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Ginsense loves to share knowledge in business, science, health, environment, advocating for improving our lives next to working quietly on embroidery projects.

Chutes, Gravity and Drag

Education, , , , , , , ,
bear skydiving with chute
Bear sporting Chute jump

A field of science in Physics states, in Newton’s First law: “An object will stay at rest or continue at constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force“.

No matter what mass an object is falling towards the Earth, science has found that they will fall at the same rate, if no resistance exists, and land at the same time.

So, how do these forces make skydiving, with a parachute, and science of gravity, chutes and drag – so popular?

Learning the Math of Falling

Calculations is done with use of the equations involving force, mass, and acceleration. Studies have shown that acceleration remains constant, for all matter with mass. This formula shows the most basic equation:

F=mg

The breakdown of this equation refers to the following:

F = force, objects being pulled to the Earth
m = mass of the object
g = acceleration rate due to gravity(g = 9.807 meters per second-squared (m/s2) )

Following mathematical rules will have us write out this formula as:

F= m x g

The use of this formula can get far more complex depending on which area of science, one is using it, such as in aeronautics, space sciences, engineering, etc.

The world of skydiving is a popular sport even though it can be a risk to one’s life. Not many can understand ‘why jump from a perfectly good plane?’ but there are enthusiasts who love the extreme sport of skydiving, or BASE jumping – sports requiring one to jump from a plane or off a fixed object (cliff). These are considered extreme sports and may require a fair investment of funds in gear and equipment since rental for a plane may not be anything to sneeze about.

Forces created in Skydiving

On topic, the meeting and creation of forces, involved with deploying a parachute. A person will jump out of a plane and find themselves falling through the skies, gaining speed along the way, since ‘a force of attraction exists between any two objects that have mass and the more mass they have, the greater the force of attraction. The closer they are, the greater the force of attraction will occur‘. I will hazard a guess that this particular stimulus creates a thrilling excitement not found in other sports, such as volley ball.

A parachute is deployed, and the chute creates a surface area, which slows the descent or rate of acceleration. This surface area creates ‘air resistance or drag force‘. The larger the surface area, the slower the descent. This ‘resistance or drag force‘ creates a force that’s opposite to the force of gravity therefore creating a ‘push and pull‘ force that are nearly equal.

Safety in Chute Deployment

The timing of deploying a parachute is important to note aka ‘pull altitude‘. This is due to a shrinking drag force. As one slows down, the drag force gets smaller even if the surface area of air resistance, is larger than one’s weight.

Also important is speed of the chute itself opening, therefore a deploying sequence with equipment is used, to prevent injuries, death or damage to the parachute. This helps to slow deployment of the main ‘canopy‘ along with maintaining a tangle-free ‘chute opening‘. Most skydivers will jump at about 12,500 feet above ground level, allowing for one minute of ‘free falling‘ before deploying their parachute, a minimum of 2000-2500 feet for the more experienced.

Differences between Skydiving and BASE Jumping

The gear and equipment for skydivers and BASE jumpers are NOT the same. BASE jumper gear is designed to deploy quicker and at slower air speeds. BASE jumpers do not have ‘reserve‘ chutes either as the skydivers equipment does. The science involved in these sports may be the same but both are definitely activities, not for the ‘faint hearted‘. Is this where I say being a sports spectator is safe?

Learning in Motion

Physics of Sky Diving

https://youtu.be/ur40O6nQHsw

Extra Reading

Gravity Equations Formulas Calculator

Your Guide to Skydiving

United States Parachute Association

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments, Share your thoughts! or Share this article. Use the ‘Ask a Question‘ form to send me  a request on a topic of your interest, or to say Hello!

Related —-> Communications Satellites Orbit Fly By, what?

Copyright Article all Rights reserved. Ginsense creates and posts articles online about business development, micro business, health, science, technology and advocates on social issues.

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Chromium Mining Ontario – Health and Environmental Impacts

Environment Issues, , , , , , , , ,
miners gear
miners gear

Chromite is a stable mineral containing iron and chromium. Chromium is an element with the ability to be changed into various states and are as follows : Cr-0, II, III, IV, V and VI which refers to the number of bonds each state is capable of producing.

