How I Brought Historical Legends Into My Modern-Day Novel

How I Brought Historical Legends Into My Modern-Day Novel How Blending the Past and Present Allowed Me to Ask: "What If?" Along with being an author, Finian Black is a doctor who served in the British Army. He lives in Winchester, which is chock-full of medieval reminders of the time and story inspiration. In this article, he talks about how playing with myths and legends - stories steeped in history but often in little solid facts - gave him the freedom to weave elements of the past into his modern-day novel.Every story, whether it's a parent making up a simple tale for a sleepy child or a  sprawling saga, can be boiled down to a simple question:  what if? So, whenever a new idea for a story starts to take shape, the first thing I do is look for the magical question that gets to the heart of it all, and everything flows from there. Speculating on the past allows authors to write about a different version of present-day. Writing allows me to ask, "what if?"I live in the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester near the south coast of England. It's a great place to wander around, and wonder about! The idea for my new historical fiction novel,  The Final Raven, came during a visit to the Great Hall in Winchester, where an ancient round table has hung on the wall for centuries. As I looked upon that table, one question sprang to mind: what if a child discovered they are the last living descendant of King Arthur? Simple as that, I was ready to get started.With the base idea established, I had to think about where the story might go. The "what if?" part is always the easy bit! What follows is countless hours of story mapping, character plotting, running up blind alleys and falling into bottomless pits as the story takes on a life of its own. I asked myself: Would it be set in the present day or recent past? Who is this child? What is their background? Why now, after so long, would it come to light that th ere is a living descendant? And, of course, how much of the existing Arthurian legend would I incorporate? However, being rooted in Arthurian legend, I knew that there were some road signs readers would expect in my novel: Merlin, a sword in a stone, the Lady of the Lake, and Morgan le Fay, to name just a few. But I didn’t want to just re-write what’s already been done so well before, so I purposely toned down the obvious Arthurian elements, bringing them subtly into present-day so as to not distract from the story I wanted to tell. Lastly, I knew I needed a very strong cover that would convey mythical history but also appeal to the YA demographic. The cover designer I hired through Reedsy, Edward Bettison, captured exactly that with the bold typography and visual of the Tower of London raven.Pulling from the PlantagenetsMany of the kings during the Plantagenet period used the myths of Arthur for their own propaganda, and their stories are more incredible than any fiction. Furthermore, the Plantagenet period was hugely important in shaping what modern Britain looks like - w hich made it a great source of inspiration both regarding the historical aspects of my book and my modern-day characters. My historical research about this time period was extensive, delving into the lives of the different kings and what drove them to act the way they did. Two of the books that helped my research immensely were Dan Jones’ The Plantagenets and Desmond Seward’s The Demon’s Brood. Both brought to life the period and its individuals in a way that was invaluable.The Plantagenet period saw great kings like Edward III, but also terrible ones like John - and it is the terrible ones that first come to mind when thinking about this period. The bloodletting, violence, and cruelty were beyond anything we see in Game of Thrones, and those who wanted to challenge the king had to be prepared to act abhorrently. Amongst the pool of eligible individuals, it was often the maddest that took the crown. All of these qualities provided ripe inspiration for my villai n and clarifying his motives: which is to be king, at any means necessary - an ancient grievance of his. He is someone with medieval values in the modern world, and this combination makes him a lot of fun to write. "Turning to the past inspired my modern-day villain with medieval values." Drawing from the legendary Tower of London RavensAs for the novel’s title,  The Final Raven? Well, I’ve been fascinated by these wonderful birds for a long time. They are intelligent, beautiful, and mysterious. From the outset I knew that I wanted to incorporate the famous legend of the Tower of London ravens in my story as I find it to be a very powerful tale. The legend says that if ever the ravens were to leave the Tower, Britain would fall. There are different views on just how old this legend is. It has been said it only goes back as far as World War Two, when Churchill used it as propaganda to build national resolve. Others suggest it is a Victorian story. I like to believe the version that tells of King Arthur slaying a Celtic warrior called Bran at the site of the Tower. In this version, Bran turns into a raven and it is his descendants who still live there today. Magical!This legend offered me another great chance to blend mythical pasts and presents by incor porating modern