Skin, feathers, scales

schedule

1. presentations (4-5:30)
2. lab (5:30-7)

From Last Week

Title	Who	Labels
Which parts of bone are used as materials for crafts? How is it shaped? Carved like stone, or bent and cut like wood?	Theresa	illustration
And while we're on that, how does one shape wood?	Theresa	illustration
How does bone heal when it breaks? Does wood do the same?	Theresa	speculation
What is the function of bone being porous rather then solid?	Lindsey	speculation

illustrations

5-7 minutes for each presentation, an equal time for questions.

Title	Members	Labels
are there areas where skin is thicker?	Angela	illustration
What are the exact properties that are in skin?	Angela	illustration
How does the pattern and structure of flight feathers differ from down feathers?	Fiona	illustration
What material is the hollow inner stalk of a feather closest to, in terms of how it was made?	Fiona	illustration
Is skin more one solid piece or made of layers? How does it compare to crystal growth?	Jacob	illustration

Calculations

Please find a way to weave these questions into your illustration(s) or speculation(s)

Title	Members	Labels
What are the limits of rubber stretching?	Doug	calculation
What pattern/how do feathers lie on each other that makes them aerodynamic?	Fiona	calculation
What in skin gives it elasticity?	Angela	calculation

Speculations

Let's work out an experiment or experiments from these speculations. Start with a clear statement of the hypothesis, develop a falsifiable statement, and then sketch out the experiment.

Title	Members	Labels
What is considered healthy skin? and how can it be kept in such conditions over long periods of time?	Angela	speculation
What starts the aging in skin?	Angela	speculation
Is there a way to protect rubber latex from deteriorating?	Doug	speculation
How are feathers interlinked that causes them to be waterproof on the the outside?	Fiona	speculation

Labs 10/23/2013

Lab A: Static Friction

• three panes of glass or one pane with three "lanes"
• six wood blocks
• two cameras (iPhones will do)
• NeverWet hydrophobic coating

instructions

1. coat two of the six wood blocks with NeverWet, let dry
2. put two dry blocks on the glass plane.
3. position cameras: one in front to catch movement of blocks and one on the side to measure the angle.
4. place blocks and roll video
5. announce to video which blocks you are recording
6. lift plane on one end until both blocks break free of the static
7. stop video

repeat the experiment with two wet blocks

do the experiment one more time with the NeverWet-coated blocks. collect the video giving everything good names and upload it to our Dropbox.

please use our new microscope to take pictures of all the surfaces

Lab B: Directionality of Air Pressure

• a cardboard box
• a balloon filled with Helium and tied with a string
• a small mass on a string
• two small video cameras, one with a light
• duct tape

instructions

1. tape the camera with the light to the bottom of the cardboard box.
2. suspend the small mass from the top of the box
3. tie the balloon string to the bottom of the box. make sure that it cannot interfere with the small mass or anything else in the box
4. start the video, turn on the light and seal up the box
5. put the other video camera on the table so that it may record the movement of the box
6. quickly accelerate the box in one direction, then bring it to a quick halt. Do it a few times.
7. be sure to make enough noise (I mean a cue signal) so that the videos may be synchronized.
8. retrieve the camera and look at the footage.

Can you explain what you're seeing? Record your thoughts and upload the media to upload it to our Dropbox.

Lab C: Turbulence, Air Pressure, buoyancy

Let's quantify the hair dryer and pressure experiment by using a foosball of known mass.

• one hair dryer
• one scale
• a foosball
• two cameras

instructions

1. train one camera on the scale readings, the other on the dryer and air space above
2. start the cameras
3. weigh the foosball
4. put the dryer on the scale and turn it on
5. note the weight of the blow dryer and force of the air pressure
6. put the ball in the stream.

can you explain these findings? Record your thoughts and upload the media to upload it to our Dropbox.

Have a look at this:

Physics Buzz: Fluid Juggling