Peak Oil Theory Essay Example

Peak Oil Theory Paper Peak Oil Argument Peak Oil theory was devised by geoscientist M. King Hubbert; the theory states that the U.S oil production, in the long run, will reach a point where the rate of oil production would stop rising. After the peak of oil production is reached, a terminal decline ensues which indicates the halt of oil production in the future. The production curve is expected to resemble the curve of a bell, the apex of it is the maximum point of production. According to Herbert the maximum point of production would have been hit by 1970 from which the decline of production would start, his prediction was launched in 1956 (Hunt, 2016). As a matter of fact in 1970 US oil production was at a peak level. In 1974 Hubbert said that the peak point would be in 1995 his basis was on the 628 billion barrels being produced at the time. Since the 70s to early 2000 US oil production has declined, global oil production, on the other hand, has increased over time due to discoveries of newer oil fields and the improvem ents in drilling technologies. This leaves many people wondering if the Peak Oil theory has already occurred or was it just a fallacy created by M. King Hubbert (Agnihotri, 2015). Arguments in Support of Peak Oil Theory Proponent of the Peak Oil Theory believes that the rate at which oil production and wastage occur around America is a major risk to depletion of Oil reserves in the U.S soil. It is imperative to acknowledge that the rate of oil production in the 1970s was excessive and this would have led to a major peak and a steep decline after it (Murphy, 2015). The proponent of this theory believed that there is need to seek alternative energy sources in order to recuperate from the losses that can be incurred from the decline in oil production in the U.S. We will write a custom essay sample on Peak Oil Theory specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Peak Oil Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Peak Oil Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A discontinues decrease in supply and the increase in oil prices predicates the matter of peak oil theory. Basing on the 2007/8 oil crisis that saw to the spike of oil prices from $50 per barrel to $147 per barrel was a key indicator of the manifestation of the peak oil theory. The 2008 recession which was the biggest after the Great Depression after the First World War was also a clear indicator of an increase in oil prices that would limit the production of oil and hence a decline in supply and usage of oil in the U.S (Hunt, 2016). Arguments in Opposition to the Peak Oil Theory The peak oil theory has had a lot of challenges that have seemed to manifest over the proposed theory. It is imperative to acknowledge that high oil prices encourage saving, people no longer use their vehicles whenever they want, manufacturing companies are moving towards other sources of energy like electricity to reduce usage of oil (Murphy, 2015). High prices of energy in the 21st century has encouraged investment in efficient systems, hybridization of cars and other machinery have come in to reduce the usage of oil. Other technologies such as videoconferencing, work collaboration software just to mention a few have significantly contributed to the reduction of oil usage in transport activities globally. Investments in alternative energy sources have contributed to the reduction in oil prices. All the above points indicate the probability of the Peak Oil theory is never manifesting in the 21st century. References Agnihotri, G. (2015). Peak Oil: Myth Or Coming Reality?. OilPrice.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016, from http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Peak-Oil-Myth-Or-Coming-Reality.html Hunt, T. (2016). What Happened to Peak Oil?. Retrieved 3 October 2016, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/what-happened-to-peak-oil Murphy, R. (2015). Peak Oil Theory May Have Peaked IER. IER. Retrieved 3 October 2016, from http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/analysis/peak-oil-theory-may-have-peaked/

Petrol Retail Sector The WritePass Journal

Petrol Retail Sector Abstract Petrol Retail Sector , p.82). The major aim of these policies is to preserve the resources so as to ensure that there is continuity or sustainability. When these policies are put in place, the quantity of oil produced reduces, thus demand exceeding supply, which consequently forces the prices to go up. Nonetheless, these policies that are introduced by the governments, which aims at limiting the extraction of oil exerts a lot of pressure on the companies that produce oil to not only finding ways of increasing efficiency, but also finding alternative sources of fuel. These initiatives are very slow and difficult because of the considerable financing required energy and time that go into things like researching and production of such products. More so, when an alternative sources of energy is introduced into the market, there is a substantial time lag in which the designing and production of new products that are compatible is done (Beamish, 2006, p.88). It then can take even more time for the clients to know about the existence or availability of the products and be willing to make investments in them. Extreme weather conditions also affect the production of the crude oil. For instance, when there is a lot of rain, it becomes very difficult to access the sites of oil drilling. The machines that are used in the process of drilling oil might also be damaged by the unfavorable weather or their operation may just be affected. This makes it difficult for the crude oil to be produced in large quantities, thus forcing the prices to rise (Bushell, and Stan, 2009). Legal effects Different countries have different requirements for one to be allowed to start and operate a business. The same case applies to the ownership of a service station as well as the oil companies. If the requirements by the government are too strict, there will be a few suppliers in the market, and in turn the price of fuel will rise (Assilzadeh, and Yang, 2010, p.240). Conclusion The oil industry is a very important part or sector of the world economy that should be developed and taken care of in an appropriate manner. Problems such as strikes should be avoided by timely payment so that supply can remain steady. The company should invest in the latest technology that is related to the business to ensure fast delivery of petrol and diesel. Proper plans should also be put in place to ensure that the costs of production and operation of oil companies are reduces and the legal requirements made as flexible as possible. To avoid shortages in supply due to political factors, the company should not depend on a single source of supply, specifically from the OPEC countries. This problem can also help by ensuring that the Greenwich region is safe for any kind of business and the petrol station should also consider using oil pipelines as opposed to tankers. References (2008, 12). Risk Analysis in Oil Refining Sector. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 12, 2008, from studymode.com/essays/Risk-Analysis-In-Oil-Refining-Sector-185467.html Akkartal, A., and F. Sunar, 2008, ‘The usage of radar images in oil spill detection. The International Archives of the Photgrammetry.’ Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences 37, no. Part B8: 271-76. Anderson, A, and Marhadour A, 2007, ‘Slick PR? The media politics of the Prestige oil spill.’ Science Communication 29, no. 1: 96-115. Assilzadeh, H, and Yang G, 2010, ‘Designation of an interactive oil spill management system.’ Disaster Prevention and Management 19, no. 2: 233-42. Beamish, T D, 2006, Silent Spill: The Organization of an Industrial Crisis. London: MIT Press. Black, B C, 2012, Crude Reality: Petroleum in World History. New York: Rowman Littlefield. Bushell, S, and Stan J, 2009, The Spill: Personal Stories from the Exxon Valdez Disaster. AK: Epicenter Press. Fleig, F, 2005, Oil Empire: Visions of Prosperity in Austrian Galicia (Harvard Historical Studies). Harvard University Press. Simmons, S, 2005, Twilight in the Desert The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, John Wiley Sons. Sobel R, 2008, The Money Manias: The Eras of Great Speculation in America, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press (Rowman Littlefield). Yeomans, M, 2006, Oil: Anatomy of an Industry, New Press.

