Mass Driver

In my follow up to my last post on how to build an electromagnet, I am going to explain how to build a mass driver, or in the scaled down version, a coil gun. To build a coil gun, you need all the same types of materials you needed for the electromagnet, just in different forms. You will need a lot of copper wire, a large battery(a car battery or two would be fine), a metal tube, and an iron projectile that fits snug in the tube. To make the coil gun(also known has a Gauss Gun after Carl Friedrich Gauss), wrap the copper wire around the tube(the tube will now be called the barrel), this creates an electromagnetic field. Attach one end of the copper wire to one of the terminals on the battery, but do not connect the other end. Place the iron projectile in one end of the barrel. To fire, place the other end of the wire onto a terminal, then after about a second, take it off. With enough copper coils and a big battery, it should fire. A mass driver is just a really big coil gun. They could be used to shoot iron projectiles over great distances, and if one is big enough, could even launch supply's into space. Be careful if you make one of these, it can be dangerous. Always take safety precautions, and never get out of hand. If you make one of these correctly, they can be really fun.

How to make an Electromagnet

An electromagnet is simply copper wire with an electric current passing through it. To make it stronger, you can wrap the wire around a magnetic material, like iron. The parts of an electromagnet are, the copper wire, piece of iron,(like an iron nail) and a power supply(battery).
To make it, take the iron bar and wrap the copper wire down and up the length of the iron bar. The loops of the copper wires create a solenoid. You can also insulate between the different layers of wire with electric type. This protects the different parts from over heating. When you are done wrapping the copper wire around the iron bar, attach one end of the wire to the positive terminal on the battery. Then attach the other end of the wire to the negative terminal of the battery. When this is done you have completed the circuit and you now have an electromagnet.

The Picture

The picture in the tower captivates me,
The cabin looks so peaceful,
I want to be there.
The snow capped peaks,
Jutting into the clear blue sky,
Makes me wonder,
Were this is at.
The meadow,
So lush and green.
I can hear the bees buzzing,
See the birds flying,
Feel the wind on my face.
The place looks so nice,
I want to be there.

Westward Expansion Speech Reflection

Did you stand up straight but stay relaxed?
Yes, I think I did. I maybe could have stand ed a little straighter.

Did you pause for a moment before you began your speech?
Yes. I paused so I could get ready, and so the class could get ready.
Did you look at your audience?
I did most of the time. I think I looked down though a couple of times, and I looked at the screen.
Did you let your facial expressions naturally reflect what you were saying?
I think I did. I could of had more expression though.
Did you use your hands?
A little. I used them a little, but not as much as I could have.


Did you speak loudly enough so that everyone could hear you?
Yes. That was one of the things that I did really well. I mumbled a little, but I spoke clearly.
Did you change your tone to show how you felt (upset, excited) about an idea or to emphasize a point?
Yes, I also did that well. When I thought something had a specific mood, then I would change my tone.
Was your speed of delivery too fast, too slow or just right?
I think it was right. I think I wanted to speak quickly, but then I would mess up.



Did you practice your speech at home before giving it?
Yes I did. I didn't practice in front of my family, but I practiced to my self.
What did you notice that you did well in your speech?
I think I explaned all the topic very well.
Describe one aspect of public speaking you will work to improve?
I will come up to the stage not as nervous as I normally am.

Face Metaphor

Eyes: Is like a wild dogs eye
Ears: Is big like an elephant's ear
Nose: Is bent like a banana
Mouth: Is like a bullfrogs
Skin: Is wrinkled like a brown paper bag
Lips: Is flat like a pancake
Cheeks: Is bulging like a balloon
Hair: Is bald like a bowling ball
Teeth: Is as extinct as the Dinosaurs
Forehead: Is big and protruding like a boulder

Frontier House Application

Frontier House
OFFICIAL APPLICATION
Family Name:

Occupations/Schools:LMS


Open answer questions (attach additional pages. All questions must be answered.):
What attracted you to this project?
The idea of living in the 1800's would be really cool.

What hobbies and interests do you have?
I like hunting, sports,and reading.

What image do you have of pioneer living?
Isolation. This can be good, and it can be bad.

What's the most challenging thing you and your family (or group) have experienced?
Family deaths.

If you were chosen what do you think you would most miss about modern life?
I would miss technology.

What qualities do you and your family have that make you suited to this experience?
We hunt a lot, and we camp.

What skills do you have that may help you?
I know a lot of survival skills. Like traps, shelters, and were to find food.

What would you hope to get out of the experience?
What it would be like to live in the 1800's.

What do you think will be the most difficult challenge of pioneer life?
The less amount of food.

What skills would you like to learn from the experience?
Building the cabins.

We'd like you to tell us:
What interests you about this project?
The fact that your almost going back in time.

Do you have any concerns about your participation?
No.

How much do you know about your family history -- do you have pioneer roots?
I know that we came from Norway.

How did you hear about Frontier House?
My School Teacher.

Intimate Poem

Dear Future Self,
You better become an Astronaut.
I want to see you fly into space.
Watch you shoot into the sky,
like a giant bullet.
So I will wait for you.
Until you launch into space,
and look over the world

This is Just to Say

I hit
two girls
in the head
with a dodge ball.

I didn't
mean to,
it just
happened.

I am
sorry.
But they should have
sucked it up.

What If?

Lakes are the earths mirrors,
when Mother Earth needs to see herself,
she can just look at Lake Superior.
If a mountain is brushing his teeth,
he will be looking at Lake Chelan.
But if the wind picks up,
it's bad luck for all of us,
for the lake
will be shattered.

Monster

My aliens name is a Monoped. He hops around on one big leg and foot, a little like a pogo stick. If you take his arms off, he looks like a big turkey drumstick. His big foot looks like a frogs, except it has only three toes and they aren't webbed. This is then connected to the short leg, and the leg is connected to the body. The Monoped has big, musculature arms. These end in hands that has one thumb and two fingers. It has no neck and it's head is a semicircle that goes right into it's neck. It's mouth is like an elephants trunk, but not as long. It has a single primary eye in the center of it's face. To either side and a little above are two secondary eyes. On either side of the Monoped's head there are gyroscopes. If you think they are ears, then your wrong. They actually keep animals balanced.(some insects have them.) These look like lollipops. On it's head it has a Trojan like helm, crest and all. It has simple pualdrons on it's shoulders. And to finish it off, it has a armor chest piece.

Geography Bee

We started the geography bee in our class the week before Christmas break. I won. It was a close match though. Christmas break came and I got a lot of awesome stuff. School started again and on Tuesday we had practice for the bee. We came up and sat down on the chairs on the stage. Mrs. Bakeman gave the rules then we went back to our classrooms. The next day, after Mr. Berquist took attendance for second period I headed to the Auditorium. All the first place winners went up and took there seats. Mr. Merrell then went over the rules again and we started. After the first two questions about five people were out. then after the third question all the other people were out except two people. A seventh grader, and ME. We started the championship round. You had to answer more questions, out of the three, then the other person to win. She answered one right, and I answered TWO. It was awesome to win. So now I'm going to take a test to qualify for the state round. The geography bee was sweet.