Inquiry Unit
Information Theory
One of the traits that makes humans unique from other animals is our consciousness, the fact that we can remember concrete ideas, both actual memories and abstract thoughts. These brain activities are…
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Quipu
Information Theory Inquiry Unit
Quipus, or Khipus, were used by civilizations of the Andes, such as the Incas and were a means of recording information. The lengths of the chords, colors, and knots were used to record numeri…
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Edwin H. Armstrong, of Paris, France Method of Receiving High-Frequency Oscillations Patent # 1,342,885 Application filed Feb. 8, 1919 – Patented June 8, 1920
Radio Inquiry Unit While serving in the U.S. Army during World War I, Armstrong synthesized three ideas to create his superheterodyne circuit for selectively amplifying a very high fr…
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Edwin H. Armstrong, of Yonkers, NY Wireless Receiving System, Patent # 1,113,149. Application Filed Oct. 29, 1913 – Patented Oct. 6, 1914
Radio Inquiry Unit According to the E.H. Armstrong, wireless receiving system patent, “The present invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and connections o…
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Laboratory notebook, recording Edwin H. Armstrong’s discovery of superheterodyne reception
Radio Inquiry Unit From the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Visit Source Download PDF …
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Hands-on Activity
Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity
Skyscrapers Inquiry Unit Download PDF Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity Prompt for the students: Using only the materials provided, teams of students will design and build a structure as tall as p…
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Inquiry Unit
Skyscrapers
The symbol of growth in China and India of the early 21st century is the proliferation of skyscrapers. This was also the symbol of urbanization in the early 20th century U.S. How did this come about? …
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Khufu Pyramid Complex
The Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu, constructed c. 2580 – c. 2560 BCE, is the tallest pyramid in Giza and the largest ever constructed in Egypt. Made of limestone and originally reaching a height …
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Alexander Miles. “Improvements in Elevators” U.S. Patent 371,207, 11 October, 1887
Patent, by African American inventor Alexander Miles, for new and useful improvements in elevators. The patent relates to mechanisms for closing the openings to the shafts of passenger and freight ele…
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Inquiry Unit
Electric Lighting
When was the last time you lived without electric lights? Maybe a thunderstorm, hurricane, or blizzard caused a power outage in your neighborhood. Maybe you live in a village without electric lights. …
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