Lord Of Flies Essays (777 words) - English-language Films, Allegory

Lord Of Flies William Golding uses much symbolism in his novel, The Lord of the Flies, to help readers gain a greater understanding of his message. He uses symbolism in three important areas: objects that have symbolic value as references to ideas, characters that symbolize important historical and religious people, and the setting which frames the conflicts on the island in comparison to the whole world. Objects are the first part of the story that are symbolic. Many objects in The Lord of the Flies have important symbolic value. The conch shell represents power and authority, and Ralph uses it to call for the boys to come to meetings. Whoever has the shell has the power to talk. The conch shows how people use objects to give power, like a crown, sceptre, or other thins that show who has power. We also learn that objects don't really give power when people choose not to obey it, like Ralph's conch. The pig's head, or Lord of the Flies, is an important object. To Jack it is a sacrifice for the beast. This object shows that people will make religions and rituals to control their world, even when what they think is not true. The Lord of the Flies is also a symbol of Satan, or the Devil. When Simon talked with the Lord of the Flies, he learned what the real evil was, which is the evil in people's hearts. The Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the things we make up to be the cause for evil, when those things aren't the real reason. The fire is a symbol of hope and rescue. When the fire was burning bright, it was because the boys were working hard to get rescued. When the fire burnt out, it was because many boys, like Jack, didn't care anymore about being rescued. In the end, the fire that got them rescued was not meant for rescue. It was there because Jack was burning down the island to kill Ralph. This shows us that we get things from luck instead of hard work. The objects in the story are used by characters that also have symbolism. The many different characters on the island are symbols of important people. They show how the real world is made up of people. Ralph is a good leader who cannot control bad people like Jack. Ralph is like Franklin Roosevelt before World War II who could not stop the war from breaking out. He also represents democracy, and is responsible. The boys wanted to do what they wanted, but Ralph couldn't stop them. Piggy represents educated people who give advice but nobody listens to them. Piggy was like Albert Einstein because people didn't care that he thought the atomic bomb was bad weapon. Simon was a symbol of Jesus Christ because he knew the truth about the beast, but the boys killed him when he came to tell them the truth. Jack was a symbol of Adolf Hitler. He was a crazy leader who killed many people because he wanted power. Like Hitler Jack was dictatorial and ignorant. Jack started his own tribe when they should stay with Ralph, and Jack killed Simon and didn't care. Roger is even worse than Jack, even though he isn't like that at the start. He is like Dr. Mengele who was Hitler's worker and did very bad operations on people, worse than Hitler. Roger is like this because he makes stick sharpened at both ends. All these people live in an island that is like the rest of the world. The setting of The Lord of the Flies is backdrop that makes it easy to see the boys' wickedness compared to the wickedness of the world and people in general. World War II is going on while the story happens. The parachuter, that the boys think is the beast, shows that they cannot get away from war, and they have war themselves later. Parts of the island are also important. The beach is important because it is where Simon dies, and also where the boys live. Castle Rock is important because this is where the tribe goes to live. It is very small, with no food or soft ground, but the boys still go there because they can defend it. They think they must fight the beast and other boys, but they really have nothing to be afraid of from the other boys or beast. It shows that the boys don't understand what

Free Grant Program Informative Essay

Free Grant Program Informative Essay gains hence compromising the implementation of the project. The areas of concern as far as the implementation of the project is concerned would entail both the design and implementation stages of the project. The aim of the project team is to deploy the right personnel and capabilities to respond to disasters. The facility, therefore, must be built according to a design that withstands any possible threats of disasters. Its construction must be strong and comply with the envisaged tasks. Another area of concern is the expenditure of the facility construction. The funds must be used for the intended purpose. In case the funds are insufficient, other sources must be sought to finalize it. The issue of financing hence must be planned as a top priority, so as to avoid any impediments due to lack of funds. Coordination of all the stakeholders involved is another issue of concern Such a project involves versatile and numerous participants from the design team to suppliers and the end users. Without appropriate coordination, some challenges may arise. The Contractor is, therefore, to be aware of the possible challenges and be prepared to deal with the respective problems adequately. The management must be organized to work on the proper execution of the tasks. Duties should be delegated adequately, with a set of reports made to the person in charge. All those on the site should report to the project Architect who, in turn, would liaise with the other professionals and coordinate the scope and pace of the project works (Ireland, 2006). The Architect then reports to the General Officer in charge for record keeping and any required action. By so doing, any deviations likely to be encountered would be easily resolved since there is a proper channel of communication established. Other sources of funding must, however, be availed or planned for cases of contingencies Such sources can be obtained from non-governmental organizations who may appreciate the crucial role played in the project. These bodies can give their aids towards the construction or renovation of the facility and hence provide an alternative source of funds. Such organizations can be local or international, as long as they are prepared and willing to assist. Borrowing should also be considered as another option should the other sources prove to be unviable. These sources can be obtained from lending institutions at appropriate lending rates. Bodies like the World Bank, IMF can also lend for the funding of the facility. When borrowing, it is necessary to be careful with the terms so that only favorable terms and conditions are accepted. From the foregoing, no doubt, the center plays a vital role, since it aids in the management of disasters hence saves lives and property. The construction of the facility must be planned well and executed properly so as to meet the minimum threshold, in terms of its capability to withstand any threats regarding security or natural calamities. This is important because the facility is required to be in an acceptable working condition since the time when disasters might strike is unknown to anybody. Contingence plans must be organized, as well, so that in case of any change of plans, the project implementation remains on the course. Moreover, this would help avoid putting lives at risk whenever a disaster strikes. Therefore, appropriate plans must be designed to ensure that the project is implemented successfully and is in accordance with the determined objectives.

Week 4 assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 4 assignment - Essay Example The young man who slipped was actually carrying a package that fell and causes some fireworks that seemed to have hurt Plaintiff. The package fell on the Platform where Plaintiff was standing and was actually estimated to have been fifteen inches of feet. It was due to the injuries caused by the package explosion that Plaintiff decided to sue or file a case. History: When the case was presented on the trial court, Plaintiff was actually found for by the court and the defendants were forced to appeal making the judgment to be affirmed by the appellate court. Ruling/ Analysis: Negligence in a real life situation is believed not to be a tort until it leads to a wrongful act that tend to deprive or violate one of his or her rights (Furgeson et.al, 2008). It is therefore right to show the possibilities of the obvious danger if harm was not willfully done. Since Plaintiff’s harm did not happen willfully as per the defendant’s part, it was therefore right to prove that package drop, had the obvious prospect of danger(Furgeson et.al, 2008). Being that the package was wrapped and there was no more evidence to prove that it had explosives, no negligence was thrown away. Negligence was not found and railroad had nothing to do with Plaintiff’s injuries. Judge Andrew actually opposed and started defining negligence. In his statement, he said that negligence is a comparative notion and everybody is to stay away from an act or substance that can intrude or interfere with the safety of others(Furgeson et.al, 2008). Summary: Actually, nothing was found in the situation to imply as the wrapped package could have dropped for anybody as this means that no one could have evaded such a situation. Plaintiff’s injury was caused by the explosion and this act was invisible as no one was aware of the incidence. This is one of the reasons as to why Judge Andrew reversed the

Personal Operative Theory Classroom Management Assignment

Personal Operative Theory Classroom Management - Assignment Example These beliefs are important to me because based on my personal experiences as a child and in teaching some children, children have tendencies of understanding things better through positive reinforcement. To make studying and learning an enjoyable experience it must be taught through empowering ways, and that disciplining must be carried in a caring, respectful, and fair manner (Spitzer, 2009). Â  2. On an educator’s standpoint, while it is still important for me that children learn the lessons effectively, I deem their learning of positive attitudes, having pro-social behavior, and accepting responsibility to be essential in their learning processes. I feel that imparting these behaviors in children are important because while they may forget the exact academic lessons that they learn, their behaviors will stay longer with them, and thus by helping them gain positive and productive behaviors as early as possible, this will help them grow up into well-adjusted and responsible adults in the future (Durlak, et al., 2011). As their guide, I deem myself to have primary responsibility within the classroom to reinforce positive behavior and detect and discipline negative or anti-social behaviors (with dignity and respect) at the earliest possible time, and as students I expect them to treat their classmates with respect through open-mindedness, to treat others as equals a nd not think that they are above others, and to be responsible with their studies (e.g. submit assignments on time). Â  3. I believe that respect is something that is learned through application and has a strong impact on an individual.

