Abstract This paper attempts to explain the nature of the solarsystem. Starting with the inner solarsystem, the paper explores the make-up of the sun, central to the system, followed by Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The paper then explores what is known as the outersystem, beginning with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The paper then offers a three-point conclusion, beginning with the sun and then dividing into the outer and inner solarsystems.
From the Paper "Many theories have been formulated by scientists and scholars that help explain the nature and origin of the solar system, which gave birth to the planets in it, which includes the planet Earth. Among these formation theories, the most widely-accepted theory is the Nebular Theory of Solar System Formation. This theory states that the solar system was formed as a result of the collapse of an interstellar cloud, which eventually became the solar system and all the planets and elements within it. This space phenomenon happened 4.7 billion years ago, and as the interstellar cloud collapsed under the force of gravity, it rotates at a fast rate, eventually forming a ball of hot gas and dust, called the protosun."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the solarsystem is a unique combination of many different types of planets, which has many different things that it can offer to humans. However, the the writer points out, planet Earth offers the most beneficial climate and diversity for human life. The writer notes that many of the other planets are entirely devoid of life. The writer discusses that despite the fact that there are eight planets in our solarsystem, only Mars (other than Earth) seems to be capable of containing human life at all. The writer maintains that Mars has many of the requisites that are needed to sustain human life, such as the possibility of water, small amounts of oxygen, and a possibility of life. The writer concludes that if humans were to ever colonize another planet in the solarsystem, Mars would be the most intelligent choice.
From the Paper "Apart from the cold at its poles (which is far more extreme than Earth's), Mercury shares very little in common with Earth. It would be very difficult for humans to inhabit Mercury. The temperature extremes, the lack of water, and the lack of a protective atmosphere would quickly decimate human life attempting to live there. Current space craft could succeed in landing humans on Mercury, but it is unlikely that there would be a way to maintain proper oxygen levels for survival.
"Venus is another planet that is very inhospitable. Yet, for several reasons, it is known as the sister planet to Earth: Venus is similar to Earth's size (95% its diameter, 80% of its mass. Both planets do not have many craters, which points to young surfaces."
Tags:solar, system, temperature, conditions, human, life
Abstract This paper begins with a definition and description of the planets within our solarsystem and then goes on to discuss extra-solar planets and the ongoing search for them. The paper describes some of the technology and techniques employed in this search, a discovery of an extra-solar planet by scientists at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, and recent advances in locating extra-solar planetary objects.
From the Paper "The word planet means "wanderer" in Greek. It derives from the fact that planets within our solar system seem generally to wander eastward about the so-called ?fixed stars across the zodiac constellations (Kolb). There is no clear consensus precisely defining what constitutes a planet, as distinguished from brown dwarfs, which are the material remnants of burned out ancient stars whose masses where too small to form white dwarfs or collapse completely, forming black holes in the manner that stars much larger than ten solar masses, or ten times the mass of our sun (Hawking)."
Abstract This paper explains that significant advances in scientific knowledge has refuted many misconceptions about the solarsystem but these mistaken beliefs persist especially among students between the ages of 11 and 14. The author stresses the importance of correcting their misconceptions as they advance through school so that they can be prepared for the more advanced high school and college science and astronomy courses. The paper indicates that using lab studies, experiments and continued learning outside of the classroom are all measures that can prove useful in replacing misconceptions about the solarsystem with fact.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Some of the Misconceptions
Literature Review
Conclusion
From the Paper "Concepts related to the force of gravity were demonstrated with hands-on activities utilizing a rubber sheet to represent the "fabric" of space and spherical objects to represent various celestial bodies. Demonstrations of planetary motions, both revolutions and rotations, involved the hands-on use of Styrofoam planets and moons, as well as a stationary light bulb to represent the sun. The students went through a five day class to refute the misconceptions and then the same questions were asked to determine if they held onto the misconceptions or replaced the knowledge in their minds with scientific facts."
Abstract This paper examines why Earth is the only planet in our solarsystem capable of sustaining life and how it is the only planet that has plentiful liquid water and an atmosphere that can protect the planet from the harmful ultra-violet rays of the Sun. The paper attempts to determine what makes Earth so special by using comparative planetology to understand what makes Earth a habitat for life and what makes it so different from the other planets in our solarsystem.
