Group 2 Abstract

Materials

We will use microphones and software to analyze sound waves, software to record instruments to play back, and synthesizers.

Why?

We are curious about the overtones of instruments and if digital technology can match the complexity of these natural waveforms. Furthermore, we hope to investigate if the process of digitally recording simplifies instrument’s sound waves.

Expected Results

The process of digitally recording live instruments will simplify the sound wave and reduce pitch variability. The more advanced (this will be based on software, price and analog features) the synthesizer is, the more closely it will approximate real instrument’s sound waves.

Group 5 Abstract

1 Reply

The scientific coalition known as the NEOShield proposes that there are three feasible methods of changing the path of any NEO ( Near Earth Objects) on a collision course with Earth: kinetic impact, blast deflection or gravity tractors. We plan to create a model of the first of these methods, and use high-speed cameras to show on a smaller scale how this plan would work and then extrapolate using gathered data to calculate the size and speed a projectile would require to deflect an asteroid of randomly generated specifications. We will then use similar mathematics to calculate the force required from a nuclear blast to push a NEO off course and the gravity needed to pull it away, in the other two methods respectively. We hypothesize, in terms of cost and difficulty, that the kinetic impact method will be most probable.

Group 4 Project Abstract

1 Reply

A brief analysis on the effect of signal penetration through increasing volume of a medium.

Many members of the Vassar community, students and faculty alike, occasionally experience issues with our wireless connections across campus. There are many variables as to why the connection in our rooms may be inferior to the connections in other locations on campus— RF interference, distance from the connection source, for example. However, a particular phenomena that our project seeks to elucidate is the effect of different materials on the quality of Wi-Fi reception. Our project examines the relationship between the loss of wifi/RF signal strength and the change of volume of a single type of material. This material that we use will be our sole variable. Our hypothesis is that by increasing the volume of our chosen material (wood, in this project), we will diminish the strength (and consequently, quality) of the Wi-Fi connection we will be measuring.

Group 3 Abstract

1 Reply

Our group will perform data collection using the WattsUpPro device to determine the battery usage of different laptops at different screen brightness levels. We will use the laptops of our peers to get a sampling of a variety of different models of MacBook laptops, since this is the most widely used laptop on campus. Our goal is to determine how much changing the brightness level actually effects battery consumption and if it is worth it to lower brightness and cause unwanted eye strain.We expect that lowering the brightness will decrease battery consumption at a consistent ratio. We want to determine how much different screen brightness levels actually affect how quickly a laptop battery will die.