The diameter of an impact crater Essay Example for Free

The diameter of an impact crater Essay For example if I unreliably choose to use a constant height of 30cm without any preliminary work, a problem may arise during the experiment where there isnt a major difference between the different recordings for the varying masses, which wouldnt produce results as intended. The independent variable, mass, also needs to be covered in my preliminary work to determine the best range of values I will set it to for the actual experiment. Also this will make it easier for me and save time later as I would already be familiar with the composition of the balls. Preliminary work will also allow me to identity any arising problems at an early stage and determine the required apparatus needed to complete the experiment. Preliminary results: Varying height HEIGHT (CM) DIRECTED SURFACE MASS (G) CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean 20 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 65 64 63 64 40 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 86 86 87 86. 33 60 Fine aquarium gravel Golf ball (42) 93 93 92 92. 66 The table shows that as the height at which the ball is dropped from increases the crater size also increases. However from the preliminary work I have decided that I will keep a constant height larger than the ones tested. This is so more disperse results will be produced which will make the results clearer in order to notice any trends. Varying directed surface DIRECTED SURFACE HEIGHT (CM) MASS (G) CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean Fine aquarium gravel 50 Golf ball (42) 91 91 92 91. 33 Silver sand 50 Golf ball (42) 93 94 93 93. 33 Fine sand 50 Golf ball (42) 94 94 94 94 As can be seen from the table, there is not much difference between the crater sizes produced when the golf ball is dropped into different directed surfaces. However if my intervals of height were higher then more disperse results would most likely be produced. Varying mass MASS (G) HEIGHT (CM). DIRECTED SURFACE CRATER SIZE (MM) 1 2 3 Mean Ping pong (2. 6) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 42 42 40 41. 33 Plasticine (29. 1) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 64 62 63 63 Golf ball (42) 50 Fine aquarium gravel 92 93 92 92. 33 As can be seen from the table, mass has a significant affect on the crater size. Amongst the balls I was to experiment during my preliminary was a steel ball, however initial testing showed that the ball sunk right into the directed surface which would have made it difficult to measure accurately. So I replaced it with plasticine, and I discovered that the size of the plasticine could be altered in order to vary the mass. So I was able to alter the size to match a similar mass of a steel ball. The usefulness and findings of my preliminary results, in accordance to the actual experiment, can be found in the variable table below: Dependent Variable value how measured Crater size Centimetre (cm) Recording should be repeated twice Vernier caliper Independent Variable Mass Grams (g) 5-35 Electric scale Control Variables Height Centimetre (cm) 100 constant Metre ruler Directed surface Fine aquarium gravel constant As mentioned earlier, using plasticine I am able to alter the mass to a range required. This is primarily the reason why I have chosen to use plasticine constantly throughout the experiment. By means of altering the mass for each recording I will be able to pre-set the intervals by 5g as required. Whereas if I were to use different balls I wouldnt be able to present a range of results through varying ranges. METHOD: I am now able to verify the apparatus needed to complete the investigation: Large plastic tray   Fine aquarium gravel to fill the tray   Plasticine Meter ruler to measure height   Two stand, bosses clamps to hold metre ruler and plasticine ball   Standard ruler used for leveling of aquarium gravel. Electric scale to measure mass of plasticine   Vernier caliper to measure crater size   Safety goggles (optional)   Set square (optional) Below is a diagram showing how the apparatus should be set up: The following steps will need to be carried out in order to conduct an accurate and more importantly successful experiment: 1. Begin by setting out the apparatus as shown in the diagram above. It is required that 1/3 of the plastic tray is filled with the provided fine aquarium gravel. 2. Ensure that the boss of the clamp is positioned directly above the surface so an attached ball will fall directly below onto the surface. 3. Knowing the first range of mass is 5g, using the plasticine adjust the size until the mass totals 5g on the electric scale. 4. Tighten the plasticine ball to the boss of the clamp ensuring that it is positioned at 50cm height. A set square can be used to ensure the ball is placed at a straight angle. 5. Using the standard ruler provided smooth the fine aquarium gravel so it is level. 6. Now ensuring that the plasticine is positioned at the correct height (50cm), it is placed at a straight angle and the surface is smooth, loosen the boss and the plasticine should fall onto the surface using the force of only gravity. 7. Without putting any pressure on the ball, remove it from the surface. 8. Finally using a vernier caliper measure the diameter of the created crater. The results of this should be recorded into the results table. 9. In order to produce the most accurate results possible, repeat stages 3-8 twice more using the same mass of plasticine. However it is required the mass of plasticine is measured again as this may have changed during the first recording. 10. Repeat the whole experiment again but stage 3 should be altered so the mass of plasticine is 5g heavier than the one before. This procedure should continue until you have recorded final results for 35g. Safety is not a major factor to take into consideration. However it is optional to wear safety goggles in order to avoid a rare occasion of any fine aquarium gravel coming into contact with eyes. And as usual general safety will need to be carried out by placing bags away from the area used for the experiment and ensure the desk is cleared of all books and stationary.  Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel. Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel Fine aquarium gravel   Fine aquarium gravel   found that altering the size of the plasticine to match the required range was time consuming and at times recordings had to be repeated as the mass wasnt accurate. However using plasticine gave me additional independent control than I would have had if I used a range of different balls.

