Gas Laws

On Feb. 28, Mr. Jeffery Krause came to Charlevoix High School to teach gas laws to Mr. Schultz's chemistry and freshman science classes. Krause is a retired US Navy SEAL and the author of You Want Me To Do What???

Boyle's Law states that: For any gas at a constant temperature, the volume of the gas will vary inversely with the pressure. What exactly does this mean?

In Krause's presentation, empty milk jugs were used to demonstrate the volume of the human lung under the water at certain depths. For every 33 feet, the volume decreases by 50 percent due to the amount of pressure applied to the gas inside the lungs. Krause exemplified the danger of diving in deep water.

"If you hold your breath and dive down 33 feet," said Krause, "the volume of gas in your lungs decreases signifi- cantly. If you keep diving deeper, your lungs will eventually collapse due to the extreme pressure being applied to them."

This law doesn't only affect a diver when he's going down; it also applies when he's swimming back to the top.

"When you swim back for the top, the volume of gas inside your lungs increases because there is less pressure being applied. As a Navy Seal, we were trained to whistle while swimming up to let out the access volume. If we didn't do this, our lungs would explode, causing fatal injuries."

Krause also taught the students about his experiences with Boyle's Law and the training he endured to learn how to safely work around them.

To view more information about Krause's book You Want Me To Do What???, click here: http://www.navyseals.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=38&Name=You-Want-Me-To-Do-What

Artistic Performance

The students at Charlevoix High School were given a rare opportunity to see a production by the Arm of the Sea Theater on February 6 during Seminar. The performance was made possible by a contribution from the Waterfront Art Fair/Council for the Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exposure to the arts for the children of our community.

The group itself used papier-mâché masks and puppets to tell a story called “La Cosecha/The Harvest” about an illegal immigrant, Cesar, told in a combination of Spanish and English. Cesar’s family farm does not produce enough crops to fund him and his grandmother, so he attempts to find work in the United States, but, without the right paperwork, he is turned away. A smuggler offers to take him through the dangerous desert for a price, and Cesar accepts, despite his lack of funds. Upon arrival, the smuggler discovers the immigrant hasn’t the money to pay him for his services, so he promptly sells Cesar into a form of modern day slavery.

The play illustrates a very controver- sial topic and students were encouraged to ask questions and discuss their opinions. Several students disagreed with the message of the performance, but the illustration itself was indisputably cultured. The masks employed to tell the story were large and colorful; coupled with the Hispanic music, it made for a display that students had never before encountered. The Council for the Arts accomplished their goal.

Construction Technology class Completes Modules

Recently, students finished up their wall framing lab. The next lab will cover roof framing.

Unlike his cabinet making class, these students do more "class work" in construction technology.

"We learn the basics of how to build a house. The modules are very easy to relate to in real-life construction," said sophomore Mat.

Photographed are high school students Tricia and Rusty as they complete their wall framing lab in Mr. Certa's Construction Technology I class.