Chromium III and VI (trivalent and hexavalent) can be found naturally or produced by human activity, in the environment. Are you aware that excessive amounts of Cr-VI is highly toxic for the human body?

Purpose of Chromite Mining

Chromite mining is performed, to produce a ferrochrome alloy, for stainless steel, textile dyes, wood preservation, leather tanning, rust resistant qualities, high heat tolerance, inks, plastics paints and other surface coating uses.

Chromium 6 (Cr-VI) can be found in low quantities within many of these products and/or produced through oxidation from Cr-III into Cr VI depending on activity around a chromite deposit or refinery.

States of Chromium Transformations

Natural transformation of Cr-VI to Cr-III occurs within our own bodies from our saliva and stomach acids, and can be found naturally, at tolerable levels, in our foods and water. A person’s natural ability to ‘reduct‘ Cr-VI to Cr-III is a major reason behind Green washing statements, ‘ingestion of Cr-VI is NOT toxic‘.

  • Reductase : an enzyme that catalyzes a chemical reduction (Miller – Kean, Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Allied Health)

A lack of chromium in our diets is believed to lead to problems with sugar metabolism and nerve problems. Supplements of chromium are available if a deficiency is identified.

Toxicity occurs when the body absorbs too much chromium for man, animal and plants, leading to disease, deformities and/or death.

Zero Control of Chemical Spread

Problems in control and prevention of chromium release, can occur at varying stages of chromite mining. Exposure and activities in the above ground atmosphere has found Cr-III converts to a mobile Cr-VI state.

Waste materials such as dust, waste water, slag, waste rocks and tailings contain various levels of chromium and Cr-VI and other waste metals. These can be spread by wind, running rain water, underground water, or other extreme weather conditions, if protective and secure containment measures, are not in place.

Conditions, such as exposure to manganese oxides, calcium, fire, water treatment, waste incinerators, smelting and chromite refining processing can oxidize stable Cr-III into mobile Cr-VI.

Efforts to reduce Cr-VI to Cr-III has been found to depend on atmospheric conditions, available low oxygen levels in soils, water and sediment, interactions with organic matter, reductants, microorganisms and low pH values. Decreasing availability of reductants such as coke, char and coal has resulted in use of experimental substitutions, which are not always successful.

The Metal Effluent Regulations in Canada, (Mining Watch, Canada-Living Near a Chromite Mine) have no standard for the discharge of chromium into the environment. Canadian and Ontario hazardous waste guidelines are less stringent compared to other nations.

Greater quantities of Cr-VI are found in emissions from industries producing chrome plating, chemical manufacturing of chromium, and evaporative cooling towers. Exposure to Cr-VI can take place through three routes:

  • Ingestion, drinking contaminated water or food (humans can convert Cr-VI to Cr-III)

  • Inhalation, breathing contaminated air (recognized as a carcinogen)

  • Dermal contact, skin contact with contaminated water or soil

Warming Mutagen sign

The length of time to chromium exposure, will determine the levels of harmful health effects, which may not be noticable at first because illness and disease, progress over time. One may find hints of exposure to a toxic environment by simply observing their surrounding plant life. Speed of disease progress between man and plants are different, but effects of exposure to chromium toxins, can provide clues. A call for soil, water and air quality testing along with a visit to your own physician may become a necessity.

The long term effects of chromite mining in Canada, are almost a complete unknown, since such mining has not been a major interest, only exploration. Most chromite mining has been done in far warmer and drier regions compared to plans for operating in extreme winter environment of Canada. There is no true comparable nation, to allow forecasting or preparation, for problems that may occur.

The economic benefits of this mining project may be extremely attractive but the long term vision must include the health hazards to lands, water, air, wildlife, and people. The long term effects on the surrounding lands, waters, plants, animals and humans, from chromite mining, must be seriously considered. Chromium -6 is not easy to remove from soil nor dissolves in water. It can sit in hexavalent form for many years.