technology: in my version of the story, the ravens are implanted with microchips so that the villain can track their demise on his tablet - green, to amber, to red! I used the motif of the dying birds as a countdown through the book, culminating in a race to save the last bird†¦ but if you want to know more, you'll have to read the book!It was important to me to go back to the Tower while writing this novel - which was fine by me! I love it there. It’s a thousand years of history brought to life in front of your eyes (much like a well-written novel can be!), and of course, you can meet the ravens. The Ravenmaster is a real person, too - he’s active on Twitter. Check him out. A great way to put a modern twist on historical legends is to incorporate technology. I've written stories since I was very young. Words are magical things - they can amaze, inspire, scare, and excite us. I love books that make me want to read one more page, then another, and another. To be a writer, I passionately believe that you also have to be a reader. Use of language shapes us, teaches us, and helps us find our own voice. I once read that the first million words we write *are* just practice for the proper writing that follows - in other words, keep going. Never lose sight of how to improve, and never worry if a paragraph or page doesn't flow. It might not make the final edit but it all improves our skills as writers.This book is the first in a series of three, and will be continued in The Devil's Blood, due out April 2018.The Final Raven is available in  paperback and on  Amazon Kindle.Interested in learning more about conducting historical research? Sign up for our Reedsy Learning course:  How to Research a Historical Novel or Nonfiction BookPlease shar e your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Finian Black in the comments below!

Compare and contrast King Gilgamesh with Enkidu Essay

Compare and contrast King Gilgamesh with Enkidu - Essay Example Actually, it was to foil Gilgamesh that the gods created Enkidu, purposely to bring balance to the city of Uruk, which Gilgamesh’s abuse of power terrorizes. Thus Enkidu becomes Gilgamesh other self – a reflection of his weakness, as Enkidu made him painfully realize his inherent limitation as a human – his mortality, which drove him to seek eternal life. This, according to Davis (2000) is the underlying question in the epic: â€Å"Why have the gods withheld eternal life from humanity?† (p. 70). â€Å"Gilgamesh, where are you wandering? The life that you are seeking all around you will not find. When the gods created mankind they fixed Death for mankind, and held back Life in their own hands.† (Kovacks, 1989, p. 85) And it was in his search for eternal life, as he challenges death, that the answer to this question is revealed. The gods denied humanity of eternal life, because what makes human life precious, thus meaningful is no other than death. Af ter Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh desire to escape of death gave him the reason to live. It is also his fear of death that transformed Gilgamesh from a ruthless ruler to a responsible one, by which he left behind a legacy that outlived him. As Brown (1996) explained, â€Å"without death [Gilgamesh’s] life would be meaningless, and the adventures that make up the epic would disappear. In celebrating Gilgamesh†¦ we celebrate that which makes us human.† (para. 6) On the other hand, Gilgamesh is Enkidu’s strength, since with the elders entrusting Gilgamesh to his care implies recognition of Gilgamesh’s weakness of the wilderness. As such, serving Gilgamesh has given Enkidu his worth. Gilgamesh, do not put your trust in (just) your vast strength, but keep a sharp eye out, make each blow strike its mark! 'The one who goes on ahead saves the comrade.'1 'The one who knows the route protects his friend.' Let Enkidu go ahead of you; he knows the road to the Cedar Forest, he has seen fighting, has experienced battle. Enkidu will protect the friend, will keep the comrade safe. Let his body urge him back to the wives (?). (Kovacks, 1989, p. 25) Gilgamesh and Enkidu although sharply different are very much alike. If Gilgamesh is a civilized man born two-thirds god and one-third human in the city of Uruk, yet acts uncivilly and inhumanely, killing the sons and raping the daughters of his people, on the other hand, Enkidu is a primitive man born akin to a wild beast, yet acts with compassion with the beasts whom he grew with, protecting them from trappers and freeing them whenever trapped (Kovacks, 1989, pp. 4, xix). Such difference portrays the contrast between the civilized and the primitive. That civilization, as Brown (1996) noted, transforms the primitive man with no return, corrupting his innocence and weakening him, yet giving him wisdom to see life beyond the wilderness (para. 9-10) allowing him to grow and enjoy the luxuries that c ivilization could offer to life like wine, women, and comfort. Though born and raised differently, both similarly possess super-human physical strengths that made them both feared: Gilgamesh by his people and Enkidu by the trapper. Thus both are to be tamed: Gilgamesh by the people of Uruk to live peacefully, whereas, Enkidu by the tra