How to find answers within your company Case Study

How to find answers within your company - Case Study Example The higher end of this tail is composed of the expert contents and lower end of the tail is composed of peer-assisted contents. The company is required to subsidize content writers through an absolute or relative reward system. The segregation of contents based on their quality is essential for improving the quality of information provided by an internal knowledge market. The quality of content improves gradually when peer comments, criticize and reorganize contents on a question. Most of the companies award points on a specific scale for the improving the quality of contents. Respect of individual’s privacy plays a significant role in the success of an internal knowledge market. The platform should allow the knowledge seeker and provide to remain anonymous. This anonymity will protect the ego of knowledge seeker and will increase the freedom of providing answers to controversial contents. There internal knowledge market can cause accumulation of knowledge for personal gains if relative performances are use to decide about the awardees. Relative incentives are given to best performers only, this can discourages knowledge sharing because peers can save best trick for competitive advantage. This can be avoided by absolute rewards where there is no loser but peers can support each other to improve personal shortcomings. The concept of internal knowledge markets is quite new and the designs of internal markets are still evolving. Different companies are migrating from traditional hierarchical knowledge market to internal knowledge markets. In the first phase of market development various implementation of the market can be studied to develop a prototype of internal knowledge market. In the second phase companies needs to design policies that can encourage knowledge sharing. It must not only be vertical or a top down knowledge flow but horizontal

