Science Club Newsletter IN THIS EDITION:

 Science Club
October Information
2020  Riddles, Jokes,
and Puzzles

Science Club Information  Articles written by

students
Welcome to the very first digital Science Club Newsletter! We hope you enjoy
our selection of various science related topics throughout this newsletter.  An Interview with
First, thank you to everyone who sent in submissions to be included here.
Your submissions make our newsletter possible. We’d also like to thank our
a Mechanical
advisor, Ms. Bakale, for supporting our club! Engineering
Student
Science Club meets on most Tuesdays/Wednesdays. The club itself consists of
2 sections: Science Fair and Community Outreach. Those in Science Fair  Citations/Sources
utilize the club to get information and advice for participating in the regional
and state science fairs. The Community Outreach aspect of the club focuses
on spreading STEM throughout Westborough. Incentives such as the Science
Club Newsletter are a vital part of this!
Do you enjoy
For quick updates on club events and meetings please follow our Instagram: drawing?
@whs_scienceclub_ or our Facebook page: WHS Science Club 20-21

Additionally, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to reach Are you
out to scienceclubwhs@gmail.com.
interested in
creating logos?
~ Science Club Officers
If yes, Science
Club is looking
for a new logo!
Requirements:

 Must be a science
related design

 Must include
“Science Club”
somewhere in the
design

 Can be drawn by
hand or digitally!

If interested, please contact

scienceclubwhs@gmail.com
Riddles, Jokes, and Puzzles
Answers can be found below!

Across
3. another name for the Soviet Union October 4th, 1957: The Launch of Sputnik
5. meaning of the Russian word "Sputnik" Crossword Puzzle
6. the war which preceded the space race
7. the inaugurators of the space age who
launched Sputnik

Down
1. first US satellite launched into space,
making it the second in the world
2. the first ever artificially made satellite
launched into space
4. a race between the Americans and the
Soviet Union in regard to space

Submitted by Sarayu G.

1. What did the scientist say when he

found two atoms of Helium?

2. What is the center of gravity?

3. I’m a god, a planet, and I can measure

heat. What am I? Submitted by Neha

Answers to crossword puzzle:

World War 2, 7) Soviet Union

Race, 4) USSR, 5) Satellite, 6)
1) Explorer, 2) Sputnik, 3) Space

Answers to riddles and jokes:

v, 3) Mercury
1) HeHe, 2)the letter
Science Articles Written by Students
A 12-Story High Solution for Ladakh:
A group of high-school students and their teacher set out to solve a problem haunting the very survival of people
living in the Rain Shadow of the Himalayas.

By: Preksha S.

While the Himalayan rivers are a boon for the Indian plains, for Ladakh it means survival in a cold
desert.

The Himalayas are a perennial source of freshwater for a majority of the Indian subcontinent. Yet, right under its
nose, lies a region that suffers from perennial water scarcity. At an altitude of 2,700m to 4,000m, Ladakh is a cold
desert with winter temperatures occasionally touching -30℃ and an average rainfall of just 100mm. So, how do
people survive in such arduous conditions? For centuries the local population has utilized this martian land by
manipulating streams into strategically built canals, thus enabling them to grow crops like barley, wheat, and
vegetables and trees like apricots, apples, willow, and poplar. But in recent years, more villages are struggling to
water their crops, particularly during the critical months of April and May, as streams are gradually turning into
trickles.

Local pollution coupled with global warming is steadily consuming the Himalayan glaciers.

The Crazy Solution

What happens when you combine the ideas of high school students and a mechanical engineer and educational
reformist? You get Ice Stupas.

When Sonam Wangchuk and his team first encountered this problem, they instantly knew that the key to solving
it was to collect ice in large quantities during the winter, store it, and use it during the summer. Understandably,
it was easier said than done. Moreover, storing large quantities of ice during summer seemed impossible, given
that it was going to melt under the strong gaze of the sun. But, on one fine morning, Wangchuk noticed a chunk of
ice under a bridge, which had lasted well into mid-May. This proved that it was technically possible to have ice
until the people needed it. Moreover, as Wangchuk observed, the temperatures weren’t any cooler under the
bridge. The difference was the presence of sunlight. They had to shield the ice from the sun.

The students knew that they couldn’t store ice in flat containers; the large surface area would easily melt it. Using
some high school geometry, they realized that they needed to create a structure that had the least possible surface
area, but at the same time could support a large volume of ice. Thus the cone was an ideal solution.

