Science talk weekly
To continue on from last week, I am going from simple circuits to more complex circuits – computers. My aim is to discuss the various main components you would typically find in a desktop computer. They are daunting to look at when you first open up a case, but once you get the hang of it, they really aren’t too bad. I first became interested in the internal workings of personal computers (PCs) in order to get more out of the family PC we had back in 1996. I wanted more RAM(which I’ll discuss in a future newsletter) so I could play better games. That’s one of the earliest memories I have of first learning what the hardware components are, what they do, and how they fit together. A PC is a jigsaw that works when you have everything plugged in the right place with the right compatibility. The first component I am going to talk about is the motherboard. The motherboard is the large, flat, plastic board that everything is plugged into. It has many plastic sockets and slots of different sizes and shapes, and many very fine metal circuits printed on the plastic. The board itself can vary in size and shape, which has pros and cons for the system as a whole. Motherboard full view with no components Over the years, I have noticed that the layouts of motherboards have constantly changed, and there are reasons for this. The locations of the components are carefully chosen to optimize the performance of the computer. When electricity moves through the circuits, it doesn’t go from place to place instantly, it takes time. When millions of calculations are being made, saving thousandths of a second by having the different components in the best spot affects the ultimate performance of the computer. Minimizing distances for faster computing isn’t the only consideration. Motherboards are also designed to help PCs stay cool, by allowing air to flow past the parts that get hot. Motherboard close up
If you are to open up a case, you typically will find the motherboard screwed into the inside of a PC case. The first blue picture is a motherboard for a standard desktop PC. I haven’t ever looked inside a Mac, so I’m not exactly sure what’s in them, but they would be very similar. If you ever get to see a motherboard of a laptop, they are similar, but have other considerations, mainly, being slim line and tightly packed to fit in the small laptop casing. I’d recommend, with supervision, that you check out inside a computer over the coming weeks, but please read the following warning: Make sure you are with an adult! Maybe even the person who bought it. Don’t just go opening any computer without permission. Computers are electrical, and can be dangerous if not treated with respect. Keep metal/conductors objects away from the inside. Opening a computer may void your warranty with the store it was purchased from, so check with them first. Try minimize the touching of all of the components inside the computer. The oils and residue on your hands can deposit on the surfaces, and hinder the performance. If you can, get some antistatic gloves before handling the hardware. And most importantly, be curious and HAVE FUN!
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When you turn on torch, have you ever wondered what is actually happening? Electricity is flowing from a power source, through the switch, to the light and back to power source. We call this a complete electric circuit. The circuit allows for electrons to flow around it, from the start, through to the light, and back to the start. Similar to a race track with race cars going around it, you must have a complete circuit for the electricity – and the cars – to make it back to the start. When you break the circuit, the electrons can’t flow, and the globe will no longer light up. The switch is the break in the circuit that allows you to control the flow of electricity. This is a simple circuit diagram that represents an electrical circuit. We always want to draw the diagram with the switch open (or off) so we can see easily where it is. In this diagram, no light would be coming from the light bulb. The flow of electricity starts from the batteries, goes to the switch, then the light bulb, and then back to the batteries. For more explanation on electric circuits, check out this clip: A lot of energy goes into getting people from A to B. When we fly aircraft, we need to use a lot of energy to oppose gravity, and get it off the ground. In an aircraft, lift is used to oppose the force of gravity. It is formed by having air pass over its wings. Thrust from the engines pushes the aircraft forward, and as a result, the air flows over the wings. In a modern day commercial aeroplane, jet engines provide the thrust required to allow flight at nearly the speed of sound. The way it works is to compress air, add fuel into the mixture, and then ignite the product. It really is an interesting process, it must have taken some ingenuity to develop. Here’s a good explanation of what’s going on inside a jet engine. Don’t you hate that feeling when your iPhone or iPad is on 1% and about to run out? Quickly darting to the charger to get it on before the device switches off entirely… We rely on electricity for so many things, though we probably don’t give too much thought about where the energy comes from. There is a need for us to be generating cleaner energy, and recent news has shown President Obama to be leading the way. A promise of reduced CO2 emissions, which will boost the need for renewable energy sources to be relied upon. Hopefully the Australian government will follow suit and push towards more renewables here too. Not only is it good for the environment, but it will rely on science to further develop its efficiency and understanding of renewable energy sources. This will create jobs, and hopefully boost interest in people selecting science as a career path to study and work in their future. From bbc.com/news
For more information on this news report, check out: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33731391 Are you starting your day with enough energy? What do you have for breakfast? I love to have toast in the morning, and the Aussie classic of Vegemite on toast is a common breakfast I, and many Australians will eat. But, is there something with more energy we could be eating to have an even better start to the day?
There are a number of different things we could put on our toast to fuel up for a busy day of school or work. Here are a number of sweet and savory ideas to help you start your day with enough energy! Ingredients you can use include: cream cheese, strawberries, pears, cheese, salmon, avocado, hummus, dates, herbs, chia seeds, egg, salami, beans, apple, prosciutto, cucumber, pomegranate, alfalfa, kiwi fruit, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, raisins, sultanas, tuna, mango, and asparagus. Just like how a car needs fuel, your body needs fuel to function really well. Remember to always eat a balanced diet, as it is your source of energy. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water, it contains no energy that we can access, but will assist in digestion and keep your body functioning healthily. |
How this beganWhat started out as a quick weekly Q&A in my school's paper newsletter has grown into an online multimedia science spot. Archives
October 2015
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