Themes in Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin Essay -- American Literature

Themes in Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin After reading the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin, I find there are two major themes that Baldwin is trying to convey, suffering and irony. The first theme that he brings out and tries to get the reader to understand is the theme of suffering. The second theme that the author illustrates is the theme of irony. James Baldwin writes about two African-American brothers growing up in Harlem, a black ghetto in New York, during the 1950's. During this time black people were forced to live in a world of prejudice, discrimination, poverty and suppression. The life of a black person was very difficult; many opportunities afforded to whites were not afforded to blacks. Sonny and his brother lived in the projects and had many obstacles to overcome that white people didn't have to. Sonny chose music to outwardly express his suffering, his brother chose to bottle it up and keep it inside, but this is the common thread they both shared. Suffering is also shown in the story when Baldwin says "it came to me that what we both were seeking through our separate cab windows was that part of ourselves which had been left behind" (P 47). I think this quote means that both Sonny and his older brother want to retrieve some of their past so that it can help them cope with what has happened in their lives. If Sonny and his brother can both cope with what has happened in their lives and get over it, I think t they both can start moving forward and putting this behind them. I feel having Sonny's brother narrate the story in the first person is Baldwin's way of telling us that Sonny's brother is also suffering but inside, unlike Sonny who takes drugs and sings the blues. Sonny's ... ...s and work together to form a loving relationship. In conclusion, the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin brings out two main themes: irony and suffering. You can actually feel the pain that Baldwin's characters experience; and distinguish the two different lifestyles of siblings brought up in the same environment. The older brother remaining nameless is a fabulous touch that really made me want to read on. This really piqued my interest and I feel it can lead to many discussions on why this technique was used. I really enjoyed this story; it was a fast and enjoyable reading. Baldwin keeps his readers thinking and talking long after they have finished reading his stories. His writing technique is an art, which very few, if any, can duplicate. Works Cited: Baldwin, James. "Sonny's Blues" in Vintage Baldwin. New York: Vintage, 2004.

