# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether you’re solving a small problem or brainstorming the next great invention, the engineering design process is your blueprint for success!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is Engineering - What is Software Engineering - Engineering Lessons - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about different kinds of engineers and the engineering design process in Flocabulary's educational hip-hop video and activities.

# data[].attributes.body
Scroll down for more activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Indiana Clear Choices Clean Water | Take a Pledge!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Super Kids | Indiana Clear Choices Clean Water

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Clean Water Superheroes are good citizens who follow the law and work to protect our water. They know that water is precious and that we need to take good care of it.

# data[].attributes.body
From Clever: Social Studies-->Global Issues-->Environment-->WaterPollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A sea turtle swims through the water and spots a white blob floating near the surface. "Yum!" it thinks. "A jellyfish!" Chasing after its dinner, the turtle swallows the item. But the floating blob isn't a jelly-it's a plastic bag that could make the sea turtle sick.

This sea creature isn't alone: Over 700 species of marine animals have been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic. Scientists think that the amount of plastic in the ocean might triple by 2050-and that would mean seriously bad news for the ocean and the creatures that live there. But by understanding the issue and taking action, you can help stop that from happening.

What's the problem with plastic?

First, let's get real: Not all plastic is bad. Bike helmets, car airbags, and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives. Plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don't have it, and plastic straws can help people with disabilities drink.

The problem is that most of us use and then toss way more plastic than we need: things like grocery bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, and plastic packaging around toys. This kind of plastic that's used only once before being thrown away is called single-use plastic, and it makes up more than 40 percent of all plastic trash.

Where does the plastic go?

That's a lot of trash. Scientists think that 8.8 million tons of plastic winds up in the ocean every year-that's as if you stacked up five plastic grocery bags full of trash on top of each other on every foot of coastline in the world.

How does it get into the sea? Plastic left on the ground as litter often blows into creeks and rivers, eventually ending up in the ocean. And because plastic trash is different from other types of waste-it doesn't decompose back into nature like an apple core or a piece of paper-it stays in the ocean forever. That means discarded fishing nets and six-pack rings can entangle animals; harmful straws and grocery bags can be mistaken as food.

What can we do about it?

You can do so much to help keep Earth clean! You can look at how much single-use plastic your family uses by filling out a plastic journal for a week-then talking about what you can do to use less. Need ideas? Check out these quick tips to reduce your plastic waste. By working together, our choices can help save animals-and the ocean they live in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Kids Environment Kids Health - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Water is essential for survival on Earth. It makes up almost two-thirds of our body weight and covers a little over two-thirds of the Earth's surface. Since almost all of the water is in salty oceans, we can't use it for drinking. In fact, only about 3% of the Earth's water is fresh, and most of that fresh water is frozen. That means only about 1% of the water on Earth is available for people to use.

The chemical formula "H ₂ 0" shows the basic units of a water molecule: two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. We describe water as a colorless liquid that you can't smell or taste. Water also comes in the form of ice in the polar ice caps and water vapor (gas) that rises into the air from the surface of our planet.

Explore the links below to learn fun facts about water, how important it is to life on Earth, and what you can do to protect this natural resource.
Some content courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

Other stuff you might like ...

Games & Puzzles

Games galore! Piles of Puzzles!

What's That Word

Scientific Dictionary

Not sure of what a word means?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Wind power has been around for a long time. You've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a coal generating station.

A windmill on a farm can make only a small amount of electricity, enough to power a few farm machines. To make enough electricity to serve lots of people, utility companies build wind farms with a large number of wind turbines.

Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour.

They sure are big!

Wind turbines used for large-scale wind farms come in various sizes, but are usually approximately 13 feet wide at the base, and between 230 and 265 feet tall at the hub. With one of the blades in the upright position, the total height is approximately 406 feet, like the one pictured here at Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.

How many wind turbines do you need to have a wind farm?

Wind farms can have as few as five wind turbines or as many as 150. One of the largest wind farms in the U.S. is in Altamont Pass, California. It has more than 4,800 wind turbines.

Alliant Energy owns and operates three a number of wind farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In addition to the wind farms owned by Alliant Energy, we also purchase more than 600 megawatts of energy from other wind farms throughout our service area.

How a wind turbine works

A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity.

The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, businesses and schools.

Make your own wind-powered gadgets!

Now that you've read about wind power, you can make your own wind-powered gadgets at home.