Zara Case Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Zara Case Analysis - Research Paper Example This paper analyzes Zara’s current IT infrastructure with regards to its strategy and makes recommendations on the way to go forward. Description of the case The case details the dilemma that Mr. Xan Salgado Badas, the Head of IT for the clothing giant Inditex, is currently facing with regards to the IT infrastructure of Inditex’s flagship brand Zara. Mr. Salgado needs to decide whether to upgrade Zara’s IT infrastructure or retain the status quo. From the case we can tell that the Inditex’s Head of IT had been deliberating on this issue for quite some time; he and Mr. Bruno Sanchez Ocampo – the technical lead for Zara’s POS - had swopped roles as protagonist and antagonist several times before as they endeavored to evaluate the weight of each side of the argument. To enable us appreciate the dilemma that Salgado was facing the case describes Zara’s business model. The company derived its competitive edge from the speed of its product cycle in combination with decentralized decision making. Zara also employed a different marketing strategy that focused on its stores and the shopping experience rather than advertising like its main competitors. From the case we see that the firm’s IT infrastructure as is was able to make its operations the most effective in the industry. Also, given that it was largely developed in-house Zara’s IT infrastructure was largely proprietary and well-customized to meet its strategic goals. Furthermore, it was easy to install, use and stable. With all these advantages we see why the Head of IT had to take time to deeply consider the company’s next move with regards to IT infrastructure. To give us a balanced picture similar to that which Salgado had, the case also highlights the shortcomings of the current system. Analysis of the company’s goals/strategy Corporate strategy is about what a company wants and how the company should go about to satisfy this want. To achieve its main goal the company employs a grand strategy. Grand Strategies fall into three general categories which reflect what a company’s overall goal would be: growth, stability or retrenchment (Daft, 2000). From the context of the case we are informed that Inditex executives felt that ample room for growth existed within its current markets (Mcafee, Dessain, & Sjoman, 2007, p. 5). This could be construed to imply that Zara’s overall goal was that of growth. The grand strategy is like a framework of the whole business strategy. To achieve its goal Zara would have to focus its attention on business-level strategy. According to Porter (1998) business-level strategy includes numerous strategies, that can be classified into two, either competitive strategy or cooperative strategy. The objective of either strategy is to help the company to achieve competitive advantage against its rival. The difference between these two strategies is in the form of the action taken. There are three ways through which an organization can achieve competitive advantage namely: management, marketing and supply. Zara thrives on speed. It has to respond very quickly to the demands of its target customers who are young, fashion-conscious city dwellers (Mcafee et al., 2007). For Zara to be able to deliver styles while they are still hot, the organization realized that it had to take advantage of the intelligence and judgment of its employees throughout the company. For this reason store managers at Zara were given much more responsibility than those at rival clothing chains. Also Zara employed commercials who worked with designers and store managers to

Product Reliability Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Product Reliability - Research Paper Example s, 2008). They are long lasting i.e. almost up to a decade (8 times the incandescent ones) and are friendly to the environment. in this case, the technological expediency has solved the problem of outrageous power consumption by the former incandescent bulbs to the newly energy saving and efficient plumen ones. Description of the problem All over the world, there is a concerted effort to mitigate on unnecessary power wastage and this is a concern that has attracted the international attention. The law of energy unequivocally states that it is only transformation that can be done to energy but cannot be destroyed nor be created. In the definition, one comes to understand the reason behind being stringent with energy to the extent that all options are being explored to ensure the loss is highly mitigated. One sure way of achieving the above stated objective is designing and use of proper manufacturing materials that put into accounts the goals and targets of saving energy. In pursuit o f the above, Hulger tech company has designed a new bulb that will save enormous energy as compared to the ancient type. The technology is envisaged to be rapidly embraced in the United Kingdom and the US (Murthy, Rausand, & Ostera?s, 2008). ... They have continued to boomerang on the daily basis. Just to mention but a few; the consumers have been compelled to contend with the ever escalating power tariffs which are not economically viable due to the energy that is lost by the use of facilities that are not energy mindful. Power rationing has characterized a number of nations leading to closer of the lifeline industrial activities in most parts of the developing countries thereby leading to massive retrenchment of the employees (Murthy, Rausand, & Ostera?s, 2008). Industrial growth has to stagnate in this situation and this is resulting into unrepeatable dent in the overall country economic growth. At times, a country may be forced to spend excessively on power importation and this may equally affect a country’s balance of trade. Generally, energy efficient bulbs should be embraced in a country totally, as it is a recipe for horizontal economic growth. Relevance Statement It is certain that conservation of energy is a n important issue that does not put into account the social and cultural backgrounds. The research is more of professional and not that is hinged on the social and cultural background of the diverse human nature. Energy conservation is irrelevant of the social and cultural background of any individual and in the research, there is no possible area where there could be a clash of the two areas of interest. The only relevance is that it can be used to find a solution to cultural and social practices that are endangering conservation of energy. In this case, they will embrace the technology and participate in the conservation process. Scope of inquiry In the endeavors to solve

