Sixth Week Assignments due on Oct. 12:

1. On-line Discussion: Topic 6 Energy II:  Nuclear Power.

A major world wide energy source is nuclear power and supplies about 20% of the electricity in this country and considerably more in other countries.  It is one possible solution to reducing carbon dioxide and burning less fossil fuels.  There are a number of problems either real or with public negative opinions which have been preventing further development of nuclear power in this country for the last 30 years.

The report of the week will be on various types of nuclear plants and the issue question will be whether to build more nuclear power plants.  This might be fun to do as I have assigned “roles” so this will be more in the form of a role play.

2. Home Lab # 3:  This week you need to get started early but actually the entire lab is completed from graphics and info given online. The HTML version, HOME Lab # 3 - Absorption of Solar Radiation - Greenhouse Effect. Be sure to look at the HTML version, since there is a pre-lab on-line involving different types of solar radiation, changes in energy, and the Greenhouse effect. This can only be completed using the online version to bring up graphics. There are also a couple of diagrams for the lab set-up. There is an optional extra credit part if you want to do something similar at home.

Here is the Lab menu page that has other versions of the lab.

3. For those that like to work ahead as time permits, EXAM # 2 on the exam menu page is now available on-line and is due by Oct. 19.

4. Rain!!! have you got your pH samples yet? You will need them by April 6 for Lab #4. No excuses for not having the required number of samples.  This week is a good time to go outside, collect a rain sample, and then measure the pH using your acid rain test strips. You may also be out and about and measure the pH in various natural bodies of water - lakes, ponds, streams.

See the lab for details, since you need 6 samples for full credit, you can not wait until the last minute to do this.