Renewable Energy Activity

360-degree video: Wind turbine inside and out

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wind power has been around for a long time. You've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a coal generating station.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A wind turbine is a rotating machine that transfers kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as for pumping water, cutting lumber or grinding stones, the machine is called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is instead converted to electricity, the machine may be called a wind turbine generator (WTG), wind power unit (WPU), wind energy converter (WEC), or aerogenerator.

Turning the generator

The wind turbine's blades are turned by the wind. This turns a shaft turning slowly, at about 10-20 rpm with a high torque. The shaft goes into a reduction gearbox with a ratio of about 1:50, although some wind turbine gearboxes can have a ratio of 1:100 or more. Some wind turbines may have no reduction gearbox at all, and have a ratio of 1:1. The gearbox turns the generator more quickly, at around 1000 rpm, at a low torque. The generator creates electricity. This electricity is combined with any other wind turbines that may be in the same wind farm. This combined electricity may be used locally, or adjusted to match the electricity in the power grid and sent to the power grid.

Environmental Impact

Although wind turbines are a renewable source of energy and don't pollute the environment as a result of generating power, they have an environmental impact. Some people think that wind turbines create a lot of noise and look unappealing. However, wind turbines are placed no closer than 300 meters from residential homes. At that distance, a wind turbine is no louder than an average household air conditioner.

Images for kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A wind turbine is a rotating machine that transfers kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as for pumping water, cutting lumber or grinding stones, the machine is called a windmill.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is Engineering - What is Software Engineering - Engineering Lessons - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about different kinds of engineers and the engineering design process in Flocabulary's educational hip-hop video and activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether you’re solving a small problem or brainstorming the next great invention, the engineering design process is your blueprint for success!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newsela | Generating energy from the wind

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wind, an original source of energy, is coming back in favor around the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Magnets and trains Book Collection on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) is a system of train transportation that uses two sets of electromagnets: one set to repel and push the train up off the track, and another set to move the elevated train ahead, taking advantage of the lack of friction. Such trains rise approximately 10 centimetres (4 in) off the track. There are both high-speed, intercity maglev systems (over 400 kilometres per hour or 250 miles per hour), and low-speed, urban maglev systems (80-200 kilometres per hour or 50-124 miles per hour) under development and being built. The Shanghai maglev train is the only maglev train in commercial operation that can be considered as high speed.

Development

In the late 1940s, the British electrical engineer Eric Laithwaite, a professor at Imperial College London, developed the first full-size working model of the linear induction motor. He became professor of heavy electrical engineering at Imperial College in 1964, where he continued his successful development of the linear motor.

The linear motor was naturally suited to use with maglev systems as well. In the early 1970s, Laithwaite discovered a new arrangement of magnets, the magnetic river, that allowed a single linear motor to produce both lift and forward thrust, allowing a maglev system to be built with a single set of magnets.

The first commercial maglev people mover was simply called "MAGLEV" and officially opened in 1984 near Birmingham, England. It operated on an elevated 600 metres (2,000 ft) section of monorail track between Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station, running at speeds up to 42 kilometres per hour (26 mph). The system was closed in 1995 due to reliability problems.

Technology

The two main types of maglev technology are:

Electromagnetic suspension (EMS), electronically controlled electromagnets in the train attract it to a magnetically conductive (usually steel) track.

Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) uses superconducting electromagnets or strong permanent magnets that create a magnetic field, which induces currents in nearby metallic conductors when there is relative movement, which pushes and pulls the train towards the designed levitation position on the guide way.

High-speed maglev comparison with conventional high-speed trains

Maglev transport is non-contact and electric powered. It relies less or not at all on the wheels, bearings and axles common to wheeled rail systems.

Speed: Maglev allows higher top speeds than conventional rail. While experimental wheel-based high-speed trains have demonstrated similar speeds, conventional trains will suffer from friction between wheels and track and thus elevating the maintenance cost if operating at such speed, unlike levitated maglev trains.

Maintenance: Maglev trains currently in operation have demonstrated the need for minimal guideway maintenance. Vehicle maintenance is also minimal (based on hours of operation, rather than on speed or distance traveled). Traditional rail is subject to mechanical wear and tear that increases rapidly with speed, also increasing maintenance. For example: the wearing down of brakes and overhead wire wear have caused problems for the Fastech 360 rail Shinkansen. Maglev would eliminate these issues.

