LSAMP Scholars Abstracts

Field Title Abstract
Biochemistry Extraction of The Active Chemicals in Allium sativum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Cuminum syminum to Inhibit the Growth of Enterococcus faecalis Traditionally, antibiotics have been used to inhibit bacterial growth, but in recent times bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become an issue. For years, spices have been used as preservatives, inhibiting bacterial growth and preventing food spoilage. The aim of this research is to investigate in vitro inhibitory effects of garlic (allium sativum), cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum) and cumin (cuminum cyminum) on the growth of Enterococcus faecalis. In order to extract the active chemicals, found within the spices, solvents were used. The first solvent that was used was dichloromethane, the second solvent used was ethanol in a steam distillation of the spices. The disc diffusion method was to be used to test the effects of the spices on E. faecalis. Sterile discs were to be soaked in filtered, autoclaved extracts of each spice. The synergistic effects of the spices were also to be investigated using discs soaked in mixtures of the extracts. The soaked discs were then to be placed at equal distance apart on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) Petri dishes inoculated with E. faecalis. Trimethoprim (5 mg) and Penicillin (10 IU) infused discs were to be used as positive controls and un-inoculated discs as negative controls. Six replicates of the treatments were to be prepared. Petri dishes were to be incubated for 24-48 hours at 37°C after which the diameters of the zones of inhibition would have been recorded. Previously conducted research results suggest that it is possible to control the growth of bacteria using natural chemicals found in spices. However, the extracts that were obtained were not able to be tested to that effect because of unforeseen circumstances. The results previously obtained also showed that cumin used singly or in combination with garlic and cinnamon has the potential to control the growth of bacteria. This will be tested using the extracts of the active chemicals in future research.
Biology Caffeine Effects on Growth of Plants: Hindrance or Helpful? The unfavorable and accommodating effects of caffeine have been explored in both humans and animals; and at times have been found to be unpleasant and dangerous to one's health. However, caffeine is universally known as a source of a quick burst of energy when needed. If we could supply caffeine to plants in moderate dosages through their water supply, then perhaps it would be beneficial to them as well. In this research, we apply that same thought process to the growth potential in plants to document whether it would increase their growth rate steadily or present adverse effects. Our hypothesis was simple, will caffeinated water treatments improve the growth of kale plants? Increasingly improved growth was observed in a period of 6 weeks and two treatments within the two groups of plants that were being treated with both 200 grams of caffeine (an entire pill) with 200 ml of water, and 100 grams of caffeine (half a pill) with 200 ml of water. Our findings indicated not only were the plants visibly larger but statistically as well. Percentage growth of the groups varied from 32 percent to upwards of 45 percent while the untreated group only experienced 26-28 percent of change. Therefore, we can observe that the application of caffeine in the water supply of these plants did enable enhanced growth. If given the opportunity to continue the treatments, it is likely that we would continue to see continual growth. Furthermore, if we were also able to apply this method to the cultivation of other plants, there is potential for improved growth as well.
Biology Effects of Caffeine on Mitochondrial Function in Kale Plants According to the Department of Health, Exercise and Sports Science, caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed to enhance performance of mitochondrial biosynthesis and increase metabolic rate, therefore high doses of caffeine can be toxic to mitochondrial function, and low doses can stimulate its' function. In previous studies, a six weeks treatment with 200mg of caffeine was seen to increase the growth rate of the kale plant. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that caffeine could increase mitochondrial function in kale. The purpose of this research project was to perform treatments with different dosages of caffeine in kale plants with the intention of seeing the effect of caffeine in mitochondrial function, due to low doses of caffeine stimulating mitochondrial function. In the current study we found that caffeine had an effect on growth rate, but after six weeks caffeine had been already washed out of the kale plants. We then measured the acute effects of caffeine through soaking the leaf directly into the low and high doses of caffeine. We found that high doses of caffeine are toxic for kale plants, leading to apoptosis of plant cells. In all, low dose of caffeine may increase mitochondrial function and may have contributed with growth of kale plants. Further analysis of caffeine effect on mitochondrial function would need to be employed via the use of kale leaves in the first six weeks of treatment to determine optimal mitochondrial function.  
Biology The Effect of Pair Planting on Tomato Plants The object of this experiment was to determine if the marigold would impact the growth of tomatoes plants in anyway. A total number of 16 plants were divided into two sets of 2 rows. Thirteen young marigold flowers were used in this experiment. The marigold flowers had a significant effect on the tomatoes because they decreased the growth rate. Marigold flowers can be used as an alternative to pesticides, which was observed for certain pests in this experiment. However, it will affect the growth rate at which the tomatoes will grow.
