Recent Changes

In designing the experiment, we had to use creativity and innovation to apply our scientific knowledge to the real world. Below is the background information we found:
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.12_AM.png}
We designedAs we wrote our experimentprocedure, we really had to think about what it really meant for a fuel to be "efficient". We finally decided on a procedure testing the amount of energy released per mole of the fuel. However, we remained open-minded in our analysis. Greater burning efficiency does not necessarily mean greater efficiency as a fuel in the real world. In the real world, many other factors are involved, such as how abundant a fuel is, or how accessible it is to fuel companies.
Simply knowing the science isn't enough--you have to think outside the box to make use of your knowledge!
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.21_AM.png}

{titration_burette_CS.jpg}
Often times accuracy and precision in our experiments is sacrificed for time and impulsiveness. My labmates and I finished our titration experiment extremely quickly. We became too impatient with the stopcock and, rather than letting the vinegar leave the burette drop by drop, released the vinegar in quick spurts, greatly endangering the accuracy of our results. However, after calculations, we quickly realized how our impatience had ruined our results--our trials were not all within the required 0.1 mL apart from each other. Having realized this, we had to set up our experiment all over again.
The second time around, we had learned our lesson. We didn't even allow the vinegar to go drop by drop--we would take distilled water and wash in the drops one by one, until we finally received accurate results.
The titration experiment truly showed just how vital accuracy is in an experiment--even 1 extra drop can turn your experiment into a failed one.

For the energetics lab, we were presented with a very relevant real-life problem: the problem of sustainable energy. Instead of diving straight into the chemistry and scientific processes in this experiment, we were given the opportunity to research this experiment in the context of modern technology. As we learned more about alcohol fuels, we were given the task of evaluating whether methanol or ethanol would be a more efficient fuel.
innovation to apply our scientific knowledge to the real world. Below is the background information we found:
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.12_AM.png}
We designed our experiment
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.21_AM.png}

{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.12_AM.png}For the energetics lab, we were presented with a very relevant real-life problem: the problem of sustainable energy. Instead of diving straight into the chemistry and scientific processes in this experiment, we were given the opportunity to research this experiment in the context of modern technology. As we learned more about alcohol fuels, we were given the task of evaluating whether methanol or ethanol would be a more efficient fuel.
In designing the experiment, we had to use creativity and innovation to
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.12_AM.png}
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.21_AM.png}

a {titration_burette_CS.jpg}

a {Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.12_AM.png}
{Screen_shot_2012-03-24_at_10.50.21_AM.png}

a