Geographical Market Area of Life Telecom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Geographical Market Area of Life Telecom - Essay Example We are an avant-garde alternative telecommunications provider with fully converged IP architecture and selective use of wireless technologies as well as an optimized and technologically superior delivery of integrated services of Voice, Internet, Video, Surveillance and many single broadband connections. Telephony, Broadband Internet Connectivity, Advanced IPTV and Video Services, Advanced Communication (video conferencing and live even video streaming) Tele-Surveillance (large, small and medium-sized business, small offices and homes) Broadband Wireless (hotspot Wi-Fi) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Life Telecom’s competitive advantage is built on the execution of its commitment: dependable delivery of advanced wireless services and breakthrough technological solutions backed by dedicated 24/7 network management support. We are a distinguished company in Bahrain and one of the few worldwide; to optimize the extensive use of IPs for the integrated deployment and management of voice, data, video, and value-added services over wireless networks. With us, no limits can hold you back from realizing your goals and â€Å"make your dreams come true†. The core product of Life Telecom for its initial rollout consists of a list of services including connectivity through the ISP providers. This is referred to as the Infrastructure Business Service. Life Telecom’s products and services are divided into three (3) main categories namely Wireless services, IP services (VPN, VoIP) and ISP related services. In the following phases, once the network is constructed, Life Telecom will introduce business services as a value-added service which can add value to Life Telecom subscribers including Web Applications and Web Consultations, etc.

History of the Maori language Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History of the Maori language - Research Paper Example In the 1980s, there were vigorous initiatives that were aimed at reviving the Maori language (NZ History, 2012). These initiatives yielded admirable results as more than a hundred thousand people could speak and understand the language without any difficulties. The Maori language evolved over time, and it changed as people separated in to villages and occupied different geographical locations. The regional variations came up due to the differences in regional climates and modes of subsistence of the regional constituents. It is imperative to note that the modern Maori language is different from the native language, as it has borrowed many terminologies from other languages like English. The high number of settlers increased the need for communication in New Zealand, and the Maori language did not meet the entire demands for communication (NZ History, 2012). The missionaries imitated the documentation of the Maori language to preserve and protect it from disappearing. Later, in the 1820s, a professor from Cambridge University systematized the Maori language. In the 1870s, the Maori language was the official language of communication with the missionaries, their children and the government officials during official New Zealand national functions (Flittner, 2001). Later on, the Maori language started loosing its popularity to English language. The native speakers of the Maori language questioned the language and its representation of their cultural identity. The Maori native speakers lost pride in their language since they deserved a language that could represent their true identity as a distinct culture. Further, many schools scrapped off the Maori language from the school syllabus, and any student who was caught speaking the Maori language was severely punished (NZ History, 2012). The Second World War gave the Maori language

Fullerenes Synthesis Extraction and Purification

Fullerenes Synthesis Extraction and Purification There are many methods to synthesis C60 and C70 in gram quantities in the laboratory. In addition, higher mass fullerenes (larger fullerenes molecules) can be produced and isolated , albeit in very small amounts [1]. Most methods for generation of large quantities of fullerenes produce a mixture of impurity molecules and stable fullerenes. For this reason, fullerene synthesis must be followed by processes of extraction and purification of fullerenes from impurities according to mass [1]. Synthesis of Fullerenes: Fullerene molecules can be synthesized in the laboratory in a wide variety of methods, all involving the formation of a carbon- rich vapour [1]. Early methods used laser evaporation technique which produces very small quantities of fullerenes [1]. The later approaches involve an electric discharge between graphite electrodes in He gas [10]. Laser Evaporation Technique: This method was used in 1984 for the first time by Rohlfing and others [8]. They noticed that carbon cluster Cn with a huge number of carbon atoms (more than 190) could be produced [9]. In 1985 Kroto, Smalley and co- workers used this technique to generate and detect the most stable carbon clusters [7]. This method involves vaporization of carbon species from the rotating graphite disk into a high density helium, using a Nd:YAG laser operation at 532nm, (fig2). The resulting carbon clusters were analysised by time -of- flight mass spectrometry. The first observation of the