A.L.E.R.T
My project ‘Avert’ (To avert and vertebrae combined) involves research into posture related back problems and a solution to help prevent back pain by maintaining correct posture. My solution is a chain-like structure fitted with 24 sensors that is sewn into a Skins compression top. When worn the chain is aligned with the user’s spine from the lower back to the base of the neck and moulds to the spine as it moves. As everybody’s back is slightly different it is important that the device can recognise the difference between what may be bad posture for one person, yet relatively normal for another. To solve this the device takes an initial reading of the user’s spine in correct posture and saves it as a reference measurement. Bad posture is defined by the device as angles that exceed the natural movement of individual vertebrae and their platelets. While in use the 24 sensors are continually measuring the shape of the user’s spine and comparing it with the original reference measurement taken earlier. If any measurement links to unhealthy posture a light will flash and an alarm will sound either aloud or through headphones until the posture is corrected. This device can be worn during light activity and non contact sports to encourage the user to maintain correct and healthy posture. The device can also record and save poor posture measurements that can be uploaded later to a software program I designed to draw the shape of the spine as a vector diagram. The device can also be plugged directly into a computer so that the user can see the shape of their spine as it moves in real time. I, along with others, tested my solution with many activities and found Avert to be a beneficial and reliable product as it successfully detects slouching and many potentially problematic spine shapes. Throughout my research I gained a thorough understanding about the potential damage bad posture can cause and the endless number of activities it occurs in. With further development I feel there is a huge potential for Avert to become a marketable product used not only for posture correction in everyday activity, but for many other purposes such as physiotherapy, biomechanics and athletic performance. Many people have approached me with praise and requests for the Avert system which is extremely exciting and also rewarding to know that my research has the potential to help people.
電離轉輪
This research primarily aims to observe how does the electric work, why does it work and the relationship between the surrounding circumstance and the repulsive torque. The electric whirl is made of an enameled wire bent into right angle with sharpened ends. When an AC high voltage is applied, the electric field intensity around the whirl ends is strong due to the small curvature radius of the ends. The molecules in air at both ends are ionized. This cause the phenomenon of point discharge. The positive and negative ions produced by alternating current forms AC ion wind, and produce a torque to make the whirl rotate. The object of this experiment is to observe the relationship between the surrounding circumstance and the torque repulsion. We design an apparatus to measure the angular velocity of the rotating whirl. We also calculated the kinetic energy of the whirl and the work done by the torque. The repulsive torque can be obtained by Work energy theorem. Result: (1)The angular velocity of the electric whirl is direct ratio to repulsive torque. When we want to find out the relationship between the manipulate reason and the repulsive torque, we can just compare the angular velocity with the manipulate reason. (2)The angular velocity of the electric whirl is only related to the peak voltage, and it does not make difference whether we apply AC high voltage and DC high voltage. (3)When the humidity is over 68%, the electric whirl cannot function normally. (4)Under the low-pressure circumstance, the electric whirl will rotate with glow discharge and the angular velocity will decrease to zero gradually.本實驗是探討電離轉輪的性質、原理與周圍環境的關係。「電離轉輪」為漆包線兩端折成直角並磨尖而成，接上交流高壓電源時，其尖端曲率半徑小，電場強度相對大，會游離尖端附近的空氣分子，產生尖端放電的現象，而交流電交替產生的正、負離子會形成交流離子風，並產生轉動力矩，使轉輪轉動。我們設計一個裝置，使其能偵測轉輪轉動的狀況，運用測得數據計算出轉動時的動能和作功狀況，套用功能定理便可求得轉輪通電時產生的斥力矩。實驗結果顯示(1)轉輪的角速度和尖端斥力矩成正相關，所以當我們想得知尖端斥力矩和實驗操縱變因的關係時，只要比較角速度和操縱變因就可以了，這簡化了原本繁複的計算和冗長的數據處理過程。(2)轉輪的角速度只和峰值電壓有關，和直流或交流沒有直接關係。(3)轉輪在超過溼度68%之後，就不會正常運作。(4)在低壓條件下，轉輪轉動時會伴隨淡紫色的輝光放電(glow discharge)現象，而抽氣塔中與轉輪尖端最接近的一點，也就是電場最強的一點，會和尖端同時產生光芒，相互輝映。
奈米科技材料新發現-氮化鉻
利用陰極電弧蒸鍍各種薄膜，如：類鑽膜（DLC）、氮化鈦膜（TiN）、氮化鉻膜（CrN）、氮化鋁鈦膜（TiAlN）以及先披覆上一層氮化鋁鈦膜（TiAlN）再加上類鑽膜（DLC）的合成膜等。這些薄膜現在已經被廣泛的應用於各種刀具、模具的表面處理之中。本研究主要在探討高速鋼鍍上氮化鉻膜（CrN）之後，對於硬度、磨耗性質的改變，以及觀察氮化鉻膜（CrN）表面結構之組織。 在研究中我們運用陰極電弧蒸鍍系統蒸鍍氮化鉻薄膜，分析上運用SEM來觀察薄膜表面結構組織，以及運用洛氏微硬度機來觀察試片的硬度，另外還有使用磨耗試驗機來進行磨耗測試。以上這些測試總括來說都是在得知性質有無實際上的改變，而這些實際上的改變對於蒸鍍之後的模具或刀具都能夠大幅的提高使用的壽命。 We evaporated different kinds of thin films by using the anode of the electronic arc, such as DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), TiN (Titanium Nitride), CrN (Chromium Nitride), TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride), and synthetic films of covering TiAlN and DLC. These thin films have been used widely in processing the surface of a variety of cutters and moulds. The purposes of this research were to investigate changes of hardness and abrasion and to observe the organization of the surface structure of CrN after High-speed steel evaporates CrN. In this study, we use the system of the anode of electronic arc to evaporate CrN. Besides, SEM is used to observe the organization of the surface structure of the thin films and Rockwell Micro-hardness Test Machine is used to investigate hardness of testing samples. Moreover, we use Abrasion Tester to test abrasion. These tests are taken to lead to a better understanding whether the quality really changed. These changes of evaporated moulds or cutters would extend their frequency of using.
奈米使你變美了！-奈米二氧化鈦在化妝品上的應用
奈米的科學與技術將是21 世紀所要探討的方向。在了解奈米粒子的表面效應、小尺寸效應、量子尺寸效應、宏觀量子隧道效應後，發現其應用甚廣，諸如再生物、醫學、環境、國防、工業產品等方面，都將佔有很重要的地位。我們主要是利用溶膠-凝膠法來製造二氧化鈦奈米粒子，並了解二氧化鈦奈米粒子可吸收紫外線及光催化反應，將廣泛應用電子、紡織、塑膠、橡膠，空氣淨化及廢水處理方面。本實驗將利用二氧化鈦的吸收紫外線特性，來研究其應用在化妝品上面。The science and technology of nanomater will be the direction we will explore in the 21st century. After understanding surface area effect of nanometer particle, Small size effect, Quantum effect, and Macroscopic quantum tunnel effect, we can diswver the application is very far-fluing. For example:biochemistry, medical science,eneironment,national defense and industrial products,will devine a very important position.We mainly use sol-gel method to produce U-TiO?,and understand the absorption of UV and photocatalysis,plastics,mbber,purging air,and dealing with effluents.This experiment will use characteristic of absorbing UV of U-TiO? for researching the application of cosmstics.