Weather: In theory, maglev trains should be unaffected by snow, ice, severe cold, rain or high winds. However, as of yet no maglev system has been installed in a location with such a harsh climate.

Acceleration: Maglev vehicles accelerate and decelerate faster than mechanical systems regardless of the slickness of the guideway or the slope of the grade, because they are non-contact systems.

Track: Maglev trains are not compatible with conventional track, and therefore require custom infrastructure for their entire route. By contrast conventional high-speed trains such as the TGV are able to run, albeit at reduced speeds, on existing rail infrastructure, thus reducing expenditure where new infrastructure would be particularly expensive (such as the final approaches to city terminals), or on extensions where traffic does not justify new infrastructure. John Harding, former chief maglev scientist at the Federal Railroad Administration, claimed that separate maglev infrastructure more than pays for itself with higher levels of all-weather operational availability and nominal maintenance costs. These claims have yet to be proven in an intense operational setting and they do not consider the increased maglev construction costs. However, in countries like China, there are discussion of building some key conventional high-speed rail tunnels/bridges to a standard that would allow them upgrading to maglev.

Efficiency: Conventional rail is probably more efficient at lower speeds. But due to the lack of physical contact between the track and the vehicle, maglev trains experience no rolling resistance, leaving only air resistance and electromagnetic drag, potentially improving power efficiency. Some systems, however, such as the Central Japan Railway Company SCMaglev use rubber tires at low speeds, reducing efficiency gains.

Weight: The electromagnets in many EMS and EDS designs require between 1 and 2 kilowatts per ton. The use of superconductor magnets can reduce the electromagnets' energy consumption. A 50-ton Transrapid maglev vehicle can lift an additional 20 tons, for a total of 70 tons, which consumes 70-140 kilowatts (94-188 hp). Most energy use for the TRI is for propulsion and overcoming air resistance at speeds over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

Weight loading: High-speed rail requires more support and construction for its concentrated wheel loading. Maglev cars are lighter and distribute weight more evenly.

Noise: Because the major source of noise of a maglev train comes from displaced air rather than from wheels touching rails, maglev trains produce less noise than a conventional train at equivalent speeds. However, the psychoacoustic profile of the maglev may reduce this benefit: a study concluded that maglev noise should be rated like road traffic, while conventional trains experience a 5-10 dB "bonus", as they are found less annoying at the same loudness level.

Magnet reliability: Superconducting magnets are generally used to generate the powerful magnetic fields to levitate and propel the trains. These magnets must be kept below their critical temperatures (this ranges from 4.2 K to 77 K, depending on the material). New alloys and manufacturing techniques in superconductors and cooling systems have helped address this issue.

Control systems: No signalling systems are needed for high-speed maglev, because such systems are computer controlled. Human operators cannot react fast enough to manage high-speed trains. High-speed systems require dedicated rights of way and are usually elevated. Two maglev system microwave towers are in constant contact with trains. There is no need for train whistles or horns, either.

Terrain: Maglevs are able to ascend higher grades, offering more routing flexibility and reduced tunneling.

High-speed maglev comparison with aircraft

Differences between airplane and maglev travel:

Efficiency: For maglev systems the lift-to-drag ratio can exceed that of aircraft (for example Inductrack can approach 200:1 at high speed, far higher than any aircraft). This can make maglevs more efficient per kilometer. However, at high cruising speeds, aerodynamic drag is much larger than lift-induced drag. Jet-powered aircraft take advantage of low air density at high altitudes to significantly reduce air drag. Hence despite their lift-to-drag ratio disadvantage, they can travel more efficiently at high speeds than maglev trains that operate at sea level.

Routing: Maglevs offer competitive journey times for distances of 800 kilometres (500 mi) or less. Additionally, maglevs can easily serve intermediate destinations.

Availability: Maglevs are little affected by weather.

Travel time: Maglevs do not face the extended security protocols faced by air travelers nor is time consumed for taxiing, or for queuing for take-off and landing.

With maglev technology, the train travels along a guideway of electromagnets which control the train's stability and speed. While the propulsion and levitation require no moving parts, the bogies can move in relation to the main body of the vehicle and some technologies require support by retractable wheels at low speeds under 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph). This compares with electric multiple units that may have several dozen parts per bogie. Maglev trains can therefore in some cases be quieter and smoother than conventional trains and have the potential for much higher speeds.

