Community Contest
COMMUNITY SCIENCE SCAVENGER HUNT
Where is the science in your town? Participate in the community science scavenger hunt for a quick way to learn interesting facts and a chance to win MythBusters tickets!
January 29 - Contest is now closed. Congratulations to all winners.
Questions of the Week - And the Answer is ...
Question 1 - November 18th, 2009
You may think about swimming or jetting down the waterslide, but the Aquafun Centre has science too. What new technological innovation is used as an alternative to chlorine for disinfecting the pool water?
Hint - The answer can be found in your kitchen or at the Taber Aquafun Centre.
ANSWER - SALT
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER - The Aquafun Centre utilizes a new technological innovation that uses a “Salt System” as an alternative method of disinfecting swimming pool water. Granular salt (sodium chloride – NaCl) is added to the pool water. Then as the water goes through the “Lectranator System” an electrical current is applied to the water causing the sodium chloride molecule to split into sodium and chlorine. This splitting of the sodium chloride molecule results in the introduction of chlorine to the pool water that is used to sanitize the water.
Question 2 - November 25th, 2009
What is the fastest growing source of electricity generation in the world? It is efficient, emissions-free
and infinitely renewable.
Hint - The turbines at Chin Chute produce enough electricity for approximately 11,000 homes.
ANSWER - Wind Power
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER - Just like how the energy of moving water can be harnessed and turned into energy - so can the movement of air (wind). The blades of the turbines at Chin Chute are designed to capture the kinetic energy of the wind. When the turbines spin they turn a shaft that connects the hub to a generator. The generator converts the movement into electricity, which then gets distributed through the power grid.
Question 3 - December 2nd, 2009
What Alberta oil has the best blend of fats for good health?
Hint - The name was derived from 4 words – Canadian-Oil-Low-Acid.
ANSWER - Canola
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER -
Canola Oil has the best blend of saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats essential for good health. Canola Oil is low in saturated fats. And because it is low in saturated fat, Canola Oil doesn't raise blood cholersterol like saturated fats. Canola oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, which lower LDL cholesterol, thereby reducing heart disease risk. Lastly, Canola Oil contains two fatty acids that are essential in our diets – linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). These fatty acids must be obtained from food because our bodies cannot make them. These essential fats play important roles in growth, reproduction and vision; in keeping skin healthy; and in the metabolism of cholesterol.
Question 4 - December 9th, 2009
You won’t hear reindeer on the rooftop of this building! Instead of shingles, this building is topped with grass and plants. Can you name this environmentally friendly and energy efficient building?
Hint - It’s your 1st Choice for financial services.
ANSWER - 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union Ltd Building
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER - Built in 2004/2005, this is an environmentally friendly LEED building. A LEED building, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, incorporates many initiatives to create a more sustainable building, site and community. These initiatives reduce energy and water use, generate less waste and provide healthier indoor and outdoor environments. Among the initiatives undertaken at the building is the Eco-roof, a vegetated roof system designed to capture rain water and reduce site temperatures.
Question 5 - December 16th, 2009
What are the three outputs from complete combustion?
HINT: Play Reaction Action, an arcade style game, at the Library until January 5th. Or visit www.sciencehappenshere.ca to
find the answer and what else is happening in town.
ANSWER - energy, water and carbon dioxide
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER -Complete combustion occurs when there is enough Oxygen present to use up all the fuel, turning all the carbon from whatever is being burned into Carbon Dioxide. If there is not enough oxygen some Carbon monoxide will also be produced and some of the fuel will remain. There are very conventional reactions (ie car, fireplace, etc) that accomplish complete combustion.
Question 6 - January 13th, 2009
A medium serving of what locally grown vegetable has more
potassium than a banana?
HINT: 51,000 acres of this vegetable are grown in Alberta alone.
ANSWER - Potatoes
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ANSWER -The combination of Alberta’s high altitude, long warm summer days and cool nights, with an abundant supply of water, consistently produces a high quality potato.
The first known date of potatoes growing in Alberta is around 1810 when the prairies were settled. By 1917 fifteen commercial growers were planting 300 acres in the irrigated land south of Lethbridge. Potato production in Alberta was well established by the 1930’s with 600 acres planted and by the fifties our potato crop won awards at the Royal Fair in Toronto. With second and third generation potato farmers along with recent European immigration the strong work ethic and management skills demonstrated by our growers produces top-quality potatoes for processing use, seed use or the fresh market. Production numbers have increased from 26,615 acres in 1995 to 51,000 acres in 2008.
The consistent success that Alberta growers have shown in the past has attracted two major processors to the Southern Alberta area. The processor companies show their confidence in the Alberta potato growers to apply their knowledge and skills to grow high-yields of quality potatoes for processing.
Our certified seed potatoes are in high demand because of colder climate, which results in fewer disease and pest problems. Alberta growers are currently the biggest exporter of seed potatoes in Canada.
source = www.albertapotatoes.ca
Question 7 - January 20th, 2009
What four careers are featured in the Science Happens Here video?
HINT: You can watch the video on sciencehappenshere.ca home page.
ANSWER - Florist, Wind Farm Operator, Kinesiologist and Potato Grower
Answers will be posted once all prizes for that week have been awarded on this website,facebook, and twitter.
Contest ends no later than Friday, January 29, 2010 at 4:00pm MST.