Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Economics Essay- Rising global unemployment


The population of an economy is divided into 2 categories, the economically active and the economically inactive. The economically active population (labour force) or working population refers to the population that is willing and able to work, including those who are actively engaged in the production of goods and services (employed) and those who are unemployed. Unemployed refers to people of the economy who are willing to work, but are not able to find suitable paid employment.

As said by the PARIS organization, on September 16th 2009, “Unemployment in the industrialized world will hit its highest level since World War II next year, surpassing the current peak, as the global economy looks set for only a timid recovery in 2010, an international organization said in a report Wednesday.” As said by this news report, Global unemployment has been skyrocketing the past few months and is expected to attain its peak in the coming year 2010. The LFB-Forex states that “Over the last quarter a rather grim picture from the global labor market revealed itself, as the unemployment rate rose to multi-year highs in most economies.” in an article posted on July 6th 2009. Probably the most important headline was that the unemployment rate moving to 9.5% in the U.S., the highest level since 1983. The same thing happened around the globe; the unemployment rate surged to record high values. Below is a graph that explains the above statement.  
As the graph above shows, during years 2002-2003, unemployment rate is moving at a steady and slightly decreasing rate for countries such as U.S.A, Japan, Spain and more. During years 2007 onwards, unemployment rate begins to escalate to great heights and finally reached its peak so far in the year 2010.
Among all these countries, Asian countries are highest affected by unemployment rates due to lag in technology and some resources. Among these highly affected countries, is Indonesia. Below is a table which consists of the different percentage changes of unemployment rates in Indonesia for years 2003 through 2010:-
Year
Unemployment rate
Rank
Percent Change
Date of Information
2003
10.60 %
92

2002 est.
2004
8.70 %
111
-17.92 %
2003 est.
2005
9.20 %
82
5.75 %
2004 est.
2006
11.80 %
121
28.26 %
2005 est.
2007
12.50 %
133
5.93 %
2006 est.
2008
9.10 %
115
-27.20 %
2007 est.
2009
8.40 %
115
-7.69 %
2008 est.
2010
7.70 %
81
-8.33 %
2009 est.
 http://www.indexmundi.com/indonesia/unemployment_rate.html
 
An article posted in the Jakarta Post on September 26th 2006 states that “The unemployment rate has reached an alarming level since it has risen to double digits. Despite its fluctuating drops, the unemployment rate has remained high. According to National Statistics Bureau data, as of June 30, 2006, the unemployment rate stood at 10.6 percent, or 11.6 million of the 106 million-person workforces, a 2 percent increase on the 9.5 million of the end of 2005. Under-unemployment, or those working less than 35 hours a week, has exceeded 43 million.”
More than 10,5 million Indonesians are seeking work. Neither under-qualification for labor nor discouragement is to blame for this high unemployment, but rather the low productive investment rate and unhealthy investment climate. There is a moral and political imperative for the Indonesian government to get the unemployed back to work and to create new employment for an almost two million new labor force entering the economy sectors annually.

To understand the patterns of unemployment in Indonesia, we must first understand the labor forces of Indonesia. Below is a graph which shows the total labor force in Indonesia over the years 2003 through 2010:-

http://www.indexmundi.com/indonesia/labor_force.html
  

As the graph depicts, the labor force of Indonesia is at its highest this year and has matched its value along with 2005. Among these labor forces lie underqualified, unskilled labor forces. This may be a leading cause to the Unemployment in Indonesia. Most of the unemployed in Indonesia are young and inexperienced, still live with their parents, and have at least 12 years of education. Meanwhile, the poor who are not working, and to a certain extent the non-poor who are low educated and unemployed, tend to become discouraged.
This is one of the causes of Seasonal and Frictional Unemployment in Indonesia, and actual discouraged labor composes only a quarter of half unemployment or 18.3% of total open and half unemployment.

