November 18, 2016 Vol. XI Issue III
It’s Not Rocket Science ...Oh Wait, it is by Tia Wilhelm Is rocket science really rocket science? Although it may seem like a fantastical and far-fetched career, it is a real job that real people do. So, what does a rocket scientist do exactly? Rocket science refers to the development of all aircraft and spacecraft. As such it encompasses dozens of engineering fields, a few of which include electro technology (the study of electronics within technology), fluid mechanics (the way fluid flows around objects including wind over wings), and avionics (overseeing the programming and design of computer system on board the aircraft). Late October, Principles of Technology (PT) classes were visited by Dean McKay, a systems engineer who contributed to the Apollo 11 mission that put man on the moon in 1969. You may be familiar with the names Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin. Well, they are only two out of the 400,000500,000 people across the United States who were working on this mission. McKay personally worked at the Cape Kennedy space center in Florida alongside 100,000 other engineers, and said that during his time there, they launched 2-3 dozen other rockets. “We would test one of these rockets for a
couple years before we launched it,” explains McKay. Since then, McKay has continued work in commercial technology areas. “I love it,” said McKay with a smile. “I’m never going to retire really,” he added with a chuckle. McKay stressed the importance of technology today and connected his work in various areas to current day applications. “Get interested in the math and science whether you want to be a technologist or not.” Having guest speakers come in to classes is a great opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of how what they’re learning is applicable in the world beyond high school. Guest speakers also allow students to better understand key concepts by presenting material in a new light. “It’s a lot easier to grasp the concepts we’re trying to learn,” Jack Kleen, a current PT student said. “It transfers material that we learned into something more interesting.” Rocket scientist or not, shoot for the moon because even if you miss you’ll still land amongst the stars… but if you’re really talking rocket science, test your rocket a lot before even thinking about the moon.
The Science of Fall by Ana Ferguson Out of the four seasons, fall is arguably the most beautiful. The crisp air, changing foliage, and shorter days are all different aspects of autumn that add to its appeal. Every seasonal change can be seen as an opportunity to rejuvenate, and fall is no exception. While the features of fall are enchanting, they can also be explained by science.
Oregon is one of the lucky places in the world where the leaves change with the seasons, and the approaching autumn weather is delightfully expressed in an array of colors. The types of colors that can be seen in trees can be scientifically explained by the different categories of pigments present: carotenoids and anthocyanins. Carotenoids produce the yellows, oranges, and browns of fall leaves, while anthocyanins produce the color red. The decrease in sunlight means trees stop producing chlorophyll (the green pigment in leaves that is essential to the process of photosynthesis). Anthocynanins and carotenoid are always present in leaves regardless of the season, but when the production of chlorophyll is stopped, the different pigments are visible.
arkwork by Mouminatou Thiaw
Another characteristic of fall is the dark, short days. One reason why the days of autumn are shorter is because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. As the Earth orbits around the Sun, different points become closer to the light while others move farther away. This means that during fall and winter the tilt of the Earth’s axis creates shorter days.