Strategic Analysis of Nestle

Strategic Analysis of Nestle Background of the company: Nestlà © with headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlà ©. In the beginning, Nestlà © Company specializes in selling infant milk; which provide alternative for mothers who could not breast feed their infant or infants who were unable to tolerate their mother milk (Nestle.com). His product became a success, and it created a demand throughout Europe. As Nestlà ©s popularity grew more businesses wanted to merge and become partners with Henri Nestlà ©s business. From 1866 to 1947 the Nestlà © Company had gone through several name changes. In 1905, Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. and Farine Lactee Henri Nestlà © merged, and the companys name became Nestlà © Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. Then in 1929, Peter-Cailler-Kohler Chocolates Suisses S.A. merged with the company. The name was then changed to Nestlà © Anglo-Swiss Holding Co. Ltd, on November 27, 1936. In December 1947, Co. acquired all the shares capital of the Alimentana S.A. Company in exchan ge for fifteen Nestlà © shares and fifteen Unilac shares for each of Alimentana S.A. share, so this point the name was at Nestlà © Alimentana S.A. And then finally, the last name change that the company would endure was in 1977, where it adopted the name Nestlà © SA (Mergent Online). Along the way Nestlà ©s company remain successful, which allowed them expand to new region and territories throughout the world, making them the worlds biggest food and beverage company. Nestlà ©s headquarters are located in Vevey, Switzerland, but the Nestlà © Company has factories or operation in almost ever country in the world. In addition, to the increase in the size of the Nestlà © Company; Nestlà © also has increased the variety in the different products they offer. In Nestlà ©s business strategy they encourage product growth through innovation and renovation (Nestle.com). This strategy has allowed Nestlà © to develop many different products in the various fields: baby foods, dairy prod ucts, breakfast cereals, ice creams, chocolates and confectionery, prepared foods, beverages, food services, bottled water, and pet care. Introduction of the Company: Nestlà © is the worlds leading food company. Since it was set up by Henri Nestlà © to provide an infant food product, it has been associated with providing high quality, customer and consumer focused products. In recent years it has focused on becoming a nutrition, health and wellness company. Wellness is about supporting people to live more healthy lives e.g. through the development of probity yoghurts that help maintain the balance of the digestive system. The company is a world leader in research and development, and Nestlà ©s scientists work in all areas to create healthier and more nutritious foods. Brief History: In 1866 Henri Nestlà ©, a pharmacist, developed a food for babies who were unable to breastfeed. His first Success was a premature infant who could not tolerate his mothers milk or any of the usual substitutes. People quickly recognized the value of the new product, after Nestlà ©s new formula saved the childs life, and soon, Farine Lactà ©e Henri Nestlà © was being sold in much of Europe. In 1905 Nestlà © merged with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company. By the early 1900s, the Company was operating factories in the United States, Britain, Germany and Spain. World War I created new demand for dairy products in the form of government contracts. By the end of the war, Nestlà ©s Production had more than doubled. After the war Government contracts dried up and consumers switched back to fresh milk. However, Nestlà ©s management responded by streamlining operations and reducing debt. The 1920s saw Nestlà ©s First expansion into new products, with chocolate the Companys second m ost important activity. Nestle felt the effects of World War II immediately. Profits dropped from $20 million in 1938 to $6 million in 1939. Factories were established in developing countries, particularly Latin America. Ironically, the war Helped with the introduction of the Companys newest product, Nescafe, which was a staple drink of the Nestlà ©s production and sales rose in the wartime economy. The end of World War II was the beginning of a dynamic phase for Nestlà ©. Growth accelerated and Companies were acquired. Nestlà ©s growth in the developing world partially offset a slowdown in the Companys traditional markets. Nestlà © made its second venture outside the food industry by acquiring Alcon Laboratories Inc. Nestlà © divested a number of businesses1980 / 1984. In 1984, Nestlà ©s improved bottom line allowed the Company to launch a new round of acquisitions, the most important being American food giant Carnation. The first half of the 1990s proved to be favorable for Nestlà ©: trade barriers crumbled and world markets Developed into more or less integrated trading areas. Since 1996, there have been acquisitions including San Pellegrino in 1997, Spillers Pet foods in 1998, and Ralston Purina in 2002. In July of 2002, there were two major Acquisitions in North America, Nestlà © merged its U.S. ice cream business into Dreyers, and in August, a USD 2.6bn acquisition was announced of Chef America, Inc. In the later year, Nestlà © also focus their diversification in the ice cream market. The beginning of this interest shows in the year 2003 when the company decided to acquire Movenpick Ice Cream. Then, in 2005 and 2006, Nestlà © bought 2 huge ice cream companies, Delta Ice Cream and Dreyers; making them the worlds biggest ice cream maker with a market share of 17.5%. These decisions further enhance Nestlà ©s position as one of the world market leader in this product category. In 2007, Nestlà © Company made a related acquisition and strategic alliance to improve the overall performance of the company. The first one is their acquisition of Gerber Products from Novartis AG. Although Nestle has a strong position and market power in baby food market in emerging countries, such as China and India, they do not have the same strong position in baby food market in the US. Acquiring Gerber product, which has around 80% market share in baby food in US market, allows Nestle to grab the market easier. Today, it is an international conglomerate operating as a food manufacturer with nearly 500 factories around the globe. With a presence in almost every country, Nestlà © employs some 230,000 people of more than 100 nationalities and of many creeds. It claims to be the leading food manufacturer and major purchaser of agricultural raw materials for over 130 years. It produces too many brands too count with some of the most popular appearing in various markets; coffee, bottle water, ice cream, infant nutrition and pet-care. Accusative of SCM in Nestlà © To actively contribute as the first association in an incorporated supply chain approach with the accusative of: Increasing supplier relationships which highlight value and thereby surpass the traditional notion of price; Serving a affirmable, quantifiable, competitive advantage for Nestlà © while concentrating expertise and ensuring both quality supply and full satisfaction to all internal clients; Satisfying the companys supplies for materials, goods and services delivered in full, on time and efficiently; Contributing to the growth and profitability of the company, while seeking continuous improvement in the benefits provided by suppliers through reducing lead time reduction or flexibility in supplies; Nurturing competition between suppliers; Constantly monitoring the performance, dependability and feasibility of suppliers. Scope of SCM in Nestle The Scope of Nestle is to cover all Nestlà ©s spent with third parties logistics excluding trade spend. And to act with the knowledge source on all matters pertaining to the procurement of materials, services and supplies. Two primary supply chain functions that encompass strategic and operational activities are used in Nestlà ©: Logistics Buyers: As Nestle came in Pakistan in 1988 and they are the market leaders in the dairy products. As nestle Pakistan is already in the business of dairy so Nestle bargaining power of supplier would be very moderate and performing its strategic activities such as market research or analysis, supplier profiling and selection, negotiation, Nestle and contract management, in collaboration with other professionals. And buys can remain within their functional area, as long as there is a line of responsibility to the relevant Head of supply chain. This will ensure that they are informed of and contribute to purchasing strategies, training, budgets, etc.Thus, at the raw materials stage, Nestle supports sustainable agricultural and dairy farming practices, including environmental protection. Logistics Buyers are responsible for the following; Expansion of reliable suppliers; Strength of understanding and subsequent implementation of Nestlà ©s strategies and tactics; Price and total cost management of materials, goods and services purchased, including involvement in the determination of physical stock objectives; Establishing and managing contracts and frame agreements; Helping with new product development; Channelizing suppliers technology and Nestlà ©s for the benefit of Nestlà ©; Safeguarding quality standards; Keeping a market view, product knowledge and, wherever possible, benchmarking competition; Ensuring confidentiality of proprietary know-how belonging to both Nestlà © and suppliers. Functional Buyers: They perform functional activities such as sending purchase orders, call-off against catalogue, etc. When it comes to production, all Nestle factories try to maximize eco-efficiency, i.e. increase production while minimizing Nestle consumption, waste and emissions. PLACE Nestle products placed by different channels to hit the target consumers in Pakistan. Nestle coverage has been quit flexible for intended positioning. Assortments regarding Nestle product is very enthusiastic. Nestle plant locations are positioned in such a manner which makes it accessible either to consumer as well as retailers. Nestle have a completely separate department which is in place to make assure that the inventory remains fresh. Nestle transportation are marked by Nestle brand name and finally Nestle logistics and equipment are installed by the professionals of Motorola to keep track of everything. Global/Zone/Region/Local To meet operational objectives, supply chain is organized geographically or by business through a network of buyers (virtual) on a global/zone/region/local basis. Products are manufactured in five facilities scattered around the Pakistan, from Islamabad in the north, to Karachi in the south. Nestle has two state-of-the-art milk processing plants one in Sheikhupura other in Kabirwala both located agricultural heartland of the Punjab with its head quarter in Lahore, Punjab and the remaining three are dedicated to producing Nestlà ©s trusted brands of bottled water. The aggregation of supply chain up to the highest appropriate level, for any material category or supplier(s) with the purpose of: Shaping and executing a Nestle strategy; Leveraging Nestlà ©s purchasing power; Improved management in the supplier base; STRENGTH According to nestle.com, Nestle is the worlds largest food and beverage company in terms of sales. Due to strong brand name Nestlà ©s product has gained a wide consumer acceptance from all over the Pakistan. The biggest strength, Nestle has is the strong brand name the risk in investing would be reasonable very low and the pledge of getting a viable business, one that has been worked many times before. Nestle has set a complete transparent manufacturing system for customer satisfaction in terms of hygiene. Nestle has strengthen Nestlà ©s product by broad distribution network by increasing the capacity for innovation which lead to an improvement in sale growth. Nestle has organized teams which inspect and observe the accumulation (stock) on daily bases to prevent any damages occurring and also in order to maintain the standard these teams also monitors inventory fresh. Nestle maintain a standard of inventory to avoid any surprise like shortage, weather it is winter or summer no matter what circumstances are. Further strengths are; Strengths: Skilled labor. Educated staff. Large number of offerings. Pre purchase virtual display. Arrangement of events. Good background of the company. Easy to approach outlets. Physical evidence WEAKNESS The main weakness of Nestle product is the lack of an established good standing. Nestle competitors have been around for decades and therefore have a loyal base. Spending millions in a strong brand is no guarantee to wealth. It may the safest way to get into the business, but it is not necessarily the cheapest. Further weakness would be. Weaknesses: Small target market. Lack of awareness among the target market. Dependency on others (govt. sponsors) for the arrangement of events. OPPORTUNITIES The biggest opportunity Nestle would have to consider geographically. Pakistan is situated in an area where summer is the available most of the time. Due to strong brand name in the market Nestle product has a great potential of earning profits. Further opportunities would be. Opportunities: Increasing interest of people Few and weak competitors in some products THREATS The biggest threat to Nestlà ©s product is the fierce competition in the local market. Walls by (Unilever) are one of the biggest names in ice cream which not only distribute their products nationwide but also had a total control on the local market. The second thread that Nestle product will face would be Shezan, Gourmet and many others small bakeries which have their influence on the market. Threats: Major player may enter target market Legal and ethical issues. Market segment growth could attract new entrants. Economic slowdown can reduce demand. To leverage Nestlà ©s supply chain as a strength in a business environment where the impact and importance on many spend categories is increasing, requires that planning and strategy determination, receive as much consideration today as at anytime in the past. It is necessary to understand that supply markets are not and will not always be in surplus or excess, so the assurance of long term competitive supply through sound purchasing planning and strategy implementation is essential for Nestlà ©s growth and profitability objectives. Planning The successful execution of a purchasing strategy demands that the analysis has been performed with: Confidence in the accuracy of the information provided; Clarity in the way the information is presented; Completeness of the information