design used in the testing phases of the experiment consisted of thin pieces of plywood for the chassis and axel supports while 3/16-inch dowel rods were used for axels. The wheels were made of three sizes of circular pieces of foam board supported by a slice of a cardboard tube. A standard sized mousetrap was secured to the chassis and a 3-inch length of copper pipe was used to lengthen the lever to provide more mechanical advantage. A two-feet length of nylon string was secured to the copper pipe and the rear axel. The wheels were attached to the axels with rubber cement. The various larger sizes were designed to fit over the smallest ones that were attached to the axels. A single front wheel was used throughout the experiment Tests were ran to determine how far the car would travel and how fast they traveled a distance of five and feet. Each wheel size was tested three times and the results were then averaged: |Wheel size |Distance |Speed (5 feet/ 10 feet) | |2.25 inches |11 feet, four inches |1.45sec. / 2.4sec. | |4.75 inches |16 feet, 11 inches |2.1 sec. / 3.05 sec. | |7.00 inches |18 feet, two inches |3.6 sec. /4.42 sec. | Results Our results show two distinct characteristics. The larger wheels traveled a significant amount further than the smaller wheel sizes. However the smaller wheels were capable of quicker acceleration than the larger wheels. Since the wheels all had about the same amount of mass, the amount of friction did not increase of decrease enough to effect the results significantly. The wheel sizes could thus be adjusted depending upon the type of race the car was involved in; distance, in which the largest wheels would be used, or speed, in which the smallest wheels would be used. Experience in the design and function of the mousetrap cars would help us to design an even more efficient vehicle. Two layers of foam board would probably be used to cause the wheels to be more level and stable. Also, a longer lever would likely be attached to the existing lever on the mousetrap so that more advantage is achieved.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
The Advantages of Study Habits on the Performance of the Students
Study habits are the ways that you study the habits that you have formed during your school years. Study habits can be good ones, or bad ones. Good study habits include being organized, keeping good notes, reading your textbook, listening in class, and working every day. Bad study habits include skipping class, not doing your work, watching TV or playing video games instead of studying, and losing your work. Study habits are the ways that you study the habits that you have formed during your school years.Study habits can be good ones, or bad ones. Good study habits include being organized, keeping good notes, reading your textbook, listening in class, and working every day. Bad study habits include skipping class, not doing your work, watching TV or playing video games instead of studying, and losing your work. It means you are not distracted by anything; you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. Basically it means that you are doing t he best you can to get the grades you want. It means you are not distracted by anything; you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework.The manner with which you consistently use to study for school or college or even for next day lesson plans if you're a teacher. Study Habit of every student is one of the most important factors that affect his or her understanding regarding a certain subject. It means, if a student possesses poor study habits, she has a greater chance of getting failing grades, if compare to a student’s who has a good study habit. But â€Å"habit†as it was defined from the Introduction to Psychology, means â€Å"a learned, or fixed way of behaving to satisfy a given motive†.By this definition alone, we can say that the person involves is the one making or forming his own habit. Maybe, habits can be affected by outside interference like his environment, his attitude toward his comparisons, his teachers and the books and reading materials around him, even the place where he study and other factors which influence the concentration of a students to effectively understand his lessons, and to pass his mind to discipline himself and form to himself the proper study habits which he knows he really needed.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
The Year Of 1776 By David Mccullough - 1242 Words
Henry Womble Mr. Martin AP US History 14 October 2015 1776- David McCullough The year of 1776 is the most famous year, not only in the Revolutionary War, but in America’s history as well. In this best selling book, 1776, David McCullough decides to not focus so much on the continental congresses, but instead George Washington and his men’s experiences. This is about how the United States of America almost did not even exist and the War of Independence was nearly lost. McCullough is a very well known author and historian who has sold many best selling books such as the books of United States presidents John Adams and Truman. Instead of writing about an important era, he focuses on only writing about that year. During this time, he explains how the colonies of North America decide to break away from England and the â€Å"absolute tyranny†of King George III. McCullough is unique by introducing people with major impact on the conflict of the revolution such as King George III and George Washington as well as a large selection of lesser known people that one would normally just grace over which included certain citizens who either worked in the colonies or was apart of the revolution. Interestingly, this book centers around more of General George Washington in the war and as a leader instead of really focusing on the colonies goal of freedom and independence. This is impressive that George Washington was able to group many untrained men and get them ready for battle. This book doesShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of 1776 By David Mccullough1288 Words  | 6 Pages In his book 1776, David McCullough animates the events and people who fought for American freedom in a new light, bridging a gap between the past and the present. The events described in the novel encompasses the beginnings of the American Revolution during the year of the Declaration of Independence and, instead of putting the main focus on certain events or battles, McCullough emphasizes how the people involved may have felt throughout hardships, triumphs, and loss. In 1776 we see historicalRead MoreEssay on 1776 Book Review 11153 Words  | 5 PagesHistory 1301 April 1st 2012 McCullough, David. 