Geology Report

3 different types of rock are found on the planet in the form of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. Igneous rocks are formed due to volcanoes while Metamorphic rocks are formed due to the increased temperature and pressure that is found in the crust of the earth. Sedimentary rocks are formed when different layers of soil are compressed on top of each other.

Metamorphic rocks:

Slate

This rock is formed through the metamorphism of shale.

Igneous rocks:

Pumice

This rock is formed through rapid solidification of melt.

Sedimentary rocks:

Limestone

This rock is formed from the accumulation of shell coral and algal.

A great way to classify soil is through the use of the soil triangle as talked about in class. Simply follow each percentage on the three sides to classify any type of soil found.  Every type of soil can be classified in the 12 soil orders of the earth as described in the following link:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_053588

Below is also a diagram of the soil triangle.

Simple Homemade Barometer

A barometer is used to measure the pressure in the surrounding atmosphere. Such devices can be quite precise, complicated, and intricate. A barometer can also b made from simple household items and while it may not be the most precise instrument in the field, it can still provide insight into the changes in pressure at certain locations.

Making the barometer requires little more than putting a flexible membrane such as a balloon on the top of a fixed volume of air and taping a straw to the top which allows measurements to be taken as the below moves up and down according to the pressure.

Using data obtained from the pressure in the atmosphere and the subsequent height at the end of the straw, a graph can be plotted to show what resulting straw locations are produced from different pressures. The table of data and resulting plot are shown below.

Sunflower Track

This blog will track the life of a sunflower planted in ENB 150

After two weeks and no germination, we have decided that the first attempt of growing a sunflower has failed. A new seed will be planted with updates on progress coming later.

3/4/14
First signs of a sprout coming through the soil!

3/7/14
Just a few days later and we have some good looking growth.

SunCalc Lab

Determining the position of the sun and tracking its progress throughout the day can provide valuable information. The following pictures provide insight on how measuring the shadows produced by the sun at different intervals of the day compare with a more capable online software. The plot uses data starting at 9am and ending at 4pm. A stick of roughly 20 inches was used as the reference for the shadows.

For a rough estimate and hand calculations, we can see that the plot does a good job of accurately describing the sun's positioning in the sky throughout the day. Because this experiment was conducted in the winter, we can observe how the sun is lower in the sky than it would be in the summer months.

Tampa Florida Windrose

The following images show the prevailing winds in Tampa Florida during the calendar year of 1992. The windrose plot shows where the winds were blowing to in each season of spring, summer, fall, winter.

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Entire Year

Stetson Parking Lot Rainfall

Estimating the amount of rainfall that can fall onto a parking lot such as this one on Mercer University's campus is an important step for design considerations. Engineers must account for the precipitation in order to adequately drain it effectively. Too much rainwater left standing can render a parking lot useless and even inaccessible. The first step in properly designing the removal of water would of course be knowing how much water to expect in a storm.

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was one of the most influential environmental scientists of her era. She is most famous for her book called Silent Spring which brought attention of environmental issues into the public forefront. Although she was the author of many titles, Silent Spring publicized the problems concerned with the use of pesticides. Rachel Carson can be credited with the spurring the national ban of DDT and other pesticides. As one of the first environmental scientists to warn about the use of pesticides, Rachel Carson remains one of the most influential members of the scientific community.

http://www.rachelcarson.org/Biography.aspx#.UtcssvRDu8A