International relations Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International relations - Article Example This section uses realism theory to explain relationships among state and non-state actors in the international system. Realism is based on the idea that the international system exists according to the Hobbestian state of nature, which is anarchic and brutal. There is no centralized authority in the system. The influential states have powers that they use to subjugate the poor and powerless in the system. The paper evaluates three supranational regimes in order to understand the theory in detail. States agree to form governments that control internal affairs. It is not surprising that any sovereign state has the power to enforce and prescribe laws. These powers are limited in the international system because there is no Leviathan that controls the activities of all members. The manner in which African states and other developing countries conduct politics is a matter of great concern when it comes to the issue of classical realism. From liberalists’ point of view, the drives to power and will to dominate is based on liberty in which peoples’ freedom to determine the nature of politics is given priority in the society. According to Kenneth Waltz and Wendt, people are free to elect the leader they want. They are also at liberty to contribute to the government without restrictions. Neorealist focuses on the international system in which states are considered as the key actors. ... The difference between classical realism and neo-realism is based on how they view the causes of conflict in international relations. Classical realism view unchanging human nature and self-interest as the major causes of conflict in international relations while neo-realism consider state anarchy as the major cause of conflict in international relations (Harrison 89). Question 3: Persistent underdevelopment The dependency theory is utilized in international relations to predict dependency in third world countries. Dependency has been defined as a condition in which the growth and expansion of an economy is conditioned or determined by growth and expansion of another economy. This means that a dependent state cannot experience a self-sustaining development that is; it cannot be self-reliant because its economy is a reflection of the developed state’s economy. The process of dependency is sustained by foreign aid including technical assistance and military aid. The aid does not enhance the economy but it strengthens dependency relations. The aid further marginalizes the dependent countries since they create permanent debts. Marxists argue that neither mercantilism nor liberalism guarantee human happiness this is because the owners of the means of production control the markets whereas the state is the property of the elite. It therefore postulates that people should determine their own destiny through collectivization of interests (Allen and Thomas 69). Liberalism argues that politics and economics have no relationship whatsoever. The market according to liberalists is self-regulating because it operates on its internal logics. It claims that the market