mass of C60 was a 720 amu peak. Although this approach produces minute quantities of fullerenes, it is still essential if when we use later modification. This modification will help to heat the dusk of graphite. Therefore, it gives remarkable control of fullerene distribution and the generation of specific fullerenes [2]. Arc Evaporation: There is no doubt that this technique is an efficient way to produce gram quantities of fullerenes in the laboratory [1]. For the formation of fullerenes by this technique, an arc is struck between two graphite electrodes in atmosphere of 100~200 torr of He. The contact between the electrodes is maintained by the influence of gravity. The apparatus is surrounded by water to cool the soot to achieve the resulting soot which may contain approximately 10-15% of soluble fullerenes [2]. The first design by Wudl and co- workers used a pyrex cylinder for the vacuum shroud. Although this gives a suitable method for visual inspection of the graphite electrodes through the well, the glass cylinder is easily damaged. For this reason, it is appropriate to change it with a stainsteel cylinder with a window [1]. Fullerene Extraction: In this process of fullerenes production, soluble impurity molecules and insoluble nanoscale carbon soot are generated with soluble fullerenes. Two effective methods are used to extract the fullerenes from the soot [1]. Solvent Methods: Solvent method is the most common method is used to dissolve the fullerenes in benzene, toluene (preferred over benzene due to its toxicity is lower) or other suitable solvent. However, the solvent also contains other soluble hydrocarbon impurities [2]. It can be separated soot and other insoluble molecules from the solution by filtration. The early method used Soxhelt extraction in a hot solvent to remove fullerenes from the soot. This technique is used where the molecules to be extracted from the solid state are soluble in organic solvent, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from coal. This apparatus consists of double thimble containing soot, fullerenes and other materials and at the bottom the solvent is boiled in the flask. The solvent vapors and rises to condense in the condenser unit, the solvent distills then the solution passes through the thimble wall. The solution which contains the extracted molecules returns to the flask. The molecules that are not soluble in the so lvent remain in the thimble. Another alternative method, the soot is separated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature before sonicating the soot in an ultrasonic bath for 20 minute. Removing insoluble molecules by filtration and a rotary evaporator at 50Â °C are used to remove THF from the fullerenes. It can be noticed that the higher boiling point solvent and more polar isolate the higher mass fullerenes [1]. Sublimation Methods: It can be sublimated microcrystalline C60 and C70 powder at low temperature Ts~350Â °C (C60) and Ts~460Â °C (C70). For this reason, C60 and C70 can be separated directly from the soot without introducing solvents, such as benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide or hexane. This method provides a beneficial alternative to solvent extraction for some cases which are sensitive to contamination of solvent in the sample. In this approach, the raw soot is placed in a quartz tube and the whole apparatus is heated in a furnace. Dynamic pumping is preferred because it is likely the soot may contain polyaromatic hydrocarbons impurities. The raw arc soot in the end of tube is kept at the highest temperature T~600-700Â ° C. The higher mass fullerenes sublimate from the soot which then condenses in the colder section of the tube. Since the sublimation temperature of C70 and higher fullerenes are higher than that of C60, they will condense closer to the soot. The production of a C60 molecular beam fr om a microcrystalline mixture of C60 and C70 depends on the difference in sublimation temperature between C60 and C70. This microcrystalline mixture is placed in a dynamic vacuum and is heated above the sublimation temperature of C60. The sublimation rate for C60 in vacuum at T~400 Â °C is favored by a factor of 20 over that C70. A pure molecular beam of C60 can be obtained, because C70 is a factor of ~ 7 less abundant in arc soot than C60 [1]. Kratschmer et al [11] used the method of directly subliming fullerenes from the solid material. However, this does not provide pure fullerenes. Fullerene Purification: The previous methods of extraction may bring impurity molecules with the most stable fullerenes. The step of chemical purification must be carried out, if a pure fullerene microcrystalline powder or solution is desired. The step involves sublimation methods based on temperature gradients and solvent methods based on liquid chromatography. Fullerene purification means the separation of the different fullerenes in the fullerene extract into C60, C70, C76, C84 etc. Sensitive tools, such as liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), optical absorption spectroscopy and infrared [1]. Solvent Methods: The main technique for fullerene purification is liquid chromatography (LC). LC is a wet chemistry method which includes a solution ( called the mobile phase ) of a molecular mixture. This solution is forced to pass through a column filled