Lastly, consideration must be given to the GUTTED  Canadian environmental standards, which may leave communities and environment,  open to unregulated toxic waste dumping and/or maintenance. What is truly more important? a few years infusion of jobs and money with risk to health, for ALL? or permanent long term health for ALL?

Learning in Motion

Extra Reading

Chromium Toxicity

Water Safety Test Kits

FREE Download – Chromium Toxicity in Plants

Portable Water Purification Systems

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share your thoughts. Send me a email if you have a request on a topic of interest, a guest post, or to say Hello! I hope you visit again.

Copyright Article (C)2021, all rights reserved. Ginsense creates and posts articles online about business development, micro business, health, science, technology, environment, and social issues.

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Conversations to teach Civic Engagement

Personal Development, , , , , , ,
Conversations start here
Conversations start here

‘It’s amazing how one little conversation can change things forever.‘

Conversation is the ‘exchange of thoughts through informal talking‘, together, but there is also the other quote, ‘talking to oneself‘.

Speaking about ‘civic engagement‘ refers to talking and working as a group (use of collective power) to bring about change in public issues of concern.

Either way, it’s to examine or share, a topic of interest. Discussing a specific topic can lead to learning various outcomes and who’s best for what task.

Discussing Civics with your Family

Meeting at the table has been a favored gathering point and event for family and friends. Conversation can be considered the ‘toast of the party’! Would you agree?

Civics refers to the duties, rights and privileges of citizens. Parents can introduce this topic during evening dinner meals, and discuss with their children, just what is and what isn’t allowed since society has it’s norms, rules and laws, along with the consequences.

Children can learn from these discussions and hopefully, avoid glamorizing or considering, criminal behaviors or acts. It’s preferable to begin with asking questions, to measure the amount of knowledge and starting point versus entering preach or lecture mode.

Learning gets Shared

Parents take on many roles for their children, and one is, as a teacher. Helping children understand their place in society, will help towards developing the child’s personal and intellectual growth.

In turn, they will be able to pass on these lessons learned at home, to their friends. They will also be learning the beginning steps of civic ‘engagement‘. The ability to discuss, as individuals yet act as a collective group, to achieve or address, public concerns.

Parent and child conversations can help develop a child’s intellect and learning to use reason, gain understanding and separate, real from the imaginary, and ground the ego. After all, society works together to uphold their norms, rules, regulations and laws, to function as a nation, and remain in a state of peace, with each other. A child learning this knowledge and skills can develop into a socially well -adjusted adult.

Short on Energy or Time

A few parents may find, they do not spend or make for, any quality time with their children other than giving directions and reinforcing rules. This can be detrimental for both parent and child along with making for a bad day.

Socially maladjusted children can usually be observed as those with behaviors and values that conflict with society norms. Abuse and neglect can have lifelong consequences on a child, which can easily be observed by trained education, and mental health professionals. Local laws may require any suspicions of child abuse and neglect, to be reported.

The idea of teaching a child about rights and responsibilities of adults, and children may be daunting for parents. This can be resolved by taking time, to research the subject online, or visiting the library.

Importance of Open minds, Patience and a Safe environment

A conversation with our child is a two or more person orchestra vs a one-sided conversation, allow for all to contribute. It takes skill to shape and guide a conversation to create meaning, learning and thinking. We can’t forget a dose of humor can lighten a conversation and add fun.

A meaningful conversation in a family can take place when trust and safety exists. Let your next dinner conversation be a learning experience for your children. There are many topics to choose but one should first start with their place in society. One may be influencing a future leader.

Learning in Motion

Extra Learning Resources

Civic Responsibility – A Paper

National Traffic Safety Institute

World Learning Education

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share with your friends and family . Use my ‘Ask a Question‘ form if you have a request on a topic of interest, a guest post, or to say Hello! I hope you visit again.

AIC| An informal Cornr all rights reserved. Ginsense creates and posts articles online about business development, micro business, health, science, technology and advocates on social issues.

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