From the Paper "If we were to look at Earth as a starting point to compare the other eight planets in our solar system, the first thing we notice from space is the magnificent blue color and swirls of clouds. This is an inviting sight and is the first hint at why life is found on our planet. Earth has many features that the other planets do not have. Earth has many features that make it unique. Earth is made of rock and metal. It is one of the four terrestrial planets and has the largest Moon in the solar system. Earth has abundant volcanic activity because of its size in comparison to the other terrestrial planets. With the abundance of water and oxygen, Earth's atmosphere stays in balance and is able to continue supporting life. The liquid oceans help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the presence of a stratosphere helps protect the surface from the deadly ultra-violet rays of the Sun. Another unique feature of Earth is plate tectonics. Plate tectonics acts as giant conveyor belt that moves the mantle of Earth around, which constantly changes the look of our planet. Although Earth's interior needs much more exploration, scientists can tell about the composition of the deepest regions of Earth by using seismic waves following an earthquake. By reading this seismic data carefully, scientists get a better understanding of interior Earth."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in the not so distant past, schoolchildren all over the world learned that the planet farthest away from the sun in our solarsystem was Pluto. The writer relates that they learned mnemonic devices to remember the names of all nine planets, made models and mobiles, all with Pluto orbiting at the very end of their dioramas. The writer then describes that in August 2006, after many years of intense debate, astronomers declared that Pluto was officially not a planet. The writer maintains that perhaps the real question about the usefulness of the new definition of planet will not revolve around Pluto, however dearly the old model may still be cherished in our culture, but how the definition is useful in classifying new solarsystems. The writer also points out that the question of roundness and what is meant by clearing one's orbit and other points of contention will continue to generate lively debate within the scientific community and in schools, whatever Pluto's official status.
From the Paper "To say that Pluto is suddenly not a planet though, of course, is somewhat incorrect, as Pluto has remained unchanged, rather it is the scientific definition and astronomer's perceptions (and voting patterns within the organization) that have shifted."
"Surprisingly, until 2006, astronomy textbooks never had a single, universally agreed-upon definition for the word planet, as the IAU had never established exactly what constitutes a planet, and set specific scientific standards. However, defining a planet, or any astronomical body is always extremely difficult, as the definition must be universally applicable, to all solar systems, not just our own."
Abstract This paper provides a full explanation about the way in which solar energy is created. The paper looks at the process in details and then discusses what benefits solar energy may have in the future.
From the Paper "Solar Energy comes from Solar cells which today are mostly made of silicon, one of the most common elements on Earth. The crystalline silicon solar cell was one of the first types to be developed and it is still the most common type in use today. They do not pollute the atmosphere and they leave behind no harmful waste products. Photovoltaic cells work effectively even in cloudy weather and unlike solar heaters, are more efficient at low temperatures. They do their job silently and there are no moving parts to wear out. It is no wonder that one marvels on how such a device would function. To understand how a solar cell works, it is necessary to go back to some basic atomic concepts. In the simplest model of the atom, electrons orbit a central nucleus, composed of protons and neutrons."
Tags: alternative, cells, electricity, energy, fuels, photovoltaic, power, solar
Abstract This paper explores methods used by astronomers to measure the universe, the dual nature of light, origins of the universe and the solarsystem and types of stars. It also discusses planets and other celestial bodies.
From the Paper "Another way to measure the universe is using shadows. Some astronomers observe ?dark silhouettes cast by distant clusters of galaxies (Glanz,1999)? against the ?cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) (Glanz, 1999)? The glow from this radiation provides a back light that helps measure the size of the shadows. The CMBR was formed back when the cosmos were only 100,000 to 300,000 years old. Because of the CMBRs? age, ?everything in the visible universe lies in front (Glanz, 1999)? of it. When the radiation started out, it had hot temperatures due to the universe just being formed. However, as the universe expanded, the temperatures cooled. This gives astronomers additional information to aid them in their measurements."
Abstract This paper discusses how the Earth compared to the sun, its moon, and the nine planets in its solarsystem is extremely unique. Not only does it have unique surface features, but its weather, atmosphere, and size is original when compared to other bodies in space. Then, through an examination of the different properties of the other celestial bodies, the paper also attempts to show how the Earth has similarities to the nine planets when describing how the planets and their atmospheres were formed.