with a high surface area solid (called the stationary phase ). The separation of fractions is verified qualitatively by the comparison of the observed optical spectra, vibration spectra and NMR data or by color ( magenta or purple for C60 in toluene and reddish- orange for C70 in toluene). Liquid chromatography separates molecules according to their weights. Moreover, this technique can be utilized to separate a single allotrope, such as C76, or to isolate isomers with different molecular shapes but having the same molecular weight, such as separating C78 with C2Ï… symmetry from C78 with D3 symmetry [1]. The liquid chromatography process involves chemical or physical interactions between a particular molecule and the stationary phase. This interaction reduces (or raises) the rate of migration for that molecule through the column or raises (or reduces) the retention time for that molecule. Remarkable chemical or physical differences for the molecular species, such as surface absorption, shape and mass are important to provide a clear chromatographic separation. Early approaches to C60, C70, and higher fullerenes purification included flash column chromatography of the raw fullerene in a column packed with neutral alumina as the stationary phase and hexane/toluene ( 95/5 volume % ) as the mobile phase. Although this process was found useful, it used abundant quantities of solvent that was difficult to recycle [1]. One of the first important development to this method was high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Gun Control Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights gives people the right to keep and bear arms. The ideas of setting strict laws that allow only hunting rifle use, and laws that allow more freedom has been argued over for many years. The best argument protecting the Second Amendment is that people have more security when possessing a gun. Although this is possibly true, gun control provides much more than comfort for the people. The second amendment has some benefits, but many dangers also come with having the right to own a gun. One of these dangers includes violence and death with our youth. If Gun Control laws are put into action, they will help prevent deaths of innocent people who carry guns. Gun Control will also help prevent terrorism against us or anyone else with the terrorists using guns from our own country. Gun control will also help prevent robberies and other treacherous hostage situations. In order to shelter the populace of the United States, we have an obligation as voting citizens to enact a strict Gun Control law ridding all weapons, except for hunting rifles, from public use. According to the NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey) the fifty-four and a half percent of people that threaten an attacker with a gun are more likely to get a gun drawn out in return. The other percentage of the victims who use self-protection or do not do anything have a much better chance of getting away without the attacker pulling out a gun (Gun). Under a strict Gun Control law, when a holdup happens, the attacker is less likely to have a gun, and even if the attacker did somehow obtain a firearm, the victim would not have one to use carelessly and get himself killed. Crimes with Gun Control will be much less violent for the people that obey the law, and most criminals will be deterred from even attempting a crime if they cannot buy a gun. Similarly, Gun Control will help prevent terrorism of this country. Terrorism, now a big issue for the United States, can be prevented in many cases if Gun Control laws are put into affect. Many terrorists use easily concealed guns that come from the United States, getting the guns from either exportation or in the country. America cannot suffer as a victim of many more terrorist attacks, and Gun Control laws will help filter out terrorist attacks. Research done by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) shows that ... ...n our country and others. Gun Control will help protect the guiltless people of our nation from violent attacks and robbery. The best thing Gun Control will prevent is violence with our youth because Americans need to preserve the lives of the next generations to come. Controlling handguns means that everyone and their friends can enjoy life more without worrying about being held up at AM-PM, or being caught up in the middle of a very dangerous terrorist attack. When deciding on gun control, think first about preserving the safety of the citizens of this nation. Works Cited Buchanan, John M. â€Å"Gun Play† Christian Century   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  17 May 2003: 3 â€Å"Brady Campaign.† Brady Campaign   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12 Oct. 2003. â€Å"Calm Before The Storm The Littleton School Massacre† Court TV’s Crime Library   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12 Oct. 2003. â€Å"Is a Gun an Effective Means of Self-Defense?† Guncite   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12 Oct. 2003. â€Å"CNN- State by State Look at Gun Laws in the U.S.† CNNi   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12 Oct. 2003. â€Å"HELP Network – Firearm Injury Prevention State Status Report† Help Network   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12 Oct. 2003.