Electrochemical battery

Electrochemical battery HISTORY An early form of electrochemical battery called the Baghdad Battery may have been used in antiquity. However, the modern development of batteries started with the Voltaic pile, invented by the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta in 1800. In 1780 the Italian anatomist and physiologist Luigi Galvani noticed that dissected frogs legs would twitch when struck by a spark from a Leyden jar, an external source of electricity. In 1786 he noticed that twitching would occur during lightning storms. After many years Galvani learned how to produce twitching without using any external source of electricity. He started doing his experiments on frogs with metals but he replaced them with electrolyte and electrodes and named the system as voltaic cell. In 1800, Volta invented the battery by placing many voltaic cells in series, literally piling them one above the other. This Voltaic pile gave a greatly enhanced net emf for the combination. After voltaic cell, in 1836 Daniell cell came into existence. It provided more stable current and was also accepted by the industries. These wet cells were not portable as there liquid electrolyte used to spill. Therefore by the end of nineteenth century dry batteries came into existence in which the liquid electrolyte was replaced with dry paste making the dry batteries portable. Working of Batteries Electrochemical cell In this example the two half-cells are linked by a salt bridge separator that permits the transfer of ions, but not water molecules. A battery is a device that converts chemical energy directly to electrical energy. It consists of a number of voltaic cells; each voltaic cell consists of two half cells connected in series by a conductive electrolyte containing anions and cations. One half-cell includes electrolyte and the electrode to which anions (negatively-charged ions) migrate, i.e. the anode or negative electrode; the other half-cell includes electrolyte and the electrode to which cations (positively-charged ions) migrate, i.e. the cathode or positive electrode. In the redox reaction that powers the battery, reduction (addition of electrons) occurs to cations at the cathode, while oxidation (removal of electrons) occurs to anions at the anode. The electrodes do not touch each other but are electrically connected by the electrolyte, which can be either solid or liquid. Many cells use two half-cells with different electrolytes. In that case each half-cell is enclosed in a container, and a separator that is porou s to ions but not the bulk of the electrolytes prevents mixing. Each half cell has an electromotive force (or emf), determined by its ability to drive electric current from the interior to the exterior of the cell. The net emf of the cell is the difference between the emfs of its half-cells, as first recognized by Volta. Therefore, if the electrodes have emfs and, then the net emf is; in other words, the net emf is the difference between the reduction potentials of the half-reactions. The electrical driving force or across the terminals of a cell is known as the terminal voltage (difference) and is measured in volts. The terminal voltage of a cell that is neither charging nor discharging is called the open-circuit voltage and equals the emf of the cell. Because of internal resistance, the terminal voltage of a cell that is discharging is smaller in magnitude than the open-circuit voltage and the terminal voltage of a cell that is charging exceeds the open-circuit voltage. An ideal cell has negligible internal resistance, so it would maintain a constant terminal voltage of until exhausted, then dropping to zero. If such a cell maintained 1.5 volts and stored a charge of one Coulomb then on complete discharge it would perform 1.5 Joule of work. In actual cells, the internal resistance increases under discharge, and the open circuit voltage also decreases under discharge. If the voltage and resistance are plotted against time, the resulting graphs typically are a cur ve; the shape of the curve varies according to the chemistry and internal arrangement employed. As stated above, the voltage developed across a cells terminals depends on the energy release of the chemical reactions of its electrodes and electrolyte. Alkaline and carbon-zinc cells have different chemistries but approximately the same emf of 1.5 volts; likewise NiCd and NiMH cells have different chemistries, but approximately the same emf of 1.2 volts. On the other hand the high electrochemical potential changes in the reactions of lithium compounds give lithium cells emfs of 3 volts or more. Categories and types of batteries Main article: List of battery types Batteries are classified into two broad categories, each type with advantages and disadvantages. Primary batteries irreversibly (within limits of practicality) transform chemical energy to electrical energy. When the initial supply of reactants is exhausted, energy cannot be readily restored to the battery by electrical means. Secondary batteries can be recharged; that is, they can have their chemical reactions reversed by supplying electrical energy to the cell, restoring their original composition. Historically, some types of primary batteries used, for example, for telegraph circuits, were restored to operation by replacing the components of the battery consumed by the chemical reaction.[34] Secondary batteries are not indefinitely rechargeable due to dissipation of the active materials, loss of electrolyte and internal corrosion. Primary batteries Primary batteries can produce current immediately on assembly. Disposable batteries are intended to be used once and discarded. These are most commonly used in portable devices that have low current drain, are only used intermittently, or are used well away from an alternative power source, such as in alarm and communication circuits where other electric power is only intermittently available. Disposable primary cells cannot be reliably recharged, since the chemical reactions are not easily reversible and active materials may not return to their original forms. Battery manufacturers recommend against attempting to recharge primary cells. Common types of disposable batteries include zinc-carbon batteries and alkaline batteries. Generally, these have higher energy densities than rechargeable batteries, but disposable batteries do not fare well under high-drain applications with loads under 75 ohms (75 ÃŽ ©). Secondary batteries Main article: Rechargeable battery Secondary batteries must be charged before use; they are usually assembled with active materials in the discharged state. Rechargeable batteries or secondary cells can be recharged by applying electrical current, which reverses the chemical reactions that occur during its use. Devices to supply the appropriate current are called chargers or rechargers. The oldest form of rechargeable battery is the lead-acid battery. This battery is notable in that it contains a liquid in an unsealed container, requiring that the battery be kept upright and the area be well ventilated to ensure safe dispersal of the hydrogen gas produced by these batteries during overcharging. The lead-acid battery is also very heavy for the amount of electrical energy it can supply. Despite this, its low manufacturing cost and its high surge current levels make its use common where a large capacity (over approximately 10Ah) is required or where the weight and ease of handling are not concerns. A common form of the lead-acid battery is the modern car battery, which can generally deliver a peak current of 450 amperes. An improved type of liquid electrolyte battery is the sealed valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery, popular in the automotive industry as a replacement for the lead-acid wet cell. The VRLA battery uses an immobilized sulfuric acid electrolyte, reducing the chance of leakage and extending shelf life. VRLA batteries have the electrolyte immobilized, usually by one of two means: Gel batteries (or gel cell) contain a semi-solid electrolyte to prevent spillage. Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries absorb the electrolyte in a special fiberglass matting Other portable rechargeable batteries include several dry cell types, which are sealed units and are therefore useful in appliances such as mobile phones and laptop computers. Cells of this type (in order of increasing power density and cost) include nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells. By far, Li-ion has the highest share of the dry cell rechargeable market. Meanwhile, NiMH has replaced NiCd in most applications due to its higher capacity, but NiCd remains in use in power tools, two-way radios, and medical equipment. Battery cell types There are many general types of electrochemical cells, according to chemical processes applied and design chosen. The variation includes galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flow cells and voltaic piles. Wet cell A wet cell battery has a liquid electrolyte. Other names are flooded cell since the liquid covers all internal parts, or vented cell since gases produced during operation can escape to the air. Wet cells were a precursor to dry cells and are commonly used as a learning tool for electrochemistry. It is often built with common laboratory supplies, like beakers, for demonstrations of how electrochemical cells work. A particular type of wet cell known as a concentration cell is important in understanding corrosion. Wet cells may be primary cells (non-rechargeable) or secondary cells (rechargeable). Originally all practical primary batteries such as the Daniel cell were built as open-topped glass