From the Paper "The Earth is the third planet from the Sun being about 93 million miles from the Sun and in one planetary year circles the Sun 365 days of 24 hours each. Its diameter is 7,926 miles and has one moon. Earth is the densest planet in our solar system. It has an iron core, a mantle, and crust with an atmosphere made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. The temperature of Earth ranges from -127 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Antarctica, to 136 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Africa. The surface features of Earth consist of mountains, faults, volcanoes, cliffs, oceans, rivers, and ice caps. The hydrosphere is the water on or near the Earth's surface. The Earth is unique among the planets because 70% of its surface is covered by oceans. The main difference between Earth and other planets is its ability to support life. Vegetation and organisms are prominent all over the globe. This is possible because of the climate, atmosphere, and general living conditions. "
Abstract This paper examines the difficulties of converting solar energy to useful energy that people can use. The paper begins by discussing the costliness of the process of converting solar energy and then discusses how vast amounts of space are necessary to collect sunlight. The paper also examines the different materials and technology necessary to make the conversion, which are also costly. Lastly the paper addresses the issue of getting people to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate the more energy efficient, solar powered appliances.
From the Paper "Scientists at General Motors in 1949 were working on ways to turn plant energy into force that could run cars. They wanted to turn solar power into horsepower. The bomb at Hiroshima had been dropped and compared to the research on atomic powered cars, solar energy was much safer and did not require shielding car passengers from the same types of radiation. The scientists estimated that a radiation shield would weigh twenty-five tons, so energy from plants seemed a worthwhile area to investigate. John Campbell, chief of the organic chemistry department at General Motors explained, 'In a single day the average amount of solar energy falling on one acre of ground in the temperate zone is equivalent to 700 gallons of gasoline, or enough to operate the average automobile for a year.' Plants do not absorb much of the solar energy that reaches the earth. Campbell mentions, 'in performing the miracle of photosynthesis, green plants generally absorb less than 1 per cent of the solar energy which strikes their leaves.' C.F. Kettering, also a scientist at General Motors, was working on ways to harness solar energy. Kettering concern was that 'in order to produce significant mechanical power from solar energy, we are going to have to devise greatly improved means of converting solar energy into useful power.'"
Tags: science disadvantages, plant energy, photovoltaic cells, sun, solar power
Abstract This paper examines two distinct inventions: light bulbs and solar energy. First it discusses the incandescent light bulb and its inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, and explore the differences between incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs. Then the long history and increasing importance of solar power and its modern applications are discussed.
From the Paper "On December 31st, 1879, after years of work and many experiments, Thomas Alva Edison gave the first demonstration of the incandescent light bulb at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. He was assisted in his invention by Francis Upton, a Princeton Graduate who supplied the mathematical and theoretical expertise that Edison lacked. This invention established Edison's reputation as the world's greatest inventor. Before his invention, electric arc lighting was used to produce light. In this lighting system, lights were connected in a series circuit, so if one failed, the rest of the bulbs on the circuit also failed. (First Public Demonstration?)
Edison was able to spend so much time and money on the invention of the light bulb because of his reputation as an inventor. He had the support of financiers such as J.P. Morgan and the Vanderbilts. They established the Edison Light Company and loaned Edison $30,000 for research and development. (First Public Demonstration?)"
Abstract This paper discusses solar energy in terms of natural resource economics and relates it to the concept of free market environmentalism. The paper also explains the benefits of using solar power as an energy source as opposed to fossil fuels.
From the Paper "Since the oil embargo, oil price increases have been a concern for many nations, especially for the United States. Today's high fuel prices speak to the imperative to find alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. Solar power is one such potentially viable alternative. Why use solar power? In addition to its value as an environmentally clean source of energy, solar power has economic value in terms of being a renewable resource that can be controlled by the nation or region using..."
Abstract This paper gives a sample systems plan for a fitness center that wishes to improve its information and communications technology by purchasing hardware and software. The purpose of the plan is to enable The Fitness Center to obtain competitive advantage over other fitness clubs by providing a system to help members plan a fitness program to meet their particular needs. Specific jobs and teams are described as part of the plan, as are the various stages of implementation. The paper also includes a list of system development guidelines that are to be followed during the project. The paper concludes by mentioning that the plan has support from the staff at The Fitness Center and they intend to let the public know about the new system.
