This Project:
The project's goal was to use biology or biotechnology concepts to analyze and synthesize a solution to a problem in the world. We were assigned to solve a world problem related to biology and we decided to try to help with access to clean water. We were looking into water filters and found that a lot of them were to expensive, so we decided to make our own.
Presentation:
The project's goal was to use biology or biotechnology concepts to analyze and synthesize a solution to a problem in the world. We were assigned to solve a world problem related to biology and we decided to try to help with access to clean water. We were looking into water filters and found that a lot of them were to expensive, so we decided to make our own.
Presentation:
Filter in Action:
Important Terms:
Water Filtration - Removes impurities with biological process, chemical process, or physical barrier. In this case, we used dirt/sand, charcoal, coffee filters, and a rubber band as a physical barrier for water filtration.
Water Quality: The biological, physical, chemical characteristics of water relative to requirements of human need. In this case, we are measuring the water quality of the final product of each filtration device.
Filtration Device: A pressure gradient generated across a filter separates solids from liquids. An example of a filtration device is the two variations of water filters that we made that can filter dirty water into clean water.
Water Crisis: Lack of water resource needed to reach the demands of water usage of a population. In other words, you could compare this to the limiting factors that we talked about in class. Water is a Density dependent and limiting factor because there is only so much of it and it depends on the amount of people in the area (population). It has a carrying capacity of the population and a water crisis is when it doesn't meet that carrying capacity.
Plastic Bottle: The plastic bottle is the main attraction of the dirt/sand and charcoal filter. It is the base where all of the other materials come together and the most expensive part of the prototype, racking up at a full dollar. It is necessary to have the plastic bottle in the model because the bottle is cut in half and the half containing the cap is put inside the other creating the filtration part and the cap is removed.
Rubber Band: The rubber band is there to keep the coffee filter stable and makes sure that it does not fall. You can usually buy rubber bands in bulk (500 for 5 dollars). In order to set this up, you would need to use the rubber band to attach the coffee filter to the cap opening (where the cap is supposed to be). This is required for the filters because if the coffee filter is not held up and attached, it will fall down and the water will not be able to transfer to the bottom correctly and will end up being dirty.
Coffee Filter: The coffee filters role is to keep the dirt out and let the water pass through. You could almost think of it as a mini-strainer. The water is let through, but the dirt is not falling though because it contains bits of solid. You can buy coffee filters in bulk (usually 600 for 10). This was an essential part of the filter because it is the final step to separate the water from the smallest bits of dirt. In diagram 7, you can see a cloth substituting for the coffee filter. In order to bridge that gap between the filtration system and the water, a substitute like a cloth or coffee filter is attached so only a little water is let out at a time.
Rocks: The rocks serve as filters for large impurities in the water. This can be looked at as the first test for the water filtration system. In order to filter completely, the water has to go through two tests. A similar variation to this is shown in diagram 7. Although it contains more items than our prototypes, it still follows the same process and hierarchy. The largest materials are at the top to filter the big impurities while the filters get smaller as the water goes down.
Dirt/Sand: The dirt/sand could be called the last test that the water goes through because it serves as a filter for the smaller impurities. Once the water has been filtered through the rocks and all of the large impurities have been taken out, the water moves onto Level 2: the dirt/sand. In this level, the water gets filtered through dirt or sand because these small materials are perfect for trapping small impurities in the water. The coffee filter works with the dirt to trap the small impurities and make the water as clean as possible.
Charcoal: The material charcoal can be put to use in both level 1 and 2. This is used in the second and more efficient variation of our water filter. If the charcoal is kept to its original state (solid) it can be used as a substitute for rocks. Because it has a large mass and is mostly solid, it can serve for filtering the large impurities as well. Additionally, crushed and powdered charcoal can help as a replacement of the dirt or sand because its crushed solid texture can trap the small impurities as well and in fact better than the dirt or sand.
Dirt/Sand Filter: The Dirt/Sand Filter is the more accessible but less effective version that Clean Cost is trying to advertise to the public. Containing dirt or sand, 2 coffee filters, 1 rubber band, and 1 rubber bottle you can filter clean water!
Charcoal Filter: The Charcoal Filter is the less accessible but more effective version that Clean Cost is trying to advertise to the public. Containing charcoal, 2 coffee filters, 1 rubber band, and 1 rubber bottle you can filter clean water!