to be considered. As Nestlà © seeks the aggregation of volume to the highest appropriate level, supply chain planning takes on a heightened level of importance because the number of customers/stakeholders and specifications make the planning exercise more complex. Planning must also address the Nestles and expertise that will be needed to implement the chosen purchasing strategy. The trend to outsource (see Subcontracting/Outsource) both the initial conversion of raw materials, the manufacture of certain semi-finished or finished products and some services, requires that the original expertise in purchasing these materials and services is now needed to manage suppliers fulfilling a higher added-value process. In addition, consideration must be given to decide the specific value drivers of the subcontracting initiative for which Nestlà © needs to control either the Nestle or pricing (or both). The realizations of the importance of the Supply chain spend categories will result in supply chain allocating more attention to them. The task of planning a supply chain initiative may well require a different skill set and knowledge base to that traditionally expected of a Strategic Buyer. Strategies The evaluation of different supply chain strategies can only take place once a detailed spends analysis has been completed. Strategic considerations need to focus on the long-term management of the supply base and must take into account: Business sector objectives; Total cost of ownership; Supply market and its evolution; Appropriate purchasing approach (e-Auctions, tenders, negotiations); Value creation opportunities; Realization that while cost containment/ reduction is critical as a tactical move to achieve short term objectives, the strategic emphasis focuses on ensuring that suppliers commit themselves to work with Nestlà © (production capacity reservation, RD investment, technology and process-driven improvements and, where appropriate, the sustainability of the suppliers business); Emphasis on price management through competitive bidding; Key stake holders involvement and their support. The next quantum leap in supply chain benefits and savings will be achieved from purchasing ability to work with suppliers to have fewer and standardized specifications. As citizens of Pakistan, we consider it Nestle duty to make sure that Nestle manufacturing processes are clean, hygienic and safe. We are constantly working to reduce emissions at Nestle factories, reducing and treating wastewater, and making Nestle packaging environmentally friendly. Regular audits have confirmed that Nestle factories environmental management meets the Nestlà © international standard. As is the Nestlà © policy around the world, we care for Nestle people. We uphold the principles of the UN Global Compact and encourage women to participate. Specification rationalization will not only allow higher volume price leverage but also, and more importantly, expose efficiencies throughout the supply chain, resulting in lower costs. Subcontracting/Outsourcing A key strategy in Nestle products and services is Subcontracting (also known as co-manufacturing co-packing or contract- manufacturing contract-packing)/ Outsourcing. The responsibility of subcontracting activities relating to manufacturing rests with Technical and Production. Normally a Strategic Buyer (see definition in Organization and Structure,) will lead this process and manage cross functional teams to safeguard the commercial relationship as well as to ensure optimum terms and conditions for Nestlà ©. Subcontractors and Outsourcing contractors are required to adhere to Nestlà ©s Corporate Business Principles and to this document. Cross-Functional Teamwork Different initiatives with colleagues from various functions within the Technical Division are proof that supply chain must continue to work within and expand the use of cross-functional teams. Managements expectations from supply chain, especially in the categories, will only be achieved by a cross-functional effort. Depending on the scope of the project, such teams may also involve suppliers and third-party expertise. Nestlà © believe and encourages the role of suppliers in improvement, creativity, innovation and the identification of new business proposals, which will enhance and add brand value. Nestlà © always considers suppliers as a vital information source and. As the relationship with supplier progresses, it may well evolve into that of a preferred supplier. Supplier Selection Nestlà © selects suppliers based on the following certain criteria: Suppliers ability to offer a competitive value; Reputation in market, financial position and previous record with Nestlà ©; Ownership, management structure and competence; Innovation, service level and transparency; Corporate social responsibility standards; Ability and willingness to work with our preferred tools, processes and solution providers; Sustainable business practices. Supplier Management To improve and manage the supplier base and reduce transactional expenses, Nestlà © may ask for suppliers to: Offer their products or services via e-Requisitioning (catalogues); Accept payment by credit card; Deliver materials through a vendor managed inventory (VMI) or consignment stock initiative; Work together using e-Supply Chain tools; Other similar consideration. Approval/Accreditation The following elements of the suppliers business environment are considered key evaluation requirements before formal approval is agreed: Management structure and competence; Financial circumstances; Ownership ; Morals and ethical business principles/conduct Competitiveness Price/cost transparency. The suppliers technical competence in the following areas is evaluated if a material, product or service is needed. Capability / Capacity; Process controls; Quality assurance programs (safety and legal compliance, good manufacturing practices); Sustainable environmental practices Research and Development (RD) emphasis. Quality Management For the Nestlà © Group, Quality is the Number One Priority. Throughout the world, over ten million people enjoy Nestlà ©s products each and every day. Nestlà ©s objective of offering consumers high quality nutritional products similarly nestle expect suppliers to assure the quality of the material they supply or the service they give. To attained that particular task suppliers must therefore be fully aware of Nestlà ©s quality and safety standards, understand Nestle quality policy; share the objectives and work jointly to achieve them. In particular they consider their suppliers responsibility to ensure the traceability of all materials used in their own production or process. Nestle believe suppliers superior quality is a competitive advantage and a joint effort by all parties in the value chain is needed Supplier Audit Suppliers of raw and packaging materials must be incorporated into a formal assessment scheme, which covers audits and inspections of their quality records. Formal audits of the suppliers quality assurance system and technical capabilities must be carried out, with focus on the First Priority Level aspects of the Nestlà © Quality System. Suppliers need to be open and responsive to Nestlà ©s requirements and provide all necessary information on the composition and manufacture of their products. This includes information on any additives and processing aids used, allergenic substances (Intended addition, indirect addition by carry-over or possibility of cross-contamination), individual components of packaging materials, or in changes to the manufacturing conditions of the product. Communication Communication in corporate environment is fully integrated and communication is must ensuring that it; Is advised on time of the goals/plans concerning manufacturing/product line/policies and regulation, investments, new or revised specifications, etc.; Has enhanced cooperation and decision-making ability as a result of better, real-time information/data; Can quickly inform organization and business colleagues of unanticipated operating constraints, changing supply market conditions and opportunities, and forecasted cost variances, supply issues (supplies, quality), etc. Purchasing Intranet To share information about market prices, supplier information, and organizations, spends information, templates and best practices nestle Web-based communication tool used internally within the Nestlà ©. It is frequently modified and frequently evolves to meet the needs of Nestlà ©. E-Procurement Nestlà © encourages and promotes the utilization of electronic tools to maximize the value chain to lower price, generate efficiencies, make product availability and improve customer service. Nestlà © believe two dimensions to e-Procurement: Transactional tools i.e. e-Requisitioning (catalogues), e -Sourcing, e-Tenders, electronic ordering and invoicing-Cards; E-Collaborative tools i.e. collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) and VMI using electronic messaging. Supply chain evaluates and promotes the use of e-Procurement tools both within the company and within the supplier base. This is much more a subject of viewpoint (and business excellence) rather than one of technology. Information Systems/Technology Supply chain will be really facilitated by superior IS/IT infrastructure, common business applications and best practices. Visibility of standardized, real-time purchasing data/information will allow aggregated spend category study. This will help identify opportunities and define more effective supply chain strategies with the objective of achieving lower total cost. HR is dedicated to Nestlà ©s employees, and ensures that they have all the right people with the right skills, in the right places at the right time. Understanding that people are the bedrock of all the business strategies, it is Nestlà ©s mandate to enhance their skills with cutting-edge training and provide them with world-standard facilities. Nestle select flexible, innovative people who are ready to confront new challenges and make a difference. Nestlà ©s groundbreaking Management Trainee Program aims to develop talented young men and women and help them achieve their potential in a dynamic and enabling environment. Over a hundred people travel out of the country every year to take advantage of Nestlà ©s international training and development events Following critical areas by which Nestle has achieve its goals in the success of supply chain: Selection The outline of the applicant must correspond to the demands of the post to be filled and corporate values. Additionally selection choice will include strong work ethic, sincerity, technical awareness, entrepreneurial persona, initiative, communication skills, cooperation and result oriented. No favoritism on the basis of origin, ethnic group, religion, race, gender, disability or age will occur during selection. Individuals with high potential will be primary/ priority candidates, in order to upgrade both the position and the function. Skills Skills further than managing transactions and costs are required to meet up the growing complexity and effect of the supply chain management role. Indeed, contributing to results through project work and particular assignments becomes extra frequent, reaching beyond conventional limits to help attain enhanced group performance. For supply chain staff in senior positions, leadership and people management skills such as the ability to motivate and to develop people within a result-oriented rather than a task-oriented organization are mainly important. Training Supply chain management personnel do receive official training as well as coaching by superiors and on-the-job training. Self-studies through e-Learning is promoted whenever likely, as well as participation in specific supply chain programs. Training are to be focused on enhancing specialized and human skills, knowledge and competence for the current position and, where appropriate, for developing and preparing the individual for future challenges. Development Constant communication between the worker and his/her manager is required through constant feedback, objective oriented criticism and formal planning for kaizen continuous improvement. Managers will organize less but place greater emphasis on training and supporting to achieve the required targets. Involvement and Motivation Key elements include in involvement and motivation is the following: Transparent accountabilities and clear definition of jobs; Clear declaration of objectives and performance feedback; Administration recognition to worker; Fair play in reward with other functions; internal career moves within or outside firm must be clearly defined to complement the move towards a flat and flexible structure. In line with Nestlà ©s global commitment, Nestlà © Pakistan is dedicated to playing its role in helping to protect the environment. Nestle comply with the Environmental Act (1997), and try to ensure that at every stage of its operations, the environmental impact is minimal. Nestlà ©s factories are equipped with complete testing and monitoring facilities for waste and air emissions. To eliminate air pollution, they have stopped using heavy fuel oil in factories, which are now run on clean natural gas. This has reduced their emissions into the atmosphere to well below the legal limits In 2006, Nestle has upgraded their wastewater treatment plants in two factories. Thats not all; they are continually reducing on consumption of raw water per ton of production. Irresponsible packaging can have a heavy impact on the environment. To reduce the amount of material used without jeopardizing the safety and quality of Nestlà ©s products, they are always working on new packaging solutions that have minimal weight and volume and can be easily recycled. Natural gas furnaces at Sheikhupura Kabirwala factories are used to safely dispose of material that cannot be recycled dumped. Their factories have environment committees to manage routine environment issues and review performance. Environmental impacts assessment is done in advance for every new project and measures are adopted to minimize adverse impacts on the environment. Raw Materials Nestlà © supports sustainable farming practices that, by meaning, satisfy long-term economic, environmental and social necessities. These points are best to achieved through integrated and advance production methods. The following principles Nestle desires when sourcing raw materials: All raw materials should meet both legal and internal quality standard, including environmental consideration; Whenever possible, preference is given to raw materials that are produced by environmentally sound farming methods (e.g. integrated c

