Ballard Fuel Cell :: essays research papers

THE BALLARD FUEL CELL The Ballard fuel cell is a power generating device which combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas, petroleum) and oxygen without the use of combustion in order to generate electricity. Since fuel cells operate very quietly and efficiently and their only emissions are pure water and heat they are expected to be the future of power generating machines. The PEM fuel cell is made of two plates with a plastic membrane coated with a catalyst in the middle. Hydrogen is then fed through the channels on one side of the plates and oxygen is fed through the other side. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are drawn toward each other. Only one part of the hydrogen atom – the proton – can pass through the membrane. The electron has to take the long way around through an external circuit. This creates electricity. The oxygen side attracts protons and electrons that have traveled through the external circuit. This is where the byproducts water and heat are formed. Each fuel cell operates continuously as long as hydrogen is supplied. Single cells are combined to produce the required amount of power. PEM fuel cells operate at around 90 degrees Celsius and give off 90 degrees Celsius of heat, which is a fairly low temperature. This is much better than high temperature combustion engines, which operate at about 2500 degrees Celsius and give off 125 degrees Celsius of heat. This means the Ballard fuel cell can react quickly to load changes and makes it ideal for motor vehicles. Which is why Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen Yamaha, Daimler Chrysler and Ford have commercialized the use of these cells. The cities of Vancouver and Chicago are currently testing Ballard’s fuel cell transit buses. They are seeing the maintenance requirements of the pollution free buses as well as the public reaction to the program.

A Second Depression Predicted from History

The factors contributing to the struggle of working class Americans during the Depression are still relevant today. Clues as to the imminent occurrence of a second Depression can be found by comparing the Great Depression to today’s economic climate.The following essay compares contributing factors to the struggles of working class society during the time of the Depression and today. Key factors to be analyzed are; low wages and unemployment rates, unfair tax laws and foreign and American economic influences, as well as American spending.Low wages are as much a problem today as they were during the Depression. One out of four working families in America today are low income; earning wages which are so low that it is nearly impossible for them to survive financially (Waldron, et.al., 2004). Key characteristics in today’s poor include; low-paying jobs, inadequate benefits and little-to-no job advancement opportunities and lack of skills and/or education (2004).Presently t he economy demands high skilled workers, due to the rise in technology. Low paying service jobs are still available and needed by the economy, yet the United States has not taken the proper action to support employees of such jobs and thus their needs and those of their families, go unmet (2004). Lack of proper support by government reduces the chances for families of low paying service jobs to make or plan a solid future.Policies and regulations today are inadequate for the needs of the poor; much like during the Depression. Suggestions for the improvement of poverty-stricken American’s involve the creation of better paying jobs, better access to education, training and health care and better benefits; all these items are available to better paid employees. It is suggested that in order to accomplish these things, Americans must effectively invest public resources (2004).Research has shown that the level of education strongly influence living standards in America; for exampl e, thirty-five percent of low-income families have a parent who did not graduate high school (2004).America’s poor struggle with balancing their wages; the majority of their income is going to housing and utilities, not leaving enough for health care. This is a concern because without health care, America’s poor miss work or lose their job because of illness. The struggles of low-paid workers in America are similar to that of workers during the Depression. Education and skills were as important, and difficult, to obtain today as in the 1930s.As in the 1930s, tax structures and investments affect working Americans significantly. Public assistance varies and is mandated by state; however the maximum amount of earnings allowed by any state in America is so low, that if a family wanted to maintain health insurance after reaching the maximum income level, it is close to impossible. Some states only allow a maximum yearly income level of ten thousand dollars. Once reaching t he maximum amount, public assistance is no longer available. There were similar concerns of how to help America’s poor during the Depression.The Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s demonstrates the struggles and political policies which affected the poor during the Depression. During the Dust Bowl migration, families from Oklahoma and surrounding states headed for California during the Depression, in search for a better life in the growing agricultural state (Gregory, 2004). The Depression affected everyone, but especially farmers in Oklahoma and surrounding states; the severe drought made it all the worse.Unemployment rates were high across the country; farmers and those in the city experienced joblessness. The poor were often discriminated against by states; many states were unwilling to allow the poor to relocate to their states (Gregory, 2004). California, for example, set up a boarder patrol to keep poor migrants out of the state. It wasn’t until 1941, that the Supre me Court decided that states had no right to restrict fellow Americans from migrating to their state (2004). Â  There were attempts by some counties to help educated farmers; as well as give minor health care services.

Bullying Bullying And Bullying - 1394 Words

The Oxford dictionary defines a bully as a â€Å"person who uses strength or influence to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.† It is however difficult to define bullying as there are different types of bullying. Bullying can be verbal, non-verbal, violent and non-violent. The reactions to bullying are also varied. While some do not mind bullying, some get severely affected by it. There are also others who grow stronger under constant bullying. Bullying can also occur at all ages and different environments. Kids, teenagers, and adults get bullied at school, in the Internet and at work. Bullying can also be quite subtle where the bullied person is just ignored or treated like an outcast. Whatever forms bullying might take, it has been recognized as a worldwide problem. Bullying in schools is prevalent in almost all the countries and it serves as a major health and safety problem for the kids (Juvonen Graham, 2014). There are many ways in which people try to solve the problem of bullying. There are anti bullying assemblies in schools, seminars, lectures and many other initiatives. There is also the recent trend of publicity shaming bullies. However, all these measures do not really go far in solving the problem. The effective solution to stop bullying would be to start at the beginning-teaching kids about differences and encouraging them to be acceptable to everyone. Setting an example for them through proper behavior and di scussions at home would go a long way in preventingShow MoreRelatedBullying And Bullying : Bullying1180 Words   |  5 Pages Bullying is defined as unwanted or aggressive behavior that causes someone to feel afraid or intimidated. This behavior could be something physical, verbal, or something done electronically or through social media. If someone feels threatened by someone’s actions or words, it could be considered bullying, even if that was not the intent.There are many types of bullying, how to recognize bullying, how to report bullying, what to do if you see incidents of bullying, and what resources are availableRead MoreBullying : Bullying And Bullying985 Words   |  4 PagesBullying You may hear the word bullying a lot but never actually knew what it meant, well know is the time to know and be aware of what’s happening around you. Bullying is the use of force, threat, or aggressively dominate others. 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They bully uses their power for givingRead MoreBullying : Bullying And Bullying941 Words   |  4 PagesThere are different ways to describe bullying. Stopbullying.gov states the definition of bullying is â€Å"unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.† Webster’s dictionary portrays the definition of bullying is to frighten, hurt, or threaten (a smaller or weaker person): to act like a bully toward (someone), or to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force. Violenceproventionworks.org mentions A person