AboutDan Fink Expertise Though my experience is mostly in the fields of electricity, magnetism, and physics, I have a broad science background. My career is in the field of alternative power sources -- solar, wind, water and battery power. But any questions about electricity, magnetism, energy conservation, power generation, electric motors, and even general physics are very welcome--especially from kids. They ask the best questions of all! I pride myself in answering science questions accurately, with ideas for SAFE, easy experiments that kids can perform by themselves--and that let them prove the answers to their own satisfaction. I think science should be fun, and available to everyone, regardless of age.
Experience I have volunteered in our local public schools for 5 years. I currently make presentations at our schools about electricity and magnetism, with a focus on solar, wind, water and other alternative power sources. I try to demonstrate at our schools how easy it is to make electricity, with simple devices using spinning magnets and coils of wire--powered by wind, water, bicycles, gerbils...etc. And of course solar panels! I am the webmaster of Otherpower.com, an alternative energy website. I have lived 10 miles from the nearest power pole for 11 years--I make all my own electricity from scratch with sun, wind and water.
Publications Otherpower.com
Wondermagnet.com
Co author of the book "Homebrew Wind Power" ISBN 978-0-9819201-0-8
My articles appear regularly in such magazines as Home Power and Back Home Education/Credentials BA Technical Journalism
Question I am Jill Goodgion, and Lindsey is my 4th grade student. As part of an independent study project, she is required to ask interview questions. Could you please briefly answer them for her? Thanks!
Interview Questions about the Solar System
By Lindsey Humphreys
1.Why are you interested in the solar system?
2.How did you learn about the solar system?
3.What did you like the most in learning about it?
4.What is your education or training about it?
5.What experiences have you had studying the solar system?
6.What is your favorite planet?
7.Can you give examples of what you think makes our solar system special or interesting?
8.What equipment did you use to learn about the solar system?
9.How many hours does it take to get into space?
10.What do you know about the newest planets in our solar system?
Answer No problem. And good questions!
1) I'm interested because the Earth is only one part of the solar system, and we need to understand it all. Observations of the solar system were also how many of the physical laws of nature were proven -- Galileo, Copernicus, etc. figured a bunch of stuff out just by observing.
2)I became interested as a little kid, and my interest was fixed for life by asking my parents about why and how the stars and planets move in the sky. I learned how to tell north from the North Star Polaris when I was in kindergarten and was hooked ever since.
3)It's interesting! And beautiful. And complicated.
4) Jr High, High School, and College classes, plus my own observations.
5) Trips to the plaentarium were the best. Small telescopes and binoculars at home. Now, a big 6" reflector telescope (it's awesome!)
6) Saturn since it looks so amazing thru the telescope. Jupiter is a close second, because the moons look really cool thru the telescope, and Galileo figured out how to tell time by the eclipses of the moons.
7) It supports life, on Earth. And humans are starting to explore it, too!
8) I now have use of a 6" reflector telescope, made by Orion, with a Dobsonian mount. It was surprisingly inexpensive, and I highly recommend getting one!
9) That would depend on how fast you could travel! A trip to the moon takes 3 days -- Mars would take months. It's a long ways.
10) I follow the news -- it seems they've found new planets out past pluto now. All I know is that they would be VERY cold, and the sun would look like a speck in the sky. I think I'll stick with living on Earth for now!
