NANOTECHNOLOGY

How Small is Nano Small?

A) How many nanometers does
it take to stretch across the width
of a human hair?

B) How many times bigger is a virus than a nanometer?

C) A six foot tall person is how tall in nanometers?

D) A nanometer is to a foot as a foot is to how many miles?

E) What is stronger than steel but lighter than plastic?

- SEE ANSWERS AT BOTTOM -

"A point that should be made about the term "nanotechnology" is that it does not apply to just one discipline. Asking what nanotechnology is is like asking what technology is. One needs to be more specific, as there is technology (and nanotechnology) in every discipline and in every aspect of our lives. While "technology" is generally defined as the improvement of a certain process, procedure or product, nanotechnology is the improvement of those things via an extremely small scale."

Source - http://www.tc.umn.edu/~bull0035/nanowebsite/nano-applications.htm

“So where does Nanotechnology fit in the curriculum? On one hand, it is not Physics, Biology, or Chemistry. On the other hand, it is all of them ! Is nanotechnology a subject of its own, or is it just a way of thinking about other subjects.”

Source- http://www.nnin.org/nnin_k12teachers.html

Answers to questions above:

A) 80,000 B)75
C) 1.83 billion D) 4,800
E) Carbon Nanotubes

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION

Technologies that meet our needs without hurting the future generations needs….

"We have been using energy since the discovery of fire. Interestingly, ancient civilizations used renewable energy harnessed from the earth to do work for them. By 500 B.C., Greeks were building what we now call “passive solar” homes, and by 85 B.C., Romans were enjoying baths heated geothermally, from hot springs deep within the ground. Holland has been using windmills for centuries to grind grain used for food."

Source - http://blog.charitybuzz.com/charityBlog/?p=210

Classroom Ideas:

To engage your students' interest in sustainable energy, have them do an ecological footprint (carbon footprint) and discuss / research the impact of their choices.

Physics / Electronics:
* Power a small device using wind.
* Use an exercise bike to run a generator.
* Use a solar panel to create energy.
* Build an electric car.

Chemistry:

* Study the lifecycle and disposal of Batteries (laptop, cell phones, cars, toys).

* Analyze the make up of Biofuel.
* Research the impact of using biofuel for school / city buses.

Mathematics:
* Make predictions about the rate of change / slope and graph data on using a sustainable energy product (biofuel car / electric car) compared to an existing product (combustible engine).
NOTE: Studies show that students consistently do not understand how to read graphs and charts.

History:
* Study and discuss the types of sustainable energy that ancient civilizations used. Discuss why we moved away from using it and research the changes in history that affected this movement.

CAD Design:
* Design a hybrid car.