Archimedes' principle-internet accessible remote experiment

The development of new information technologies is enabling remote experimentation, a common practice in university education. This contribution describes the procedure of developing the remote experiment-the Archimedeś Principle-using the Internet School Experimental System (ISES) for hands on experimentation and Easy Remote ISES software for transformation of this experiment to a remote one, applied for the first time. The experiment consists of the mobile platform with controlled and measured displacement, on which were placed three vessels with liquids. The bodies were suspended from the ISES dynamometers, measuring the resulting suspension force when they were dipped into liquid. The simultaneous measurement of the suspension force enabled recording of the weight, total force or buoyancy force alone. The experiment is available on http://remotelab9.truni.sk as a part of e-laboratory in Trnava, Slovakia (http://kf.truni.sk/remotelab).Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic - KEGA [020TTU-4/2013, 011TTU4/2012]; Trnava University in Trnava [10/TU/13

A Low-Cost Digital Torquemeter Coordinated by Arduino Board

Lab based experimental procedure requires standardized instrument for data acquisition and analysis in which is costly. However, self-made and well calibrated instrument is cost effective in contrast to industrial grade scientific instrument. Therefore, a low-cost torquemeter system is developed to investigate the torque generated by wind turbine system. The presented torquemeter system comprises of two subsystems namely photointerrupter (primary) and load cell (secondary). The reliability of the developed system is analyzed by stages in order to verify the effectiveness in acquiring measurement namely RPM, weight (load) and torque. It is found that 5 kg load cell illustrated unsteady noise behavior relative to the defined calibration weight. Meanwhile, the percentage of accuracy (Pa) of final 3th reading is Pa = 94.709 %, 97.32 %, 98.826 % for 10 g, 20 g and 100 g respectively. Measurement acquired from torquemeter system is compared against 2D CFD numerical model under similar flow condition. Results shows that the measurement of torquemeter system is Mt = 0.731842 and as for CFD model is Mt = 0.82553 which results in error (%) of Pe = 11.35 %. However, the CFD numerical model has overpredicted moment value since it has compensated the blockage factor and external environmental factors. It is safe to say, that the presented instrument is applicable and feasible for WT torque acquisition

A Low-Cost Digital Torquemeter Coordinated by Arduino Board

Lab based experimental procedure requires standardized instrument for data acquisition and analysis in which is costly. However, self-made and well calibrated instrument is cost effective in contrast to industrial grade scientific instrument. Therefore, a low-cost torquemeter system is developed to investigate the torque generated by wind turbine system. The presented torquemeter system comprises of two subsystems namely photointerrupter (primary) and load cell (secondary). The reliability of the developed system is analyzed by stages in order to verify the effectiveness in acquiring measurement namely RPM, weight (load) and torque. It is found that 5 kg load cell illustrated unsteady noise behavior relative to the defined calibration weight. Meanwhile, the percentage of accuracy (Pa) of final 3th reading is Pa = 94.709 %, 97.32 %, 98.826 % for 10 g, 20 g and 100 g respectively. Measurement acquired from torquemeter system is compared against 2D CFD numerical model under similar flow condition. Results shows that the measurement of torquemeter system is Mt = 0.731842 and as for CFD model is Mt = 0.82553 which results in error (%) of Pe = 11.35 %. However, the CFD numerical model has overpredicted moment value since it has compensated the blockage factor and external environmental factors. It is safe to say, that the presented instrument is applicable and feasible for WT torque acquisition

Using a free open source software to teach mathematics

We present the experience of the authors teaching mathematics to freshmen engineering students with the help of the open source computer algebra system Sage. We describe some teaching resources and present an ad hoc distribution of Sage used by the authors

Cognitive knowledge, attitude toward science, and skill development in virtual science labratories

