Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Jupiter

Jupiter

Planet Order: 5 from the Sun


Distance From the Sun: 778.33 million Km


Mass: 1.9x1027 Kg          Diameter: 142.984 Km


Rotation: 9hours50mins         


Revolution: 11.9 Earth years


# of Moons: 63               Terrestrial or Jovian: Jovian


Planet Description:


Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System. Also the home of the largest storm ever observed. Your can see the Great Red Spot on the surface of Jupiter easily. Its wind blow up to 400 Km per hour in it, lightning hundreds of time more powerful than in any Earth storm. Jupiter has 4 major moons: IO, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede and has other small moons. It's mostly hydrogen and helium mixing with ammonia,methane and sulfur to form colorful swirling clouds. Jupiter has a monster magnetic field.


2 Interesting Facts:

  • Jupiter's volume is large enough to contain 1,300 planets the size of Earth.
  • Jupiter rotates faster than any planet in the Solar System so that the days are only 9hours50mins long.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Hurricane Irene Project

Critical Thinking


1. What time of year do hurricanes occur? Why do they only happen during that time ?
  
  Hurricane usually form during summer and fall. Because it needs warm ocean water to form storm. Ocean water is not warm enough in spring.


2. How can the timing of the tides(high or low) effect the devastation of a hurricane?


If the storm surge arrives at the same time as the high tide, the water height will be higher. Hurricane will be even more stronger.


3. If an area if fully saturated, will a hurricane have more or less impact on an area ?


Hurricane will have more impact on an area. Because the the area already fully saturated, so water can't enters the ground any more. Groundwater will go up from underground. It will brings flood.


4. How does groundwater saturation affect rivers and streams?


Groundwater will affect the water level of the rivers and streams that connected to it, when the the source of the groundwater can't hold water any more, water might add to the river, the river's water level will rise.









Reflection


1. What is something that you liked about this Mini-Project?


I liked to study how different ways to form a hurricane.

2. What was difficult for you on this project?


It was difficult to find accurate information and do some explaining work.

3. What would you change about your work on this project?

I would change the information that I found which is not clear enough to understand.

4. How did this project help you learn about Hurricane Irene?

I learned that how a hurricane formed while they do rotate clockwise in the warmest part of ocean. How water cycle works, such as evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Also I learned where is groundwater comes from, it can affects the water level of rivers and streams. Flooding can do damage to environment and less economics. And movement of the moon, sun and earth can cause the spring tide and neap tide.