Problem: Ocean Pollution
Answer: Biodegradeable Plastic And Our New and Improved Storm Drains
Overview
In this project me, Rachel, Timmy, and Casey were instructed to chose a major world problem and try to create something to solve it within a couple of weeks. My group chose pollution, specifically physical trash pollution to solve. We first started by researching physical ocean pollution and how it affects the world on reliable websites. We found out that this was killing ecosystems and habitats, endangering thousands of species. It also was polluting our beaches and even our own bodies. If a sea creature consumed a piece of plastic and we eat that creature, that garbage goes into our bodies. We knew we had to stop the garbage from causing any more damages to the world, so we came up with two designs to fix the trash pollution in our oceans. Our groups first solution was to create biodegradable plastic, so that it would only take months degrade instead of centuries. This plastic is also nonthreatening when consumed, and is made of edible materials such as water, white vinegar, glycerin, and corn starch. Our second solution was to keep more plastic out of the ocean by creating a new and improved storm drain. Usually in storm drains water and garbage goes down the same pipe and ends up in the water with little prevention. For our new and improved storm drain the trash is separated from the water, making sure it does not reach the ocean.
Our Project
Concepts
Gravity: the force that attracts an object towards the center of the earth. It is calculated by dividing velocity by time.Earth's gravity is 9.8 meters per second squared.
~We have enough plastic in the ocean to circle the world 4 times
`Only 4% of that plastic in the ocean is recovered
~ Garbage in the ocean kills thousands of animals a year by choking them or clogging their breathing passages.
~ Garbage in the ocean also pollutes our beaches and kills off phytoplankton affecting the entire food chain.
Steps into making this projects
1. Identify the need: Prevent physical pollution in oceans
2. Research the problem: It took us about a week to gather information about trash pollution in the ocean.
3.Develop possible solutions: We thought of biodegradable plastic and a new storm drain to prevent plastic from getting to the ocean.
4. Select most promising solution: We choose both solutions.
5. Construct a prototype: We made the plastic at home and the storm drain prototype in class.
6. Test and evaluate prototype: The prototype went perfect, stopping plastic from getting into the storm drain.
7. Communicate the design: We would like these ideas to spread to the entire world, to stop more ocean pollution.
8.Redesign: We did not need to redesign.
9. Repeat:
~We have enough plastic in the ocean to circle the world 4 times
`Only 4% of that plastic in the ocean is recovered
~ Garbage in the ocean kills thousands of animals a year by choking them or clogging their breathing passages.
~ Garbage in the ocean also pollutes our beaches and kills off phytoplankton affecting the entire food chain.
Steps into making this projects
1. Identify the need: Prevent physical pollution in oceans
2. Research the problem: It took us about a week to gather information about trash pollution in the ocean.
3.Develop possible solutions: We thought of biodegradable plastic and a new storm drain to prevent plastic from getting to the ocean.
4. Select most promising solution: We choose both solutions.
5. Construct a prototype: We made the plastic at home and the storm drain prototype in class.
6. Test and evaluate prototype: The prototype went perfect, stopping plastic from getting into the storm drain.
7. Communicate the design: We would like these ideas to spread to the entire world, to stop more ocean pollution.
8.Redesign: We did not need to redesign.
9. Repeat:
Reflection
Overall, this project came together really well. At first I was confused on how we were going to solve a world problem with only my group mates. But after our various amounts of research we came up with a solution. We even finished early so we were able to practice our presentation. This group worked well together, we all contributed equally to the project, splitting into two separate groups , one working on building the storm drain prototype and the other working on the presentation. While doing this we all took turn working on these two things. Also, since we were all interested in solving physical ocean pollution, we all enjoyed working on it. Some things that went poorly in this project were we weren't always on topic and we struggled to choose from differing ideas. For example, we could not decide on what we wanted to do to solve pollution. It was between a boat collecting trash, biodegradable plastic, and a new and improved storm drain. We eventually choose the biodegradable plastic and the storm drain. One other pit in this project was that we had a lot of trial and error. Our plastic took a couple of tries before turning out right. Sometimes it didn't feel right and other times it broke apart, but eventually we got it just right. We worked hard throughout this project and had fun, and because of that this project is one of my favorites so far.
Something I learned in this project is how ocean pollution has horrid consequences and can cause many problems to humans, sea animals, and even ecosystems. I also learned that glue does not hold everything together, and that most of the time drilling or hammering something together is usually the best options. Also glue can be to messy and doesn't give the design a clean look. I have learned a lot about physical ocean pollution and now that i have that knowledge, I will try to keep the ocean clean and plastic free.
Something I learned in this project is how ocean pollution has horrid consequences and can cause many problems to humans, sea animals, and even ecosystems. I also learned that glue does not hold everything together, and that most of the time drilling or hammering something together is usually the best options. Also glue can be to messy and doesn't give the design a clean look. I have learned a lot about physical ocean pollution and now that i have that knowledge, I will try to keep the ocean clean and plastic free.