thisresearchactivitywillbeintheformofajigsawexpert.docVIP

This research activity will be in the form of a Jigsaw/Expert Group: Essentially, each person in the class will be given one of 4 to 6 topics to research (in this case an issue related to organic chemicals) and become “experts” on the topic. They will then meet up with others who have the same topic in an “expert group” to discuss their research. Afterwards, they will be placed in a Jigsaw group made up of people, all with a different topic. At this point, each person in the Jigsaw group will be given an opportunity to teach the others in their group what they have learned. This will be explained in more detail later. Some background information on each issue will be given below: Alternative Energy Sources Energy is the ability to do work. While energy surrounds us in all aspects of life, the ability to harness it and use it for constructive ends as economically as possible is the challenge before mankind. Alternative energy refers to energy sources which are not based on the burning of fossil fuels or the splitting of atoms. The renewed interest in this field of study comes from the undesirable effects of pollution, both from burning fossil fuels and from nuclear waste by-products. Fortunately there are many means of harnessing energy which have less damaging impacts on our environment. Below are some possible alternatives: Solar Wind Power Geothermal Tides Hydroelectric Wind Turbine Hydroelectric Dam Gasohol Production Gasohol is a gasoline extender made from a mixture of gasoline (90%) and ethanol (10%; often obtained by fermenting agricultural crops or crop wastes) or gasoline (97%) and methanol, (3%). Gasohol has higher octane, or antiknock, properties than gasoline and burns more slowly, coolly, and completely, resulting in reduced emissions of some pollutants, but it also vaporizes more readily, potentially aggravating ozone pollution in warm weather. Ethanol-based gasohol in which the ethanol is made from corn is expensive