Biology PCR Amplification of the Lycopene Epsilon Cyclase Gene in Tomato Lycopene epsilon cyclase is a gene that's involved in the lycopene biosynthesis during fruit development. The research focused on primers selection using a “Blast” comparing sequences to identify the targeted gene in six possible fruits. DNA was extracted from the samples and then PCR was done to amplify copies of DNA segments. The samples were then used for gel electrophoresis, revealing that three out of the six plants may have the gene. The results indicated that Beefmaster Tomato and Plum Tomato contains lycopene epsilon cyclase, however it was also found in our negative control group (Petunia) meaning the primers are picking up other genomes. This concludes the presence of the gene in two out of our six plants and the possibility of a primer selectivity.
Biology Classifying Plants Using DNA Barcodes Plant taxonomy has long been under investigation, with morphological analysis being the key to defining these relationships. Approaches in molecular biology have been used to assist in defining these relationships. By using DNA barcoding primers, the aim is to investigate the molecular taxonomy of plants at Valencia College West Campus and to identify and classify this plants using the rbcl gene, which is required during photosynthesis. This experiment consisted of using Basic Alignment Search Tool (Blast) to identify sequences in databases and phylogenetic analysis to classify our plants data. This was done through collecting, and documenting the plant samples, and isolating the DNA from the plant tissue through purification, incubation and storage. The results shown include the PCR products obtained by gel electrophoresis. The product was roughly 500-600 base pairs in size which confirmed that the gene of interest(rBcl) was successfully amplified. Further studies will be done to determine the exact sequence of the gene that was amplified and identify the species of the plant.
Biology Twin Inverted Pulse Sonar in Pink Dolphins Amazon River dolphins Inia geoffrensis are facing increasing anthropogenic threats due to human development. This species is difficult to visually observe due to its morphology and behavior as well as the nebulous waters in which it resides. This species is listed as data deficient by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and consequently lacks international endangered species protection. Acoustical methods may provide a better means of assessing dolphin populations by exploring the acoustical emanations of Amazon River dolphins for individual signatures. The Amazon River dolphins were recorded in August of 2016 in the Peruvian Amazon. Fifteen seconds of an audio recording were analyzed using Raven software (Cornell University), documenting pulse timings and frequencies. Consistent time intervals were found between initial pulses in each click envelope. Pulse frequencies ranged up to 338 kHz, higher than has previously been reported in the literature. These data should be correlated with dolphin position in relation to the hydrophone array to determine the click envelope waveform for on and off-axis clicks, given that dolphin position influences frequencies.
Biology Linalool as a Pesticide Linalool is found in plants from the Lamiaceae family. This essential oils stands out for its capacity for replacing other types of chemicals such as pesticide and antibiotics. Through a series of experiments, it has been shown that Linalool in combination with other chemicals have repellency activity over insects. In the summer term, 2017 at Valencia College's garden, I started to conduct a research project. In this research experiment, my objective was to demonstrate that natural essential oils can help to prevent insects from damaging the plant. I followed a process of steps as a method to conduct the experiment. First, I cleared the garden's space. Second, I planted 12 Coleus plants. I placed 6 plants on the west side of the garden and 6 pant on the east side of the garden with a distance of 37cm apart from each other. Third, I sprayed the six plants placed in the east side with a mixture of 50L of water and 50 drops of Linalool oil. Fourth, I collected the data every Tuesday and Thursday for a period of 3 weeks I collected the data. Data was record by height and visual appearance. After averaging the data and comparing the appearance Coleus plants treated with only water with those treated with the mixture, it can be conclude that the capacity of Linalool repellency over the insect is inconclusive.
Biology Effects of Aging on Mitochondrial Function and Structure in Plant Cells The mitochondria organelles are responsible for cell respiration and its function is mainly due to its structure. Like animal cells, the mitochondria in plant cells will be affected in its ability to produce CO2 (carbon dioxide) by aging. This semester I investigated the effects of aging on mitochondrial structure and function at Valencia College and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) by analyzing old and young plant cells. The structure of the mitochondria in plant cells was analyzed by taking images using Mito tracker under fluorescence microscope. I also analyzed the function of the mitochondria by measuring its production of CO2 using a PS-2110 Carbon Dioxide Gas Sensor. There is correlation between aging and mitochondrial structure and function for all the samples in both parts of the experiment. The results indicate that aging does have a factor on the function and structure of the mitochondria based on the images and data collected of the production of CO2.
Biology, Computer Science Amazon River Dolphins Open-Source Website Amazon river dolphins, Inia geoffrensis, are greatly under-researched to the point where International Union for Conservation of Nature does not even know their conservation status that they have declared the species as data deficient. The purpose of this applied research is to create an open-source website called ADAL, Amazon Dolphins Acoustic Lab, where it will unite scientists and resources in order to protect Inia geoffrensis from extinction. In the end, ADAL is now an open-source website where people all around the world can have access to the data that we have. It is a website where people can have conversations about Amazon river dolphins research and also where people can identify and discover information from our data such as audio recordings, graphs, pictures, videos, and much more. While it took me more than I anticipated to complete this project and there is still a lot of information to upload to the website, ADAL will help the Amazon river dolphins and the scientific community in the long run.
Chemistry An Alternative Compound for Calculating Equilibrium Constant This research was conducted to affect the way students complete a chemistry lab experiment, one for which students consistently encountered calculation errors when computing the equilibrium constant and ended up getting negative values. Experiments were conducted using n-butanol instead of the 3-porpanol that is traditionally used. Using titration to determine the volume of solution required to bring two liquids to equilibrium, subsequent calculations resulted in values for the equilibrium constant that were within an acceptable range of the expected value. This research demonstrated that n-butanol could be used as a substitute compound to obtain acceptable values for the equilibrium constant in a reaction between acetic acid and an alcohol. Given these results, it is the expected that revised version of the experiment using n-butanol will be implemented and errors associated with 3-propanol will be eliminated.
Chemistry Purity vs. Yield, what solvent does the deal? The purpose of this research project was to perform a free-radical bromination of 4-methylbenzoic acid with the solvents dichloromethane and chlorobenzene with the intention of replacing the environmentally hazardous carbon tetrachloride solvent. The experiment consisted of performing a reflux to heat and a vacuum filtration to isolate the product. The mass of the product was then collected and found to be 1.6608g for the dichloromethane solvent which was 76.310% in yield and with a experimental melting point range of 217.0-218.6°C. Furthermore, for the chlorobenzene solvent it was found that the product yield was 1.4693g with a percent yield of 64.996% and a experimental melting point range of 218.9-220.7°C. In comparison to the theoretical melting point range of 223-227°C it is apparent that the product from the chlorobenzene solvent was slightly more pure and was experiencing less melting point depression. However, the percent yields for the products showed that the dichloromethane solvent seemed to display a larger yield of product in comparison to the chlorobenzene solvent. In all, since the yields/melting points were very close, it can be determined that chlorobenzene and dichloromethane are adequate replacements for the carbon tetrachloride solvent because, they both give a plausible yield, relatively pure product, and are safe for the environment. Further analysis of purity would need to be employed via the use of Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry to determine the optimal solvent from dichloromethane and chlorobenzene.
Chemistry Synthesis of Banana Oil Banana oil is made naturally by banana plants; it can also be produced synthetically by a fisher esterification method. The general formula of a fisher esterification method is the mixture of a carboxylic acid and alcohol to produce an ester and water in the presence of an acid catalyst. The purpose of this experiment was to synthesize isopentyl acetate via the esterification reaction by heating acetic acid and isopentyl alcohol with sulfuric acid present as a catalyst. Four major processes are required in acquiring the isopentyl acetate. Reflux of the mixture was conducted to increase the yield of the product. Two extraction methods were used to isolate the aqueous layers from the organic layer with washing and drying agents. To further purify the liquid, a simple distillation was set up which led to the final product- a colorless oil with fruity odor. A gas chromatogram was used to qualitatively display the components of each chemical which led to quantify the amount present in each individual component.
Computer Programming, Information Technology Practical Efficiency Finals week can leave many areas of a college campus congested, particularly the Testing Center. Use of modern technology has been developed to alleviate the sign-in process in order to expedite student intake. This semester I have developed a webpage designed to accelerate and replace the old sign-in procedure used during finals week while working with the Learning Support Center on East Campus to help facilitate the program. Methods- Operating the Notepad application, I began coding the inner workings of the webpage using different forms of programming languages intertwined together. The program will cut the wait intervals for all students seeking to take finals on East Campus and lighten the burden placed on the Testing Center staff while increasing efficiency. The finished webpage has contributed to the productivity and efficiency of the East Campus Testing Center during finals week. This work could help progress the innovation of modern technologies to be used to benefit others and the workplace.