With some help from crowd-funding, the team was able to build their first Ice Stupa, which lasted well into
summer and successfully provided water for the Poplar trees. The name ‘Ice Stupa’ also resonated with the local
Buddhist population because the word ‘stupa’ in Buddhism means a sacred pillar made out of mud and stones.
Local public soon began showing immense support and devotion towards creating and maintaining these Ice
Stupas. With the villagers in Ladakh no longer competing for water, the situation has improved.

Despite all the success, Wangchuk believes that the Ice Stupas are just a tiny band-aid on the ever increasing
wounds inflicted on Earth by global warming and climate change.

------------------------------
 Different Species of Animals Affected by Climate Change

Anonymous Submission

Some people may think that climate change only affects polar bears, penguins, and walruses. Even though
these animals are impacted, the warming of the planet affects a greater number of beings. From oceanic
animals and corals to insects and land animals, all are unfortunately affected.

Even small creatures such as bumblebees are impacted by climate change. The rising temperatures pressure
the bumblebees to head north to stay in cooler climates. This leaves less time for them to pollinate since flowers
bloom earlier than normal. Bees also rely on specific weather signals. For example, the air temperature
changing or the snow melting. When these signals move out of their usual pattern because of climate change,
the bees pattern is also damaged. Therefore the bees will appear long after the plants are ready to be
pollinated.

Another insect being affected are the monarch butterflies. Their population in California has fallen around 95%
since the 1980s. This was owed to habitat loss and the disappearance of milkweed plants from pesticide use and
herbicides. The milkweed plant serves as a monarch’s food source and egg nursery. When herbicides are
sprayed randomly across fields of crops, it kills all plants that are unresistant (milkweed is being harmed). This
takes away some of the monarch's necessities for life, for example, its food.

Whales also are negatively affected since they rely on particular ocean temperatures for their many functions to
survive. For instance, their feeding, migration, and reproduction. The ocean absorbs many of the greenhouse
gas emissions leading to the ocean temperatures rising and disrupting the whale’s functions to survive. Whales
are losing their habitats and since the number of prey species are decreasing, whales have greater competition
for food.

Oceanic bird species are another example of an animal affected by climate change. They are affected first hand
by rising sea levels. A warming climate causes seawater expansion and ice to melt and this creates a rise in sea
levels. When the water rises, the birds' coastal habitats and nests can submerge under the water. Both oxygen
and plankton are critical for forage fish, which are the source of food for the oceanic bird species. Ocean
warming causes a decrease in oxygen level and reduces plankton in the water. This causes a decline in forage
fish and also causes the forage fish to move. In return, seabirds have to dive deeper and travel further to reach
the fish. Then the birds waste their energy and they can't manage to do other necessary duties.

Climate change affects many critters and creatures shown by the examples above. From damaged habitats to
wrecked food sources, they face challenges to survive. There is undeniable evidence that animals everywhere
are being impacted by climate change.

-------------------------------

You can easily change the formatting of selected text in the document text
Another by choosing a look for the selected text from the Quick Styles gallery on
the Home tab. On the Insert tab, the galleries include that are designed to
Headline coordinate with the overall look of your document. You can use these
galleries to insert tables, headers, footers, lists, cover pages, and other
Here document
An Interview with a Mechanical Engineering Student
This interview was conducted by Science Club. The interviewee is referred to as “A” and the interviewer is
referred to as “I”.

I: Hi! Thanks for sharing your experience as a Mechanical Engineer with us! Please introduce
yourself!

A: Hi, I’m Ashwini. I’m currently a senior at UMass Amherst studying Mechanical Engineering. I’m looking to
further my interest in this with biomedical applications. I enjoy reading new biomedical research occurring in
the field because I really love how engineering can be applied to medicine. In my free time, I like to draw and
go on hikes!

I: Great! Ok, so what interests you about the major? Why did you choose it?

A: The design aspect. Designing things on 3D CAD software, modeling ideas to figure out probable
complications, and creating a prototype to practically solve a problem interests me.

I: Can you describe, briefly, the work of a mechanical engineer?

A: It’s a very broad field. The concepts can be applied to several different areas. Generally, you work with a lot
of physics and math in the real world to figure out how things work and why they work that way. If there are
new designs or new ideas, you need to figure out the possible complications that may occur and how to solve
them through math and physics.

For example if you’re building a prosthetic leg, you have to figure out all the kinematics and forces acting upon
the leg and use that to figure out the best materials to use. The materials have to be both cost-efficient and
functional for you to effectively combat these problems while creating a viable solution.

I: Oh! That’s cool, but some people might hesitate when you say it involves a lot of math/physics.
What would you say to people who think it’s hard?

