RM's+Week+of+October+22

RM's Logbook


 * Monday, October 22, 2007**

Welcome to my online logbook! This is the first day that our class is posting our logbooks online. I'm currently working on the various pages and inserting links to them. I continued reading about AFM on the link that Dr. Lieberman sent me, as well as AL's updated AFM site. I'll be working at Stepan Hall this week.


 * Tuesday, October 23, 2007**

Today is a shortened period, and I'm having problems sending DL my task link. I'm planning on trying from home- hopefully, it will work. Click [|here] to view the site I'm reading to learn more about AFM.

This evening, I went to Stepan Hall from about 3:45 to 5:00 pm to shadow AL. We went to the radiation center to use the AFM; I saw how it was set up, how the samples were injected, and how to adjust the settings. We also looked on the computer's monitor to view the images; however, the images were not as desirable as hoped.


 * Wednesday, October 24, 2007**

My objectives for the day include finishing the site about the AFM that Dr. Lieberman sent me. I finally received feedback from DL on my task list; at least it went through in the end. I'm going to start an annotated bibliography of websites and read AH's work on the AFM before AL.

I did finish reading the website that Dr. Lieberman sent; however, since I was unable to locate AH's presentation on the SJ network, I e-mailed Dr. Sarveswaran, asking for the link.


 * Thursday, October 25, 2007**

Today at Stepan, I observed AL prepare a silicon plate with the APTES solution. I gained a better understanding of what APTES is (its structure, how the name is derived, etc.), and how it is affected when contacted with water. Dr. Sarveswaran gave me some reading to hone in the understanding. I also learned that a high-resistance water is used in the sample, so that conductivity will be low. Lastly, I have to complete a lab safety form.


 * Friday, October 26, 2007**

I read AH's information that he put on his science fair poster. It isn't very similar to what AL is currently working on, however. I also looked up a few chemistry terms that I was forgetting, such as saturation (in terms of bonds and hydrogen). Also, I read about silane coupling agents and quizzed myself on how the hydrolytic deposition of silanes. Rubrics are now going to be due when notice is given- we won't have them due at the end of every week. Today, I also started reading and filling out the lab safety form for ND. This weekend, I have to read through all the lab safety rules and see whether I can take a picture of Comet Holmes.

Week of October 29, 2007