Middle Schoolers Face-Off in Model Car Challenge

The team of James Wei, Andrew Jin, Andy Xu, Allen Guo, and Will Chang from Daniel Wright Middle School, in Lincolnshire, Illinois, built the fastest Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Model Car at this year's competition. At sub-6-second runs, their vehicle easily advanced to victory, being a full second faster than its closest rival. | Photo by Jack Dempsey, National Science Bowl.

Amid the fast-paced battle of facts and computations at the National Science Bowl Finals this past weekend, another Science Bowl competition faced off Sunday where the rubber met the road. Forty-four teams entered the middle school Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Model Car Competition, and two teams distinguished themselves, one for speed and the other for design.

As an early leader with consistent sub-6-second runs down the 20-yard track, the Daniel Wright Middle School team, from Lincolnshire, Illinois, built the fastest car. Close on their heels were the second and third place teams from Treasure Valley Math and Science, in Boise, Idaho, and Glasgow Middle School, in Glasgow, Mont., with sub-7 runs in the final rounds. The best-designed car, and a resolute competitor in the time trials, belonged to the Trinity Junior High School team from Fort Smith, Ark.

Earlier this year, Science Bowl coordinators distributed kits containing a small electric motor, lithium-ion battery, battery connector, and recharger to the Science Bowl regional winners. The parts came along with a challenge: Build a model car that could move swiftly down a 20-yard track while carrying a 20-ounce bottle full of water. It was then up to the students and their advisers to dream up the body style and implement the mechanics to accomplish the feat -- from gear ratios to payload distribution.

On a track built in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School gymnasium, the 44 competing teams each ran one heat in three time trials. The teams with the 16 best times advanced to a double-elimination round to run-off for the win.

After the first time trial, it was apparent that Daniel Wright had the car to beat. Though, as demonstrated by the Treasure Valley team, whose car didn’t finish in their first heat due to a slipped band, it was still anyone’s competition. Treasure Valley was one of 23 vehicles that received a “Did Not Finish” (or DNF) mark in their first heat, which meant the vehicle jumped out of their lane, couldn’t make it all the way down the track or took more than 29 seconds to finish.

As it turns out, building a car from scratch isn’t easy. Whether the wheels popped off or the battery discharged too quickly leaving the vehicle idle several feet away from the finish line, students were encouraged to use the “Impound Lot” between heats. Marked by a paper sign and a box of safety goggles, the Impound Lot offered students a roped-off area with tables laden with scissors, rotary tools, and soldering irons to make adjustments to their vehicles.

Unlike other races where mid-race adjustments are forbidden, officials always kept in sight the reason for the competition -- to teach students about engineering and science. By the third heat, most vehicles experiencing difficulties in the first couple heats had fine-tuned their machines to complete at least one run.

The Daniel Wright and Trinity teams stood among the victors of the academic competition at the closing awards ceremony April 30 at the National Building Museum. Both teams were presented $500 for their schools’ science departments. "Source : Energy.gov"

The Role of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

The FAA is empowered by regulations to promote aviation safety and establish safety standards for civil aviation. The FAA achieves these objectives under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which is the codification of the general and permanent rules published by the executive departments and agencies of the United States Government. The regulations are divided into 50 different codes, called Titles, that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. FAA regulations are listed under Title 14, Aeronautics and Space, which encompasses all aspects of civil aviation from how to earn a pilot’s certificate to maintenance of an aircraft. Title 14 CFR Chapter 1, Federal Aviation Administration, is broken down into subchapters A through N as illustrated in Figure 1-12.

For the pilot, certain parts of 14 CFR are more relevant than others. During flight training, it is helpful for the pilot to become familiar with the parts and subparts that relate to flight training and pilot certification. For instance, 14 CFR part 61 pertains to the certification of pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors. It also defines the eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, flight proficiency, as well as training and testing requirements for each type of pilot certificate issued. 14 CFR part 91 provides guidance in the areas of general flight rules, visual flight rules (VFR), and instrument flight rules (IFR), while 14 CFR part 43 covers aircraft maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations.

