Hands help you think. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Hands help you think

11.01.2017

Sometimes, when we have to solve some problem, we, without noticing it ourselves, begin to twist some object in our hands - a pen, a lighter, a mobile phone. On the one hand, this may indicate that we are nervous because of difficulties. On the other hand, manipulations with objects really help to think.

Psychologists from Kingston University, as well as the universities of Essex and Southern Denmark, conducted an experiment in which they had to distribute seventeen animals into four pens - so that there was an odd number of them in each pens. Here it was necessary to design the entire building in a special way, and the participants in the experiment could either draw a model of such a room with an electronic pen on a tablet, or try to build a physical model from the constructor.

This problem was most successfully solved by those who built physical models. It was not a matter of a general difference in mental development between one and the other, but precisely in tools: if a person can directly, so to speak, directly interact with the outside world with his hands, then it becomes easier for him to solve some problems.

You can reduce the so-called fear of mathematics. It is known that some "math anxiety" is so high that they can not even correctly calculate the amount of the check in the store, to say nothing of solving algebraic equations from the school course.

However, if such a person is given some cubes with numbers to help, then he will most likely solve the arithmetic problem correctly. The experiment, in fact, just consisted in the fact that a person was asked to do arithmetic either completely in his mind or with the help of toy numbers - and at the same time, the participants in the experiment had to constantly repeat a word. It is clear that, constantly being distracted by the pronunciation of this word, it was quite difficult to manipulate the numbers. Toy numbers not only helped to focus on the main task, but also allowed to overcome the fear of mathematics, if any.

Obviously, the results obtained will be quite useful in pedagogy, for example, when teaching children who are bad at mathematics. On the other hand, those who constantly have to solve highly intelligent tasks can be advised to keep some kind of constructor on hand - to help their own brain.

<< Back: Diamonds instead of navigation satellites 12.01.2017

>> Forward: Dell XPS 27 All-in-One PC 11.01.2017

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Instant battery charging 31.07.2013

American automotive company Tesla Motors, which specializes in the production of electric vehicles, knows a way to reduce the charging time of an electric car battery to 5 minutes. JB Straubel, chief technical officer of Tesla Motors, told Technology Review about this. In September 2012, Tesla Motors introduced Tesla Superchargers, designed to charge the Model S and newer EVs, allowing the battery to be charged halfway in 30 minutes. By May 2013, the company had reduced this time to 20 minutes. Now Strobel claims that this time can be significantly reduced.

The new method has nothing to do with the procedure of replacing a dead battery with a new charged battery. The company introduced this method of "refueling" last month, believing that it would be easier for the owner of an electric car to change the battery than to wait until it is charged. However, the problem is not just waiting, the fact is that the batteries that Tesla Motors equips its cars with have three times the capacity compared to competitors.

In order to master the charging method in 5 minutes, it is necessary to carry out a whole range of activities. And perhaps this will be, first of all, due to the fact that Tesla Motors independently develops all the necessary technologies and equipment for recharging electric vehicles.

First, it will be necessary to increase the capacity of Tesla Motors charging stations. Now the most common high-speed charging standard is the Japanese CHAdeMO. The station with a capacity of 50-100 kW allows you to charge the battery of an electric car by 80% in 15-30 minutes. In October 2012, another standard was developed - the organization SAE International became its author. It implies the use of a power of 100 kW.

The power of Tesla Superchargers stations is 120 kW, and the reduction in battery charging time will force this power to be increased even more. In addition, it will be necessary to change the design of the chargers. So, for example, now the conversion of AC to DC to charge the battery is performed by rectifiers located in the car. For super-fast charging, rectifiers must be located outside, at the station itself.

Accelerated charging can lead to overheating of the battery, so it is necessary to develop a system for monitoring the temperature and voltage of the battery, which can protect it from overheating by automatically adjusting the charging parameters. "In order to charge a battery this quickly, all components need to work in perfect harmony," commented Strobel.

Finally, the high power of charging stations will force the company to equip them with additional energy sources - solar panels and wind generators.

Tesla Motors plans to test the first such station - which will allow charging electric vehicle batteries in 5 minutes - in the near future in California.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews