Weekly Blog 4/23 - 4/27

Image Source:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89860955044376587/

Summary:

There are 8 phases of the moon throughout a month. First is a Full moon. From there it moves into the next phase, Waning Gibbous. It goes through the phases every month from a full moon, to new to full once more. When the moon aligns with the sun it creates a solar eclipse where you can only see the suns rays from the sides of the moon.

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This week I performed SP2: Developing and using models by using a model and drawing out the phases of the moon for this month. This is SP2: Developing and using models because I drew and model and used it to understand the phases of the moon.

Weekly Blog 4/16 - 4/20

Image Source:

https://www.schoolsobservatory.org/learn/astro/stars/cycle

Summary:

A star goes through a long lifecycle as it lives its life a fiery ball in the night sky. A star is first formed when gravity compresses space dust to a single point. From there it stays in space for a long time in a stable phase. The mass of the star determines how long this stable phase is. From there it can become a red giant or a red supergiant if it was a massive or average star and it goes on separate paths from there.

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This week I used several online websites to see the life of stars. This included an educational website and a video. This is SP2: Developing and using models because I used a video and websites to help build the picture of a stars life cycle to learn more about them.

One Man Band Project Blog

Summary:

For all instruments to create different pitches their positions on how to make each sound must all be different. One example is a string instrument. With it, you have to adjust the tension to adjust the pitch of what it plays at. The more tension there is the higher pitch the string will play. This also applies to a slide instrument. The more you pull the slide out the lower the pitch will be.

Backward-Looking:

What problems did you encounter while you were working on this piece? How did you solve them?

The first problem I ran into was having a mouthpiece for my instrument. I solved this problem by going onto the internet and finding a way to make a kazoo out of a straw. The next problem I encountered was a way to make a slide in the very thick cardboard. This problem was solved by going home and using a hacksaw to cut through the cardboard to make a slide to change the pitch. 

Inward-Looking:

How do you feel about this piece of work? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? What did/do you enjoy about this piece or work? 

I liked most of the project since it was hands-on and we got to make our own instrument and play it in class. I mostly disliked the amount of noise that people emitted while in class. The noise levels were really high to the point where you couldn't even hear your own instrument. But other than the amount of noise people emitted I found the project pretty enjoyable and would like something like this again sometime. 

Outward-Looking:

What grade would you give it? Why?

I would give my instrument an A-. I would give it this grade because the instrument overall was good and could play more than 3 notes for percussion, wind, and string. But it was put together in a hurry as for string I made it carelessly so it snapped multiple times. And that part was taped together in a hurry which resulted in it falling off one time. But other than those two the rest of the instrument was fine and was built with enough time.

Forward-Looking:

As you look at this piece, what's one thing that you would like to try to improve upon?

One thing I would like to improve on next time is how I managed my time while working on this. Because I didn't do so very well I ended up rushing on the string part of my instrument. If I had done so then I would have plenty of time to work and it and go back if necessary. But other than that there is nothing else I wish to improve on next time.

Weekly Blog 3/19 - 3/23

Image Source:

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string

Summary:

There are two types of waves, mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves. Mechanical wave srequire a medium to go through. Electromagnetic waves don't require a medium to go through. Mechanical and electromagnetic waves can be affected by many catagories such as amplitude, frequency, and tension. 

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This week I used a simulator and a rope to see how waves work and what can affect them. This is SP2: Developing and using models because I am using a visual and real life model to see how waves work and what can affect them.

Weekly Blog 3/12 - 3/16

Image Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeK1fg1Rew

Summary:

When tuning forks are struck, they create vibrations which make sound. The sounds they produce vary based on their size and note they are meant to play. You can feel these vibrations by striking it and touching it. You can also see these vibrations by striking it and putting it in water.

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This week I did a lab involving tuning forks, water, and a ball on a string. This is SP2: Developing and using models because I used a model to see how vibrations work on a tuning fork.

Weekly Blog 3/5 - 3/9

Image Source:

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/pop-bottle-sounds/

Summary:

Sound can be affected by all matter such as liquid, solid, or gas. Such as blowing into a bottle. The more water the bottle has the more high pitched the blowing will be. But this is different when hitting the bottle. When the water level is higher the pitch is lower.

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This week we did a lab where we had a line of bottles in terms of water level. We then blew and hit each one to see what would happen. This is SP2: Developing and using models because we used a model to show how sound works when there is other matter with it.

Music WAC

Music is a big thing in our lives today from listening to the radio while driving to listening while do your work. Music is everywhere. But music can also be a big issue with kids which can lead them to get distracted to other important tasks. It can become a bigger distraction then a helpful source. In my opinion kids shouldn’t listen to music while working. Here’s three reasons why.

Listening to music damages your performance on your tasks. According to the article by Sarah Briggs it states according to some new research music can damage your performance on other tasks. They had 25 people listen to 5 types of music: quiet, music that they liked, music that they didn’t like, voice repeating number 3, and a voice reciting random numbers as they try to remember a stream of random letters. The results showed that they did the best at remembering while it was quiet and when there was the voice repeating the number 3. This is strong evidence that music damages your performance on you tasks at hand.

The lyrics and notes in music you listen to disrupt your ability to focus on what you’re doing. According to the article by Sarah Briggs it states, “Music may impair cognitive abilities things in order, because you may get thrown off by the changing words and notes in your chosen song. That’s why they have dubbed this phenomenon the ‘irrelevant sound effect’ (ISE).” This shows that music throws you off with different notes and lyrics which can take your mind off of your task at hand. The article also states: “They did the best in the quiet and while listening to the repeated three.” This shows that you can remember things better and get things done if there is quiet or when the music you listen to is predictable.

Music can help you focus and help you with research. There have been studies where it shows that music can help with the brain. Sarah Briggs mentions a study from 2007 where they had people listen to 18th century music. It showed many benefits for the brain in the areas where paying attention, making predictions, and updating the event in memory are important. But most importantly, "...peak brain activity occurred during a short period of silence between musical movements..." This is evidence for the other side that listening to music can help the brain however this information isn’t consistent. But one strong piece of evidence is when peak brain activity was when nothing was happening. This is further evidence that you shouldn’t listen to music while studying.

Furthermore, you shouldn’t listen to music while studying. First, music damages your performance to other tasks at hand. Second, all the lyrics and notes in the music you listen to throws you off while studying making it harder. Finally, in the article by Sarah Briggs it shows strong evidence that peak brain activity occurred when seemingly nothing was happening. In conclusion, listening to music while studying takes your mind off other tasks, throws you off, and makes it harder to study.