Primary Locations of the FAA

The FAA headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and there are nine regional offices strategically located across the United States. The agency’s two largest field facilities are the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Home to FAA training and logistics services, the MMAC provides a number of aviation safety-related and business support services. The WJHTC is the premier aviation research and development and test and evaluation facility in the country. The center’s programs include testing and evaluation in ATC, communication, navigation, airports, aircraft safety, and security. Furthermore, the WJHTC is active in long-range development of innovative aviation systems and concepts, development of new ATC equipment and software, and modification of existing systems and procedures.

Field Offices

Flight Standards Service

Within the FAA, the Flight Standards Service promotes safe air transportation by setting the standards for certification and oversight of airmen, air operators, air agencies, and designees. It also promotes safety of flight of civil aircraft and air commerce by:

• Accomplishing certification, inspection, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement.

• Setting regulations and standards.

• Managing the system for registration of civil aircraft and all airmen records.

The focus of interaction between Flight Standards Service and the aviation community/general public is the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)

The FAA has approximately 130 FSDOs. [Figure 1-13] These offices provide information and services for the aviation community. FSDO phone numbers are listed in the telephone directory under Government Offices, DOT, FAA. Another convenient method of finding a local office is to use the FSDO locator available In addition to accident investigation and the enforcement of aviation regulations, the FSDO is also responsible for the certification and surveillance of air carriers, air operators, flight schools/training centers, and airmen including pilots and flight instructors. Each FSDO is staffed by Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) who play a key role in making the nation’s aviation system safe.

Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI)

The Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) administer and enforce safety regulations and standards for the production, operation, maintenance, and/or modification of aircraft used in civil aviation. They also specialize in conducting inspections of various aspects of the aviation system, such as aircraft and parts manufacturing, aircraft operation, aircraft airworthiness, and cabin safety. ASIs must complete a training program at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which includes airman evaluation, and pilot testing techniques and procedures. ASIs also receive extensive on-the-job training and recurrent training on a regular basis. The FAA has approximately 3,700 inspectors located in its FSDO offices. All questions concerning pilot certification (and/or requests for other aviation information or services) should be directed to the local FSDO.

FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam)

The FAA is dedicated to improving the safety of United States civilian aviation by conveying safety principles and practices through training, outreach, and education. The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) exemplifies this commitment. The FAASTeam has replaced the Aviation Safety Program (ASP), whose education of airmen on all types of safety subjects successfully reduced accidents. Its success led to its demise because the easy-to-fix accident causes have been addressed. To take aviation safety one step further, Flight Standards Service created the FAASTeam, which is devoted to reducing aircraft accidents by using a coordinated effort to focus resources on elusive accident causes.

Each of the FAA’s nine regions has a Regional FAASTeam Office dedicated to this new safety program and managed by the Regional FAASTeam Manager (RFM). The FAASTeam is “teaming” up with individuals and the aviation industry to create a unified effort against accidents and "tip" the safety culture in the right direction. To learn more about this effort to improve aviation safety, to take a course at their online learning center, or to join the FAASTeam, visit their web site at www.faasafety.gov/default.aspx.

Obtaining Assistance from the FAA

Information can be obtained from the FAA by phone, Internet/e-mail, or mail. To talk to the FAA toll-free 24 hours a day, call 1- 66-TELL-FAA (1-866-835-5322). To visit the FAA’s This manual is offered for sale on a subscription basis or is available online at: http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order forms are provided at the beginning of the manual or online and should be sent to the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office (GPO). The AIM is complemented by other operational publications, which are available via separate subscriptions or online.