jar wet cells. Other primary wet cells are the Leclanche cell, Grove cell, Bunsen cell, Chromic acid cell, Clark cell and Weston cell. The Leclanche cell chemistry was adapted to the first dry cells. Wet cells are still used in automobile batteries and in industry for standby power for switchgear, telecommunication or large uninterruptible power supplys, but in many places batteries with gel cells have been used instead. These applications commonly use lead-acid or nickel-cadmium cells. Dry cell A dry cell has the electrolyte immobilized as a paste, with only enough moisture in the paste to allow current to flow. Compared to a wet cell, the battery can be operated in any random position, and will not spill its electrolyte if inverted. While a dry cells electrolyte is not truly completely free of moisture and must contain some moisture to function, when it was first developed it had the advantage of containing no sloshing liquid that might leak or drip out when inverted or handled roughly, making it highly suitable for small portable electric devices. By comparison, the first wet cells were typically fragile glass containers with lead rods hanging from the open top, and needed careful handling to avoid spillage. An inverted wet cell would leak, while a dry cell would not. Lead-acid batteries would not achieve the safety and portability of the dry cell, until the development of the gel battery. A common dry cell battery is the zinc-carbon battery, using a cell sometimes called the dry Leclanchà © cell, with a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, the same nominal voltage as the alkaline battery (since both use the same zinc-manganese dioxide combination. The makeup of a standard dry cell is a zinc anode (negative pole), usually in the form of a cylindrical pot, with a carbon cathode (positive pole) in the form of a central rod. The electrolyte is ammonium chloride in the form of a paste next to the zinc anode. The remaining space between the electrolyte and carbon cathode is taken up by a second paste consisting of ammonium chloride and manganese dioxide, the latter acting as a depolarizer. In some more modern types of so called high power batteries, the ammonium chloride has been replaced by zinc chloride. Battery cell performance A batterys characteristics may vary over load cycle, charge cycle and over life time due to many factors including internal chemistry, current drain and temperature. Extending battery life Battery life can be extended by storing the batteries at a low temperature, as in a refrigerator or freezer, because the chemical reactions in the batteries are slower. Such storage can extend the life of alkaline batteries by ~5%; while the charge of rechargeable batteries can be extended from a few days up to several months. In order to reach their maximum voltage, batteries must be returned to room temperature; discharging an alkaline battery at 250 mAh at 0 °C is only half as efficient as it is at 20 °C. As a result, alkaline battery manufacturers like Duracell do not recommend refrigerating or freezing batteries. Hazards 1.) Explosion A battery explosion is caused by the misuse or malfunction of a battery, such as attempting to recharge a primary (non-rechargeable) battery, or short circuiting a battery. With car batteries, explosions are most likely to occur when a short circuit generates very large currents. In addition, car batteries liberate hydrogen when they are overcharged (because of electrolysis of the water in the electrolyte). Normally the amount of overcharging is very small, as is the amount of explosive gas developed, and the gas dissipates quickly. However, when jumping a car battery, the high current can cause the rapid release of large volumes of hydrogen, which can be ignited by a nearby spark. When a battery is recharged at an excessive rate, an explosive gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen may be produced faster than it can escape from within the walls of the battery, leading to pressure build-up and the possibility of the battery case bursting. In extreme cases, the battery acid may spray violently from the casing of the battery and cause injury. Overcharging—that is, attempting to charge a battery beyond its electrical capacity—can also lead to a battery explosion, leakage, or irreversible damage to the battery. It may also cause damage to the charger or device in which the overcharged battery is later used. Additionally, disposing of a battery in fire may cause an explosion as steam builds up within the sealed case of the battery. 2.) Leakage One style of disposable battery uses zinc can as both a reactant and as the container to hold the other reagents. If this kind of battery is run all the way down, or if it is recharged after running down too far, the reagents can emerge through the cardboard and plastic that forms the remainder of the container. The active chemicals can then corrode or otherwise destroy the equipment that they were inserted into. Many battery chemicals are corrosive or poisonous or both. If leakage occurs, either spontaneously or through accident, the chemicals released may be dangerous. 3.) Environmental concerns The widespread use of batteries has created many environmental concerns, such as toxic metal pollution. Battery manufacture consumes resources and often involves hazardous chemicals. Used batteries also contribute to electronic waste. Some areas now have battery recycling services available to recover some of the materials from used batteries. Batteries may be harmful or fatal if swallowed. Recycling or proper disposal prevents dangerous elements (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium) found in some types of batteries from entering the environment. In the United States, Americans purchase nearly three billion batteries annually, and about 179,000 tons of those end up in landfills across the country. In the United States, the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996 banned the sale of mercury-containing batteries (except small button cell batteries), enacted uniform labeling requirements for rechargeable batteries, and required that rechargeable batteries be easily removable. California and New York City prohibit the disposal of rechargeable batteries in solid waste, and along with Maine require recycling of cell phones. The rechargeable battery industry has nationwide recycling programs in the United States and Canada, with drop-off points at local retailers. Battery chemistry Older batteries were mostly based on rechargeable lead-acid or non-rechargeable alkaline chemistries, with nominal voltages in increments of 2.10 2.13 and 1.5Volts respectively, each representing one individual electrochemical cell. New special battery chemistries have strained older naming conventions. Rechargeable NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) and NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) typically output 1.25V per cell. Some devices may not operate properly with these cells, given the 16% reduction in voltage, but most modern ones handle them well. Conversely, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries output 3.7V per cell, 23% higher than a pair of alkaline cells (3V), which they are often designed to replace. Non-rechargeable lithium-chemistry batteries, which provide exceptionally high energy density, produce about 1.5V per cell and are thus similar to alkaline batteries. Many new battery sizes refer to both the batteries size and chemistry, while older names do not. For a more complete list see battery types. This summary is only for types relating to battery sizes. Homemade cells Almost any liquid or moist object that has enough ions to be electrically conductive can serve as the electrolyte for a cell. As a novelty or science demonstration, it is possible to insert two electrodes made of different metals into a lemon, potato, etc. and generate small amounts of electricity. Two-potato clocks are also widely available in hobby and toy stores; they consist of a pair of cells, each consisting of a potato (lemon, et cetera) with two electrodes inserted into it, wired in series to form a battery with enough voltage to power a digital clock. Homemade cells of this kind are of no real practical use, because they produce far less current—and cost far more per unit of energy generated—than commercial cells, due to the need for frequent replacement of the fruit or vegetable. In addition, one can make a voltaic pile from two coins and a piece of paper towel dipped in salt water. Such a pile would make very little voltage itself, but when many of them are s tacked together in series, they can replace normal batteries for a short amount of time. Sony has developed a biologically friendly battery that generates electricity from sugar in a way that is similar to the processes observed in living organisms. The battery generates electricity through the use of enzymes that break down carbohydrates, which are essentially sugar. Lead acid cells can easily be manufactured at home, but a tedious charge/discharge cycle is needed to form the plates. This is a process whereby lead sulfate forms on the plates, and during charge is converted to lead dioxide (positive plate) and pure lead (negative plate). Repeating this process results in a microscopically rough surface, with far greater surface area being exposed. This increases the current the cell can deliver. Daniell cells are also easy to make at home. Aluminum-air batteries can also be produced with high purity aluminum. Aluminum foil batteries will produce some electricity, but they are not very efficient, in part because a significant amount of hydrogen gas is produced.