The Difference in Leadership Essay -- Papers Leading Skills Essays Pap

The Difference in Leadership Introduction ============ Leadership is an influence process. It might be thought of as the ability to motivate others into following and understanding the role they play in an organisation, as well as what the overall strategy of the business is, with the interest of achieving organisational goals. If this is done correctly then high levels of motivation, empowerment, commitment and performance should result. It is equally important for a leader to be trustworthy, Viscount Slim describes leadership as being : â€Å"The quality which makes people trust you†. It is important in every leadership role that the leader be as effective as possible in order to work those people he is responsible for to their full potential. Certainly the leadership skill will play an important part in determining the effectiveness of the leader. Good communication skills are another important quality for a leader to have. This means that it is important to be both good at effective speaking as well as listening in order to aim the behaviours and actions of individuals in the required direction. Leadership is the process by which a person exerts influence over other people and inspires, motivates, and directs their activities to help achieve group or organizational goals.[i] It has been an old and common view that leaders are born, and not made. This is known as the Qualities Approach. Those which share this view believe that some core qualities of leaders are inborn, ie intuition, will-power and intelligence. This dismisses the idea that leaders can be manufactured, and places the emphasis on the natural ch... ...ent.IE5/M8UV2CDB/266,11,Slide 11 [x] Jones, George, Hill Contemporary Management p 411. [xi] M.G.Evans, â€Å"The Effects of Supervisory Behaviour on the Path-Goal Relationship†, Organizational Behaviour and Human Performance 5 (1970): 277-98;R.J.House,†A Path-Goal Theory of Leader Effectiveness,† Administrative Science Quarterly 16 (1971):321-38;J.C.Wofford and L.Z.Liska,†Path-Goal Theories of Leadership: A Meta-Analysis,† Journal of Management 19 (1993): 857-76. [xii] B.M.Bass, Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectations (New York: Free Press, 1985); Bass, Bass and Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership; Yukl and Van Fleet, â€Å"Theory and Research on Leadership.† [xiii] A.H.Eagly,S.J.Karau, and M.G.Makhijani, â€Å"Gender and the Effectiveness of Leaders: A Meta-Analysis,† Psychological Bulletin 117 (1995):125-45.

Business Lobbying Essay

The topic – It is always better to have clarity on the topic as it allows a clear flow of ideas. Lobbying, in fact, are the attempts made by certain corporate groups to influence the direction of legislative policy of a country/state in such a manner so as to bring benefits to them and safeguard their interests. The objective can be achieved by influencing legislators, members of Parliament and create a lobby to bring forth and get the favourable legislations passed. A lobbyist may be an individual or a group of individuals working for their employer or as an agent to them. Such people can be leaders of labour unions, corporate representatives, legislators, bureaucrats, and leading advocates, exercising influence in legislative circles or other private interest groups. India does not have any clear regulation for or against lobbying, especially when it comes by the name of lobbying. But it is not legal either. Lobbying has now become a well-established service industry, although known by different names such as public relations, external affairs managers, environment management experts, etc. Various established associations, federations, confederations of industry & commerce, etc function as lobbyists to get policies framed in favour of corporates. Dilip Cherian, a known lobbyist and founder of Perfect Relations, states that lobbying functions as a bridge between companies and the government. He speaks in no ambiguous tone, â€Å"We help our clients understand the policy environment of the country. We help them identify key players and their positions in the policy area. The key players could be political parties, bureaucrats, the central government, panchayat, etc.† The lobbying industry has been placing its demand for clear and transparent laws in countries like India where no clarity on the issue is available. So, it is high time that India should decide on making lobbying either legal or illegal by framing a detailed and clear policy. When you speak in favour of the topic i.e. lobbying should be made legal in India, the key points may be: 1. Whenever there have been some big leaps in policy framing in India favouring corporates in one or the other, the issue of lobbying has always come up. Whether it was Enron – the Dabhol power project in Maharshtra, foreign investment in corporate sector, big defence purchases, infrastructure development and now foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi brand retail, all have been shadowed by the issue of lobbying. The person or the company lobbying for certain favour cannot do so till the government, legislative bodies – Parliament or state legislatures – have not considered some path to move on. Lobbying would only smoothen the process. 2. Various chambers of commerce such as FICCI and CII, National Association of Software and Services Companies, and private firms like Vaishnavi Corporate Communications owned by Niira Radia and DTA Associates managed by Deepak Talwar are among top lobby groups. These organizations, however, maintain that they are not lobby groups and work to exercise influence to engage with the government on the policy issues. When so much of lobbying is done by the registered and legal firms and companies in the guise of some or other name and it is a well known fact, making lobbying legal will add to the government’s income by levying good amount of fee and charges on the same. Where does the amount, being paid now on lobbying, go – is anybody’s guess. A transparent legislation will definitely solve this ambiguity and loss of income. 3. The US and some European countries have made lobbying legal with specific conditions like quarterly disclosures on amount spent and the manner in which the same has been spent or so. This provides vital information and transparency to lobbying practices. The furor raised in Parliament over the issue of lobbying by Walmart in the USA could come up due to its disclosures. Corporate giants such as WalMart, Pfizer, Dell, HP, Qualcomm, Alcatel-Lucent, Morgan Stanley and Prudential Financial have been eyeing the Indian market for a long time and have spent millions of dollars to have their business interest move at a faster pace in the growing Indian economy. With the potential growth, more and more companies will engage lobbyists who can directly interact with politicians and bureaucrats and push their agenda. Lobbying, whether legal or illegal, will continue to remain integral to Indian businesses and politics. Doing away with it or making it illegal is not an option. It will be better to make business lobbying legal, of course with certain specific clauses to ensure transparency. 4. Making lobbying legal will bring forward open debates and discussions on all the forums. It will be possible to understand which option is better. Lobbyists and representatives of their companies will openly participate in such debates with the pros and cons on the performance and product. 5. At present, only the section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act may be invoked to call lobbying illegal. This section is not very sound. Think of the money spent on lobbying in a single year. If lobbying is made legal, at least a part of it will find its way to the government coffer. At present, it forms a part of unaccounted money going into the pockets of politicians, bureaucrats and other influential lot, the cost of which will eventually be recovered from the common people in the country. 6. Apart from saving millions of dollars, the country may see rampant corruption in the name of lobbying fading away. 7. Since India is in the process of establishing a larger institutional framework, the government needs creative inputs from various experts. As long as lobbying does not lead to ‘policy or regulatory capture’, it should be allowed. 8. The Indian government itself has a lobby firm presenting its case with American lawmakers, while a number of Indian companies and entities also indulge in lobbying activities in the US through their respective lobbyists. At various platforms like in the UN, World economic summits, in sports, in organizing Olympics, Commonwealth Games, etc, countries lobby their stake. Lobbying, in fact, brings more competitiveness and improvement in quality as things are to be explained and highlighted in comparison to any other stake holder. India would gain a lot by making lobbying legal. When you speak against the topic, the key points may be: 1. The common man of India, who is otherwise reeling under the pressure of corruption and unemployment, will be left penniless once lobbying is made legal. All the majors will lobby for their interests in the economy, will facilitate the entry riding the common man who hardly earns his bread and butter. Those who have more power and pelf will become greater lobbyist and will ensure that their interests are not compromised. 2. National interests will be cornered as lobbyists will have one-line motto of watching their own interest and will not at all be concerned about the country’s interest as they will not be from this country. 3. Lobbyists will make corruption legal. Politicians and influential people will still garner their share from lobbyists at the cost of the nation. 4. Legislators, who are law makers, if influenced by lobbyists, may get inclined towards serving them, becoming oblivious of the national interests. 5. Lobbying in defence production and purchases might put national security at stake. 6. India is a vast country and has a lot of complexities and problems. The lobbying company has no perception of the diversity and the nature of problems. The government might simply gamble on the tactics of the lobbyist and that might become harmful in future. 7. There is no mechanism in India to bring accountability to lobbying, and publicly reveal the lobbying positions of companies and the money spent. Self-regulation in lieu of a formal legislation is often proposed by industry players. In India, nobody knows the lobbying position of companies, leave alone looking for consistencies in lobbying positions and their impact on issues on sustainable development. Making it legal will add to the woes of Indian businesses. The efforts made so far in India- The Planning Commission has set up an expert group to look into the processes that comprise lobbying. Arun Maira, member of Planning Commission, stated â€Å"We will be considering various interests of all the stakeholders involved. This expert group comprises industries and government secretaries. There is an on-going dialogue with the industry associations for their views. We want lobbying to be transparent and representative. We are looking at the best benchmarks for processes of lobbying in other countries. However, this is a very large issue and the final solution is far down the road.† However, given the political exigencies of framing policies and complex nature of polity, this task will require the consummate skills of great statesmen.