Lululemon Athletica

Last week I read a story about yoga clothes-maker/fashion brand Lululemon and their fairly blatant disregard for any sort of overweight or plus-size consumers. In short, they admitted that selling to women who wear size 12 and smaller is an important business strategy for them, and that it's based on â€Å"design, capacity and operational perspective. † That video seems to only anger some customers more. One wrote in response, â€Å"On one hand you are bashing us for being fat and on the other hand bashing us for maybe trying to do something about it.Should my fat ass' squeeze nto a small size Just so I can say I own a pair†¦ no! † In a video, Chip Wilson, the founder of athletic label Lululemon has apologized for suggesting that women's fat thighs were to blame for a line of yoga pants being recalled for being too sheer lululemon has released the video statement below from CEO Chip Wilson. It's Just shy of a minute, and if you were expecting an apology, this isn't it. The message is confusing, and â€Å"I'm really sad for the repercussions of my actions† seems like an apology to lululemon employees, not the consumers.He closes with a cryptic request o â€Å"stay in the conversation. † What do you think? Are you buying it? So he ended up blaming the customer for the quality control problem within the company, and that's what enraged the customers So, the media spoke to lulu enthusiasts and the customers went right ahead and said we have no interest in buying lulu products any more. Lululemon doesn't have the obligation to manufacture yoga pants but blaming customers for their defective see through pants wasn't cool either. The rules: 1 . A second chance comes after one error, not several. 2. You don't turnNamaste into nasty unless you want a serious time out. 3. Never blame mommy's thighs for anything, ever. Just how bad things can get when you refuse to own up to mistakes and choose to blame and insult others instead. Wilson's eyes appear slightly moist, his voice shaking. He seems to be apologizing to his colleagues and appealing for calm, but fails to address any of his controversial comments specifically. The glitches cost the company millions of dollars, damaged its reputation and depressed its share price. The recall continues to weigh on the company's performance, resulting in late deliveries. Lululemon Athletica Last week I read a story about yoga clothes-maker/fashion brand Lululemon and their fairly blatant disregard for any sort of overweight or plus-size consumers. In short, they admitted that selling to women who wear size 12 and smaller is an important business strategy for them, and that it's based on â€Å"design, capacity and operational perspective. † That video seems to only anger some customers more. One wrote in response, â€Å"On one hand you are bashing us for being fat and on the other hand bashing us for maybe trying to do something about it.Should my fat ass' squeeze nto a small size Just so I can say I own a pair†¦ no! † In a video, Chip Wilson, the founder of athletic label Lululemon has apologized for suggesting that women's fat thighs were to blame for a line of yoga pants being recalled for being too sheer lululemon has released the video statement below from CEO Chip Wilson. It's Just shy of a minute, and if you were expecting an apology, this isn't it. The message is confusing, and â€Å"I'm really sad for the repercussions of my actions† seems like an apology to lululemon employees, not the consumers.He closes with a cryptic request o â€Å"stay in the conversation. † What do you think? Are you buying it? So he ended up blaming the customer for the quality control problem within the company, and that's what enraged the customers So, the media spoke to lulu enthusiasts and the customers went right ahead and said we have no interest in buying lulu products any more. Lululemon doesn't have the obligation to manufacture yoga pants but blaming customers for their defective see through pants wasn't cool either. The rules: 1 . A second chance comes after one error, not several. 2. You don't turnNamaste into nasty unless you want a serious time out. 3. Never blame mommy's thighs for anything, ever. Just how bad things can get when you refuse to own up to mistakes and choose to blame and insult others instead. Wilson's eyes appear slightly moist, his voice shaking. He seems to be apologizing to his colleagues and appealing for calm, but fails to address any of his controversial comments specifically. The glitches cost the company millions of dollars, damaged its reputation and depressed its share price. The recall continues to weigh on the company's performance, resulting in late deliveries.

