27,646 research outputs found
Beta measurements
The second year's results of the BETA project research are presented. The program is divided into two areas, aerosol modification and climatology in the trade wind region and the climatology of BETA (CO2) on remote mountain top locations. Limited data is available on the aerosol climatology of the marine free troposphere (MFT) in the trade wind region. In order to study the effects of cumulus convection on the MFT values of BETA, a cloud model was developed to simulate the evolution of a typical Pacific trade wind cumulus cloud. The stages involved in this development are outlined. The assembly of the major optical components of the lidar was made. Tests were run of the spectral bandwidth of the Synrad laser when a portion of the beam is mixed with a component which has traveled 450 meters corresponding to a delay of 1.5 microsecs. The bandwidth of the beat signal was measured to be 3 KHz. The data processing system based on a parallel processing filter bank analyzer using true time squaring detectors at each filter was completed
Detectability of Gravitational Waves from SN 1987A
We discuss the potential for detection of gravitational waves from a rapidly
spinning neutron star produced by supernova 1987A taking the parameters claimed
by Middleditch et al. (2000) at face value. Asssuming that the dominant
mechanism for spin down is gravitational waves emitted by a freely precessing
neutron star, it is possible to constrain the wobble angle, the effective
moment of inertai of the precessing crust and the crust cracking stress limit.
Our analysis, suggests that, if the interpretation of the Middleditch data is
correct, the compact remnant of SN 1987A may well provide a reliable and
predictable source of gravitational waves well within the capability of LIGO
II
Plate tectonics: When ancient continents collide
The geological record preserves scant evidence for early plate tectonics. Analysis of eclogites — metamorphic rocks formed in subduction zones — in the Trans-Hudson mountain belt suggests modern-style subduction may have operated 1,800 million years ago
SOME EFFECTS OF RICE QUALITY ON ROUGH RICE PRICES
Quality discounts and premiums for rough rice in Texas rice bid/acceptance markets are analyzed. The most important quality factors determining the value of rough rice are head yield and peck. A one percentage point reduction in peck damage raises the price received per hundredweight of rough rice by .68 across markets and years. Since peck damage can be reduced by controlling the rice stinkbug, evaluation of alternative methods for better control of this pest in Texas rice fields is needed.Demand and Price Analysis,
Identifying Student Difficulties with Entropy, Heat Engines, and the Carnot Cycle
We report on several specific student difficulties regarding the Second Law
of Thermodynamics in the context of heat engines within upper-division
undergraduates thermal physics courses. Data come from ungraded written
surveys, graded homework assignments, and videotaped classroom observations of
tutorial activities. Written data show that students in these courses do not
clearly articulate the connection between the Carnot cycle and the Second Law
after lecture instruction. This result is consistent both within and across
student populations. Observation data provide evidence for myriad difficulties
related to entropy and heat engines, including students' struggles in reasoning
about situations that are physically impossible and failures to differentiate
between differential and net changes of state properties of a system. Results
herein may be seen as the application of previously documented difficulties in
the context of heat engines, but others are novel and emphasize the subtle and
complex nature of cyclic processes and heat engines, which are central to the
teaching and learning of thermodynamics and its applications. Moreover, the
sophistication of these difficulties is indicative of the more advanced
thinking required of students at the upper division, whose developing knowledge
and understanding give rise to questions and struggles that are inaccessible to
novices
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