While unskilled labor forces contribute to the rise in unemployment in Indonesia, Many authors have accused the low economic growth rather than the unsatisfying labor quality as the key contributor to Indonesia’s unemployment. After the financial crisis of 1997- 1998 Indonesia’s economy has improved its GDP’s growth from 0.79% in 1999 to 5.6% in 2005. This data is expressed in the graph below:-

 
http://www.indexmundi.com/indonesia/gdp_real_growth_rate.html


Nevertheless, this positive development seems not to have a real impact in reducing the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate expands unrestrictedly with a 5.8% yearly average growth rate. The important essential factors that needs attention is the creation of better climate for investment. According to Kuncoro et al (2005) to start a new business in Indonesia, a company has to spend 180 working days to go through the 12 steps required for obtaining local permits. This drawback may lead to rise in unemployment in Indonesia.
ccording to macroeconomics, the Pattern of unemployment in Indonesia is well described as cyclic unemployment. This is because the Asian recession experienced in 1997-1998 lead to a downfall of the rupiah currency, which lead to a lower amount of spending, thus inevitably lowering output, production, productivity and finally employment. This condition is described as cyclic unemployment. There are a few measures to overcome cyclic unemployment namely:-


 





Sunday, January 23, 2011

Genetically modified foods in our daily lives


Introduction
Food is any substance or materials eaten or drunk to provide nutritional support for the body or for pleasure. Our everyday meal contains so many kinds of foods, and we don’t know half of their origins, or contents. Many foods today are genetically modified or altered to make it tastier, or long lasting. These foods are not always healthy, so we should think before eating them. Let us see what they are.
What are genetically-modified foods?
The term GM food or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) are generally used for crops or organism that are engineered or created for human or animal consumptions. GM organisms are created in laboratory through biotechnologists. Generally they are used to make the foods crops more resistant to pests or having more flavour or appearance. Traditionally, modifications were done through breeding, but recently scientists are using genetic engineering to create exact specifications of what they want. For example, geneticists of plants often isolate a gene responsible aimed at drought tolerance and add that gene into another plant. The genes used are not only from plants, but also from other sources also. Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural bacterium, produces crystal proteins lethal to insect larvae. These genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.
The genetic creating involves few stages:
1.      Obtaining a copy of the gene required, where the scientists make a copy of the gene from its mRNA and then synthesis the gene artificially
2.      Put the gene into a vector (carrier), which is introduced into a host cell.
3.      Then the host cell is allowed to duplicate its DNA.
For plant modifications, viruses are used as carriers, in the plant cells, or even using guns, where the bullet made of gold or tungsten is coated with the required DNA onto the surface and shot using special guns.  Vectors such as Agrobacterium are used which are bacteria which enter a wounded plant. These carry the DNA which later leaves the bacteria and enter the plant DNA, so the plant grows accordingly.
Advantages:
So many varieties of plant crops and animal products which have made our life easy are made like:
1.      Herbicide-resistant crops: crops which are resistant to harmful herbs themselves are created like, herbicide resistant corn, wheat, sugar beet and oilseed rape.
2.      Pest-resistant crops: crops can be made pest-resistant through special genes, so that the farmers don’t have to spray harmful pesticides which harm the soil also. Few experiments were done on potatoes, tomatoes and alfalfa.
3.      Disease and weather resistant: Many diseases affect the plant and temperature also affects the plant growth (enzymes) so engineers have modified crops to make them resistant to it.
4.      Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance: drought and salt water are two common environments today, so engineers have made plants tolerant to them.
5.      Nutrition: Engineers have modified general foods so that they contain extra nutrition so that, the people who eat such foods as their main meal, would get all the nutrition.
6.      Pharmaceuticals: special vaccines and medicines are being produced by crops, and animal products. Many proteins and hormones are also produced using such methods, like transgenic sheep milk contain antitrypsin.