Despite over a century of research and development, there are only six operational maglev trains today - three in China, two in South Korea, and one in Japan. Maglev can be hard to economically justify for certain locations, however it has notable benefits over conventional railway systems, which includes lower operating and maintenance costs (with zero rolling friction its parts do not wear out quickly and hence less need to replace parts often), significantly lower odds of derailment (due to its design), an extremely quiet and smooth ride for passengers, little to no air pollution, and the railcars can be built wider and make it more comfortable and spacious for passengers. And also because it can travel up higher ascending grades (up to 10 percent), compared to conventional trains (up to 4 percent or less), maglev trains can also reduce the need to create new tunnels or to level the landscape to build its tracks.

The highest-recorded maglev speed is 603 kilometres per hour (375 mph), achieved in Japan by JR Central's L0 superconducting maglev on 21 April 2015, 28 kilometres per hour (17 mph) faster than the conventional TGV wheel-rail speed record. However, the operational and performance differences between these two very different technologies is far greater. The TGV record was achieved accelerating down a 72.4 kilometres (45 mi) slight decline, requiring 13 minutes. It then took another 77.25 kilometres (48 mi) for the TGV to stop, requiring a total distance of 149.65 kilometres (93 mi) for the test. The L0 record, however, was achieved on the 42.8 kilometres (26.6 mi) Yamanashi test track - less than 1/3 the distance. No maglev or wheel-rail commercial operation has actually been attempted at speeds over 500 kilometres per hour (310 mph).

History of maglev speed records

Two incidents involved fires. A Japanese test train in Miyazaki, MLU002, was completely consumed by a fire in 1991.

On 11 August 2006, a fire broke out on the commercial Shanghai Transrapid shortly after arriving at the Longyang terminal. People were evacuated without incident before the vehicle was moved about 1 kilometre to keep smoke from filling the station. NAMTI officials toured the SMT maintenance facility in November 2010 and learned that the cause of the fire was "thermal runaway" in a battery tray. As a result, SMT secured a new battery vendor, installed new temperature sensors and insulators and redesigned the trays.

On 22 September 2006, a Transrapid train collided with a maintenance vehicle on a test/publicity run in Lathen (Lower Saxony / north-western Germany). Twenty-three people were killed and ten were injured; these were the first maglev crash fatalities. The accident was caused by human error. Charges were brought against three Transrapid employees after a year-long investigation.

Safety is a greater concern with high-speed public transport due to the potential for high impact force and large number of casualties. In the case of maglev trains as well as conventional high-speed rails, an incident could result from human error, including loss of power, or factors outside human control, such as ground movement caused by an earthquake.

Interesting facts about Maglev trains

The first relevant patent, U.S. Patent 714,851 (2 December 1902), issued to Albert C. Albertson, used magnetic levitation to take part of the weight off of the wheels while using conventional propulsion.

In 1912 French-American inventor Émile Bachelet demonstrated a model train with electromagnetic levitation and propulsion in Mount Vernon, New York.

Maglev systems have been much more expensive to construct than conventional train systems, although the simpler construction of maglev vehicles makes them cheaper to manufacture and maintain.

The Shanghai maglev train, also known as the Shanghai Transrapid, has a top speed of 430 kilometres per hour (270 mph). The line is the fastest operational high-speed maglev train, connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the outskirts of central Pudong, Shanghai. It covers a distance of 30.5 kilometres (19 mi) in just over 8minutes. The launch in 2002 generated wide public interest and media attention in maglev for the first time.

Images for kids

MLX01 Maglev train Superconducting magnet bogie

The proposed Melbourne maglev connecting the city of Geelong through Metropolitan Melbourne's outer suburban growth corridors, Tullamarine and Avalon domestic in and international terminals in under 20 min. and on to Frankston, Victoria, in under 30 min.

In Spanish: Tren de levitación magnética para niños

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A train shoots from a tunnel and zips over a bridge. It passes in a blur over the farmland below. Blink, and you could miss it.

Japan is testing its new maglev bullet train. It's the fastest train in the world. It reaches speeds of 375 miles per hour. That's more than twice the top speed of the Acela Express, the fastest train in the United States.

Maglev is short for "magnetic levitation." This train does not just run on wheels. It also floats. Powerful magnets in the train and rails lift the train four inches into the air. They also it. And since the train doesn't touch the rails, there's no . That means super speeds.