Ashes of Izalco-bookr report :: essays research papers

ASHES OF IZALCO By Claribal Alegria and Darwin J. Flakoll   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I found the beginning of this book quite confusing. I had a difficult time discerning who the main characters were and what was the plot. I also wasn’t quite sure when the Mother had died and it wasn’t until later that I realized the reason that Carmen was present was because she had traveled home for her mother’s funeral. However, once I got into the book and started to put the characters in context, I really began to enjoy it. This book has very sad overtones. It is concerned with the human struggle for happiness in life, or maybe just contentment. Just about every main character, present and past, seems to be involved in some inner turmoil. Carmen is struggling with her own identity and her unhappiness in her marriage to Paul. She feels she plays a role of dutiful wife as she was brought up to be, but that the marriage really has no strong foundation and she and her husband have nothing in common. Possibly a repetition of her parents’ marriage? She admits to being convinced by her husband to have an abortion. This must have been very traumatic to reconcile with her Catholic upbringing as she refers to it as â€Å"a crime†. She is searching throughout the narrative for answers to her questions. What has become of her? What should she do about her marriage? Her father? And one of the most pressing questions is her struggle to understand why her has mother left the diary to her? There are no clear answers for Carmen. As she searches for answers she is also experiencing the very early stages of the grieving process. She is angry. She doesn’t like at all that her mother has altered her view of her as a parent. Don’t we all think that our parents never make mistakes or have questions in their own lives? If Isabel had left the marriage when she was a child, Carmen would have been forced to deal with the issue of an imperfect world with imperfect people. As she travels through some very poignant reminiscences, she admits to her own self-absorption as a child. As an adult, she reflects on now seeing her parents more clearly as individuals. I, too, have personally had this experience in seeing parents differently from the adult perspective. Carmen appears to be wearing a mask in her own relationship that shows a repetition of her mother’s life.

Lower Drinking Age

Today we live in a country that prides itself on being free, although there are a number of people that feel they do not have as much freedom as they deserve, such as the freedom to drink at a younger age. The legal drinking age should be lowered to the age of 18, where in the eyes of the law you are seen as an adult. Many different opinions are opened as the subject of lowering the legal drinking age is brought up. For most, if not all, teenagers in high school a situation that has to do with consuming alcohol has been put in front of them.A lot of the time this type of situation leads to illegally drinking underage. At this point these minors know that what they are doing and that it is completely illegal. When knowing they cannot drink all the time and have an opportunity to they take the drinking up to the next level. This is when the paths of social drinkers and binge drinkers cross and can become very dangerous. When someone drinks too much other people around them realize and don’t want to be in trouble for underage drinking so they tend to leave that person so they don’t get hit by the consequences.That situation is exactly the reason there are so many deaths in result from underage drinking. People may fight for a lowered drinking age for that exact reason. This side of reasoning makes people want the drinking age lowered because teens won’t be scared to get in trouble when trying to get help for a friend or just a fellow partier. There are also many other reasons why the legal drinking age should be lower. Many people say a teen is not responsible enough to drink alcohol so they shouldn’t be allowed to.This argument gets completely erased with the fact that 18 year olds have the ability to serve in the military and can even vote for the countries leader. These two facts alone show that they are responsible enough to make their own decisions as to what the can and want to do. As the responsibility factor gets pushed to the s ide it is then said that someone that is 18 does not have the tolerance as someone that is 21 does. This fact is proven completely false because tolerance has nothing to do with your age.The best way that people gain tolerance is by experience so the more experience you have with something the more tolerance you have. If you start your experience at a younger age while you still have a watchful eye over you such as parents and guardians you may be less likely to mess up because you want to prove to them that you have the ability to live in the real world. With no one watching over you while beginning a new experience you are more likely to make a mistake and pay for it.With more supervision the number of alcohol related problems, as serious as deaths, will decrease. This is proven in other places around the world such as Italy, China and even Greece. In these places the legal drinking age is lower and so is the amount of alcohol related incidents. This fight is not only pushed by th e population of underage drinkers but also by the main places this crime is done, Colleges and Universities. Many presidents from major colleges want the age lowered because the current laws encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.â€Å"This is a law that is routinely evaded,† said John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont. â€Å"It is a law that the people at whom it is directed believe is unjust and unfair and discriminatory. † With a legal drinking age under 21 the regulation of alcohol in colleges and universities will be around. This will help them make sure that less students are getting overly intoxicated. As the colleges and universities keep the number of intoxicated students down with their supervision they also keep the possibility of injuries and deaths down as well.There are also many opinions that are on the side of keeping the legal drinking age at 21 years of age. One of the major and to some the only valid reason for states to keep the legal drinking age at 21 is the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. This act was put into place in 1984. â€Å"The 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act, [23 U. S. C.  § 158], requires that States prohibit persons under 21 years of age from purchasing or publicly possessing alcoholic beverages as a condition of receiving State highway funds.A Federal regulation that interprets the Act excludes from the definition of â€Å"public possession,† possession â€Å"for an established religious purpose; when accompanied by a parent, spouse or legal guardian age 21 or older; for medical purposes when prescribed or administered by a licensed physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, hospital or medical institution; in private clubs or establishments; or to the sale, handling, transport, or service in dispensing of any alcoholic beverage pursuant to lawful employment of a person under the age of twenty-one years by a duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of a lcoholic beverages†, [23 C.F. R.  § 1208. 3]. †This act helped keeping the legal drinking age in all states at 21 by imposing a penalty if the age were to drop under 21. This penalty states that 10 percent of a state’s federal highway appropriation on any state setting its drinking age lower than 21 will be taken away. That is a lot of money needed by states to keep their roads in the best shape that they can for us driving on them. Another reason to keep alcohol illegal for minors is because of its association with destructive or violent behavior.These behaviors range through a variety of offenses from fighting to robbery to drunk driving. All of which have the ability to hurt or even kill someone without the intent to when first making these decisions. The legal drinking age will always be an ongoing debate in our country. This will be whether the age is lowered, kept the same or even a possibility of rising. People of all ages and backgrounds will fight for t heir honest opinion with this argument.

