Download Station 4 - Kiara B`s Portfolio

In this experiment the radio meter spins when light hits it because of the thermal
energy. This is because there are white and black colors on both sides of the vane. When
air molecules hit the white side of the vane they produced a little push, but when they hit
the black side of the vane, they push with a lot of force. This causes the vanes to turn. In
other word, the radiant energy reaches the radiometer, the more thermal energy turns
into motion energy and cause the vanes to spin (motion.)
The solar panels in this experiment worked because of the photovoltaic cell (PV
cells) that solar panels contain. These PV cells converted from radiant energy to electrical
energy to motion energy. Therefore, the motor converted electrical energy to kinetic
energy which caused the fan to spin. In the experiment the motor didn’t run when we
covered half of the solar panel, but when we didn’t cover the solar panel, the motor
worked. This is because the light was shining directly on the PV cells (more radiant energy
hit the PV cells.)
During this experiment the temperatures of the thermometers changed because of
the light’s radiant energy is turned into thermal energy. When I placed the thermometer
under the light, the temperature was increasing because the radiant energy is hitting it
directly. Although, the temperature of the thermometer in the shade stayed the same
because of the same amount of radiant energy hitting it, causing it to stay at the same
temperature. So, in this experiment the radiant energy from the light turned into thermal
energy.
In this experiment we placed a glow toy in a pouch and one under the light. The glow
toy that was placed under the light absorbed radiant energy and stores it because of the
phosphor (zinc sulfide) that the glow toy contains. We found out that the glow toy that
was placed in the bag didn’t glow because light didn’t hit the toy. Meaning the toy couldn’t
store radiant energy. Although, the toy that was placed in the light, absorbed and stored
radiant energy when it was left in the light. Overall, the glow toy placed in the light
converted from chemical energy to radiant energy.
For this experiment, we bent the metal hanger five times. By doing this, we used
our kinetic energy to bend the hanger to create friction because the molecules of the
metal bend faster. As the hanger builds friction it transforms into thermal energy (heat.)
SO, the energy transformed from chemical (muscles stored chemical energy from the food
you ate) to kinetic energy (motion from muscles in hands to bend hanger) to thermal
energy in the hanger.
The rubber band in this experiment was stretched to cause friction. The friction
created the temperature of the rubber band to increase because when you stretched the
rubber band, you put stress on the molecules and released heat. However, when the rubber
band contracted the stress was removed and the molecules absorbed the heat. This means
that the energy transformed from stored mechanical, to thermal energy, then back to
mechanical energy.
In this experiment the live wire is a nitinol wire that can return to its original form
when placed in hot water because it contains nickel and titanium that expand differently.
The nitinol wire can turn back in its original shape because its heat treated. As a result,
the energy went from stored mechanical, to thermal (when it was placed in hot water) and
then into motion energy (when wire turns into its original shape.)
In this experiment, we placed a bi-metal bar over a candle causing it to heat up. The
bi-metal bar contains two metals in it, stainless and nickel. Each of these metals expands
at different rates when heated. As we continued heating the bar metal, the metal started
to expand toward the nickel side. This is because the stainless steel in the bar expands
quicker than the nickel causing the bar to bend toward the nickel side. So, the energy
transformed from thermal energy to motion energy.