Disadvantages
The disadvantages of GM foods are:
  • They may develop different and harmful properties.
  • The farmers have to continuously produce the specific crop for long time for preservations of the specie.
  • GM foods might change the microbial flora of the soil often causing degradation of essential microorganisms on soil.
  • These foods, might even affect our or any animal’s DNA who consumes it.
  • If in case food were antibiotic resistant, then their affects might enter the person consuming it also.
  • Insects can develop resistant mechanism as they feed on such GM crops.
  • Other organisms in the same medium might be affected also.
  • Few of these important foods, can carry toxic materials also, creating human illness.
  • Few consumer allergic to certain foods, might be affected some other GM foods which have traces of these foods. Few GM foods also can cause severe chemical reactions harmful to the body. In Brazil, individuals allergic to Brazil nuts were also allergic to the new GM soybean.
  
The table below:

Provides us with information of how many harmful substances were found in many GM foods.
Factors Affecting Manufacture of GM foods
Economic concerns
GM foods are costly, and especially when a new crop is developed, the cost of seeds goes rises and so farmers are not able to buy them easily. Bringing a GM food to market is a long and expensive process, and agri-biotech companies mainly wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. These foods are expensive and many people cannot afford to buy them causing less demand and so less supply and production of such foods. Transgenic sheep milk costs about £ 50000 per mg which is pure 99.99%.
Ethical concerns
Genetically modified foods, are made by violating natural chain of food habits and life. We alter life according to our needs which is not ethical. There are Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa and also stress for animals, as they alter their DNA and life style and complete life is changed. Intrinsic concerns base on how people view their life, nature, religion, personal emotions and values. Few people believe that they have a feeling that mixing genes is like playing god and human beings should not intervene in God’s realm.
Environmental Concerns
GM foods cause unintended effects on the other organism for example, pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars as their seeds flew onto milkweed plants which these butterflies ate. These types of foods have however decreased the use of pesticides and herbicides so the environment and the soil are cleaner and less polluted. Gene transfer often to unintended species creating another change in their ecology.

Conclusion
Genetically modified foods have the power to save hunger problems, as less food is wasted and more are produced. Environment is cleaner and safer for all organisms for we have to spray fewer amounts of pesticides and herbicides. As the food grows for long time, the cost would decrease so more people can buy it by then. However there are many risks to our health also which we should consider and try to avoid.  This technology however is one of the jewels of 21st century and should be kept improving for better and safer foods for us. 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Importance of electrolysis in our daily lives


INTRODUCTION
In 1800, two Englishmen, William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle, used an electric current to decompose water into its element, hydrogen and oxygen. This is an example of electrolysis. Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to break down or decompose a compound. It has a few main components – a battery, electrodes and an electrolyte. There are many applications of electrolysis.
Electroplating is one of the main areas where electrolysis is implemented.
Electroplating
It is the coating of one metal over the other which is called electroplating. It is done for few reasons to benefit us:
1.  Resistance to corrosion and increased life span
2. Provision of insulation
3. Better appearance for e.g. chrome, nickel or silver can produce a mirror like finish
Resistance to corrosion and increased life span: A coat of one less valuable metal on a more valuable metal can be very beneficial.  For example if zinc is electroplated on iron then it would protect iron from getting corroded and would ensure proper usage.
Provision of insulation: Insulating materials can be electroplated for safety of living organisms. Plastic for example can be electroplated on copper or aluminum for protection from shocks.
Better appearance: this one of the most common method used for everyday life coating. Electroplating of silver, chrome or nickel protects the base metal from corrosion, or scratches as well as provides a shiny attractive appearance for decorations or jewelry.

Electrotyping
This is a much of a decorative or labelling where a wax figure is made of desired shape and coated with carbon and used as an electrode which can deposit metals forming a solid plate made of a thin sheet of pure metal e.g., copper metal.
Electrolytic purification
In Today’s age, there is high demand for very pure metals. Electrolysis can be used to purify metals, such as purification of copper. A pure bar of cathode attached to the cathode can have deposits of that metal from the impure metal electrode from the anode.