The challenger disaster essays

The challenger disaster essays There were many great and significant events that happened while the United States was under the rule of Ronald Reagan. One of the major events also had to do with the United States evolvement in going to The moon and beyond as President Jonathan Fitzgerald Kennedy had stated. We (The United States) had already made it far in that vision by visiting the moon and stunning the world with being the first country to land on another Planet. Along with that came the adventure to put people into space for various science experiments or just for no reason at all besides the reason of needing to know if NASA could put another person into space and get them back to earth successfully. On January 28, 1986 America was shocked by the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger, and the death of its seven crew members. (www.Fas.org) The United States finally had an accident entering space that involved people. Through this paper you will see how this unfortunate accident had an impact on th e American way and how our president at the time handled this situation. The Crew consisted of seven people. The were Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregary B. Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe. They all had a great impact with their death. All of these men and women had great importance with NASA and were considered great astronauts. Yet with all those people there was one person who was to have the greatest impact on America as we know it. In 1978 Scobee entered NASA's astronaut corps and was the pilot of STS-41-C, the fifth orbital flight of the Challenger spacecraft, launching from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 6, 1984. During this seven-day mission the crew successfully retrieved and repaired the ailing Solar Maximum Satellite and returned it to orbit. This was an enormously important mission, because it demonstrated the capability that NASA had long said...

A Critique of an Academic Journal by Luis Garay and Xavier Font

A Critique of an Academic Journal by Luis Garay and Xavier Font Introduction This paper provides a critical analysis of the article: â€Å"Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises†. The article is authored by Luis Garay and Xavier Font. The author’s arguments are based on a comparison of corporate social responsibility with corporate financial performance.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on A Critique of an Academic Journal by Luis Garay and Xavier Font specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The topic is lengthy and broad. Therefore, the author has not specified the role of small and medium enterprises in sustainable hospitality management. The article begins with a review of corporate responsibility and corporate financial performance. This article further presents the analyses of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance1. A critical evaluation of the author’s argument(s), assumptions made by the author, and the main implications The main argument of the author is that corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance affect hospitality management. The greatest challenge to the argument is that misguided assumptions are made, which can be misleading to the reader. The article places corporate social responsibility at a static position instead of appreciating the influential dynamism towards hospitality. The author has discussed the topic by exploring several assumptions about the hospitality environment instead of presenting evidence-based research concerning the topic2. The authors review the literature about corporate financial responsibility and corporate social responsibility. The literature review is analyzed before the authors provide an introduction to the meaning of corporate social responsibility and corporate financial responsibility. There is a need to provide in-d epth analyses of how the two sectors are likely to be affected by a large percentage of recorded accommodation rates3. From the outset, the reader is caught at a crossroad whereby he/she cannot understand the goals of the authors. The goals tend to be hidden from the reader and the reader must search the goals of the article because they are scattered. The authors present an analytical evidence-based analyses but this has been done at a broad scope. Similarly, the authors present the main theories for the tourism sector to engage in corporate social sustainable and corporate financial performance.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The article presents the methodology, and it is evident that qualitative research has been applied. The authors ought to have considered using the qualitative and quantitative methods of research to present reliable results4. The purpose of the article is to show how the constant change and the dynamic nature of corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance have affected the accommodation and the tourism sector. However, the authors have emphasized on applying the wrong approach in achieving the purpose of the article. The authors have adopted a fixed approach instead of using the principles approach. The validity of the different scenarios that have been applied using the fixed approach cannot be fully relied upon to achieve the end purpose. The fixed approach method is grounded on the gradual approach of responsibility of various institutions. However, this has been done with the outlook on the main role and the influences on the key stakeholders in the industry. The fixed approach has various weaknesses because it does not prioritize the actions and the direct consequences of corporate responsibility and its role in the tourism sector. The data gathered through this approach is tain ted with positive, negative and neutral results5. A critical evaluation of the accuracy and relevance of evidence that is utilized in the article The article relies on secondary evidence. The evidence is gathered through the qualitative research method. The article has supported the topic with academic data but the method used leaves a lot to be desired. The authors should have combined the qualitative and quantitative research methods. It is well known that a well researched article is based on varied information6. Articles aimed at researching the relationship of two strong variables, the evidence in the research should be reliable. The evidence in the article presents good management approach, whereby the authors argue that the corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance produce reliable results if they are well managed. The article seeks to answer the question why and how the relationship between the corporate sustainable responsibility and corporate fina nce performance affect small and medium accommodation enterprises. The authors should have used the principles approach because it focuses on the impacts of the relationship between the above mentioned factors and how the impacts affect the tourism industry7.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on A Critique of an Academic Journal by Luis Garay and Xavier Font specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The authors have used the stakeholder approach, whereby they presented the impact of the interaction of the tourism industry on the corporate sustainable responsibility and how the relationship stretches from economic level to legal level. The stakeholder interaction and the capabilities presented are innovation and higher integration, which has assisted in transforming the tourism and management industry. The article presents the main objective to show how business engagement assists in achieving competitive advantage. The main weakness of the article is realized by the failure to mention other factors which enhance competitiveness as far as sustainable practices is hospitality and tourism management is concerned. The article fails to bring the desired link between competitive advantages and its application in the tourism business8. The presentation of the evidence to support the authors’ arguments is well cited but limited. The author appreciates the scarcity of the literature that relate to the topic of tourism corporate social responsibility. The literature available, which has been reviewed on the contribution of corporate responsibility in explaining the tourism behavior, takes a broad stand. The narrowing down of the arguments provides doubtful literature, which cannot be relied on. The literature presented provides the reader a chance to doubt because a reliable article is based on stable evidence which can persuade9.On the other hand, the corporate sustainable responsibility literature is limited to the environmental practices which have positive impacts on tourism management10. A critical evaluation of clarity, rigor, and other aspects of the article The article has achieved the underlying principles surrounding clarity. The article is not only unclear but it also carries broad overview of main aspects under investigation. The convincing power of the article is mainly eroded with main assurances on the capacity to cover the topic, and this causes the article to be elusive. The fact that the corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance are overlapping in the discussion, makes it hard to identify the relationship with small and medium accommodative purposes. The article states the importance of responsibility practices but additional information to show how and why is a major weakness of the article is lacking.11Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion The article presents the salient arguments and the assumptions in identifying the importance of corporate social responsibility and corporate finance management in the tourism industry. The implications of the assumptions in the article have been evaluated. The critical evaluation of the evidence used is also considered. The assessment of how clear and convincing the article is has been discussed. The conclusion is to the effect that the main objective of the article is not reached due to the use of broad topic and lack of narrowing down to a specific aspect. Bibliography Garaya, L, Font, X., ‘Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 30, 2011, pp.1–9. Holcomb, J, Upchurch, R Okumus, F, ‘Corporate social responsibility: what are top hotel companies reporting?’ International Journal of Contempor ary Hospitality Management, vol. 19, 2007, pp.461–475. Kang, K, Lee, S Huh, C, ‘Impacts of positive and negative corporate social responsibility activities on company performance in the hospitality industry’. International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 29, 2010, pp.72–82. Kasim, A, ‘Managerial attitudes towards environmental management among small and medium hotels in Kuala Lumpur’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism vol. 17, 2009, pp.709–725. Kasim, A, ‘Towards a wider adoption of environmental responsibility in the hotel sector’, International Journal of Hospitality Tourism, vol. 8, 2007, pp. 25–49. Footnotes 1  L Garaya X Font, ‘Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 30, 2011, pp.1–9. 2 A Kasim, ‘Managerial attitudes towards enviro nmental management among small and medium hotels in Kuala Lumpur’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol.17, 2009, pp.709–725. 3 JLHolcomb, RS Upchurch, F Okumus, ‘Corporate social responsibility: what are top hotel companies reporting?’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol.19, 2007, pp.461–475. 4 K Kang, S Lee, C Huh, ‘Impacts of positive and negative corporate social responsibility activities on company performance in the hospitality industry’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 29, 2010, pp.72–82. 5 A Kasim, ‘Towards a wider adoption of environmental responsibility in the hotel sector’, International Journal of Hospitality Tourism vol. 8, 2007, pp. 25–49. 6 K Kang, S Lee, C Huh, ‘Impacts of positive and negative corporate social responsibility activities on company performance in the hospitality industry†, International Journal of Hospitality Man agement, vol. 29, 2010, pp.72–82. 7 A Kasim, ‘Managerial attitudes towards environmental management among small and medium hotels in Kuala Lumpur’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 17, 2009, pp. 709–725. 8 L Garaya, X Font, ‘Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 30, 2011, pp.1–9. 9 JL Holcomb, RS Upchurch, F Okumus, ‘Corporate social responsibility: what are top hotel companies reporting?’ International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 19, 2007, pp.461–475. 10 Kasim, A., â€Å"Towards a wider adoption of environmental responsibility in the hotel sector†, International Journal of Hospitality Tourism 8, 2007, 25–49. 11 K Kang, S Lee, C Huh, ‘Impacts of positive and negative corporate social responsibility activities on compa ny performance in the hospitality industry’, International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 29, 2010, pp.72–82.