Computer Science Custom Portable Gaming System Using RaspberryPi The RaspberryPi is a mini-computer the size of a credit card originally sought out to teach young children how to code. Due to its small size and vast capabilities its popularity grew and a cult following full of inventions powered by the Pi ensued. Curious, I wanted to test out for myself one its more popular creations, a DIY Gameboy known as the PiGRRL 2. After tracking down all parts necessary I started the building process and learning how to solder and use a 3D printer. I successfully managed to get the emulator which ran games to work connected to a monitor however, the physical encapsulation was not as simple. Even though all the suggested materials were used, it appeared that the screws were not the correct size and with the time allowed for the project it would not be able to be completed. Although the project was not successful I do plan to one day complete this project so that all components work together as anticipated. I gained a lot of experience that would have otherwise not been possible within my major which is software oriented and it was beneficial to see it come together with hardware, having created something from scratch.
Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering Proximity Sensor Using Arduino Technology is an important part of everyday life, from the smartphones used for business and family to the ventilators keeping the sickliest patients alive. Behind these devices are the combined efforts of computer engineers and computer programmers, who work to create tools that can benefit today's modern world. In the Fall of 2017, we learned how to work with Arduino and its software, and worked on building a device that could measure its distance from an object. We built the device with an Arduino Uno board and an infrared proximity sensor. We also wrote a program that made the components interact with each other to produce a measurement. We created a working proximity sensor that could measure from a range of 6 – 30 centimeters with the press of a button. Through the building process of the device, we learned how to put together components of a device and how to write programs that would work with them. The knowledge we gained can be used to expand on the device with a variety of other functions.
Mathematics Uncovering the Truth The purpose behind my research was to uncover why students struggle with basic concepts in mathematics. Specifically, developmental courses and college algebra. I am a biology major pursuing an MD-P.h.D degree, and as a student, I am aware that there are obstacles within mathematical courses, especially. Throughout the process I gained knowledge as to the topics students struggle most in and why. Also, I gained the perspective of other students and why they believed these courses are a struggle for them. This is significant within all STEM degrees because all of them require a student to successfully complete higher level mathematical courses. Fascinating were the commonalities discovered in my research. From this journey, not only did I get a better understanding of the reasons behind these obstacles, but as to how I can approach a classroom of students when I become a professor myself.
Mechanical engineering Development of Affordable Prosthetics Utilizing 3D Printing and 3D CADD Mechanical engineering has expanded to biomechanical engineering, which includes development of prosthetics such as limbs and organs. 3D printing is the method utilized because it can be produced on demand. The program used to create models of objects to print is called CAD or 3D modeling. One such program is Solidworks. This semester, I learned how to use this program and begun designing are prosthetic arm. The arm was 3D printed at Valencia College's 3D maker space using PLA filament. I implemented a logic board called the Arduino in order to control all aspects of movement electronically. After careful consideration, a carbonite gear servo with high torque output was implemented to control finger movement. A program was written on the logic board to control this mechanism. Finally, an electromyographic sensor was used to read frequency output by the user's muscle movement. This in turn prompts the servo to move the 3D printed prosthetic accordingly. Although refinement can and will be made, this is huge step into more effective, efficient and affordable prosthetic limbs.
Microbiology Aloe vera as a Bactericide Aloe barbadensis, or Aloe vera, has been shown to have bactericidal and medicinal properties. It contains active ingredients such as anthraquinones and pyrocatechol, both of which are known to interfere in processes such as bacterial protein synthesis and elimination of bacteria. The purpose of this experiment was to analyze the effect of crude Aloe vera extract on eight different species of bacteria: Alcaligenes faecalis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Serratia marcescens. Three tryptic soy agar (TSA) bacterial lawns were prepared for each bacterium. The treatment was applied as sterile discs soaked in crude Aloe vera gel extract. Sterile discs soaked in alcohol acted as the negative control and discs of the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin as the positive control. After 72 hours of incubation at 37˚C, the diameter of the zone of inhibition for each treatment was recorded and the mean calculated. The bacteria with the largest zones of inhibition were E. coli with 10.3 mm, S. epidermidis with 10 mm, and E. faecalis with 9.8 mm. There was no difference between the effect of the Aloe vera and the control on either A. faecalis or P. aeruginosa. Previous work demonstrating the antibacterial effect of Aloe vera on Gram-positive bacteria was supported by this experiment. However, the Gram-negative E. coli, was also inhibited in this research, suggesting that further work on the effect of Aloe vera on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is necessary.
