Day 5

Day 5 of our trip included trips to a surface mining operation and a cleaning and processing operation both in Logan County. The surface mine operation is known as Mount Laurel. It employs about 295 people with an average total compensation of just over $88,000. This amount, though impressive in its own right, is not what captured my attention; the reclamation projects going on in conjunction with the mining were very impressive. Both flora and fauna appeared to be flourishing. This is in stark contrast to some other reclaimed areas we have visited this week. It is this scenario which should give hope and solace to all West Virginians about the potential environmental impact of mining in their state.

Our next visit, a cleaning and processing operation, demonstrated to me the importance of science concepts in real world application, something so very important to the student of today. At the very start of our tour, our guide began discussing specific gravity, or relative density. This is typically viewed as the ratio of the density of an object, coal for example, to the density of water. This should not be confused with specific weight which the density of an object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity.

At every turn, another science application that can be used in the classroom jumped out at me. The specific gravity is a play on Archimedes principle. Moving a fluid through smaller and smaller pipes to increase its velocity is based on Bernoulli's Theorem and mass flow rate calculations. These are just a couple of examples; but rest assured, this operation was based on the very standards and objectives we as teachers are to be basing our instruction on.

The day concluded with a meal at the Logan Country Club - good food, good friends, and a great experience. What else needs to be said? Well, there are a few things to say about Steve and Pat, but I will leave those for another time.

Goodnight,

William Strait

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Day 4

With day four at a close, I am convinced this state has much to offer. The touring of the state has revealed many resources and a strength among its people that I never imagined. It is, however, a lack of understanding in this regard which I believe has led to the current stereotype held by many about WV. For example, we visited a company just purchased by Catepillar which specializes in the development and production of a high wall mining machine which may be the single greatest piece of technology I have seen in person. I say this not so much for the incredible volume of coal it can recover, but rather it representing the culminating example of physics applications. Mechanics, fluids, waves, optics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, and even quantum physics are involved in the production of this machine. And, this is done in WV. So much for the notion of West Virginians not beig able to compete in the advanced world of today, not to mention that it is like the coolest tonka truck ever!!

The last part of the day was spent investigating the history of Matewan. Here, we were able to investigate the historical gunfight with Sid Hatfield and allies against a group of Baldwin Felts detectives. This rich history offered such a suspenseful story hollywood itself could not have created such a masterpiece from scratch.

I do feel somewhat bothered by the lack of passion many residents have about their state. I hope that I can do my part in remedying this by instilling in my students a deeper appreciation of WV as a state. This experience has given the insight and motivation to do so. It is my responsibility to now deliver. Now to the bear and our leader Steve.

I must apologize; Steve and Pat reminded me that I am from Ohio. They also made it clear in their own special way, it would be quite a shame if I were to ACCIDENTLY get left behind in someplace called War, not to mention nearly impossible to find my way home. So, as much as I would like to reveal the goodies, the idea of not seeing the Buckeye state again is to frightening to overcome.

Goodnight,

William Strait

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Day 3

Well friends, another day has come an end. Today's journeys took us to several places. First, we visited a surface mine operation known as Buck Lillie. This particular operation is under the watchful eye of the WV DEP. I must be frank and say the area looked as though it had been carpet bombed. But, a closer examination revealed that the operation had several environmental safety features in place. For example, NaOh is infused into the water run-off to increase the alkalinity level. My lovely daughter has informed me she does not want to hear any more science this summer. So, Cassie NaOh is just lye, honey. And, increasing the alkalinity is just making the water safer in this case.

Joe Knob was then visited, as to show the fruits of reclamation. Various flora seemed to be thriving but not much in the way of fauna. Sorry, Cassie; we saw a bunch of plants but no critters moving about.

After Joe Knob, we went to Nuttleburg and the New River Gorge. This area is difficult for me to describe; its beauty was simply breathtaking. When looking at that massive bridge over the river, I could not help but think about humankind's ability to overcome such great obstacles while still failing in the past to realize our unique responsibility to our environment. Oh by the way Cassie, real materials like the bridge are not rigid. Yes the bridge has an elastic quality, meaning the bridge deforms and returns to shape when force is applied and then removed, like vehicles traveling over it. Young' Modulus can help us here honey. The stretching or compression of such materials in a bridge can be calculated by: Y = (F/A)/(dL/L). I am so sorry, I forgot again. If you put a bunch of weight on it, it will stretch some.