Electro-repairing
This is a techniques used for repairing of broken machinery. The whole surface of the broken/damaged object or component is covered with wax except where the repair is needed and is made the cathode and dipped in an electrolysis bath. The metals deposits on the dent or the part open part. After enough metal is deposited, by further machinery it can provide the exact shape wanted.
Electric Cell
One of the most common used every day object, the battery cell, uses the electrolysis for voltage difference.  It essentially reverses electrolysis. It is made by placing two different metals in contact with an electrolyte. The metals act as the electrodes for a simple cell. The farther away the two metals in the reactivity series, the higher voltage and current is produced.
Water Electrolysis
The water is one of the most common and the oldest technique discovered by scientist. Today it is used in many places. Water electrolysis is helping for a safer poultry industry. It is also used for collecting oxygen and hydrogen separately for their specific purposes, like for use of oxygen in the oxygen tanks which also contains argon. Hydrogen can be used as fuel or it is used in massive quantities in the petroleum and chemical industries.
Hair removal
A minor but very useful method of looking good in society is electrolysis hair removal. Electrolysis hair removal is the only method approved by the FDA for  without requiring multiple sessions, permanent hair removal isn't 100% guaranteed for everyone.
A minor use is in the capacitors which stores electricity and provides it when switching on something.
Additional Benefits/Uses of Electrolysis
Disadvantages Of Electrolysis
Electroplating works on a molecular level, so it may forms an extremely thin layer, so either we use only one thin layer or provide multiple coating to it. When ions of the superior metal adhere to the base metal it is often uneven or bumpy which creates a problem. Even though the coating is good, the coating can be easily cracked or is brittle, especially true with chrome. Plating companies produce large amounts of pollution which creates other troubles like diseases are created.

In hair removal should the needle enter and an electric charge is discharged into the skin, you could get a scar.
In machineries using electrolysis it is difficult to coat internal diameters and there are dry torque problems. It consumes space in the shop or factory and also might generate waste chemicals which can be harmful to the environment and also may contain the valuable metal.

Environmental Issues
The industries using electrolysis release large amounts of effluents as wastes. Authorities regulate a particular amount of waste that should be regulated not more than that. There are very few metal finishing plants from which the rinse waters can be discharged directly to the sewers as the contaminant concentrations are outside the limits set by local authorities. With the majority of instillations, therefore, effluent treatment is necessary.
In effluent treatment the usual practice is to separate the acidic discharges, together with those containing nickel or chromium from alkaline and cyanide discharges which may contain metals such as zinc, cadmium or copper.

Ethical Issues
The companies and industries should always try to reduce pollution by following few methods like:


o   Keeping the plating areas clean and preventing foreign materials from entering the site.
o   A part that falls off the rack into a bath should be removed quickly to reduce contamination.
o   Firms should avoid using broken or cracked racks
o   Proper control of bath operating parameters can result in more consistent work piece quality
o   Facilities should perform daily or weekly tests and analysis for proper inspection.

Social issues
Due to electrolysis or electroplating, people can be affected in many ways. Pollution can cause any disease to any one on a general basis, however due to electroplating there can be occupational asthma. People living around those people can get affected too spreading the disease to others and the society. However the electrochemical or electrolysis field has increased the job opportunities for the people and thus developing the country.

Conclusion
Electrolysis has a major use in our day to day life, because it provides several products as well as makes us looks good and satisfied. It provides a fuel, as in hydrogen and gives us extra life, as for the oxygen. It is true that there are disadvantages for electrolysis, like giving us scars, creating pollution or increases the time required for making one product however it has so many good effects too, like providing permanent hair loss to most people as well as give a lustrous look to a dull metal or even provide electricity in emergency or mobile devices. I think without electrolysis our life would be incomplete.


BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.        "Applications of Electrolysis." TutorVista.com-Over 5,029,000 Live Tutoring Sessions Served ! Web. 15 Aug. 2010. <http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistry-iii/redox-reactions/electrolysis-applications.php>.
2.        Beach,, Emily. "Types of Electroplating." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. 7 Oct. 2009. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5502274_types-electroplating.html>.
3.        "Benefits of Electrolysis - Removing Hair (UK)." Eliminating Unsightly Hair at Removing Hair (UK). Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.removinghair.co.uk/BenefitsOfElectrolysis.html>.
4.        "Electrolysis: Commercial Applications of Electrolysis — Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0857942.html>.
5.        "ELECTROPLATING SERVICES." Advanced Plating & Polishing Services Ltd. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.plating.co.nz/plating.asp>.
6.        Hewis, John. "Capacitors." Welcome to the Electronics Club. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/capac.htm>.
7.        Holiday, Jim. "ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF NEW ELECTROPLATING TECHNOLOGIES: CORPUS CHRIST1 ARMY DEPOT." Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.p2pays.org/ref/19/18753.pdf>.
8.        Litherland,, Neal. "The Disadvantages of Electroplating | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. 1 June 2010. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/list_6577444_disadvantages-electroplating.html>.
9.        "Occupational Asthma Due to Chrome and Nickel Electroplating. -- Bright Et Al. 52 (1): 28 -- Thorax." Thorax - BMJ Journals. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://thorax.bmj.com/content/52/1/28?related-urls=yes&legid=thoraxjnl;52/1/28>.
10.     "Pollution Prevention in the Plating Process." Pollution Prevention (P2) Pays - N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02454/plating.htm>.
11.     Tan, Yin Toon., Ling Chen Kwong, John Sadler, and Emily Clare. "Chapter 15: Electrolysis." GCE 'O' Level Chemistry Matters. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Education, 2007. Print.
12.   "Water Electrolysis for a Safer Poultry Industry." Food Production Daily Food Processing & Packaging Materials (food Equipment, Processing Machinery, Packaging Materials for Food Processors). 25 June 2004. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/Water-electrolysis-for-a-safer-poultry-industry>.




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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Physics Practical Report: How can the distance of an object from a specific convex lens affect its image formed on the other end of the lens?


Problem to be investigated:
How can the distance of an object from a specific convex lens affect its image formed on the other end of the lens?
Back ground on the topic to be investigated:
Convex lenses are of different thickness, density and curvature however all the convex lenses have few common properties:
Any lens always a fixed focal point, thickness, density and a centre of curvature.

When an object is placed in front of a lens, the lights rays travelling from the object  fall on the lens and get refracted. The refracted converging rays produce an image at a point where all the rays meet or intersect.  For demonstrating this as a diagram, two rays are taken and constructed for showing the point of intersection. In general objects at different distances from the lens would create different sized images.
Hypothesis – An object is placed on one side of a convex lens can give an image of different magnification or size with change in the placement of object. So, if the object is placed farther away from a lens the image formed would be smaller and nearer to the lens on the other side. The image formed will also be inverted.
Variables
1)      Independent – Distance between the object and the lens (u).
i)        Dependent –
a) Distance between the lens and the image (v)
b) Size of the image

2)      Constants –
i)        Convex Lens, Its:
a) density
 b) thickness
c) refractive index
ii)      Height of the lens and the object
iii)    The unit of measurement

Manipulation of Variables

The distance of object from lens can be altered by hand movement. As the light passes the lens it gets refracted to a different position and the so the distance of the image changes as well as the size of the image.
The convex lens used remains constant so its density, thickness and refractive index stay constant. The lens is placed on a stand and a candle of some height is placed in front of it so their height also remains constant. Finally the unit measured in should be kept constant or there might be mistake.