Explain and Assess Descartes Trademark Argument

Explain and Assess Descartes Trademark Argument Descartes Trademark Argument came about when Descartes was in the process of trying to build up the knowledge he himself can know a priori (without experience) through pure reason. When doing this be began to think about where his idea of God came from and eventually Descartes concluded that the idea of God comes from God himself and he explained this through the Trademark Argument. The argument is an a priori argument meaning before experience.This sort of argument is the type that philosophers usually prefer because, unlike a posteriori or after experience, the evidence is not so open to interpretation because anyone could dispute the true meaning of an experience but its far more difficult to do that with pure reasoning. The origins and foundations of the Trademark Argument lie in the Causal Adequacy Principle. This states that any cause of something must have at least equal or greater properties than its effect, so in short it means that every cause must be sufficient enough to create the effect.For example, to break a window, the cause must have enough power in the speed and weight of the object in order for the window to shatter. So in this case a fly wouldn’t cause the window to shatter just by flying into because it does not possess greater or equal properties however a flying brick will possess these properties so the window can shatter. Descartes then applied this theory with out ideas. Ideas must be caused by something, but this something must have at least as much reality as the idea themselves.A complex way of saying this would be â€Å"Something (A) cannot exist unless it is produced by something that contains either formally or eminently everything to be found in (A). † To possess something formally is to possess equal properties while eminently is to possess properties greater. Let’s look at this with an example. Ideas of Angels can be made up ourselves just by using our ideas of material things and God. The idea of Angels, which is far greater than any sort of human, but not as great as God, can be thought of as a lesser version of God himself.Descartes was sure that these ideas existed in his own mind however he could not work out if they represented anything else in the real world even if he is led to think that by his instincts. Descartes believed that his ideas had degrees of â€Å"objective reality† so what they represent can be measured in terms of perfection. These ideas can’t be more perfect or contain more reality than the things that caused them so we cant be the cause of our ideas of God because we aren’t perfect enough to be able to do it even if we are the cause of other ideas such as substance which we cant be sure exists outside our own minds.So, if we can’t be the cause of our idea of God, who can? This can only be answered in one way for there is only one being, according to Descartes, that has at least as muc h perfection as God and that is God himself. So for us to have this idea of God there must have been a God to put it in us in the first place. As Descartes described it, it is â€Å"the mark of a craftsmen stamped on his work. † This can be simplified by using a series of points to structure the argument.The cause of anything must be at least as perfect as its effectMy ideas must be caused by somethingI am imperfectMy idea of God is of a perfect being so†¦I cannot be the cause of my idea of God and†¦Only a perfect being could cause such an idea so†¦God (a perfect being) placed the idea within us and exists.That is the argument in its simplest form. Over the many years since Descartes revealed his findings in his work â€Å"meditations† there have been many supporters and backers of the argument, most of whom are rationalists who as explained before, like the a priori style of the argument.Other supporters we can assume could be major religions for exampl e, such as Islam which would share the same view as Descartes that our idea of God is innate the implanted within us by God himself which can also be seen as a major strength of the argument. So, Descartes believes he has proved that in order for us to have the idea of God as a supremely perfect being it must be innate within us and must have been placed in us by God himself. However there are many critics to this argument which must be considered in order to assess the argument.Firstly, many philosophers have encountered problems with the Causal Adequacy Principle. Descartes considered this principle true for many reasons, one of the main ones we think that he believed in was you cant get more out of the effect than what was already in the cause, otherwise it would be something for nothing. This however may not be true because there are examples in the world which we can see as having more in its effect than what was in the cause. One of which is can we not light a large bonfire ju st with the aid of one match? Also can we start an avalanche with just the sound waves from one whisper?There are many other more scientific examples such as Chaos Theory, Quantum Physics and also Evolution. In the case of evolution, single celled organisms evolve into more complex beings just through the passage of time, once all life on earth was just single cell organisms but now there are millions of different species all more complex than what came before. Hume also criticised the causal adequacy principle by saying we cannot determine the cause of anything by looking just at the effect. Can we know what caused a window to shatter before inspecting the evidence to find the cause within?All we know it must have been big enough with enough power behind to smash through the window but we cant even know this a priori. Hume said that we learn a posteriori that for a window to shatter it must have been caused by a large object with lots of power behind it. From this Hume seems to sug gest that to know what actually caused our idea of God we much observe its cause. Hume also said that even if the principle is correct then how could Descartes assume that the principle can just be transferred from physical things to ideas without it changing?However there are philosophers who have defended the principle stating that lots of rules have exemptions and why, if a rule does need exemptions which were not originally set out, is it immediately untrue. Things such as evolution, chaos theory and my examples of lighting a large bonfire with a single match and causing an avalanche with a whisper may just be exemptions to the rule however it still applies to many other things. Some philosophers have also criticised Descartes for defining his idea of God and an incoherent God. For example, Descartes describes God as being Omnipotent, meaning that he is all powerful.This would seem to satisfy many peoples ideas of God however on close examination it is indeed incoherent. To illu strate this I shall use a paradox which undermines God’s power. Can God create a rock that he himself could not lift? Either way one thing he can not do for if he can create the rock then he can’t lift it but if he cant create the rock there is still something he cant do. This paradox suggests Descartes idea of God is flawed and imperfect so a perfect being can not be the only possible cause of the idea according to the causal adequacy principle.From this we can deduce that its far more likely that Descartes himself created this imperfect idea rather than a perfect being. The final criticism I shall look as it one formed collectively by the arch-rationalists: empiricists. This group of philosophers would consider themselves to rival rationalism as they believe that the mind at birth is blank and we gain all our ideas from experience, not reason or innate ideas. Hume, one of the leading empiricists, amongst others argued that we observe qualities in other people and so recognise there are degrees of certain qualities such as knowledge, power and benevolence.With these ideas in our head from the experiences we have had of other people, we can then extend these qualities until we arrive at infinite knowledge, power and benevolence. This way we have arrived at the idea of these things joining and making a perfect being with infinite qualities however we have arrived through it in a much less perfect way than through God. If this is correct then the origin of our idea is not innate and certainly not caused by God but just us manipulating what we have experienced to suit our needs as imaginative human beings. In conclusion there are many strengths and weaknesses to Descartes Trademark Argument.It is a compelling argument to follow because of the way it is structured and how it sets out to explain out idea of God in an untainted way, free of what can be misleading experiences and just work it out through the power of reason however once examining the po tential problems that have arisen since Descartes time it would be difficult to believe the argument is the truth, and for myself it is incredibly difficult to believe in it knowing that there is an equal and possibly more valid reason why we have an idea of God, as explained by the empiricists.

Americas Dark Days The Great Depression - 727 Words

America weeps in tears as she witnesses the destruction that is unfolding across the nation. In 1933 four thousand banks alone are shut down because of their financial dept. As people suffer from poverty president hoover sits back and does nothing to try to help the nation. Black Tuesday in 1929 cause thousands of people end up homeless because they can not keep up with their bills and taxes. Jim J. Braddock and his family is one of many struggling families to keep basic needs for the family and will do anything to pay for the family expenses. The great depression creates turmoil in america and makes work impossible to get. â€Å"The Roaring Twenties† stock market was more bull market than a bear market by a landslide. In this occasion people were â€Å"buying on credit† instead of paying up front. People were led to believe that the stocks were more profitable than what they actually were. 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