Map of Natural Radioactivity

Map of Natural Radioactivity Many people do not realize that radioactivity occurs naturally on Earth. In fact, it is actually quite common and can be found virtually all around us in the rocks, soil and air. Natural radioactivity maps may look quite similar to normal geologic maps. Different types of rocks have specific levels of uranium and radon, so scientists often have a good idea of the levels based on geologic maps  alone.   In general, a higher altitude means a higher level of natural radiation from cosmic rays. Cosmic radiation occurs from the suns solar flares, as well as subatomic particles from outer space. These particles react with elements in the Earths atmosphere as they come into contact with it. When you fly in an airplane, you actually experience significantly higher levels of cosmic radiation than from being on the ground.   People experience different levels of natural radioactivity based on their geographic locale. The geography and topography of the United States is very diverse, and as you may expect, levels of natural radioactivity differ from region to region. While this terrestrial radiation should not concern you too much, it is good to be aware of its concentration in your area.   The featured map was derived from radioactivity measurements using sensitive instruments. The following explanatory text from the US Geological Survey  highlights a few of the areas on this map that show especially high or low levels of uranium concentration. Radioactive Areas of Note Great Salt Lake: Water absorbs gamma rays so it shows as no data area on the map.Nebraska Sand Hills: Wind has separated the lighter quartz from the clay and heavier minerals that usually contain uranium.The Black Hills: A core of granites and metamorphic rocks high in radioactivity is surrounded by less radioactive sedimentary rocks and gives a distinctive pattern.Pleistocene glacial deposits: The area has low surface radioactivity, but uranium occurs just below the surface. Thus it has a high radon potential.Deposits of glacial Lake Agassiz: Clay and silt from a prehistoric glacial lake have higher radioactivity than glacial drift surrounding it.Ohio Shale: Uranium-bearing black shale with a narrow outcrop zone was scooped up and spread over a large area in west-central Ohio by glaciers.Reading Prong: Uranium-rich metamorphic rocks and numerous fault zones produce high radon in indoor air and in ground water.Appalachian Mountains: Granites contain elevated uranium, particularly in fault zones. Black shales and soils above limestone also contain moderate to high levels of uranium. Chattanooga and New Albany Shales: Uranium-bearing black shales in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana have a distinctive outcrop pattern clearly defined by radioactivity.Outer Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: This area of unconsolidated sands, silts, and clays has one of the lowest radon potentials in the United States.Phosphatic rocks, Florida: These rocks are high in phosphate and associated uranium.Inner Gulf Coastal Plain: This area of the Inner Coastal Plain has sands containing glauconite, a mineral high in uranium.Rocky Mountains: Granites and metamorphic rocks in these ranges contain more uranium than sedimentary rocks to the east, resulting in high radon in indoor air and in ground water.Basin and Range: Granitic and volcanic rocks in the ranges, alternating with basins filled with alluvium shed from the ranges, give this area a generally high radioactivity.Sierra Nevada: Granites containing high uranium, particularly in east-central California, show as red areas.Northwest Pacific Coastal Mountains and Columbia Plateau: This area of volcanic basalts is low in uranium. Edited by Brooks Mitchell

Wave Kinetics and Tidal Energy as an Alternative Research Paper

Wave Kinetics and Tidal Energy as an Alternative - Research Paper Example Wind has also energy stored in it, which can be transformed to a usable form by utilizing windmills or wind generators. Similarly sun provides us both light energy and thermal energy. Both of the solar energy types can be transformed to other energy forms to be utilized in a usable manner. Running water has also an energy stored in it, which is a hydrodynamic energy, which is due to the mass of the water and the gravitation of the earth. In the similar manner, biomass provides the biogas, which has a high concentration of methane in it which can be burnt to attain thermal energy. Energy can also be attained from high and low tides. The main concern of the modern world is the emissions of green house gasses that are the result to burning of the fossil fuels like coal, furnace oil, etc to attain the high amounts of thermal and kinetic energy. Fossil fuel is considered to be a conventional resource to attain energy and modern world is looking forward to utilize the alternative resources like wind, tidal, solar geothermal, hydro, etc. The utilization of these alternative resources ensures low or no carbon and green house gasses emissions and if the energy is utilized for the generation of power, low operational costs are also ensured. In this research, my major focus is to discuss the environmental and economic aspects of utilizing the wave kinetic and tidal energy for the generation of power (Pikeresearch 2011). The other matter that should be discussed is the potential of wave kinetic and tidal energy to meet the demand for the energy and is the resources have more or less potential or low capital costs than harvesting other alternative energy. The higher the capital cost (effective cost to establish an energy harvesting system), the higher will be the unit price of the power. Wave kinetic or a hydrokinetic energy is the energy that is attained by the force of waves that have a deep impact on the shores. This type of energy has the enough potential to generate po wer on the shores, near shores and off shores. Moving water has a crushing power that could be utilized to generate power. It will be a difficult task for a swimmer to swim opposing the waves. The power of moving water can be seen in a hydro power plant that is able to generate the power that could fulfill the requirements of more than one city. The wave kinetic energy is an alternate type of energy that has enough potential to generate power that could replace many coal fired power plants. Tidal energy can also be utilized as an alternate energy resource to generate power. Running water is utilized to produce tides that are essentially utilized to generate power. Water in the form of tides has a hydrodynamic energy. The tidal energy can be collected from rivers, where turbines that are able to transform the kinetic energy of the water into electrical energy. The tidal generator is similar to a wind turbine generator but the major difference is that the tidal energy generators are l ie under the surface of water to capture the hydrodynamic energy of water. Tidal energy can also be attained from oceans, as tides also influence the ocean water. The system utilizes a separation with an empty space at lower end to install a tidal generator, between the ocean and basin. At high tide the level of water at the ocean side rises and pressure of water rises towards the basin side. The pressure of water enables the tidal generator to generate several kilos to mega watts of energy.

The Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Review - Essay Example In 1970, it accounted for 6.4% of the US capital stock and in 1988, this figure stood at 19.8% (Roach, 1988). The increase has been more pronounced in the manufacturing sector. In this sector, it grew from 1.6% in 1970 to 10.6% in 1988 (Roach, 1988). Extensive computerization and use of information technologies initiates an interest in knoing why many organizations or institutions have adopted these technologies. Most organizations are profit oriented and this means they not only focus positive returns but also how to obtain good financial rewards. Having this focus, many organizations always seek ways of limiting their costs of production while increasing production at the same time. This paper gives a literature review on how computerization and the use of IT increase worker productivity and reduces costs of production for many organizations, the focus being the manufacturing sector. Computerization and the use of IT in the workplace The term information technology can be defined a s the acquisition, processing, storage and distribution of numerical, textual, vocal and pictorial information through a combination of computing and telecommunications (Allen and Morton 1994). It therefore encompasses computer software, computer hardware, information systems, processes, data constructs, programming languages. Machines under IT domain render any data or information in visual format via multimedia distribution. Computerisation or computing refers to the action of utilising and improving or advancing computer software and computer hardware according to Agrawal and Symes (1994). In simple terms, computerisation is any goal-oriented activity benefiting from computer hardware and software. In the case of manufacturing industry, machines are run by computers that manipulate data according to a set of programs or instructions. General examples of utilisation of computerisation and IT manufacturing industries include networking, data management, information databases, and m ost importantly automation of machines. Like in many organisations, labour productivity in manufacturing industries is calculated by dividing the level of output by the specific level of labour input. Worker productivity is one of the important elements in determining the efficiency of an industry. Impact of computers and ITs on worker productivity and costs of production For many manufacturing industries, information technologies have continuously influenced work and changed the way it is done. One of the main impact of computerization and the use of technologies is the automation of machines. This has allowed manufacturing industries to assign repetitive and non-core tasks to machines while allowing employees to specialize in performing non-repetitive, complex and core duties of the organization. In this case, employees are able to fully utilize their skills and talents in the tasks assigned to them. This means that they offer their best and can handle more work in the area assign ed to them. Before the introduction of computers and IT in the workplace, employees would carry out every type of production activity including the most tedious and repetitive tasks. Due to the distances between the physical places of production assigned to these tasks, workers wasted a lot of time moving from one part of the industry to the other. As stated above, automated machines have taken over some of the repetitive and tedious tasks and