Japan hopes to have the maglev in use by 2027. Traveling won't be the same. The country's capital, Tokyo, is 218 miles from the city of Nagoya. The trip takes nearly five hours by car. The maglev will make it in 40 minutes.

Japan is not the first country to build a magnetic train. China has used one for years. But that one is slower. It goes between Shanghai and its airport at a top speed of 268 miles per hour.

Next Stop

Will magnetic trains make it to the U.S.? There's a plan to build a maglev line between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. The project would cost billions of dollars. Some say the money should be used to build highways instead. But supporters of maglev point to its benefits. It's quiet. It needs little maintenance . And it will not derail. The future of train travel is fast approaching. Are you on board?

Life has sped up. People want to travel more quickly. High-speed trains make that possible. The most famous passenger-carrying maglev train is in China. Most high-speed trains rely on wheels. Check out these speeds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A train shoots from a tunnel and zips over a bridge. It passes in a blur over the farmland below. Blink, and you could miss it. Japan is testing its new maglev bullet train. It's the fastest train in the world. It reaches speeds of 375 miles per hour.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
K&J Magnetics Maglev Train Demonstration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A special kind of train called a maglev can go fast without touching a track.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is Engineering - What is Software Engineering - Engineering Lessons - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about different kinds of engineers and the engineering design process in Flocabulary's educational hip-hop video and activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Engineering and Design Process - BrainPOP Jr.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Magnets - Magnets Video - How Do Magnets Work - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn the properties of magnets and where to find them in objects you use every day with Flocabulary's educational hip-hop video and lesson resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Floods Book Collection on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Don't Flood the Fidgits Game . DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL | PBS KIDS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Build a city for the Fidgits that will stay safe and dry during a flood. Experiment with real-world building materials in this absorbing simulation game.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hurricanes - Elementary Science Lesson Plan - How Do Hurricanes Form? - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Engineering and Design Process - BrainPOP Jr.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is A Storm Surge? | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Do Floods Happen? | Weather Science | SciShow Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Engineering and Design Process - BrainPOP Jr.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Light - Elementary Science Lesson Plan - Light Travel - Flocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We think that light is one of the most important factors to consider when building or renovating a house. We wanted as much light as possible when we extended our cottage a few years ago and as we also wanted to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible we decided to build sections of our walls from glass bottles and jars.

It is an easy, inexpensive and visually pleasing solution when maximum light and good insulation properties are desired.

In the last few weeks we have had an upsurge of people from all over the world here on the blog, looking for information on how to build beautiful and practical glass bottle walls so we decided to write a bit more about the benefits and our conclusions after a few years of having these features in our house.

First of all, if you are interested in the construction of the walls, please read these previous posts on the subject. No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4.

An interesting fact about the walls are that in summer, when the sun is higher in the sky the light hits the bottles at an angle and lets through a pleasing amount of light that is not too bright. As the year turns and we hit the darker days, the sun is lower in the sky and light hits the bottles straight on. This makes for maximum brightness in winter, a time when we all can do with as much light as possible. The light is also refracted and much brighter coming through the bottles than it is coming through the middle arched window.

We like to incorporate as many old and found objects in the house as possible, so for months we trawled the local charity shops for old trifle and pudding bowls to incorporate into our designs. The light shines through the old patterns beautifully, creating a nostalgic feel that visitors always comment on. We picked up all our bowls for next to nothing and painted some with glass paint on the inside for an even more whimsical feel.

If you are looking for a fun, easy and inexpensive way to bring more light into your intended build we highly recommend building bottle walls. The made up bottle bricks have great insulation properties, well above double glazing due to the volume of air and the thickness of the glass in the ends. You can make them very formal with say all green or white bottles in a grid or do what we have done and mix up colours and shapes. There is actually nothing to stop you from creating spirals, stars, flowers or whatever you like. We are pleased with the glass paint that adds so many colours to our walls as coloured bottles are difficult to come by apart from the obvious green and brown.