以珊瑚蛋白及光頻轉換分子改善太陽能電池效率之研究
能源危機日益嚴重，開發再生能源成為當務之急。在諸多的再生能源之中，太陽能最易於使用，且可源源不絕的不斷取得利用。但目前太陽能電池的效率始終不高。其中重要的原因是太陽本身的頻譜多為短波長，並不適合絕大部分頻譜響應較佳，多為長波長的太陽能電池。目前改善效率方式，多為改變太陽能電池的頻譜響應以配合太陽之頻譜。本研究提出反向思考的概念，藉由頻譜轉換的方法，改變照射在太陽能電池上的太陽光頻譜，以提升太陽能電池的效率。本研究利用一種珊瑚礁的螢光蛋白質（DsRed）以及人工合成的螢光染料（Cy-5）最為本研究的頻譜轉換的材料，加於低成本，目前市場佔有率較大的單晶矽太陽能電池上，經由理論與實驗的結果顯示，增加的發電效率約為3~5%，證實利用頻譜轉換的概念確實可以提升太陽能電池的效率。Energy crisis has become more and more serious in recent years, which makes recycled-energy development is a must. Among different recycled energies, solar power has two advantages, that is, easy-to-use and endless supply. However, the conventional solar cell makes poor use of the solar spectrum because the solar spectrum is mainly composed of short-wavelength, which can’t fit to most of solar cells which is more sensitive to long-wavelength. Currently, the major method to improve the efficiency is change the function of spectral response, such as concentration lens, tracking devices, and antireflection coating. Up to now, no one notices the possibility of changing solar spectrum yet. This research provides an insight into this issue. Instead of changing the function of spectral response, I changed the solar spectrum, which irradiates solar cells through spectrum conversion to improve solar cells’ efficiency. This research uses one kind of coral fluorescence proteins (DsRed) and one kind of artificial fluorescence dyes (Cy-5) as the materials of spectrum conversion. Then coat them on the low-cost and high-market-share mono-crystal-Si. According to the theories I researched and my experiments, the improvement of the efficiency is about 3~5%, which proves it is actually useful to elevate the efficiency of solar cells through spectrum conversion.
Fast Fabulous Flush
Water is very vital in our lives as we cannot live without it. However our world is now facing a serious problem. Owing to the increasing population, water resources are scarce. In recent years, we can see that droughts have been affecting millions of people around the globe. In the meantime, people in developed countries have been wasting huge amount of water for flushing the toilet. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of household water goes toward flushing the toilet. Countries like China, US, Canada and UK are still using fresh water in flushing, consuming 190 million L of fresh water every day, not to mention the energy needed in pumping the water. In fact, it is not necessary to use so much water to flush away substances like tissue, hair, urine etc. The water we used is far more than we need. However, as we cannot control how much water is used when we flush, all water in the cistern is flushed away. Realizing the seriousness of water shortage and wastage in flushing, we tried to invent a device to conserve water by controlling the amount of flushing water used. Firstly, we study the principle of normal flushing system so as to understand why flushing cannot be controlled. Then, we tried to think of ways to control flushing. We have tried various methods and materials. After the 6-month testing and modification, we successfully invented Fast Fabulous Flush. It is a device which can be fit into existing cistern to conserve water. With our invention, users can control the amount of water flushed according to needs, so as not to waste unnecessary water. Our invention costs a low price which is no more than 2 US dollar. Also, it can be fit into existing cistern within 3 minutes with simple installation process. Most importantly, flushing water can be conserved effectively. It is estimated that around 200L of water can be saved per household every day.
Waste Not,Want Not
Many people in South Africa still use open fires for cooking. There is a\r large amount of wasted heat lost by four methods of heat transfer:-\r radiation, convection, conduction and evaporation.\r I constructed a vessel that would reduce heat loss, and focus the heat\r emitted from a fire onto the bottom of a pot. I used materials that were\r cheap and easy to obtain, so that those using open fires would be able to\r construct similar vessels to save energy and reduce pollution.\r The vessels were made up of a standard wire mesh frame that was\r surround by trial coverings, namely tin foil, asbestos rope, industrial foil,\r papier mache, ceramic, and 2 ceiling insulators.\r 5 mls of methylated spirits was burned in each vessel. The temperature\r gain of 100mls of water in a standard pot was recorded. 5 trials on each\r vessel were performed. 2 groups of vessel were found. Those that\r produced high temperature gains, burned quickly, and produced a large\r amount of soot deposits on the pot, and a second group that did the\r opposite.\r I compared the rate of heating from my best vessel to that of a stove as\r well as a microwave oven. Heating from the vessel was faster than that of\r the stove, and slightly slower than the microwave.\r I measured the heat emitted from a fire in a three-dimensional pattern and\r found that the maximal heat was some distance above the flame.\r From these results I devised 12 guidelines that would minimize the\r energy need, and pollution produced, when cooking on an open fire