Handbooks

Handbooks are developed to provide specific information about a particular topic that enhances training or understanding. The FAA publishes a variety of handbooks that generally fall into three categories: Aircraft, Aviation, and Examiners and Inspectors. [Figure 1-15] These handbooks can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents or downloaded (www. faa.gov/regulations_policies). Aviation handbooks are also published by various commercial aviation companies. Aircraft flight manuals commonly called Pilot Operating Handbooks (POH) are documents developed by the airplane manufacturer, approved by the FAA, and are specific to a particular make and model aircraft by serial number. This subject is covered in greater detail in Chapter 8, Flight Manuals and Other Documents, of this handbook. [Figure 1-16]

Advisory Circulars (ACs)

Advisory circulars (ACs) provide a single, uniform, agency- wide system that the FAA uses to deliver advisory material to FAA customers, industry, the aviation community, and the public. An AC may be needed to:

• Provide an acceptable, clearly understood method for complying with a regulation.

• Standardize implementation of the regulation or harmonize implementation for the international aviation community.

• Resolve a general misunderstanding of a regulation.

• Respond to a request from some government entity, such as General Accounting Office, NTSB, or the Office of the Inspector General.

• Help the industry and FAA effectively implement a regulation.

• Explain requirements and limits of an FAA grant program.

• Expand on standards needed to promote aviation safety, including the safe operation of airports.

There are three parts to an AC number, as in 25-42C. The first part of the number identifies the subject matter area of the AC and corresponds to the appropriate 14 CFR part. For example, an AC on certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors is numbered as AC 61-65E. Since ACs are numbered sequentially within each subject area, the second part of the number beginning with the dash identifies this sequence. The third part of the number is a letter assigned by the originating office and shows the revision sequence if an AC is revised. The first version of an AC does not have a revision letter. In Figure 1-17, this is the fifth revision, as designated by the "E".

Flight Publications

The FAA, in concert with other government agencies, orchestrates the publication and changes to publications that are key to safe flight. Figure 1-18 illustrates some publications a pilot uses.

Recognizing the benefits of the Hidden Codes in Products Plastic Bottles

Once we learn and know about the meaning of the code that is hidden under a plastic bottle in my previous post "Recognizing What's In the Secret Codes Plastic Bottle Down".
Are we important to know the benefits of a symbol, logo or the code is ..? the answer is definitely very important.

Here's What benefits are there in the logo, symbol or code which is under the plastic bottles:

A. Once we know, would be more careful and wise use of plastics, particularly the code of 7, 3, 6, and 7 (PC), which all have a chemical hazard. Try to use it once.

As said by DR. Yadi Haryadi, MSc, actually plastic bottles, especially PET plastic bottles, if used over and over again is not a problem. Condition, each will be recharged, the bottles should be washed and dried over dahuiu.

B. Safe when using plastics with codes 2, 4, 5, and 7 (SAN or ABS)
One more thing to be aware of the use of plastic daiam food industry is contamination of food dye in the plastic. For example, we often buy fries on the side of the road, which in hot conditions and then inserted into the pockets of a black crackle.
This black dyes can break down if exposed to heat, degraded into a radical form of toxic substances that are harmful to health, particularly triggered the cancerous cells. Therefore, from now on avoid wrapping food bag crackle, especially foods that are still hot.

C. Make sure, always use a container or package of good quality with a selective in your selection.

Tips for us all to the parents who still need a bottle of milk for their children:

• Select and use baby bottles made of glass, or plastic type 4 or 5.
• Use baby cups made from stainless steel, or plastic type 4 or 5.
• To dot, use a silicone based, as it will not issue a carcinogenic substance as the dot made latex.4. Prevent the use of baby bottles and baby cups (with holes penghisapnya) made from 7 types of PC (polycarbonate).

D. Prevent the use of baby bottles and baby cups (with holes sucking) made from 7 types of PC (polycarbonate).

E. If the use made of polycarbonate plastic can not be prevented, do not store food or drinking water in hot conditions.

Conclusion:
Avoid using plastic bottles for storing drinking water (used to place water in the refrigerator). If you use plastic bottles made from PET (code 1) and HDPE (code 2), can not be prevented, and just use disposables and soon spent.

Replace with stainless steel or glass bottle / glass. Prevent heat
foods packaged in plastic, especially in the microwave oven, wrap the food in advance with banana leaves or paper before it is wrapped in plastic wrap when it gets heated in the oven mocrowave.
(Images. Forumindowebster)