Material required
ü     Wax Candle
ü     Matchstick (for lighting the candle)
ü    Wooden block(if candle height is too small)
ü    Lens Holder
ü    Convex lens
ü    Screen
ü    Meter Rule

Method
1)    Firstly all the apparatus are collected with a proper lens and a proper thickness (not too thick nor too thin)
2)    Now the experiment is set up as per figure 1.1. The lens is in the lens holder, candle on the wooden block and a screen to capture the image.
3)    After, all three are in place; the candle is lighted and placed at a measured distance from the lens. The different (u) value length taken will be:
i)                   25
ii)                 30
iii)               35
iv)               40
v)                 45
vi)               50
vii)             55
viii)           60
4)    Now the image formed is observed. The screen is shifted up and down to get the clearest image of the candle light.
5)    Then we measure this distance ‘v’ and note it.
6)     Now the steps 1-5 are repeated for the same ‘u’ values two more times.
7)    Next all the data is recorded in a table which looks like as follows:







Calculated data with the focal length and magnification of the image
Focal Length = (uv)/ (u+v)

Magnification = v/u

Safety Measure:
1.    The ruler used should not be bent or there can be mistake in the reading.
2.     The Lens should be handled carefully or it might break.
3.    The flame used should be controlled and small and playing with the match sticks or lighters shouldn’t be implemented.



Data Processing
(all units to be measured are in cm except magnification)

Raw Data:


Try 1
Try 2
Try 3

Sl. No.
object distance (u)
image distance (v)
image distance (v)
image distance (v)
Average
1
25
64.3
64.3
64.3
64.30
2
30
46.5
46.5
46.4
46.47
3
35
38.5
38.6
38.5
38.53
4
40
33.7
33.8
33.5
33.67
5
45
31.4
31.5
31.5
31.47
6
50
29.7
29.6
29.9
29.73
7
55
28.5
28.5
28.6
28.53
8
60
27.7
27.5
27.6
27.60













Thus the analysed table is as follows:

Sl. No.
object distance (u)
image distance (v)
Magnification = v/u
Focal Length = (uv)/ u+v
1
25
64.30
2.572
18.00111982
2
30
46.47
1.548888889
18.23016565
3
35
38.53
1.100952381
18.34088849
4
40
33.67
0.841666667
18.28054299
5
45
31.47
0.699259259
18.51787271
6
50
29.73
0.594666667
18.64548495
7
55
28.53
0.518787879
18.78691141
8
60
27.60
0.46
18.90410959

A graph can help illustrate the data collected more effectively as follows:
A graph on Object distance vs. Image dista


 


Please use a spreadsheet, cant upload graphs
 
A graph on Object distance vs. Magnification:

Please use a spreadsheet, cant upload graphs
 



Analysis

These two graphs and tables demonstrate that with an increase in the object distance from the lens, the size of the image decreases as well as the distance of the image formed from the lens clearly. Both the lines are progressing in a negative slope signifying that the further away the object is from lens the smaller and nearer the object will form.




Conclusion:
The investigation on how can the distance of an object from a specific convex lens affect its image formed on the other end of the lens had fruitful results. The hypothesis stated if the object is placed farther away from a lens the image formed would be smaller and nearer to the lens on the other side. According the planning and manipulation of variables, the experiment had successful results after all. The hypothesis has been proved and illustrated even on graphs. It was also observed that when the candle grew shorter and the object level dropped, its image level increases and also the image formed were always inverted.

Evaluation
The investigation conducted has been a success. It has proved my hypothesis correctly. The variables were correctly controlled however the height of the wax candle had decreased since it was burning for long time. The readings were much or less correct but weren’t precise. This could have been the problem because of small parallax errors or maybe because the wooden ruler wasn’t properly straight. Another reason why the readings weren’t correct was because it is not possible to place the screen exactly at the perfect meeting position of the rays. So the next time I can keep these small things in mind and get a better result.

Suggestions
Few suggestions to the methods could have been:
1)      Candle flame could have been replaced with a torchlight which would remain a stationary beam of light at point along with a stronger light beam.
2)      The ruler used should have been maintained as a straight rigid bar. (Not bent). 




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