Microbiology Target Segment of the Bacterial 16 S rDNA Amplification Polymerase Chain Reactions, better known as PCR, is a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure used in molecular biology to amplify a sequence of DNA, producing thousands to millions of copies of a target DNA segment. This semester in Microbiology research, I investigated the importance of PCR as an indispensable technique widely used in research and clinical laboratories. I inoculated bacteria from my own mouth, and selected single colonies to extract DNA. Then, I amplified the samples using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PRC) and molecules were identified using Gel Electrophoresis. The results of my experiment were negative. This means that after running the Gel Electrophoresis, no track of DNA was found in the gel when observed under ultraviolet light. While the results are negative, a more careful investigation may help identify those reasons why this experiment failed to show positive results.
Microbiology Bacterial Transformation using pGLO to Illustrate Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics The overuse and abuse of antibiotics is the main factor that is generating an increase in the current levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As a result, a growing number of common infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and salmonella are becoming harder to treat given that antibiotics are becoming less effective. In an attempt to examine the occurrence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics pGLO plasmid, which contains the reporter gene called GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) and a gene for resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin, was will be introduced into E. coli bacteria through genetic transformation. When bacteria transformed with pGLO plasmid are grown in the company of arabinose (a sugar for the bacterial cell), the GFP gene illuminates, causing the bacteria to express a fluorescent green. In this lab experiment we inoculated transformed bacteria in nutrient agar plates containing LB, LB/AMP and LB/AMP/ARA. For transformed bacteria all plates had cells and the LB/AMP/ARA plate had the florescent protein, these plates glowed due to the GFP gene. This observation is useful when understanding how bacteria changes and survives in the light of antibiotics.
Microbiology Investigating the Dynamics of Molecular Cloning Technologies The role of molecular cloning in genetic research has been expanding at an astonishing rate. This field of science is highly versatile and has opened an innumerable amount of possibilities in the studies of DNA. Treating diseases, modernizing vaccines, and analyzing genetic disorders are just some of the many areas of research that can be revolutionized with molecular cloning. For this reason, it is of extreme importance to engrain basic molecular cloning techniques in the rising scientists of these fields. Through the practice of restriction digests, media preparation for bacterial growth, DNA preparation, and utilization of bioinformatics tools, a wealth of knowledge is developed. This knowledge will be exerted in a forthcoming Glutaryl Co-A Dehydrogenase (GCDH) gene assay, but it can also be of great benefit in any research experience where DNA is manipulated.
Microbiology Individual and Synergistic Growth Inhibition Effect of Allium sativum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Cuminum cyminum on Enterococcus faecalis For years spices have been used as preservatives to inhibit bacterial growth. In recent times antibiotic resistance has gradually become an issue. The intent of this research is to investigate in-vitro the effects of natural chemicals, within spices, that cause a growth inhibitory effect on the Enterococcus faecalis bacterium. The three spice extracts that were assessed were Garlic (Allium sativum), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and Cumin (Cuminum cyminum). The disc diffusion method was used to determine the inhibition zones of the spices relative to the microorganism studied. Antibiotic discs of Trimethoprim (5 mg) and Penicillin (10 IU) were used as positive controls. Un-inoculated discs were used as the control. The synergistic effects of the spices were also investigated. The data acquired in the experiment showed inhibition zones ranging from... to …mm. The results obtained, show the possibility of creating medication using natural chemicals that will aid in curing illnesses without the high risk of bacterial resistance.
Physics A Wireless World Wireless energy is like magic. Magic and science are one and the same and the further technology advances the more the boundaries between these two seemingly opposite and fantastic realms of thought boil and rise from one another like the philosopher's stone undergoing dissolution in an alchemist's alembic. This spring, I researched Nikola Tesla, his dreams, his visions of grandeur, and his Tesla coil which I built a small variant of while completing my assistance-ship with LSAMP at Valencia College's East Campus. The small variant was an air-cored transformer that operates fairly similar to a Tesla Coil and can power Ne2, and fluorescent light bulbs from a short distance. I used this Tesla Coil to teach children from Lawton Elementary School about Nikola Tesla as well as teach them about the coil itself and how it functioned. I learned a great deal about Tesla, his coil, and so did the children. They loved the demonstration that I provided and immediately afterward they talked to each other and drew pictures of the coil and myself. It was truly a beautiful experience and I hoped to have inspired them to pursue a STEM field when they grow much older and wiser.
