« April 2005 | Main | June 2005 »
Solar-Thermal Collectors
Yesterday was our first Energy Exam. I found out today that it went very well! The ISAT Maymester is intense focus on Energy and really requires true focus. There is homework every night and an average of two labs a week.
Yesterday was our Solar Collectors and Efficiency lab. Here, we used lamps to heat air, and then heat water. We measured the temperature change, and then can calculate the energy absorbed by the collector system, and can also determine the efficiency.
click to enlarge
This is the solar collector system, with the water storage system at the top. You can also see the orange wire connected to the thermocouple used to make temperature measurements.
click to enlarge
Here a lab group in my class makes the temperature measurement. Measurements were taken every three minutes for forty-five minutes.
click to enlarge
My lab group is discussing the calculations we will be making for the lab report.
This summer class requires much more attention and focus than a normal semester class would. I apologize for the less frequent posts, but I'm trying to understand this energy. As always, feel free to email me with questions!
Posted by Matt on May 26, 2005 02:10 PM | Link | Email Matt
Wild Ride
Yesterday, my girlfriend and our friends went to Kings Dominion just outside of Richmond, VA. We rode the following (in order from best to worst):
- Volcano (2 times)
- Anaconda (2 times)
- Hurler (2 times)
- Flight of Fear
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower
- Rebel Yell (Forwards and Backwards)
- Grizzly
- Tomb Raider
We also went up the 1/3 replica Eiffel Tower. Here are views of the park, I took from the observation platform.
click to enlarge
This is a view of the Volcano and Tomb Raider rides.
click to enlarge
Seen here, are the Anaconda, Rebel Yell, and Drop Zone rides (from left to right).
click to enlarge
Finally, the two wood coasters in the shot are the Hurler and Grizzly from left to right.
The day was a great break from living energy that I have been otherwise. I know this sounds like I'm a big nerd, but I found myself calculating the Kinetic and Potential Energy in the Drop Zone stunt tower… I just can't escape Energy!
Posted by Matt on May 22, 2005 01:48 PM | Link | Email Matt
Small Summer Class
Today was the first day of summer classes. Campus is totally different in the summer, as it feels a bit deserted. My Energy class (ISAT 212) has 12 total enrolled, as compared to the 25-30 that normally are enrolled in a section.
If you are at JMU or are planning to come to JMU, I highly recommend Maymester/Summer session. It's extremely intensive, as we are covering what we would in a week in a day, so at the end of this week we'll have covered four days of class (we only meet Mon – Thurs).
I'm not going to be thinking anything but energy for the next four weeks. However, Dr. Altaii and Mr. Henriksen seem to be well prepared for the course, and are enthusiastic about the material. They decided to use the new version of the Serway Physics textbooks that were used for 152 also, but I never took 152, I came along before they re-did the courses and, unfortunately, I have an old version. I think with co-operative efforts of other students enrolled in the class I'll be able to compare text and make it work.
I'll try to get some pictures of the class so you'll get an idea of exactly how small the class is!
Posted by Matt on May 17, 2005 09:45 AM | Link | Email Matt
Summer Excitement
After exams one simply crashes to rejuvenate from all the studying and concentration needed to be successful during finals.
This past weekend I had an opportunity to go hang out with my Aunt and Uncle from Philadelphia, PA just outside Annapolis and enjoyed the beautiful weather on the South River. We had a great time, and I came home feeling refreshed.
Tuesday, I moved into my summer sublease apartment that I'll be living in until August and next Monday is the beginning of Maymester in which I'm taking ISAT 212, Energy with Dr. Altaii.
I leave you today with some pictures of some excitement I found while in the nearby town of Dayton at their Farmer's Market. If you are ever in the area, I strongly urge you to make a visit to the Dayton Farmer's Market (this isn't a marketing plug, it's just a great snapshot of the Shenandoah Valley). It's located on Rt. 42 (that's South High Street in Harrisonburg) about 15 minutes South of Harrisonburg.
Evidently the driver of the vehicle was going too fast when she made the turn into the parking lot, and decided she couldn't make it back into the road so she veered into the drainage ditch; when she did she must have gone air borne, Dukes of Hazard style into the ditch. No one was injured.
click to enlarge
These are several views of the vehicle, it's by no means the General Lee!
click to enlarge
The towing company used a wench to pull the vehicle out of the ditch and onto the flatbed truck.
click to enlarge
They then lowered the car onto the parking lot. The driver started the car and drove it around the lot. It appeared that nothing was broken or damaged!
Posted by Matt on May 13, 2005 08:38 AM | Link | Email Matt
1 Down, 2 To Go!
I've finished the ISAT 253 Exam, and I've got two more to go (ISAT 252 on Wednesday and GHIST 225 on Thursday). During finals week, you have a great deal of free time to spend studying, or however you like. Making a day trip is easy to do when you have a break between exams. Below are several pictures of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley I took while on a visit to the Shenandoah National Park, 30 minutes East of Harrisonburg out Rt. 33.
click to enlarge
click to enlarge
This trail marker, in case you've never seen one, is a marker for the Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to Georgia.
A day in the park can clear your mind or provide the perfect study location away from campus. I enjoy being able to have Finals week set up this way, so that you can have enough time to recover from an exam before having to prep for the next one. Back to studying!
Posted by Matt on May 2, 2005 01:57 PM | Link | Email Matt
