Colton


 * **Project** || **Progress** || **Points** ||
 * Compare and contrast alternative fuels for cars || finished || 2 ||
 * Compare and contrast fossil fuels || finished || 2 ||
 * //The World is Flat// || Finished || 3 ||
 * TI-83 program || finished || 1 ||
 * Catholic Church || finished || 1 ||
 * Review of Foreign film || finished || 1 ||
 * Food Inc. || finished || 1 ||
 * I tunes college lecture || finished || 2 ||
 * Please post your completed activities as soon as possible. I will send you an email with your current grade. ||  ||   ||

Pollution is a big issue in the world today. One reason for so much pollution is the cars we drive. Normal gas powered cars emit toxins into the air that are bad for everyone’s health and the health of the planet. In this paper I will compare and contrast different types of alternative fuels. An alternative fuel is any type of fuel that is different from the traditional gasoline and diesel. There are many types of alternative fuels that use different types of energy to work. The main purpose of alternative fuels is to limit the amount of harmful substances that are emitted into the air by vehicles. One popular form of alternative fuel is biodiesel. Biodiesel is made from the oil extract from a variety of plants, such as peanuts and soybeans, although it can also be made from animal fat. Biodiesel is used in diesel engines and can be used without any modifications to the engine. It is nontoxic, biodegradable, and nearly free of sulfur and carcinogenic benzene which are deemed a major health concern. The only major problem with biodiesel fuel is that it is not widely available. Another common form of alternative fuel is ethanol. Ethanol is often produced from corn or sugar cane and is a form of alcohol with a higher octane rating than gasoline. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to be used in cars. Little or no modifications to the engine are needed to use ethanol. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline and is available nationwide but E85 requires a modified engine or a flexible fuel vehicle. Another commonly known alternative fuel is the use of electric cars. An electric car is run on electric power stored in batteries. Not many electric vehicles are available to the public but an electric car emits no harmful substances into the air. The fuel-cell car is very similar to electric cars but more complicated. It uses an electrochemical energy conversion to run similar to a battery. Its core source of energy is hydrogen, normally extracted from water. Both the electric car and fuel-cell car have an electric motor that puts power t0o the wheels. The main drawback to these vehicles is that they are still very expensive. All of these alternative fuels purpose is to limit or eliminate harmful substances from harming the planet and human beings. Biodiesel and electric powered vehicles are similar in how they need no gasoline to operate. On the other hand, ethanol needs gasoline to operate, even though it can be a very small amount. When it comes to price, biodiesel and ethanol are much more affordable than the electric powered vehicles. Ethanol is widely available to the public unlike biodiesel or electric powered vehicles. In conclusion, I hope this paper was informational on a few alternative fuels and how they are similar and different.
 * __Compare and Contrast of Alternative Fuels__**

__**Forms of Electricity**__
Electricity is generated in many forms. We are developing new ways to generate electricity everyday. In this paper I will compare and contrast how fossil fuels, wind power, and solar power generate electricity.  Coal, oil, and natural gas are all a non-renewable source of energy known as a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are formed from plants and animals that lived up to 300 million years ago, and are found in deposits beneath the earth. The fuels are burned to release the chemical energy that is stored within this resource. Energy is essential to modern society as we know it. Over 85% of our energy demands are met by the combustion of fossil fuels.  Wind is a clean and renewable energy source that can produce enough electricity to power millions of homes and businesses. The process by which wind is used to generate electricity is referred to as wind energy. Wind turbines convert wind's kinetic energy to mechanical power. This mechanical power can then be converted into electricity through the use of a generator.  We've used the Sun for drying clothes and food for thousands of years, but only recently have we been able to use it for generating power. In a sunny climate, you can get enough power to run a 100W light bulb from just one square meter of solar panel.  In conclusion, all of these sources of energy are effective in generating electricity. Wind power and solar power are both renewable resources unlike fossil fuels. In my opinion, if you can afford to buy the panels and live in a sunny area, solar power is the way to go. 


 * __The World is Flat__**

The book's main point is that the world is "flattening" as the result of the Internet, wireless technology, search engines and other innovations. Corporate capitalism has spread like wildfire to China, India and Russia, where factory workers, engineers and software programmers are paid a fraction of what their American counterparts are paid. Business reporters, labor activists, historians and anthropologists have reported these trends for more than a decade, but Friedman would have us believe that he single-handedly discovered the "flat world." In fact, without a trace of irony, he compares himself to Christopher Columbus embarking upon a global journey of exploration. Toward the end of the book Friedman acknowledges that most of the global population does not live in a "flat world" . Friedman's words and opinions shape the policies of leaders around the world.  In conclusion, I thought the book was very different and kind of confusing. I think I got the main points he was trying to say though.