Reflection:
During this project I was able both working productively and counter productively. I was working with my team during the research and the building of the water filter. During the research process I was able to contribute a lot of information to my group. As a result I was on point with my cooperation with my teammates. also I was able to learn on how to present in front an audience with stuttering my voice, but I was really nervous. During the research process I need to improve on leadership skills because I was not able to pitch in ideas. additionally I must continue to improve on my skills to present in front an audience.
Water Filtration - Removes impurities with biological process, chemical process, or physical barrier. In this case, we used dirt/sand, charcoal, coffee filters, and a rubber band as a physical barrier for water filtration.
Water Quality: The biological, physical, chemical characteristics of water relative to requirements of human need. In this case, we are measuring the water quality of the final product of each filtration device.
Filtration Device: A pressure gradient generated across a filter separates solids from liquids. An example of a filtration device is the two variations of water filters that we made that can filter dirty water into clean water.
Water Crisis: Lack of water resource needed to reach the demands of water usage of a population. In other words, you could compare this to the limiting factors that we talked about in class. Water is a Density dependent and limiting factor because there is only so much of it and it depends on the amount of people in the area (population). It has a carrying capacity of the population and a water crisis is when it doesn't meet that carrying capacity.
Plastic Bottle: The plastic bottle is the main attraction of the dirt/sand and charcoal filter. It is the base where all of the other materials come together and the most expensive part of the prototype, racking up at a full dollar. It is necessary to have the plastic bottle in the model because the bottle is cut in half and the half containing the cap is put inside the other creating the filtration part and the cap is removed.
Rubber Band: The rubber band is there to keep the coffee filter stable and makes sure that it does not fall. You can usually buy rubber bands in bulk (500 for 5 dollars). In order to set this up, you would need to use the rubber band to attach the coffee filter to the cap opening (where the cap is supposed to be). This is required for the filters because if the coffee filter is not held up and attached, it will fall down and the water will not be able to transfer to the bottom correctly and will end up being dirty.
Coffee Filter: The coffee filters role is to keep the dirt out and let the water pass through. You could almost think of it as a mini-strainer. The water is let through, but the dirt is not falling though because it contains bits of solid. You can buy coffee filters in bulk (usually 600 for 10). This was an essential part of the filter because it is the final step to separate the water from the smallest bits of dirt. In diagram 7, you can see a cloth substituting for the coffee filter. In order to bridge that gap between the filtration system and the water, a substitute like a cloth or coffee filter is attached so only a little water is let out at a time.
Rocks: The rocks serve as filters for large impurities in the water. This can be looked at as the first test for the water filtration system. In order to filter completely, the water has to go through two tests. A similar variation to this is shown in diagram 7. Although it contains more items than our prototypes, it still follows the same process and hierarchy. The largest materials are at the top to filter the big impurities while the filters get smaller as the water goes down.
Dirt/Sand: The dirt/sand could be called the last test that the water goes through because it serves as a filter for the smaller impurities. Once the water has been filtered through the rocks and all of the large impurities have been taken out, the water moves onto Level 2: the dirt/sand. In this level, the water gets filtered through dirt or sand because these small materials are perfect for trapping small impurities in the water. The coffee filter works with the dirt to trap the small impurities and make the water as clean as possible.
Charcoal: The material charcoal can be put to use in both level 1 and 2. This is used in the second and more efficient variation of our water filter. If the charcoal is kept to its original state (solid) it can be used as a substitute for rocks. Because it has a large mass and is mostly solid, it can serve for filtering the large impurities as well. Additionally, crushed and powdered charcoal can help as a replacement of the dirt or sand because its crushed solid texture can trap the small impurities as well and in fact better than the dirt or sand.
Dirt/Sand Filter: The Dirt/Sand Filter is the more accessible but less effective version that Clean Cost is trying to advertise to the public. Containing dirt or sand, 2 coffee filters, 1 rubber band, and 1 rubber bottle you can filter clean water!
Charcoal Filter: The Charcoal Filter is the less accessible but more effective version that Clean Cost is trying to advertise to the public. Containing charcoal, 2 coffee filters, 1 rubber band, and 1 rubber bottle you can filter clean water!
Reflection:
During this project I was able both working productively and counter productively. I was working with my team during the research and the building of the water filter. During the research process I was able to contribute a lot of information to my group. As a result I was on point with my cooperation with my teammates. also I was able to learn on how to present in front an audience with stuttering my voice, but I was really nervous. During the research process I need to improve on leadership skills because I was not able to pitch in ideas. additionally I must continue to improve on my skills to present in front an audience.