Tomorrow my update will include visits to Beckley and Matewan. Also, I will have a story about our esteemed leader Steve wrestling a bear. That is right a real bear. Pat has told me it was hard to tell them apart in the ring, something about all the fur and hair being equal in looks and quanity.

Until tomorrow,

William Strait

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Day 2

Today, we conducted water quality tests at two different sites. The testing equipment was provided through the West Virginia Coal Project and first rate. We were able to test pH levels, dissolved oxygen levels, transparency, temperature, and conductivity all within a matter of minutes. This same technology can be used in my classroom to give my students a first rate hands-on activity. One thing this trip has taught me is to embrace the technology at my disposal; there is so much more that can be gained with it than without it.

The water we tested all had a pH at 4; pH refers to the level of hydronium ions in a solution. More commonly, we think of it as the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a solution. Drinking water is typically safe in the range of 6.5 - 8.5. And, we never reached this safe level at the mine drainage sites.

For us, we need to maintain a pH between 6.8-7.8 to survive. Our bodies will release minerals when the number begins to drop in order to balance out our pH; drink a bunch of coke (very acidic), and our body begins releasing magnesium and calcium to offset the acid levels. Unfortunately, our body often releases too much which can not be passed through our urine and those dreaded kidney stones may form.

The streams we visited today had no fish. Fish begin having their reproductive processes broken down at a pH range of 4 and and cannot survive as you go lower. This is unfortunate because the areas we visited appeared to have all makings of a nice home for aquatic life, except for water quality.

Folks, I have a personal admission ro make. I never really grasped just how pretty this state is. I have seen some of the prettiest country I have ever seen in just the last 35 hours. Waterfalls, mountains, wildlife, and streams are almost breathtaking, and to think I never truly knew of this beauty until now.

Pat did not reqire CPR today. That was good, because he was a big help in the labs. I did not see much of Steve; it could be that his hairy legs, and I mean big-foot hair, served as some form of camouflage to the average eye - Yuck!

Goodnight,

William

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Day 1

Greetings!

Day one has come to a close with many wonderful things to share. We first stopped in Parsons, WV and explored the workings of a windmill. Specifically, we calculated the tip speed of the windmill using some geometry and applications. This was very cool, yet it was the shear size of the windmills that I found most impressive.

Our next stop was in Thomas. Here, webhad an opportunity to see a former booming coal town. Just as an example of the influence of coal here, the local bank still bears the name Miners and Merchants Bank. Also, it was here that we were first introduced to Dr. Little from Marshall University. He breadth knowledge about the history of coal in the areas we will be visiting is very impressive. Dr. Little said something to us which really struck home to me. He mentioned that the native americans really were able to live in harmony with the environment, and we have never been able to. This very idea reminded mebof the importance of helping my students understand theirbown relationship with the environment. Yes cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and cyclotron frequency (a plug for all of my physics family) are important. I do think, however, that teaching our students to be good stewardsbof the environment may even be more important in the large scheme of things.

Tomorrow, we will be conducting water samples and will be in some streams. I sure hope Pat can swim; if CPR is required I am taking chest compressions only. Steve has volunteered for the mouth to mouth.

Goodnight,

William Strait

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Departure Day

Folks, it is just about four hours until the gang and I head out for our trip throughout West Virginia. This should be highly interesting experience, especially when considering the latest EPA guidelines on emmissions from coal fired power plants; these lower emmission requirements, which are a good thing for the environment, can have some negative consequences from an economic standpoint.

The Phillip Sporn plant in Mason County is set to begin closing later this year; this is one of two coal fired power plants within the county with the other being the Mountaineer Power Plant. When it is all said and done, 1050 megawatts of power and 120 jobs will be cut from an already strained economy. But, I have to admit the lakes that surround it, which store part of the residue from the production process, are an environmentalist's worst nightmare.

I guess there is no easy answer abour this. Hopefully my travels this week will give me a better understanding of the debate and some tools to use in my classroom next year. And, I certainly hope to get many pictures of both Pat and Steve; their faces could be considered modern works of art.

Until next time,

William Strait

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Wilford lives!

WILFORD

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