Evidence of Work
Our goal of this project was to design a new science building for San Marin that used as little energy as possible. We had to use daylighting techniques to provide light and meet the requirements of the teachers. We learned about the Earth's layers, Earth's place in the solar system, solar angles and how they change during the seasons, as well as building a miniature cardboard house that used pure daylighting techniques to light it. We also learned about how most of Earth's energy resources, like nuclear, work. We also designed and tested multiple wind turbines to see which one would generate the most voltage. How we spent most of our time though, was designing a new building for STEM Marin. We drew blueprints on paper and designed three different types of classroom. Our model was constructed on an online 3D builder called SketchUp. Finally, we gave a presentation to our teacher along with a pair of professional architects.
Our goal of this project was to design a new science building for San Marin that used as little energy as possible. We had to use daylighting techniques to provide light and meet the requirements of the teachers. We learned about the Earth's layers, Earth's place in the solar system, solar angles and how they change during the seasons, as well as building a miniature cardboard house that used pure daylighting techniques to light it. We also learned about how most of Earth's energy resources, like nuclear, work. We also designed and tested multiple wind turbines to see which one would generate the most voltage. How we spent most of our time though, was designing a new building for STEM Marin. We drew blueprints on paper and designed three different types of classroom. Our model was constructed on an online 3D builder called SketchUp. Finally, we gave a presentation to our teacher along with a pair of professional architects.
Our final product was a two story, double-winged building with a courtyard between the two wings and two sky bridges connecting them. Each building was 108 x 38 x 22 feet, and each interior classroom was 35 x 30 x 10 feet. There were bathrooms on each floor as well as extra storage areas. It would have lots of steel and glass to give it the urban industrial look, but the outside would also be painted light brown in some places as well as some dark green to match the San Marin aesthetic. The inside would have lots of whites and gray, with classrooms primarily white for good lighting. The courtyard would have multicolored paverstone tiles as its floor, with no trees or shrubs. During the winter months, tarps could possibly be draped over the courtyard to protect people from the rain. Finally, on the roof there would be three clerestory windows on eac h wing to provide maximum lighting to the building.
Content
Universal Gravitation
F=G(m1 x m2)/d^2
G=6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2
The law of universal gravitation is an equation that can compute the force of gravity between any two objects given their mass and the distance between their centers of gravity.
Skylights - a window cut into the roof that allows light to travel inside
Light Shelf - a window sill that reflects incoming sun rays onto the ceiling and then into the room. Good for light at around noon when the sun is high
Solar Tube - a highly reflective tube that brings daylight into a home by bouncing the light through the tube. A glass orb catches the light first.
Clerestory Window - a window placed close to the ceiling on the walls, used to bring slanted light into the room. Looks like a slant on the roof.
Solar Angles - Due to the tilt of the Earth in relation to the sun, the sun does not always shine down on us at the same angles. The sun is much lower during the winter months, but it reaches higher angles in the summer months. The sun is always at a low angle during the morning and evening because it is close to the horizon. The sun is at the greatest angle at noon because the earth has rotated to face the sun the most directly.
Universal Gravitation
F=G(m1 x m2)/d^2
G=6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2
The law of universal gravitation is an equation that can compute the force of gravity between any two objects given their mass and the distance between their centers of gravity.
Skylights - a window cut into the roof that allows light to travel inside
Light Shelf - a window sill that reflects incoming sun rays onto the ceiling and then into the room. Good for light at around noon when the sun is high
Solar Tube - a highly reflective tube that brings daylight into a home by bouncing the light through the tube. A glass orb catches the light first.
Clerestory Window - a window placed close to the ceiling on the walls, used to bring slanted light into the room. Looks like a slant on the roof.
Solar Angles - Due to the tilt of the Earth in relation to the sun, the sun does not always shine down on us at the same angles. The sun is much lower during the winter months, but it reaches higher angles in the summer months. The sun is always at a low angle during the morning and evening because it is close to the horizon. The sun is at the greatest angle at noon because the earth has rotated to face the sun the most directly.
Reflection
In the end, this project turned out pretty well. I liked my group a lot because they were easy to communicate with. When any of us had an idea or suggestion, we listened well and made a decision. For example, I suggested that Alex design the classrooms while I drew the blueprint of the exterior, he listened and did it and that went well. Another thing that went well was my leadership. I sort of lead our group through the project. I divided the work and made sure the things that needed to get done got done.
There were some things I could have done better on despite the overall good result. My work ethic could have been better. I often found myself unfocused and doing things other than the work that had to be done. Mr. Williams caught me one time and got me back on track. I hope that he will not have to do that next project so I will have to focus more. Cooperation was a second area that I will look to improve in next project. The main issue I am thinking of on this matter was when my teammate Ethan wanted me to try to help build our model on SketchUp but I didn't really do anything. Instead of not trying and giving up on that, I could have attempted to do something new and challenging. If the task arises in the coming project, I will take it on no matter how new and challenging.
In the end, this project turned out pretty well. I liked my group a lot because they were easy to communicate with. When any of us had an idea or suggestion, we listened well and made a decision. For example, I suggested that Alex design the classrooms while I drew the blueprint of the exterior, he listened and did it and that went well. Another thing that went well was my leadership. I sort of lead our group through the project. I divided the work and made sure the things that needed to get done got done.
There were some things I could have done better on despite the overall good result. My work ethic could have been better. I often found myself unfocused and doing things other than the work that had to be done. Mr. Williams caught me one time and got me back on track. I hope that he will not have to do that next project so I will have to focus more. Cooperation was a second area that I will look to improve in next project. The main issue I am thinking of on this matter was when my teammate Ethan wanted me to try to help build our model on SketchUp but I didn't really do anything. Instead of not trying and giving up on that, I could have attempted to do something new and challenging. If the task arises in the coming project, I will take it on no matter how new and challenging.