Topsoil Niches

This is a picture of topsoil I found in my backyard. It plays many important niches, or roles, in my backyard community. For example, it provides nutrients for my garden where I grow many vegetables in the summer. Moreover, it provides a home for many worms, which enrich the soil. All in all, topsoil is very important to not only humans but worms as well. It helps produce different types of foods and provides shelter for annelids which poduce fertile soil.

I got my information from www.ehow.com/about_5199889_importance-topsoil.html

Picture taken by JetsFan21

Sun-Abiotic Factor

What would life on Earth be like if there wasn't a sun? Well, there wouldn't be any life. The sun is a very important abiotic factor (a non-living feature of an ecosystem that limits population size). First, the sun is essential during the process of photosynthesis, when plants make their own food. Without the sun, all plants would die. Many animals such as herbivores, omnivores and humans would perish without plants because they provide food and oxygen. The sun also creates a suitable environment for us to live in, not too hot or not too cold. It also regulates temperature, precipitation, air mass movement and radiation. These things are all vital to our life on Earth.

Picture take by JetsFan21

I got information from www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=37

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_the_sun_an_important_abiotic_factor_for_all_organisms

www.biology-online.org/6/3_abiotic_factors.htm

Storm Project

Are you interested in learning more about tornadoes? Visit this website!

http://www.yellowscience.webs.com/

Lit. Poems

"Family"

Friends

Amiable, generous

Loving, caring, sharing

Selfless, devoted, Papa, togetherness

Breathing, playing, whispering

Friendship, safety

Accordion

"Hans Hubermann"

Hans Hubermann

Generous, loyal, dedicated

Who loves to spend time with Liesel

Who feels guilty about Erik Vandenburg

Who needs his cigarettes

Who shares his musical talent with his family

Who fears the revealing of Max

Who'd like to see a peaceful world

Who dreams of a successful future for Liesel

Who ends up dying in a raid

Cloud Lab

We did a lab in science class, and now I have a better understanding of how clouds forn. In this lab, a ringstan about two feet high supported a tin can full of ice cubes. Under the tin can was a teapot full of water. My group turned on the teapot and watched as the steam, or water vapor, was produced from the pot. The steam rose and condensed onto the tinpan since it was a cool surface. After a few minutes, the tin pan started raining! I gained a lot of knowledge from this activity, but here are the top three interesting facts. Firstly, clouds need to attach to something in the air, such as dust particles, in order to stay aloft. In this lab, the tin can represented the dust particles since that is where the water droplets condensed. Secondly, in order for a cloud to produce rain, the water droplets need to be large enough in order for them to fall out of the cloud. I watched as a bunch of tiny condensed cloud droplets gathered, and formed a large raindrop. Thirdly, the process of the teapot producing water vapor is called evaporation. This is how the steam rose to the tin can in the first place. I further researched this topic, and discovered two more intriguing pieced of information. Cloud droplets are approximately one thousand times smaller than a raindrop, having a diameter of about ten thousandths of an inch. Secondly, the largest cloud is six mile high in the sky and can hold up to 500,000 tons of water! This cloud is known as the cumulnimbus cloud. In conclusion, I enjoyed this lab and I have a better understanding of how clouds form. I think it is important to know about weather because you experience it every day. The next time it rains, I'll know that the cloud droplets gathered and the cloud can no longer sustain the water, therefore it will rain. I'm excited to share my knowledge with other people.

Citations: www.funshun.com/amazing-facts/clouds-weather-facts.html

Picture- www.enchantedlearning.com/cgifs/clouds.GIF

Temperature Interactive

After visiting http://funphysics.jpl.nasa.gov/adventures/temperature-game.html, I knew a lot more about temperature than before. Did you know that….

Boiling Point = 212ºF
Death Valley = 134ºF
Human Body = 98.6ºF
Room Temperature = 68ºF
Freezing = 32ºF
Mars = -81ºF
Antarctica = -128ºF
Saturn = -229ºF
Space = -454.54ºF
SuperFluid Helium = -455.76ºF

Heat plays a major role in atomic or molecular motion, Molecules move rapidly in a gas or liquid when it’s hot and slower if it’s cool. Moreover, atoms vibrate when for a solid. Lastly, there are three different units of temperature
-Celsius
-Fahrenheit
-Kelvin

Picture from http://blog.wattzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/temperature-scales1.png

Convection Popcorn Lab

Have you ever wondered why popcorn pops? Magically, people put these small, brown kernels into the microwave for a few minutes, and the result is a delicious, white, fluffy snack! How did this happen? I was thinking this exact thought I made popcorn in science class. Here's how it happened... There was a small droplet of water in each kernel (specifically the endosperm) which expands and converts into water vapor when heated. This puts pressure on the endosperm which eventually enhance in size and fills with air. Because of the building pressure, the kernel’s pericarp pops, and the kernel flips inside out. Thus, the white starch known as popcorn is now visible. Here are some interesting facts you should know in order for a popcorn kernel to pop.
1.) There must be 13-14% of water in the kernel.
2.) The kernel's pericarp must be strong enough to endure the pressure until it is the "right time" to pop.
3.) The kernel will not explode if it has a damaged (cracked) pericarp, thus causing the moisture to escape.
4.) Temperature must exceed 300 degrees F Picture and information from

http://www.tellmewhyfacts.com/2006/11/why-does-popcorn-pop.html