Self Reflection

1. So far on my senior project, I feel that I'm at a P. I haven't done anything extraordinary, but I haven't forgotten to do anything really important. I've met the research requirements, and am at the normal pace in my senior project like everyone else.

2. I think getting my service learning is one thing that I've done well. I was able to get service learning at an actual dealership, which was pretty cool. The manager offered to show me what he knows, so I'm looking forward to it.

3. I think I can do better on organization. I feel I don't really have a schedule of when to do things, and just "wing it", in a sense. That's probably my biggest problem at the moment.

Science Fair Proposal

1. Higher octane gas(93) will give your car better performance due to the fact it has more cleaning detergent and less debris than lower quality gas, and will give your car improved performance over lower octane (87) gasoline.

2. Dependent Variable: Fuel performance/Efficiency

    Independent Variable: Gasoline

    Control: Medium octane gasoline (89). Most people usually buy this grade of gas. 

3. My experiment relates to my EQ because I'm looking for the best way to achieve maximum performance in an Audi. Quality of gasoline can effects engine performance, so by doing this experiment, I can find which gasoline gives you more efficiency, therefore better performance in a car, or in my case, an Audi. 

4.In my experiment, I will conclude which gas gives better fuel efficiency. To do this I will get a graduated cylinder, a quarter gallon of high grade gasoline (93), a quarter gallon of low grade gasoline (87),  a quarter gallon of medium grade gasoline (89), and a lawnmower. The gasoline will be bought at the same station to retain consistency and accuracy. Using the graduated cylinder,I'll measure the gasoline out and put it in the lawnmower, which will be turned on and left stationary. Then I'll time how long it takes for the gasoline to burn. This will be conducted for the three types of gasoline. From there I'll record how long the lawnmower was stayed on until it ran out of gas, and from there, I can see which grade of gas lasted more time, and conclude which grade of gasoline is better, if there is. 

5. Engineering Research and Development. 

What I've Learned So Far

1. I've learned a lot of things since I started my senior project, but one important thing I've learned is how  to change the oil on a car. Its significant to me because keeping good oil in your motor is essential to make sure that the engine doesn't wear itself out. I also learned how to change the oil filter and what grade of oil to put in the engine.

2.

3. "How to change the oil on your Car" Wiki How.
    - It goes through all the materials you need as well as step by step on how to change the oil on your car. It also explains the advantages of changing your car's oil as required. 

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

1.) For my independent study I plan on working with my uncle's car. He fixes cars in his backyard and has offered to let help him out.
2.)In order to meet the requirement of 30 hours, I plan on going to his house every week or every other week. Transportation isn't an issue, so I don't see any problems in regard to that. In terms of what I'm  going to do, he's offered to show me how often to change oil, how to check the brake pads, how to change spark plugs and how they effect the car etc. A schedule of what is going to be taught and when its going to be taught is pending.
3.) My independent study relates to my senior topic because my uncle's been working on his own cars for years, and he knows them inside and out. My EQ is "What is the best way to achieve maximum performance in an Audi?' My uncle has tuned his own cars, and although they aren't Audis, the same concepts should apply.

Defining the Essential Question

1.) What is the best way to achieve maximum performance from an Audi?
2.) Maximum performance means performance as in speed as well as how well the car runs and how smoothly it runs as well. By Audi I mean any car manufactured by Audi.
3.)Aerodynamics, the Motor, and Chassis
4.)My most important sources is Mr.Kersh, who is a manager at the Audi I'm doing my service learning at. He's been important because he's walked me through how the car works and what makes an Audi so special.

Second Interview Questions

1.) Why should someone choose Audi over Porsche,BMW, or Mercedes-Benz?
2.)How long have you been working for Audi?
3.)How popular is Audi in Europe as compared to the United States?
4.)How would Audi compare to an American luxury car maker such as Cadillac?
5.)What car innovations can Audi say that they were the first to do before anyone else?

Presentation Reflection

1.) My first interview was very beneficial toward my first presentation. I asked Kevin, my interviewee, some questions off the record, which included the difference between a manual and automatic transmission. For example he explained to me how the gears work in a transmission, and when I went on the internet later on to figure out how a transmission works, I already knew the basic principles, which made it much easier.

2.)I think what stood out about my presentation was the fact that I stayed calm the entire time and I knew how to explain the transmission well enough for someone who didn't know anything about transmissions would get the basic principles. I think my props also stood out as well. They were very good props that gave a clear representation of what I was talking about. For example the steering wheel with the paddles shifters and the board with a clutch, gas, and brake pedal were very similar to real life equivalents.

3.)I think the most challenging thing to do was to find a way to represent the lay shaft and the gears, but I was able to represent them with a bar and the screws you put at the end of dumbells to keep them from falling off. It was hard to find something that looked a lot like the lay shaft.