A: Yeah, I’m not going to lie: it’s hard. However, and by the way this is for any major you choose, as long as you
have a strong peer support group and maintain connections with your professors, advisors, and mentors it’s
very rewarding. Not to mention, your hard work definitely pays off in this subject!

I: Piggybacking off of that, what advice would you give to a person who’s thinking of majoring in
mechanical engineering?

A: The first couple of years are brutal in the coursework and the rigorous curriculum but don’t get discouraged
at all. Once you stick with it, create a peer group for help, and make the most of the resources around you (like
asking your professor questions, going in for office hours, etc.) you’ll start to understand what engineering
demands. Once you choose exactly what you want to focus in, it becomes a lot easier. My advice would be to
develop connections, and don’t be afraid to seek all the help you need.

I: That’s great advice. So, kind of switching gears, what would some possible jobs be as a
Mechanical Engineer?

next page.
 A: Again, it’s a very broad field compared to other specific engineering majors such as civil engineering,
electrical engineering, etc. So you can apply your knowledge to literally any field. The coursework ranges from
chemistry, physics, HVAC systems, and all the way to manufacturing/supply chain and business. Generally,
the jobs would be something related to research and development of new materials and new ways to
manufacture.

I: Wow so this is a really versatile field! That’s great to hear. Can you explain one of your projects
that you did?

A: Sure! We do a lot of really cool projects but this one was my favorite. So basically, in my junior year I did a
group project which was over the course of 3 months. We had to build an automotive pressure transducer. A
pressure transducer is a device in your car which converts an applied pressure into an electrical signal.

For example, there’s a cylinder in your engine called an engine cylinder. When you turn on the car, the clicking
sound that it makes is actually a spark causing combustion: this is how your car starts. The automotive
pressure transducer basically measures how much pressure is given to that using an electrical signal. Since we
don’t have an exact way of measuring pressure, an electrical signal is very helpful.

So this is what we had to build. We were given certain constraints as well. It had to be 8 inches x 3 inches x 1
inch, cost effective, and it had to withstand at least 200 pounds of force. To start, we sketched out the pallet.
For our materials, we used aluminum as it is lightweight, resists corrosion, has less temperature variability,
and is used in many automotive parts. So, we designed these ideas and then modeled it on Solid Works (a 3D
CAD software). On Solid Works, we figured out the dimensions of the prototype. Then, we used another
program called Ansys to add force to the computer simulated pallet. (A part of Mechanical Engineering is
design simulation. We do these simulations on the computer to help reduce waste!) Once our design passed the
200 pound pressure constraint, we went to the machine shop to actually build it. Using aluminum and tools
such as a band saw, drill press, a belt sander, and 3D printing, we built out final model.

On the actual test day AKA our final day, the pallet withstood 800 pounds!

I: What machine tested out how much pressure it could withstand?

A: The machine that tests how much pressure it can withstand is called an instron machine. It’s a machine
that tests properties of different materials. One of those features is that it can add force to an object. Basically,
it’s a metal rod that pushes down onto the pallet and it tells you how much pressure is being added.

I: Oh ok that makes sense. Alright so to wrap things up, what are some final words you’d like to
share?

A: Mechanical Engineering can seem intimidating at first but stick with it. Remember to use the resources
available to you and network with different types of people. It’s a very rewarding experience and major. Have
fun with it! Figure out what you like and focus on that. Also, try to go out of your way to do some of your own
projects. If you want to talk more with me about Mechanical Engineering you can contact me at
aallada@umass.edu .

I: Thank you!

Pictures are on the next page

Pallet design on Solid Works

Instron machine adding 800 lbs of force to the pallet Pallet model simulated on Ansys
Citations/Sources
A 12-Story High Solution for Ladakh
 http://icestupa.org/

 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/overheard/season-3/episode-1-towers-ladakh-artificial-glaciers/

Different Species of Animals Affected by Climate Change

Boyle, J. H., et al. “Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Declines Substantially Predate the Use of
Genetically Modified Crops.” PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 19 Feb. 2019,
www.pnas.org/content/116/8/3006.

“Climate Change.” Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA, 14 May 2019, us.whales.org/our-4-goals/create-
healthy-seas/climate-change/.

Gooljar, Jason. “10 Animals Threatened by Climate Change.” Earth Day, 21 Dec. 2019,
www.earthday.org/how-climate-change-is-threatening-our-species/.

Hyun, Karen. “Climate Change Is Already Affecting the Ocean and the Birds That Rely on It.” Audubon,
24 Sept. 2020, www.audubon.org/news/climate-change-already-affecting-ocean-and-birds-rely-it.

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “How Is Sea Level
Rise Related to Climate Change?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 3 June 2009,
oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sealevelclimate.html.