Case Study Of A Leadership Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Of A Leadership - Case Study Example Various leaders often possess different traits thereby imposing their rulings as well as operations differently. While others are born leaders, some leaders tend to use coercion as a strategy for leadership making them an enemy of the people who are left to their mercies but have to follow by default. Leaders rule based on their leadership styles that vary depending on each leader. Basing on their leadership styles, some leaders are a friend of the people and a real idol to their followers who see them as role models such as re-known African leader Nelson Mandela. On the hand, some leaders are a pain to the people as they abuse power by forcefully dictating rules making people loathe their leadership style. A perfect example of this is world’s famous African leader Idi Amini popularly referred to as Dictator Idi Amini. Leaders all over the world are governed by specific traits that determine their leadership skills and style of leadership. Bearing in mind the fact that a leader is a force behind many decisions guiding a bigger fraction of people, a good leader has to be emotionally upright so as to be in a perfect position to make wise decisions as well as straight rulings. Having been down the responsibility of ruling many people all of whom share different thoughts, perceptions, and ideologies, a good leader has to be able to put up with all their people, welcome views, suggestions, as well as ideas from all irrespective of their status in the society. A leader’s personal judgments should, therefore, be concealed and not be a reflection of their thoughts in the public domain. Leadership comes with feelings of mixed reactions and is bound to face criticism as well as opposition from various quarters hence a leader should be able to welcome critics and positively dissolve views from those i n opposition.

Interpersonal Communication Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interpersonal Communication Questions - Essay Example here are six ways that can be adopted in everyday life, which are â€Å"motivating your ­self to listen, clearly hearing the message, paying attention to the message, cor ­rectly interpreting the message, evaluating the message, and remembering and responding appropriately†(Sole, 2011). I plan to use these skills in everyday life. By using these ways, my listening skills will be polished and I will be a better listener. The psychological concepts concerning the â€Å"self† are â€Å"self-concept†, â€Å"self-image† and â€Å"self-esteem† and these concepts are related to interpersonal communication. A person is able to have â€Å"self-concept† or knowledge of self and his traits by communicating with self and others around him, therefore, an interaction is created leading to interpersonal communication. â€Å"Self-image† is a complete picture of one’s full persona and transforms because of interaction and communication with other people as information about strengths and weaknesses is internalized, therefore is related to interpersonal communication. â€Å"Self-esteem† is related to interpersonal communication as it is the worth of oneself, which sometimes needs reassurance from other people or from self through interpersonal communication (Sole, 2011). â€Å"Self-concept† has affected my interpersonal communication as my friends catego rize me as social and friendly highlighting my traits so I have good interpersonal communication. The example of â€Å"self-image† is that being physically fit, I have confidence in communicating with others so my interpersonal communication is affected by my â€Å"self-image†. I respect myself having positive â€Å"self-esteem† that makes me to communicate with confidence with people around. Verbal communication is as significant as nonverbal communication and it can be made effective by following certain ways, which are improvement of vocabulary, increase of awareness and adaptation of language and checking for understanding (Sole, 2011).