Assignment:
APA format and min 150 words each
Discussion 1
Vehicles have come a long way from the Model T in the early 1900s. Each year the car industry comes out with new styles and incorporates new technologies. In recent history, the automotive world has shifted its focus to fuel efficiency and the use of different fuel sources. As the world tries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, the global community is looking toward a future with a completely new type of car. There are already hybrid and electric cars on the roads today. What will the cars of the future run on? In this unit, you are going to do a little role-playing.
Welcome to YourTown, USA! YourTown is rethinking its strategy to encourage alternative fuel use. The city wants to develop a market and infrastructure to accelerate the number of citizens choosing alternative fuel vehicles. For this unit's Discussion, you are going to be a citizen of YourTown. After conducting some research into different alternative fuels, you will vote for the one you believe will help guide the city in its efforts to support a better and cleaner future.
Use the following sources on alternative fuels to get started:
• U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.) Fuel economy.
• U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.) Alternative fuels data center.
Use your research to complete the following three components to this unit's discussion:
1. Conduct research on at least three alternative fuels or alternative vehicles (i.e., electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel, or biodiesel) and post your findings, including the pros and cons of each fuel and/or vehicle type. Feel free to research alternative fuel or vehicle choices outside of the examples given. Support your writing with credible references.
2. During the unit, you should interact with your classmates and debate how suitable you think these alternative fuel sources might be for the future of vehicle transportation and YourTown.
3. Later in the unit week, make a post that contains your vote for which alternative fuel source you believe YourTown should create a station for. Be sure to give a clear explanation for your choice.
Use this reference when referring to your text:
Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Discussion 2
Why Do We Explore Space?
What are the reasons that motivate humans to explore space? Curiosity, scientific exploration, military status, and economics have all contributed to the exploration of celestial objects in outer space. The study of objects in space is called astronomy. For millennia, mankind has looked to the night sky and observed stars that make-up constellations, indicate the seasons of the year, and help to navigate the ocean. Although in the past, these observations were made using the naked eye, the use of telescopes have made it easier to use the light emitted from stars to view space, and now space flights can take us to the moon and back. The exploration of outer space has a long history, but mankind made incredible discoveries and advances in the 20th Century. Now the world looks to the future with new technologies and the promise of private space exploration.
In your posts this unit answer the following questions:
1. How do telescopes collect and analyze data from stars?
2. What can astronomers see in space using a telescope?
3. What are two targets of space exploration? How has the study of these astronomical objects and human space exploration impacted or improved life on earth?
4. Can we live in space? On the moon or on Mars? Why or why not?
5. Countries across the globe launch satellites and other technology into outer space. Discuss the potential impact of space trash and how Earth can be impacted.
6. What is the future of space exploration? Explain why you would or would not contribute to space tourism by buying a ticket for a trip to space or the moon?
Use this reference when referring to your text:
Trefil, J., & Hazen, R.M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Discussion 3
The question of age can be applied to humans, clothing, food, furniture, and fossils. Doctors study how humans age and can observe how hair turns grey and skin becomes wrinkled. Rocks and other organic materials do not always provide observers the same outward changes. In order to determine the age of a material; including human bones, radiometric dating can be applied. Determining the amount of radioactive isotopes in a geological or archeological specimen can help decipher its relative age. Since all rocks and minerals contain radioactive elements, the decay process is like a clock that a geologist can read since different radioactive elements have independent "clocks" or half-lives. Read more about radiometric dating in your textbook.
For this unit, answer the following questions:
1. Pick TWO of the following and describe how radiometric dating has been utilized to determine their age:
a. Earth
b. Moon
c. Meteorites
d. Fossils
e. Early man
f. Historic relics (i.e., Dead Sea Scrolls, Shroud of Turin)
g. Volcanic eruptions
2. Identify one element used to date rocks and minerals. How long is its half-life?
3. How can radioactivity be measured?
4. Rocks, minerals, and even food we eat can contain radioactive material. Why doesn't this radioactive material comprise a threat to humans?
5. What is an alternative method to radiometric dating? What are the strengths and weaknesses to this type of dating process?
Use this reference when referring to your text:
Trefil, J., & Hazen, R.M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.