Population and development in Nigeria

Population and development in Nigeria Free Online Research Papers POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT Population has its effects on development and mostly when its rate is increasing, underdevelopment occurs. High population growth especially in Nigeria Is a challenge for three major reasons. First, rapid population growth puts a lot of stress on ecosystems. Many different issues such as food security, land tenure, environmental degradation and water supply do have a demographic background. Civil strife is also often caused by population pressure on scarce resources. Secondly, rapid population growth impacts on the economy because governments need to provide human capital investments for their population education, health, etc. When population grows too fast such investments become logistically and financially very difficult to meet. In addition, rapid population growth may slow down the increase of income per capita. For example, if your economy expands at six percent per year but your population at three percent, your revenue per capita will expand at only three percent. The third issue is linked to the health of women and their children as well as the status of women in society. Pregnancies that are too early, too late and too many are not conducive to good health outcomes. The world’s most populous country is China with a population of 1,335,962,132 and takes a percentage of about of 19.84%. Other high populated countries are India, United States of America, Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan and so on Nigeria is the eight (8th) most populous countries in the world and takes about 2.2% of the world’s population Nigeria’s population of 134.4 million inhabitants makes up approximately 50% of West Africa’s population of about 270 million inhabitants. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, the largest economy and by far the largest contributor to ECOWAS budget and peacekeeping efforts. Any instability in Nigeria is bound to have sub-regional repercussions. NIGERIA, THE CURRENT AND ANTICIPATING LEVELS OF POPULATION. Nigeria witnessed rapid urbanization since the oil boom of the 1970s. There were improvements in transportation and mobility. The country registered the fastest rate of urbanization in the world, but it did not translate into a better life for its population. By 1986 Nigeria had an estimated urban growth rate of 6% (more than twice that of the rural population) with the percentage of people living in urban areas estimated to have grown from 16% to 20%. By 2010, more than 40% of the population was expected to live in the urban centers, whereas this fi gure was already 48% by 2006. Fast growing urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa, and especially West Africa, is like climate change. It has been endlessly debated with no forceful solution proposed. Despite the many ordeals that come with unplanned or unmanaged urbanization, hardly anybody has been able to reverse the process. Africa has now the highest rate of urban growth in the world – four point four per cent against a global average of two point five per cent. Although the continent still has relatively few inhabitants living in cities, more and more people are moving from rural to urban areas – increasing the risk of violence and environmental degradation. If the current trend continues, two third of all Africans would be living in cities by the year 2020. Urbanization has occurred in nearly every part of the world. People move into cities to seek economic opportunities. In rural areas, and even more in afflicted sub-Saharan regions, it is diffi cult to improve one’s standard of living be yond basic sustenance. Farm living is dependent on unpredictable environmental conditions, and in times of drought, flood or pestilence, survival becomes extremely problematic. Wealth, in contrast, is concentrated in cities, as are businesses, which generate jobs and revenues. Nigeria’s case is that of overpopulation. Overpopulation is a condition where an organisms numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. In common parlance, the term usually refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth. Overpopulation is not a function of the size or density of the population. Overpopulation is determined using the ratio of population to available sustainable resources. If a given environment has a population of ten, but there is food or drinking water enough for only nine, then in a closed system where no trade is possible, that environment is overpopulated; if the population is 100 individuals but there is enough food, shelter, and water for 200 for the indefinite future, then it is not. Overpopulation can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates due to medical advances, from an increase in immigration, or from an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources. It is possible for very sparsely-populated areas to be overpopulated, as the area in question may have a meager or non-existent capability to sustain human life. Urbanization is the process whereby a group of people migrating together (especially in some given time period). Whether due to natural causes (high birth rates) or through migratory movements (rural-urban exodus), the increase of population makes competing user-demands on land and other scarce natural resources. It also puts pressure on the environment and leads to social tensions among different interest groups. This is an age-old problem, common to all parts of the world. However, in the socio-economic context of West Africa, this demographic pressure represents a radical crisis of development and sustainability. EFFECTS OF OVER POPULATION ON DEVELOPMENT ? Inadequate fresh water for drinking water use as well as sewage treatment and effluent discharge. Lagos state for example is the most populous state in Nigeria and has the persistent problem of inadequate water supply which has lead to the unhealthy living conditions. Unhygienic living conditions are therefore based upon water resource depletion, discharge of raw sewage and solid waste disposal. ? Increased levels of pollution; air, water, noise, soil contamination . Once a country has industrialized and become wealthy, a combination of government regulation and technological innovation causes pollution to decline substantially, even as the population continues to grow. ? Irreversible loss of arable land and increases in desertification. Deforestation and desertification can be reversed by adopting property rights, and this policy is successful even while the human population continues to grow. Parts of the north in Nigeria are currently suffering from encroachment of desert from the Saharan desert. ? High infant and child mortality. High rates of infant mortality are caused by poverty. Nigeria’s infant mortality rate is currently 100/1000 births. Comparing that figure with those of developed countries, it shows the growth of population has not created the chance for development of the health system. ? Increased chance of the emergence of new epidemics and pandemics. For many environmental and social reasons, including overcrowded living conditions, malnutrition and inadequate, inaccessible, or non-existent health care, the poor are more likely to be exposed to infectious diseases. ? Starvation, malnutrition or poor diet with ill health and diet-deficiency diseases (e.g. rickets). Famine is aggravated by poverty. Rich countries with high population densities do not have famine. About 70% of Nigerians live in rural areas and these regions are so underdeveloped that malnutrition has become a constant issue. With the pressure of population on the environment, there is a decline in both subsistence and export agriculture. Consequently, parts of the sub-region face constant difficulty in feeding their populations adequately, including the high urban populations increasingly dependent for food on rural agriculture. ? Poverty coupled with inflation in some regions and a resulting low level of capital formation. Poverty and inflation are aggravated by bad government and bad economic policies. Many countries with high population densities have eliminated absolute poverty and keep their inflation rates very low. ? Elevated crime rate due to drug cartels and increased theft by people stealing resources to survive. Regions with high rate of population are posed to threats of high crime rates. Lagos state for example in the past years has increased had increase in crime rate. Research Papers on Population and development in NigeriaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraResearch Process Part OneBringing Democracy to AfricaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andQuebec and CanadaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2