Outline:
Introduction
Purpose and Goal of the Fitness Center Information System Roles and Responsibilities of the Fitness Center Information System Roles and Responsibilities of the PMO and Project Team
Project Team Leader
Senior Developers
Developers
Quality Assurance Analyst
Database Administrator
Other Roles
Systems Development Methodology
The Fitness Center Information System (TFCIS) Project Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Systems Investigation
Systems Analysis and Design
Systems Construction and Development
Systems Implementation, Review and Maintenance Schedule
Milestones and Activities
Systems Development Guidelines
Conclusion
Marketing Activities and Future Plans
From the Paper "In line with TFCIS Project, the management decided to create a Project Management Office (PMO) to be headed by the Director of Marketing acting as the Project Sponsor and he will assign one of his supervisors to act as the Project Manager. The roles and responsibilities of the PMO is to "provide project management support functions and is responsible for the direct management (Project Management Institute, Inc., 2004)" of the TFCIS Project. The Fitness Center hired the services of one of the city's top software development companies and the software development company directly reports to the PMO. To ensure understanding of roles, responsibilities and deliverables, the following are the software development company's Project Team's duties, responsibilities and deliverables...."
Tags:systems, administration, computers, fitness, center
Abstract This paper examines how nearly every institution of higher education has some form of an honor system with varying degrees of student participation, predetermined harshness and procedure, and sets of guidelines governing student conduct and integrity. It employs the interpretive paradigm as an approach to understanding the motivations and actions of James Madison University's honor system's most intimate agents. It attempts to show that what we learn about the agents of the honor system is most telling when drawn into sharper relief with less intimate, less permanent, more occasional agents, such as witnesses, professors, and defendants. It focuses on the culture of the JMU honor system's more intimate agents and on the more attenuated participants and argues that the honor system's internal agents embrace a culture of guilt, whereby agents weave into their framework a stronger presumption of guilt for accused parties than those external to the system and a greater taste for severity of punishment.
From the Paper "Cheating is prevalent at American colleges and universities. Rutgers University professor Donald L. McCabe is an expert in the field of academic integrity. Research that he conducts published in The Chronicle of Higher Education indicates that nearly 75 percent of students at top colleges and universities have cheated at least once in their adult academic career. (The Chronicle, Oct. 15, 1999). Unless James Madison University is substantially different in some relevant respect from the compilation of schools McCabe's evidence is based upon, there is no reason to think that the rate of cheating at JMU is a substantial deviation from what McCabe reports the national rates to be. (This of course is if we relax any potential criticism of McCabe's internal validity for the time being)."
Abstract This document is a design proposal created according to the requirements of the system requirements specification document for an emergency dispatching system for the State of Victoria. The design proposal details how the system will log incoming calls to police, fire, ambulance and state emergency services, send dispatching requests to various services, monitor resource allocation and status and provide complete auditing facilities. The paper is written largely in point form and has many graphics.
Table of Contents:
1. Overall Description of the Proposed Design
1.1. Incident Calls and Information Gathering
1.2. Resource Allocation
1.3. Communication With Emergency Units
1.4. Auditing System 1.5. Conclusion
2. Constraints
3. Functional Requirements
3.1 Requirement - Incoming Call Screen
3.2 Requirement - Timer Initiation and Ending
3.3 Requirement - Dispatch Unit Screen
3.4 Requirement - Submit Incident Report to Auditing Subsystem
3.5 Requirement - Secure Access to System 3.6 Requirement - Description of Incident
3.7 Requirement - Cancel Incident Response
3.8 Requirement - Search and View Incident Log Records
3.9 Requirement - Issue Monthly Summary Report of Operations
3.10 Requirement - Status of Mobile Unit
3.11 Requirement - Communications
3.12 Requirement - Restore Unit to Operational Status
3.13 Requirement - Estimated Cost of Incident
3.14 Requirement - Interface to First Aid Databases
3.15 Requirement - Advise Hospital of Organ Donors
8. Structure Diagram
4. Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)
4.1 Context Diagram
4.2 Diagram 0
4.3 Diagram 1
4.4 Diagram 1
4.5 Diagram 1
4.5 Diagram 1
5. Screen Designs
5.1 Incoming Call Screen
5. 2 Dispatch Screen
6. Hardware Requirements
7. Data Migration
8. Estimates
9. Estimated Costs and Benefits of the New System 9.1 Hardware and Software Costs
9.2 Labour/Manpower Costs
9.3 Tangible Benefits of the New System 9.4 Intangible Benefits of the New System 10. Test Plan
From the Paper "The new system is composed of 4 sub-systems which provide a complete and accurate response to emergency incidents, both in the field and in the no less important realm of auditing. The auditing system is of prime importance to the Victorian Government as by law it must assess the Emergency Services to ascertain if they are functioning in an efficient manner and at a suitable level."
Tags: allocation, auditing, design, information, resource, response, system