We hope we have inspired someone to try this out, we have added walls made from bottles to our conservatory, bathroom and shed as well as our main living area. You will be pleasantly surprised if you do give it a go as it is easy and fun to see the wall take shape. Good luck!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We think that light is one of the most important factors to consider when building or renovating a house. We wanted as much light as possible when we extended our cottage a few years ago and as we also wanted to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible we decided to build sections of our...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this Matching Pairs lesson on physical science, students strengthen their understanding of light. They complete a vocabulary challenge and apply their vocabulary skills to the remaining practice problems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this Matching Pairs lesson on physical science, students strengthen their understanding of light. They complete a vocabulary challenge and apply their vocabulary skills to the remaining practice problems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Floods Book Collection on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Engineering and Design Process - BrainPOP Jr.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Throwback Thursday LEGO® Brick Shanghai Tower

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Strong Structures with Triangles | Design Squad

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
These spectacular skyscrapers are so much more than simply tall buildings. Meet some of the funkiest, roundest, cutest, and yes, tallest structures in the world.

Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort

How high: 335 feet / 27 stories
Nicknamed the "horseshoe hotel," this luxury resort includes two floors underground that complete its oval shape. The inside is spectacular too-the lobby ceiling is covered in 20,000 crystal lamps meant to look like a rolling wave.

Burj Khalifa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

How high: 2,722 feet / 163 stories
Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world-it's nearly three times as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France! But that's not all-here visitors can take in the view from the world's highest outdoor observation deck, nearly 148 stories up.

Lippo Centre

How high: 610 feet / 46 stories
Nicknamed the " koala buildings," these towers are covered in a geometric pattern that some people think looks like a whole bunch of the Australian marsupials clinging to two tree trunks.

Elephant Building

How high: 335 feet / 32 stories
You may come across an Asian elephant in Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia, but this elephant is unlike any you've seen before. It'd take 33 of the real Asian elephants standing on top of each other to reach the top of the building.

PHOTO CREDITS: SESTEVENS, ISTOCKPHOTO (PPG); RAMILALIYEV79, DREAMSTIME (FLAME TOWERS); OCEANFISHING, DREAMSTIME (SHERATON HOUZHOU); TYPHOONSKI, DREAMSTIME (BURJ KHALIFA); LAVENDERTIME, DREAMSTIME (LIPPO CENTER); CHRIS HEPBURN, ROBERT HARDING WORLD IMAGERY, CORBIS (THE SHARD); ADAM NORÉN, DREAMSTIME (TURNING TORSO); JUSTHAVEALOOK, ISTOCKPHOTO (ELEPHANT TOWER)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These spectacular skyscrapers are so much more than simply tall buildings. Meet some of the funkiest, roundest, cutest, and yes, tallest structures in the world. Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort How high: 335 feet / 27 stories Nicknamed the "horseshoe hotel," this luxury resort includes two floors underground that complete its oval shape.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Look up - way up! September 3 is Skyscraper Day. It celebrates those huge buildings that stretch towards the clouds in cities around the world. The first skyscraper was built in 1885 and reached 10 storeys tall. Today, skyscrapers can top over 100 floors! Mr. Orlando is here to give you some sky-high facts about these supersized buildings.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Believe it or not, it's normal for skyscrapers to sway. If you were near the top of the world's tallest skyscraper - the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which has 163 floors - you would feel the building sway about two metres! This swaying doesn't mean the building is unsafe. Experts say all tall structures are bound to sway a little bit in the wind. But builders have to be sure that super-strong winds don't topple a skyscraper. So the concrete that's used to make these tall buildings is strengthened with steel rods and beams. This steel makes up the "skeleton" of the skyscraper. It stops the tall building from swaying too much, helping the structure withstand heavy winds.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

For a skyscraper to be stable, it must be built on a strong foundation. The part of the building that's found below the ground is called the substructure. It supports the entire skyscraper and keeps it standing tall and strong. Workers must blast into the bedrock - the solid rock found deep beneath the soil - to build the sturdy base of the skyscraper. The part of a skyscraper that you see above the ground is known as the superstructure.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Elevators are a must-have in a skyscraper. Imagine how long it would take to reach the 100th floor without travelling by elevator! It's fair to say that the invention of the elevator in 1852 led to buildings getting taller and taller, paving the way for today's skyscrapers. Elevators make up the core of the building, which means architects pay close attention to their placement when designing a skyscraper. As for the fastest elevator in the world? It's found in a building in Shanghai and can transport passengers from the basement to the 119th floor in 53 seconds flat. Zoooom!

Image courtesy of Pixabay

It's true! It seems bugs have a lot to teach us. Mound termites, which live in Africa, South Asia, and Australia, build mounds that are covered in tiny holes. These holes allow fresh air to enter and cool down the structure. Now architects are studying the termites' design skills to create a skyscraper with a ventilation system that'll work like the walls of a termite mound.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Before it was used to describe a huge building, the word "skyscraper" was the term for a triangular sail on a ship. And it also had a few other meanings, including a large horse, a very tall man, and a big hat!