Frictional Forces are Surface dependant Essay Example

Frictional Forces are Surface dependant Essay Example Frictional Forces are Surface dependant Essay Frictional Forces are Surface dependant Essay We were given a coursework question asking us to prove that Frictional Forces are Surface dependant. We were asked to prove this. I have therefore thought of several ways to do so; I thought of throwing different objects across different surfaces. I thought of using an elastic band to throw a block of wood, 4.5cm X 4.5cm x 4.5cm, across a certain surface with a certain length; 1.25 metres. I thought of making the surface as my independent variable and the block of wood as my dependant variable. I also thought of performing the above procedure but instead of using different types of surfaces, I thought I would use several types of blocks of different material, but all of the same weight. And using the rubber band, throw it across a surface of ceramic. : I have decided to merge the two ideas, and came up with the following idea and procedure; My idea was that I could use two 5cm x 5cm x 5cm blocks, one of wood, and the second of plastic foam. I intend to try them on several different types of surface; wood, ceramic, marble, carpet (with a certain thickness which I shall state later on), and glass. All of which are 1.00metres (100cm) in length. I intend to use the surfaces as my independent variables, and the blocks as my dependant variables. I intend to prove that the type of surface, makes a lot of difference in the velocity (speed) of the block, and that due to friction and the surface, the distance covered, and the time consumed change according to the type of surface, and whether it has a high frictional surface or a low frictional surface? My procedure: I thought that I would implement my idea so as to prove the relationship between the contact surface, and the frictional force. Firstly, I would like to refer to the information that I have gathered so as to enable me to place a procedure that is correct and which I guarantee that it will provide me with some reliable results. Friction is the property that objects have which makes them resist being moved across one another. If two objects are placed one on top of the other, the top object can be lifted without any resistance except that of gravity. But if one object is pushed or pulled along the surface of the other, there is a resistance caused by friction. Friction has many important uses; it makes the wheels of a locomotive grip the rails of the track. It allows a conveyor belt to turn on the pulleys without slipping. Without friction, we would not have been able to walk on the pavement; we would have kept on slipping! Thats why it is hard to walk on ice; it produces friction that is less than the pavement, and therefore causes us our shoes to slip. Friction also has disadvantages; it produces heat which causes objects to wear; have you ever looked at the soles of shoes which you have been wearing for 2 years, and the soles of brand new shoes? Observe the difference! Several layers of your shoes soles have worn away due to the friction of the shoes on the pavement, this is why lubricating oils are used to fill in the gaps between moving machinery parts. There are three main kinds of friction: Sliding or kinetic friction; this is produced when two surfaces slide across each other, like when a book moves across a table. There is also rolling friction, which is the resistance produced when a rolling body moves over a surface. E.g.: the friction between a car tyre and the street is rolling friction. Fluid Friction/ Viscosity are the third type of friction. It is the friction between moving fluids or between a fluid and a solid. Thinner fluids have less viscosity than thicker fluids, and usually flow faster. E.G: erosion of rocks in the rivers by running water. The law of friction: The basic law of friction states that the force needed to overcome friction is proportional to the total perpendicular force pressing one surface against the other. E.g.: when the weight of a box being pulled across the floor is doubled, the force pulling the box must be doubled. The ratio between the weight being pulled/pushed, and the force required is called the coefficient of friction. The value of the C.F depends on the type of surfaces moving against each other. Friction: Friction is the resistance that a moving object meets when it is in contact with another object. It is a force that converts a moving objects kinetic energy (energy of motion) into other forms of energy, such as heat and sound. This process slows the object down. Friction can be reduced for example, by lubricating the surfaces of the two objects in contact. Friction can be useful, too. It is the force that makes a cars brakes work. E.G.: When a match is struck, friction provides the heat that causes phosphorus in the match head to ignite. Coefficient of Friction: The coefficient of static friction is a measure of how much force must be applied to an object to overcome friction and set it moving across the surface of another object. It varies for different pairs of objects. The coefficient of kinetic friction describes how much force must be applied to overcome friction between the two objects once one of them is in motion. Theory Suppose you place a book on a rough desktop. The weight of the book produces an equal and opposite reaction force; R from the surface. The force you need to apply to make the book begin to slide is independent of its area of contact with the surface but is proportional to R. The force you need to apply is related to the weight of the book (equal to R) by the coefficient of static friction, symbol ?. If you try to push the book sideways with a force that is less than ?R, it is cancelled out by a corresponding frictional force, and the book does not move. As you increase the force, the frictional force increases too. The frictional force will continue to increase as a reaction to you pushing the book until it reaches ?R, which is the limit of static friction. If you increase the force beyond this limit, the book starts to move across the surface. The value of the coefficient ? is determined by the two adjacent surfaces and is not a strict constant. Its value varies from about 0.15 to 0.6 for most dry and fairly smooth surfaces. It depends only on the nature of the two bodies, and not (as might be supposed) on the area of contact between them. In other words, if you have two equally heavy books made from an identical material, you need to push just as hard to make them move, even if one book is large and thin (has a large cover) and the other is small and fat (has a small cover). Once an object is moving steadily across a surface, its movement is opposed by a kinetic friction force. This force has a value lower than the limiting force of static friction, meaning that a greater force is needed to start an object than to keep it moving. This is described by a coefficient of kinetic friction, which is always less than the coefficient of static friction for two objects. Formula Force needed to overcome friction (Fmax) = coefficient of static friction (?) à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ force keeping body at rest (R). Since both forces are measured in Newton (N), the coefficient of static friction is simply a number with no units. Example A car of mass 1,000?kg has broken down on a road made of asphalt. If the driver has lost the keys and the brakes are locked on, what force is needed to push the car? The coefficient of static friction between rubber and asphalt is 0.60, and the acceleration due to gravity, g, can be taken to be 10?m?s?2. Solution The car resists any attempt to move it due to its weight, which is equal to its mass multiplied by the gravitational acceleration g. R = m à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ g = 1,000 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10 = 10,000?N Fmax?=à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½?R Fmax?=?0.60?à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½?10,000?N = 6,000?N A force of 6,000?newtons (N) is needed to push the car. Therefore, with reference to the information stated above, I have planned the following procedure and equipment: Apparatus: * 1 Block of wood with measurements 4.5cm X 4.5cm X 4.5cm (volume= 4.5cm3). (dependant Variable) * 1 Block of plastic foam, 4.5cm X 4.5cm X 4.5cm (volume = 4.5cm3). (dependant Variable) * 1.00metres of: ceramic, carpet (2mm thickness), carpet (7mm thickness), marble, wood, and glass. (independent Variables) * Stopwatch. * Tape-measure. * Elastic band (which reaches a length of 85cm when stretched). * Cello-tape. * Scissors. * A marker pen. * An electronic weighing scale. Procedure: 1. I will measure the sides of the cube to ensure that it is exactly 5cm3. 2. I will then measure 100 cm of each surface, and stick the cello-tape across the length of each. 3. Using the marker pen, I will place a mark on the tape every 10cms. 4. Next, I will measure a distance of 5cm (equal to the size of the cube) from one end of the surface, and also on the side opposite to it; 5cms extra to the 100 of the surface, 15 extra on the right hand sides, and 5cm extra on the left hand side. This is the space I will place the cube in before catapulting it across the surface. 5. I will then measure the width of the tape, and stick the exact amount of the rubber band underneath it, one side of the rubber band at a distance of 10cms apart. 6. Then, using the rubber band that has been stuck to the surface, I will place the wooden block in between the rubber band, and pull the rubber band back (with the cube) to a distance of 15cm. (the 15cm I have added previously). 7. I will hold the stop watch in one hand, while holding the stretched rubber band and the wooden block in the other hand. As soon as I let go of the rubber band, I will start the stopwatch. 8. I will observe the block fly across the surface, and I will have my finger on the stop button in the watch, and thats to stop it once the block reaches the end of the surface, or if it stops in the middle of the surface. In which case I will take a reading of the distance covered and not down the time in my table. 