Road Hazards

Every day, Tucsonans encounter dangerous road hazards all across the city. These hazards may seem like just road inadequacies, but they can have permanent damage in more ways than you think.
One common road hazard is the infamous pothole. Potholes are large crater-like holes in older streets that can cause cars to stall out or experience tire issues. Potholes most commonly are formed by road fatigue or ice wedging in winter months. I have experienced potholes in my time in areas around the University of Arizona.
Another common road hazard in Tucson and Arizona is roadkill. Roadkill is essentially killed animals that have been run over by other vehicles. These unsightly dangers can cars to swerve off the road and crash. I have experienced roadkill in Tucson, but usually more out of the center of town.
Finally, one hazard that is especially common in the Tucson area is the dust storm. Dust storms are large masses of floating dust caused by active winds. Dust storms impede driver vision to only several feet and can make driving difficult. Again, being a a native Tucsonan, I have experienced several intense dust storms.

SRP-4 Background Research Sources

 Hey everybody, it's Alex. If you didn't know yet, my friend Konrad and I are working on our science fair project together. If you're interested about his side of the project, visit him at ///////

Here are the sources for our project. They all come from the source with the URL at the bottom. The one on the top is the most vital to our project and has given lots of useful information. Also, all of the sources below it are from the first source

Waters, S. et al. (2011). When it Rains it Runs Off: Runoff and Urbanized Areas in Arizona. Arizona Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcals.arizona.edu%2Fpubs%2Fwater%2Faz1542.pdf&ei=ADEzUsbiELOl2AW_o4H4Dg&usg=AFQjCNGflIVfuFt7eFI99YTIYGBEiUOgqg&sig2=u7SDZ8ab17UI9M67cZIPGA&bvm=bv.52164340,d.b2I

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (2009). 
Arizona’s 2009 Annual Nonpoint Source Annual Report: 
Nonpoint Source Program July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009. 
Phoenix, AZ: State of Arizona. Retrieved from Arizona 
Department of Environmental Quality website: http://
www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/watershed/download/
NSP_Annual_Report09-PA.pdf

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (2009). Fact 
Sheet: Fish Consumption Advisories – April 2009. Phoenix, AZ: 
State of Arizona. Retrieved from Arizona Department of 
Environmental Quality website: http://www.azdeq.gov/
environ/water/assessment/download/fish-0409.pdf

City of Clarksville, IN (2009). What is Stormwater? Clarksville, 
IN: City of Clarksville. Retrieved from www.clarksvillesw.
com/residents.html

DeFrancesco, Donna and Robyn Baker (2008). Landscape 
Watering by the Numbers. N.p.: Park & Co.

Environmental Protection Agency Nonpoint Source Control 
Branch (2010). USEPA Nonpoint Source Fact Sheets. 
Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 
from Environmental Protection Agency website: http://

www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts/

Here our vocabulary words cited below:

Runoff. 2013. In Dictionary.com Retrieved September 16, 2013 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/runoff

Non Point Source Pollution. 2013. In United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved September 16, 2013 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/qa.html

Pesticide. 2013. In Dictionary.com. Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pesticide?&o=100074&s=t

Sediment. 2013. In Dictionary.com. Retrieved September 16, 2013 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sediment?s=t

Wetland. 2013. In SLAC. Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/environment/stormwater/p_definitions.htm

SRP Possible Research Question 3

Is there a way to make a fail-proof algorithm to solve a Rubix Cube? The purpose is to see if there is a way to solve a rubix cube using a formula rather than solving it randomly. This question is testable because the hypothesis can be easily proved or disproved if the algorithm works or not. There are also instructions that describe how to make these types of algorithms so there will be no indefinite answers. This is repeatable because others can follow the steps or use the algorithm to see if the hypothesis was proved or disproved. The question is specific because it completely describes the purpose of the idea, but is concise because it does not go in depth about the creation of the algorithm.This article led me to choose this: http://lar5.com/cube/downloads.html. This question should be tested because some areas of math are universal, and the algorithm for the Rubix Cube could be used in other areas of math like engineering.

SRP Possible Research Question 2

Does engaging in cell phone conversations affect reaction time? The purpose is to see if cell phone usage affects reaction time.This project is easy to test and repeat because testing the subjects for reaction time is straightforward and a cell phone and test subjects. This question is specific because it is only focusing on testing the reaction time with cell phones. It is concise because it is under 25 words long. This article led me to this question: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2004/Projects/J0312.pdf. This question could be tested because it could be substantial evidence to help stop texting and driving.

SRP Possible Research Question 1

Does a high stress situation affect test scores on high-intensity exams that require remembering and recalling figures from before? The purpose is to see if stress can effect difficult tests. This question is testable because the patients can be given the test, put under high stress,and then given a similar test. The results of the two tests would be compared. This is repeatable because the same tests can be taken and test subjects can be relatively easy to find. This question is specific because it includes all parts of a science question and puts details into the variables. The question is concise because it is under 25 words. This question was chosen based off of this article: Princeton University (2013, August 29). Poor concentration: Poverty reduces brainpower needed for navigating other areas of life.This article should be worked on because it could show if stress actually does affect test scores negatively.