Now that we've got you thinking about skyscrapers, why not take on some building challenges yourself? Here's how:

Use building blocks, Lego, or even empty boxes to build your own skyscraper. How tall will your skyscraper be?

Challenge a friend to a building competition. Who can make the biggest skyscraper before it topples?

Take pictures of your favourite buildings. What do they have in common with skyscrapers?

Do some research and learn about the biggest skyscrapers found in the world. Find out information like when they were built and how tall they are.

Draw a picture of your ultimate skyscraper. What would it look like? What special features would it have?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 fun facts about skyscrapers | CBC Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Look up - way up! September 3 is Skyscraper Day. It celebrates those huge buildings that stretch towards the clouds in cities around the world. The first skyscraper was built in 1885 and reached 10 storeys tall. Today, skyscrapers can top over 100 floors!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2002, Brazilian engineer Alfredo Moser invented a simple way to bring the sun's light indoors: fill a clear plastic 2-liter bottle with water and two capfuls of bleach, then make a hole in the roof and secure it with a waterproof sealant.

The result: 40 to 60 watts of free, natural light.

How does it work? The bleach keeps the water from turning green, and the water refracts sunlight. To see this innovative but simple invention in action, watch the the ecoideasnet video above. Chilean Miguel Marchand helps to install the bottle lights, or Moser Lamps, in the home of a family that lives in the Andes.

Around 1.6 billion people - 25% of the Earth's population - live without electricity, but with this simple idea, they can enjoy sustainable light in their home for free. Moser Lamps are becoming popular solutions in the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Argentina, Fiji, and other countries, and give an incredibly useful second life to plastic bottles.

If you make a Moser Lamp, please contact us by twitter, facebook, or email to let us know.

h/t BBC News. Updated video.

Related watching: La casa ecológica de botellas, and more videos about sustainability.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to make a Moser Lamp: 60 watts of free, natural light

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2002, Brazilian engineer Alfredo Moser invented a simple way to bring the sun's light indoors: fill a clear plastic 2-liter bottle with water and two

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
You searched for wind energy | The Kid Should See This

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
River cleanup in Baltimore has gotten easier (and more fun to watch) with the construction of the Healthy Harbor initiative's Water Wheel. Designed by John Kellett and Daniel Chase, the solar and water-powered trash collector stops up to 50,000 lbs of daily trash and debris, often stormwater runoff, from continuing out into Baltimore Harbor. From Inhabitat:

Here's how it works: two orange booms help funnel debris towards the Water Wheel, where spring-loaded leaf rakes intercept the trash and push it onto a moving conveyor belt which empties out into a 16 yard dumpster, located on top of a floating dock. Once the dumpster is full, the dock is detached, hooked up to a boat, and then taken to a RESCO waste-to-energy plant, where the trash is incinerated and turned into electrical energy. The solar-powered pumps move 20,000 gallons of water an hour onto the rotating waterwheel that turns the conveyer belt.

In addition to cleaning up the harbor, the Water Wheel also provides other benefits. The constant rotation of the waterwheel puts much needed oxygen back into the water, helping to attract schools of fish and improve habitat conditions and water quality. The trash collector also removes organic waste, which if left to decompose, causes oxygen depletion and releases ammonia. As a project of the Healthy Harbor Living Laboratory, the Water Wheel also serves to educate people about stormwater management and the Inner Harbor.

The initiative's goal: swimmable, fishable waters by the year 2020.

Update: They added googly-style eyes to 'Mr. Trash Wheel' in April, 2016:

And as of October, 2016, 1,000,000 pounds of trash were collected in the 27 months that Mr. Trash Wheel had been operating.

In the archives, more solutions: turning plastic bottles into football jerseys, small houses, and bright DIY lights.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mr. Trash Wheel, Baltimore's Trash-Collecting Water Wheel | The Kid Should See This

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
River cleanup in Baltimore has gotten easier (and more fun to watch) with the construction of the Healthy Harbor initiative's Water Wheel. Designed by John Kellett and Daniel Chase, the solar and water-powered trash collector stops up to 50,000 lbs of daily trash and debris, often stormwater runoff, from continuing out into Baltimore Harbor.