Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Technology

Arduino Libraries: Extending Functionality

The Arduino environment, much like most programming platforms, can be significantly extended through the use of libraries. These libraries provide additional functionality, making it easier to implement complex features and interact with various hardware components in your sketches.

Arduino Servo Library Capabilities

The Servo library is essential for controlling servo motors. It supports up to 12 motors on most Arduino boards and an impressive 48 motors on the Arduino Mega. It's important to note that on boards other than the Mega, using the Servo library disables analogWrite() (PWM) functionality on pins 9 and 10, regardless of whether a servo is connected to those specific pins. On the Arduino Mega,... Continue reading "Arduino Library Essentials: Servo, Bluetooth, SoftwareSerial" »

Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) can be classified based on the type of metal used as the matrix. The classification of metals in MMCs includes:

1. Pure Metals: These are metals composed of a single element, such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), or magnesium (Mg). Pure metals can serve as matrices in MMCs, providing specific properties and characteristics.
2. Intermetallic Compounds: Intermetallics are compounds formed by the combination of two or more metallic elements. They possess a distinct crystal structure and can exhibit unique properties. Intermetallic compounds, such as titanium aluminides (Ti-Al) or nickel aluminides (Ni-Al), can be used as matrices in MMCs.
3. Alloys: Alloys are metallic materials composed

Understanding Plastics: Composition and Origin

Plastics consist of long chains of molecules, made of carbon, that are called polymers. Polymers are composed of smaller molecules called monomers.

Types of Plastics Based on Origin

There are two main types of plastics according to their origin:

• Natural Plastics: These are obtained directly from vegetable or animal sources. Examples include latex and cellulose (produced by plants), as well as casein (from milk).
• Synthetic Plastics: These are made with compounds derived from petroleum, natural gas, and coal (carbon). Most plastics used today are synthetic.

Industrial Production: Polymerization and Processing

The industrial process for producing plastic from raw materials is called polymerization.

Manufacturing

Paper-Based Biosensors

Immunosensors

Immunosensors are affinity ligand-based biosensor solid-state devices in which the immunochemical reaction is coupled to a transducer. The fundamental basis of all immunosensors is the specificity of the molecular recognition of antigens by antibodies to form a stable complex.

Paper-Based ELISA

There are different techniques for the design and development of immunoassays. For instance, combining ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and patterned paper provides a beneficial protocol for performing immunoassays.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Paper-Based ELISA

Paper-based ELISA offers three principal advantages over conventional ELISA performed in plastic 96-well plates:

• More rapid detection.
• Requires only small

Types of Knives

Chef's Knife (Cebollero)

• All purpose knife for peeling, trimming, chopping, slicing, and dicing
• Triangular blade, rock chop

Utility Knife or Salad Knife

• All purpose, smaller than the chef's knife
• Used specially for peeling and slicing fruit and vegetables

Santoku Knife or Japanese Cook's Knife

• Sheep's foot tip
• Top chop

Paring Knife

• Used for paring or peeling fruits and vegetables

Tournée Knife

• Sometimes considered as a kind of paring knife
• Used for turning vegetables

Slicer Knife

• Long slender and flexible blade
• Used for carving or slicing cooked meats

Bread Knife or Serrated Slicer

Used to cut bread, cakes, and similar food

Boning Knife

• Thin and pointed blade
• Used for boning raw meats, poultry, and fish
• Used for trimming fat from meats

Filleting Knife

• Pointed

Essential Kitchen Cutting Tools

Vegetable Peeler

A short tool with a slotted, swiveling blade used for peeling vegetables and fruits. There are two types: Swiss peeler and standard peeler.

Mandoline

A manual slicer with adjustable blades for creating various cuts, such as julienne, batonnet, and waffle slices.

Sharpening Steel

Used for honing and maintaining knife edges, keeping them sharp with regular use. Not intended for sharpening dull knives.

Sharpening Stone

Also known as a whetstone, used to sharpen dull knives and refine their edges.

Cutting Board

Made of wood, plastic, or composite material, used as a stable surface for cutting, chopping, and other food preparation tasks.

Scissors

Versatile kitchen tool for various tasks, such as snipping herbs,... Continue reading "Essential Kitchen Cutting Tools and Techniques" »

Know what the relationship is between density and temperature

Substances have different densities depending on their temperature.  

For example, a lake on a hot summer day. The surface temperature is warmer than the water beneath. The warm water floats on the cold because it has a lower density. 

Know why your ears pop when you are landing at an airport

Your ears pop from pressure change. The change of pressure outside causes your middle ear to have to readjust, resulting in a popping sound

Know the term buoyancy and why objects sink or float in a substance

Buoyancy is the ability of an object in a fluid to rise or sink due to density differences with its surroundings.

Know the densities of some common substances

Know

Firefighting Pump Hydraulics: Essential Formulas & Calculations

This document outlines key formulas and operational guidelines for effective firefighting pump management and water delivery.

Pressure Calculations & Formulas

• Elevation Pressure (EP):
  • EP = 0.5 x height in feet
  • EP = 5 psi x (number of stories - 1)
• Head Pressure: Head Pressure = feet / 2.304
• Net Pump Discharge Pressure (Net PDP): Net PDP = PDP - Intake Reading
• Net Discharge Pressure (at Draft): Net DPD = PDP + Intake Pressure Correction
• Pressure Correction: Lift + Total Intake Hose Friction Loss ÷ 2.3
• Pump Discharge Pressure (PDP): PDP = Nozzle Pressure (NP) + Total Pressure Loss (TPL) (round to nearest 5 psi)
• Flow of Solid Stream: gpm = 29.7 x D² x √NP
• Nozzle Reaction (Solid Stream)