GRADE GROUPING: 10-12
TEAM SIZE: 2 PEOPLE.
SUBJECT AREA: PHYSICS.
PROJECT TYPE: EXPERIMENTAL.
PROJECT LEVEL: ADVANCED.
PROJECT FORMAT: TRADITIONAL.
PROJECT SUMMARY:Despite the fact that the anatomy of the vortex is not a major fixation of physics, many questions of vortex behavior continue to interest designers of ships and aircraft. It also interests those who construct hydroelectric power stations and foresters concerned with fire prevention. Vortices in the wake of ships and aircraft represent wasted fuel; their presence requires considerable expenditure of energy. Vortices become a serious menace during forest fires because they are capable of picking up large flaming timbers and dropping them elsewhere to start new fires. According to Vincent J. Schaefer of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center of the State University of New York, fire vortices are of prime concern to foresters who assume to burn over an area in order to clean it up before planting it with new trees. Even when care is taken to protect the surrounding area by lanes cleared of all combustible debris; a vortex can develop during the burn and spread the fire.
SOFTWARE TOOLS USED: MICROSOFT WORD, GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS FOR WINDOWS.
HARDWARE TOOLS USED: SCANNER, DIGITAL CAMERA.
SOURCE OF IDEA: STUDENT INTEREST.
SPECIAL SKILLS USED TO BUILD PROJECT: HTML CODE.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR HOME PAGE.
Back to main page