The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, single group, pretest posttest design study was to explore the influence of a Virtual Science Laboratory (VSL) on middle school students’ cognitive knowledge, skill development, and attitudes toward science. This study involved 2 eighth grade Physical Science classrooms at a large urban charter middle school located in Southern California. The Buoyancy and Density Test (BDT), a computer generated test, assessed students’ scientific knowledge in areas of Buoyancy and Density. The Attitude Toward Science Inventory (ATSI), a multidimensional survey assessment, measured students’ attitudes toward science in the areas of value of science in society, motivation in science, enjoyment of science, self-concept regarding science, and anxiety toward science. A Virtual Laboratory Packet (VLP), generated by the researcher, captured students’ mathematical and scientific skills. Data collection was conducted over a period of five days. BDT and ATSI assessments were administered twice: once before the Buoyancy and Density VSL to serve as baseline data (pre) and also after the VSL (post). The findings of this study revealed that students’ cognitive knowledge and attitudes toward science were positively changed as expected, however, the results from paired sample t-tests found no statistical significance. Analyses indicated that VSLs were effective in supporting students’ scientific knowledge and attitude toward science. The attitudes most changed were value of science in society and enjoyment of science with mean differences of 1.71 and 0.88, respectively. Researchers and educational practitioners are urged to further examine VSLs, covering a variety of topics, with more middle school students to assess their learning outcomes. Additionally, it is recommended that publishers in charge of designing the VSLs communicate with science instructors and research practitioners to further improve the design and analytic components of these virtual learning environments. The results of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge in an effort to raise awareness about the inclusion of VSLs in secondary science classrooms. With the advancement of technological tools in secondary science classrooms, instructional practices should consider including VSLs especially if providing real science laboratories is a challenge

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Full textThe mission of the Estonian University of Life Sciences is to guarantee sustainable use of natural resources and enhance rural development. The Estonian University of Life Sciences (IAES) is the only university in Estonia whose priorities in academic and research activities provide the sustainable development of natural resources necessary for the existence of Human Society as well as the preservation on of heritage and habitat. The Estonian University of Life Sciences undertakes internationally acknowledged science research, carries out innovative activities, provides science based academic education and promotes life-long learning. The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Estonian University of Life Sciences is responsible for research and development, and university level education in plant cultivation and plant biology, horticulture, plant health, soil science and agrochemistry, landscape ecology and management, landscape architecture, biological diversity and applied hydrobiology in Estonia. According to QS World University Rankings, EMU belongs in the top 100 universities in the world in the field of Agriculture and Forestry. Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators database places EMU in the top 1% most cited research facilities in the world in the field of plant and animal science as well as environment and ecology. In addition, three professors (Prof Ülo Niinemets, Prof Robert Bunce and Leading Researcher Peeter Nõges) belong to the top 1% of the most cited researchers list of ecology and environmental sciences

A low-cost digital torquemeter coordinated by arduino board

Torquemeter is a transducer for measuring rotational force and converting it into electronic output signal. In this paper, the techniques to fabricate a low cost yet effective torquemeter system is introduced. The device is calibrated and tested to prove it effectiveness and robustness. The system is developed to investigate the torque generated by wind turbine system. The presented torquemeter system comprises of two subsystems namely photointerrupter (primary) and load cell (secondary). The reliability of the developed system is analyzed by stages in order to verify the effectiveness in acquiring measurement namely RPM, weight (load) and torque. It is found that 5 kg load cell illustrated unsteady noise behavior relative to the defined calibration weight. Meanwhile, the percentage of accuracy (Pa) of final 3th reading is Pa = 94.709 %, 97.32 %, 98.826 % for 10 g, 20 g and 100 g respectively. Measurement acquired from torquemeter system is compared against 2D CFD numerical model under similar flow condition. Results shows that the measurement of torquemeter system is Mt = 0.731842 and as for CFD model is Mt = 0.82553 which results in error (%) of Pe = 11.35 %. However, the CFD numerical model has overpredicted moment value since it has compensated the blockage factor and external environmental factors. It is safe to say, that the presented instrument is applicable and feasible for WT torque acquisitio