1776. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005, 386 pp. Word Count- 1157 David McCullough’s novel 1776 is a compelling story of America’s war for independence. We have all read chapters and heard the related history of the war of 1776, but David McCullough takes the epic story even further. The book covers the entire year of 1776 from the beginning of the war until the end. The author provides an extremely detailed description of both sides ofRead MoreGeorge Washingtons 1776: The Battle of Dorchester Heights1111 Words  | 5 PagesOpening to the first page, George Washington is quoted, â€Å"perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.†setting the stage for David McCullough’s book, â€Å"1776†, a historical narrative that avoided academic debates. His thesis being a tight narrative focused around the Continental Army and their leader George Washington. McCullough continued his popular writing techniques of character building by tracing the roads, reading the books, and seeing the houses of his key ch aracters as they wouldRead MoreDavid Mccullough s Life And Many Significant Events Of The Time1044 Words  | 5 Pages1776-David McCullough In 1776 renowned author David McCullough highlights the life and many significant events of the time. Most of the events of 1776 are set in areas like Boston and New York in the Eastern Seaboard. 1776 follows Washington through his triumphs and defeats of the Revolutionary War and gives a detailed description of Washington’s background. The style in which McCullough writes in makes this book simpler and easier to understand. McCullough gives a detailed-although sometimes biased-perspectiveRead MoreAmerican History: The Year Was 17761173 Words  | 5 PagesWhen we think of years in American history that stand out most, 1776 is the first that comes to mind. It was a very eventful yet remarkable year for American colonists. Colonists who went from being faithful subjects of the British rule under King George III, to fighting that same nation for their freedom. American colonists faced a number of very difficult problems at this time. They were undermanned and under armed , fighting one of the largest organized military powers in the world. How canRead More1776 Book Report781 Words  | 4 PagesThe book 1776 by David McCullough tells the story of the military aspects of the American Revolution. McCullough writes the book from both the British and American point of views, creating a better understanding of what both sides were undergoing during the war. Not only does he have a degree from Yale, but McCullough has also been awarded with the nations highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to this, he has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice. He has also writtenRead MoreEssay about Analysis of 1776, by David McCullough978 Words  | 4 Pages David McCullough author of 1776 puts faces and feelings to the events of the Revolutionary war making this an exciting novel even when the ending is known. Acting as a companion to an earlier work of McCullough’s, John Adams, 1776 is a strictly military view of the era versus political. Although the reader may have to get accustomed to the vast amount of characters introduced McCullough makes sure that those you are supposed to remember you will. Every character introduced is describedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book 1776 By David Mccullough1816 Words  | 8 Pages1776 by David McCullough Book Review 1776, a non-fiction historical book, is written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough. The book revolves around the American Revolution, hence the title 1776, and it accurately shows the course of actions that have taken place in that year. 1776 is displays how America became an independent nation and what the individuals during that time had to go through to gain access to freedom and liberty. The Continental Congress approved the Declaration ofRead MoreWhy Did The British Lose The Revolutionary War?1187 Words  | 5 PagesPuritans arrived in Massachusetts in 1620. They had developed their own patriotism and did not consider themselves to be British subjects. Thus, they no longer wanted or needed Britain, for the British were like foreigners in America. After having years of benign British neglect, and after capably governing themselves, the people in the American colonies were not pleased when the British Parliament decided after the end of the successful end of the French Indian War in 1763 to become more engagedRead MoreAnalysis Of David Mccullough s The Battle Of Bunker Hill 1372 Words  | 6 Pagesmore than enough proof on why they deserved independence. David McCullough’s 1776, describes and educates us about events which happened before the war and foreshadows up to the revolution. We learn about the hardships thrown at George Washington and the Continental army whose intentions switched from equal rights to complete emancipation. Battles throughout the Revolutionary War, like the Battle of Bunker Hill, are well known, but McCullough shows the reader how the Continental army continues to strive
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