Human Resources Management Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Management Essay On Monday, 13 January 2014, Ada wrote to Ben saying, â€Å"Please sell me your vintage BNW car for $80,000†. On Tuesday, 14 January 2014, Ben replied by leaving a message on Ada’s voicemail, â€Å"Sure, provided you pay by cash†. Ben then changed his mind and he posted a letter to Ada which read, â€Å"I have reconsidered the matter. I am no longer able to sell you my BNW†. This letter arrived on Thursday, 16 January 2014, before Ada checked her voicemail. 1) Advise Ada and Ben. There is no contract between Ada and Ben. This is because initially Ben leaves a message on Ada’s voicemail to accept the offer. However, Ben changes his mind and posts the letter to Ada on the same day, but the letter arrived before Ada checked her voicemail. Although the voicemail was sent earlier than the letter, acceptance can only be made with actual communication and notification to the offeror. Besides, according to the postal rule, the acceptance is deemed to be competed when the properly stamped and addressed letter of acceptance is posted, and not when it is delivered to the offerors’ address, or received by them, or brought to their notice, or read by them.1 This rule, laid down in Adam v. Lindsell in 1818. It explained that if the defendants were not bound by their offer when accepted by the plaintiffs till the answer was received, then the plaintiffs ought not to be bound till after they had received the notification that the defendants had received their a nswer and assented to it.2 In this case, the contract be only be made unless Ada checks her voicemail before the letter arrived. Therefore, Ada does not have any legal claim against Ben. 2) What difference, if any, would it make if: a) Ben’s letter had never arrived; There is no contract between Ada and Ben if Ada never checks her voicemail. This is because the postal rule does not apply to situations where the acceptance of an offer is communicated by any instantaneous methods such as telex, telephone and fax. The rule with regard to acceptance by such methods is that the contract is complete only when the acceptance is received by the offeror.3 Therefore, the contract only takes effect when it is received and read by Ada. On the other hand, there is a binding contract between Ada and Ben if Ada has knowledge of the acceptance by Ben. The contract comes into existence as soon as Ada checks the voicemail. With reference to the case of Entores Ltd v. Miles Far East Corporation in 1955, the plaintiff in London sent a telex to the defendant in Amsterdam offering to buy goods from the defendant. The defendant sent a telex in return to the plaintiff accepting the offer. Therefore, a contract was made between the parties when the defendant’s acceptance was accepted by the plaintiff.4 b) Because of a fault on Ada’s voicemail system, Ben’s message had not been recorded; There is no contract between Ben and Ada. This is because Ben’s message has not been recorded, so Ada does not receive and read the message. Since there cannot be acceptance of an offer without the knowledge of it, acceptance must be communicated to the offer, and mere inactivity or silence on the offeree does not create a contract as well. The rule laid down in Felthouse v. Bindley that mere inactivity or silence cannot amount to an acceptance is correct in 1862. The plaintiff offered to buy a horse from his nephew, John, who was going to sell it by auction. John intended to accept his uncle’s offer and advised the auctioneer to reserve the horse for his uncle. However, the nephew did not send his acceptance to the plaintiff and finally the horse was sold by the auctioneer by mistake. However, since John had not communicated his acceptance to the plaintiff, there was no contract between them.5 In the case of Ada and Ben, Ben also sends a letter to reject the Ada’s offer  after he has changed his mind. The rejection of an offer by the offeree kills the offer. The offer comes to an end. It can no longer be accepted by the offeree.6 Therefore, a contract cannot come into existence. c) On Sunday, 12 January, Ben had asked Ada if she wanted to buy his BNW? There is an invitation to treat if Ben has asked Ada to buy his BNW. It is not an offer because Ben just invites offer rather than making one. Where Ada accepts the terms of the invitation, she makes an offer but there is still no contract. Ben is still free to accept or reject the offer. With reference to the case of HKSAR v. Wan Hon Sik in 2001, the display of pirated video discs on the shelves of the shop was just an invitation to treat. A customer who selected the goods from shelves and took them to the casher’s desk only made an offer. There was no sale at that point. The contract was not completed until the owner of the shop accepted the offer.7 Therefore, an invitation to treat is different from an offer. In the case of Ada and Ben, since Ada makes an offer which can be accepted or rejected by Ben. No contract has been concluded between them because Ben rejects the offer by sending a letter that is arrived before Ada checks her voicemail.

Cloning Essay examples -- Essays Papers

Cloning For hundreds of years man has wondered what it would be like to clone human beings. With the idea of cloning comes many different opinions and positions. The idea of creating an army of "super humans" has long been a dream of many people. Others have feared what would happen to the world if cloning were possible and if cloning is morally correct. Overall, religion and ethics play a vital role in the both of these viewpoints and greatly effect many positions on the topic of cloning. In February of 1997 Dr. Ian Wilmut, a 52-year-old embryologist at the Roslin Institute in dinburgh announced the cloning of a lamb named Dolly 1. He had replaced the genetic material of sheep's egg with the DNA from an adult sheep. The findings of Dr. Wilmut immediately created many new controversial questions. None were as controversial as: Will they apply this to humans as well? According to Dr. Wilmut, the answer was "there is no reason in principle why you couldn't do it"(clone humans), but he added, "All of us would find that offensive."2 From the viewpoint of those in favor of cloning human beings do not see it as morally, or ethically wrong. Many see it as an opportunity to have children, or possibly to "re-create" a child who is dying from a terminal illness. Many infertile couples are worried that they would never have the chance to someday have children through new technology that would be brought about through cloning. Others believe that it is an invasion of personal freedoms because the government may try to dictate what a person can do to their body. Anita Manning, a writer for USA TODAY revealed another argument in favor ... ...n, Daniel. "A Step Too Far." 23. 3 Manning, Anita. "Pressing a 'Right' to Clone Humans." p1D. 4 Glassman, James. "Should we Fear Dolly?" Sec A p17. 5 Anyonomous. "World Wide: Clinton Proposed" Sec A p1. Works Cited: - Anonymous, "Trials and Triumphs in the History of Cloning," Successful Farming 97 (1999) S28 - S30. - Anonymous. "World Wide: Clinton Proposed" Wall Street Journal 10 Jun 1997: Sec A p1. - Callahan, Daniel. "A Step Too Far," New York Times 26 Feb 1997: Sec A, p23. - Chase, Chevy. "Dealing with Dolly: Inside the National Bioethics Advisory Commission," Health Affairs 17 (1998): 264 - 267. - Glassman, James K. "Should we Fear Dolly?" The Washington Post. 25 Feb 1997: Sec A p17. - Manning, Anita. "Pressing a 'Right' to Clone Humans." USA Today. 6 Mar 1997: p01 D.