Earth Layers Research Paper

How do scientists know what is in the center of the earth? How can we know what the core of the earth is made of, if scientists have never studied any materials from a depth below 7. 5 miles? Earth is approximately 4. 6 billion years old, and over this time period, many things have changed inside and out. The formation of our planet is quite amazing. Earth consists of multiple layers. The three most distinct or main layers are the core, mantle and crust. The inner portion is the core, in the middle is the mantle, and the outside is the crust. Over the course of this paper, the composition and formation of these layers will be described more specifically. According to ‘Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology’, â€Å"The inner core did not exist early in earth’s history, when our planet was hotter. However, as the Earth cooled, iron began to crystalize at the center to form the solid inner core and even today the inner core continues to grow as the planet cools. † The idea is that the core is composed of an iron-nickel alloy with traces of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur. The average density of this iron rich substance is fourteen times the density of water. The core is split into two separate regions, inner and outer core. The inner core is spherical and has a radius of 750 miles. The iron located within the inner core is solid, despite the high temperature; this is because of the mighty pressures in the middle of earth. The outer core is about 1400 miles thick and is a layer of liquid. Earth’s magnetic field is the cause of the movement of metallic iron within this area. The mantle contains eighty two percent of the volume of Earth. It is described as a rocky, solid shell that goes 1800 miles deep. The mantle consists of an upper and lower section. From the edge of the crust to about four hundred miles deep is considered the upper mantle. The upper mantle is divided into three separate parts. The lithosphere forms the rigid outer shell of Earth, making it the upper most part. In some areas below continents it can be more than 250 kilometers thick. Below the lithosphere lies the asthenosphere, which is a soft and weak layer. The top part of this layer has a temperature that causes some melting, which causes the lithosphere to detach from the layer and move independently. The upper part of the asthenosphere is near its melting point which makes it so weak. Below the asthenosphere, down about 660 kilometers deep is the section of the mantle known as the transition zone. The lower mantle is the largest part of the mantle. It lies at a depth of 660 kilometers down to 2900 kilometers. Increased pressure causes the mantle to strengthen as it becomes deeper. There is a layer between the lowest part of the rocky mantle and the hot outer core known as the â€Å"Dee double prime†. The face or rocky outer skin of the earth is known as the crust. The major features of the crust include the difference between the continental crust and oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is composed of basalt, a dark igneous rock, and is roughly five miles thick. Continental crust consists of many rock types, unlike oceanic crust. The thickness of continental crust averages about twenty five miles, but can be up to forty miles thick in some mountainous areas. Oceanic crust is denser because of the basalt in it. All the layers that make up the solid Earth are considered the geosphere. Above this sphere is called the biosphere. The biosphere includes all forms of life on our planet. The hydrosphere is a mass amount of water that is constantly on the move. From the oceans, it evaporates to the atmosphere, precipitates to the land, and then runs back to the ocean. About seventy percent of the planet’s surface consists of global ocean. The final sphere of Earth is the atmosphere and without it life here would not exist. The atmosphere is divided into five layers. The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth. This layer starts at the surface of Earth and extends outward about ten miles. It is in this area that weather occurs. Roughly eighty percent of the atmosphere is located in the troposphere. The stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere. This layer extends thirty miles above the planet’s surface. The temperature of this layer does rise, however it still remains below freezing. The next layer is the mesosphere, and rises about forty to fifty miles above the surface of Earth. The air is very thin in this layer and can reach temperatures as low as -184 degrees Fahrenheit. This layer is considered the middle atmosphere along with the troposphere. The thermosphere extends several hundred miles above the surface. The temperature of this layer can rise up to 2000 degrees Celsius. The thermosphere is considered the upper atmosphere. The top of the thermosphere is known as the exosphere. The exosphere rises 6200 miles above the Earth. This layer is called the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. So how do we know what we know? Geologists have discovered a lot about the core of our planet by looking at Earth’s magnetic field and measuring seismic waves as they pass through the earth. Changes in these waves are studied, and Geologists are able to draw up conclusions about the Earths density and what it must look like inside. Rocks that originated in the mantle, and were collected at Earth’s surface have provided evidence that supports the composition of our planets interior. Meteorites also provide important clues for the composition of the core and mantle. These meteorites are important because they show samples of planetesimals, the material from which Earth and the inner planets were formed. Advances in technology have provided studies that support composition and density of the layers of Earth, such as the introduction of seismic wave studies that indicate what we know of the Earths layers today. Bibliography wwkidsgeo.com/geology en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_core Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Tenth edition. Tarbuck Lutgens and Tasa geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/p/layeratmosphere.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layers_of_the_atmosphere