Physics Symmetric Potentials and Their Effects on Physical Laws Generally speaking, group theory is the study of symmetry. Groups have revealed themselves to be the essence of many fundamental aspects in mathematics and in the sciences. A group is a set, containing operators that satisfy certain special properties. They are used often in Particle and Nuclear Physics where research and studies are conducted on the atomic world. This research furthers our understanding of our ourselves, our world, and our universe at the atomic level. Atoms are the fundamental constituents of all matter and are built up by basic particles familiarly known as protons, neutrons, and electrons. The use of Group Theory and symmetry has allowed for the discovery of further structure in protons, neutrons, and electrons, showing that they are made up of smaller elementary particles called quarks and leptons, which come in three flavors. This discovery has made it possible to model the way they behave and interact, as well as their properties. In my research, I explored the rules of Group Theory and learned how to apply them to write a symmetric potential invariant under the discrete group S3. In order to write a potential, all unique elements of the group must be found, which I did using the properties of group theory. The group S3 has a three-dimensional representation, which I reduced to simpler forms and used them to represent transformations between all elements. The results in my study were on a toy example; a very simple example with less of the variables that would be present in the real world. Despite this, the knowledge I acquired throughout the process of achieving those results made it possible to apply my work to real problems that would have some significance in future research in the field of physics. The type of research that was conducted contributes to one of the biggest goals in Particle Physics, that is, to complete the Standard Model.
Physics Electrostatic Potential in a Parallel Plate Capacitor Electric fields in a parallel plate capacitor are a major cornerstone in physics research. They easily convey the relationship between distance and electric fields, as well as showing the effects of dielectric constants on an electric field. This semester I did research in the physics labs on the effects of distance in relation to the electric field, as well as the dielectric constant. Using a controlled paper medium with the same dielectric constant and different distances between the plates I was able to determine that the closer the distance between the plates the larger the electric field was. For my 8 cm distance paper the electric field was substantially larger than the 12 cm, or 14 cm distances. Distance is inversely related to the size of the electric field. I also used three different paper mediums with unknown dielectric constants. It was determined that two of the papers, the Eisco and Pasco papers, have a very similar dielectric constant, this is represented by the slope which shows the very similar electric fields. Unlike the Eisco and Pasco papers the Paper With No Lines has a very different dielectric constant which is proven by the vastly different slope.
Physics The Hidden Energy in Rainfall The biggest challenge with most “green” energy systems are the interruptions of energy production. Most interruptions are caused by unpredictable weather changes such as rain. But, what if rain was a means of collecting power instead of the cause of its interruption? The opportunity for enhancements of established “green” energy technologies could be developed by identifying their flaws and uncovering new solutions. For seven days rainfall was collected through a 10ft long gutter system connected to a 5 U.S. gallon bucket, located in Deltona, FL. To calculate the energy using Bernoulli's Equation (a physics formula for Conservation of Energy in fluids) it was necessary to collect the time, date and volume of rain for each day. With the collected data a graph was later created to visually represent the relationship between time, volume and energy. It was discovered that by finding the slope of two different days (two different points within the graph) the amount of power produced by rainfall could be calculated and represented in units of watts. As a result of all the data collected and calculated, it was confirmed that the rain contains energy. Although, this gutter system by itself cannot be used as an independent source of energy (due to the inconsistencies of weather changes), it could still be a complimentary system to other “green” energy technologies.
Physics “Thankful for Physics Outreach” Event The Physics Outreach Program is here to help educate students and the community about the beauty in physics. It is also available to ease the notion of physics being a difficult topic in school. This research took place within the Physics Outreach Program and was focused on demonstrating fundamental principles of physics and incorporating a survey with questions about one of the demonstrations. The demos chosen for the event day were: electromagnetism, sound, resonance, and equilibrium. The survey targeted the demonstration of equilibrium. The survey was administered pre- and post-engagement to collect data on whether or not the lesson was impactful on the knowledge the student had on the topic. The survey consisted of four questions that aligned with the lesson and 2 small hands-on demos. Students observing the demonstrations submitted a total of 46 pre-surveys and 34 post-surveys. The data revealed an increase in correct responses when comparing post- to pre-results. These data were further analyzed using 2 sample T-Tests to see if there was a significant impact on the means of both surveys and whether or not that impact was positive. After conducting the 2 sample T-Tests, the results showed a significant positive impact from pre- to post-surveys. It may be concluded that the lesson was successful in increasing the students' understanding of the topic of equilibrium. 
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Central Florida STEM Alliance is funded by NSF under award HRD-1712683, 08/01/2017-07/31/2020.