Tesco Porter 5 Forces

1. 5(+1) Porter‘s forces. | |The threat of substitutes | | |Food retail industry at first seems easy to substitute, but in truth the large markets are the ones who state the prices in the market, | | |thus for such large chains like Tesco the threat of substitutes is low as due to high demand it manages to offer high quality products at | | |low costs.Moreover, Tesco has already started to focus on opening express stores and this creates even more barriers for the substitutes | | |to enter the market. | | |The threat of entry | | |Tesco takes part among 15 largest world’s retailer chains’.There are a few factors which determine that the threat of a new entrant is | | |fairly low: | | |Due to economies of scale, Tesco offers goods at lower prices. For new entrants it is complicated to achieve this level of sales so that | | |selling at the same level of prices would become profitable.Therefore, a large investment is a necessity. | | |The access to supply and dis tribution channels is not complicated, but the demand of products is not high by new entrants and not all | | |products would be acquired at the same price as Tesco and other market’s leaders acquire. | | |Although, products are not differentiated in a food retail industry and therefore customer loyalty is not high. | |The power of buyers | | |Food retail industry is not differentiated, but standardized one which makes the customers tended to change from one brand to another as | | |switching costs are very low. Though, the buyers are not concentrated and every client is responsible for just a small amount of sales, | | |but Tesco still manages to win a large share of client’s by offering products at low costs. | |The power of suppliers | | |By ranking among the largest world’s retailer chain’s Tesco has enough control over suppliers. Tesco places large orders and takes an | | |important role in every supplier’s business this way at a certain lev el controlling the prices. Moving from one supplier to another is not| | |an expensive issue for Tesco, but the needs of clients should be also taken into consideration, which does not provide full access to | | |control the suppliers. | |Competitive rivalry | | |Taken into the consideration the worldwide market, Tesco has some competitors, including the discounters Aldi and Lidl and when it comes | | |the economic recession those retailers win the market share by offering goods at low prices when the quality of goods becomes not that | | |important for the customers. | |Similar size of the largest retailers and no differentiation of the products offered make the competition even more intense as customers | | |are switching between the brands easily. | | |Public authority power | | |Public authority role in this case plays a limited role.This can appear on certain products which can be not admitted in one or another | | |country but usually can be changed by another good. Although , public authorities are able to control the prices of products and set a cap,| | |but this will be valid for all the competitors and for a large retailer it this will not create any barriers. |

Notes On The World Of The Vikings - 2151 Words

Kelsey Bean 2/12/15 HIST 307 Prospectus The Eighth Century, although often over looked, held many events that marked the beginning of a drastic change in Europe s economic and political systems. With increasing interest in trade with China and other Eastern Asian civilizations, and heavy friction among Byzantine, and Scandinavian loyalties, the fight for power within northern Europe’s trade routes began. Seedlings of Feudal law began to rise, most clearly seen with the emergence of the Vikings. The age of the Vikings begins with the earliest recorded raids in the 790s and continues until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 (Barrett). Geographically, the Viking Age cannot be confined purely to pre medieval Scandinavian lands†¦show more content†¦The Vikings are of Scandinavian decent, said to have lived in small villages that were run by a sort of lord or king, some of which held more power than others (Sawyer). The Viking rain began several hundred years after the fall of the Roman Empire and the emerg ence of the English, Irish and Frankish Kingdoms, which happened to be common victims of Viking pillaging. The Viking political system was more of an organized group of cities states rather than a kingdom of its own (Peterson). Although the villages of Vikings participated in a more agricultural society, the culture was famous for its less conventional means pf obtaining materials, such as pillaging other kingdoms. The Viking religion is believed to be what made the viking soldiers so fearless of death. Strongly centered on the honor one was awarded when they died in battle, Norse religious practices evoked its worshipers to see life as a form of captivity and death as its release (Sawyer). Within the limits of this paper will be discussed the effect of how Viking exploration and trade networks effected their trade commodities and major sources of economic stability. This will be followed by the discussion of the political turmoil that lead the leaders of the Viking to pursue pirac y and pillaging as a valuable source of economic strength. Working backwards in our study of the