9. I will repeat this experiment 3 times, and thats to guarantee the reliability of my results, and also to graph the average of my results which should be more accurate than just one trial. 10. I shall repeat the above procedure for the different types of surfaces and for the different cubes. * I intend to take some safety measures; I will place an extra piece of tape on top of the tape already holding the rubber-band in place, and that is to ensure that it will not fling out of place. I also intend to place two 1metre rulers on either side of the practical area, and thats to prevent the block of wood from flying off course. I also have several other rubber bands of the same thickness and length of the rubber band being used (from the same box), and thats in case the rubber band used breaks. I have also placed a piece of tape on the surface; marking the end of the 100 cm, and that is to enable me to see exactly when the block has passed the 100 cm, enabling me to stop the stop-watch in the right time, resulting in some reliable results. My theory: I believe that my plan shall be quite good and that it shall enable me to obtain sufficient results which are reliable. My theory is that the rougher the surface, the higher the friction, and consequently, the more time is consumed for the block to reach the markers. While the smoother the surface, the less the friction, and consequently, the less time is consumed. My Prediction: I predict that the marble shall prove a very good surface close to ice which will enable the block to shoot across it like a bullet fired from a gun, this is because the marble surface is quite smooth, and also quite slippery, which indicates a low level of frequency. Yet, I predict that the 7mm thick carpet and the wooden surface shall prove to have very high friction, and thus, the block shall not be able to cover the complete distance of 1.00metres on that surface, especially with the force applied. This is of course with reference to the data stated above. I have placed this plan according to a test we have previously observed regarding friction, as we have studied in class friction and its effect. This gave me the idea that I need an equal amount of force to push the block each time; and if I was to apply this force by hand, how could I guarantee that the force applied each time is equal? The test has to be fair! So I decided to follow the above procedure, using a rubber band which is stretched to a certain extent (15cm), this will guarantee that the force applied each time is equal. I have also thought of extending the length of the surfaces used to 2.0 meters, but after my preliminary test, I found that 1.00 metres are sufficient, and that they will enable me to prove my theory and prediction. I have modified my original version which I have followed in my preliminary test, and thats to guarantee the reliability of my results. MY PRELIMINARY TEST: I should have placed this test earlier, but I was unlucky enough to be unable to find a good place for it, so I thought that the best place for it would be here; at the end of my planning, and that is to link it with my observations and Obtaining. For my preliminary testing, I decided to try out a procedure which would enable me to obtain some reliable results; after deciding upon the investigation I intended to perform, I decided to use a rubber band to apply equivalent forces each time in my original investigation. I also decided to try out my preliminary using a block of wood with a volume of 4.5cm3. I decided to try my preliminary on ceramic as it was the easiest to start with; so I placed two 1 metre rulers at a distance of 10cm apart. I placed them both with their 0 ends towards my side, and the 100cm marker at the other end. I then stuck the two ends of the rubber band (25cm in length) one side at either ruler. I placed a piece of tape at the end of the surface, linking the two 100cm marks together and showing me the end of the 1 metre distance. I then measured out 15 cm from the 0cm markings, and placed a piece of tape in between the two rulers. I then placed a block of wood with volume 5cm3 in between the two arms of the rubber band, and pulled it with the rubber band to the extent of 15cm (until the marking), I then let them go, and the block of wood was catapulted towards the other end (towards the 1metre marking). I took a record of the time consumed, and found that it covered 60 cm and stopped. That took it a time of 0:32 sec. Therefore, according to this preliminary, I have decided upon using a distance of 1.0 metres; since the smoothest surface with the least friction (in my opinion) did not allow the block of wood to cover more than 60cm, I do not expect any of the other surfaces to provide a force which will be less than the force applied by the rubber-band. I have therefore drawn up the procedure stated above; this is because I believe it to be the best procedure I could follow, and implement the steps within. That is of course with reference to the safety measures I have taken, and also because I am familiar with most of the equipment, and could therefore tackle their side effects. I also hope that this procedure will enable me to gain the best results possible. The source of my idea: We have previously performed a semi-coursework which consisted of the following: we were required to prove that an object accelerates as it descends and gets closer to the ground due to the gravitational pull upon it. To do this, we were given a measuring cylinder full of 1liter of motor oil. We placed 10 markers which were equidistant (5cm3). We then dropped 10 ball bearings; one at a time. Each time, we started the stop watch as the ball started to descend, and stopped the watch at the next marker each time. E.g.: the first ball, the stop watch was stopped at the first marker. The second ball at the second marker, the third at the third markeretc. we then obtained the ball bearings by the aid of a powerful magnet, and repeated the investigation. We then averaged the time and graphed our results. Before performing the original investigation, I decided to perform a preliminary test which I have stated the results and consequences of previously. I then intended to perform the investigation, implementing the procedure I have drawn up for myself. I then found out that this procedure would not provide me with a fair test. So I decided to alter my plan slightly; instead of timing how long it took for the block to stop, I could count how long it took for the block to pass each marker (10cm). I would therefore have to decrease the amount of surfaces I intend to use to two (2). This is because I intend to make it a fair test, and also; to save me some time. Therefore, I will catapult the block 10 times, note down the time it took to reach each marker in turn. I started off by getting the tools and materials required and placing them in a small, neat pile on my work bench. In doing so, I found that the surfaces were not portable (mobile), and I would therefore have to go to each surface wherever it is. First of all, I started by cutting up 230cm of Cello-tape (aided by the 1meter ruler) and then splitting that into two equal pieces (strips); each strip with a length of 115cm. using the marker pen, I placed a mark on the tape every 10cm, (the 0 mark starts after 15cm); I intend to use only two surfaces; ceramic ; wood. This is to spare me some time to perform repeats and to compare the results using the two blocks. I will perform the experiment with the two blocks as stated in my primary plan. All that has changed is the method of recording time; instead of recording the time each block took to completely stop on each surface, I will measure the time taken for it each time to cover the distance between the markers; e.g.: in the first catapult, I shall stop the watch when the block passes the first marker indicating (10cm). In the second catapult, I will stop the watch when the block passes the 2nd marker, indicating 20cm, and so on, similar to my source of idea and procedure. I also found that the process was too time consuming, and I therefore decided to perform the investigation with only one block, the block of wood. After marking every 10cm on the tape, I decided to start with the ceramic surface, so I went to the ceramic surface and placed one of the two strips of tape along the length of one side of it. I then measured a distance of 20cm from the tape, and stuck down the second strip of tape; the two tapes are parallel with a distance of 10cm in between them. I then cut the rubber band from one side, which gave me a long strip of rubber. At the 0cm mark, I stuck one arm of the rubber; I then stuck the other arm at the opposite 0cm mark (one arm at each tape). I then placed the wooden block in the rubber bands Lap; between the two arms, and pulled them (the rubber band and the block). As soon as I let go, I pressed the start button on the watch. I then stopped the watch once the block had passed the 1st mark. I then repeated the procedure, but this time stopped the stop-watch as soon as the block passed the second marker. I kept on doing this, each time stopping the stopwatch at the next marker . After finishing doing so, I did my repeats, repeating this process all over again 3 times until I had got three readings for each marker. I then repeated the whole process, but this time, I did it with the wooden surface; I took the marked tape I had used in the previous experiment, did my measurements, and stuck everything down as I had done in the previous surface; marble. I then repeated the process as I have done in the previous surfaces. I have included below a table containing my results, and a full report regarding what actually happened: Surface: Marble WOOD Dist. Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Average Time v =s/t Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Average Time v =s/t (Sec.) (Sec.) (Sec.) (Sec.) V (Sec.) (Sec.) (Sec.) (Sec.) V 10 0.2 0.21 0.19 0.2 50 0.2 0.24 0.22 0.22 45 20 0.29 0.28 0.31 0.29 69 0.34 0.35 0.29 0.32 63 30 0.4 0.42 0.39 0.4 75 0.38 0.41 0.4 0.396 76 40 0.51 0.5 0.53 0.52 77 0.49 0.51 0.52 0.51 78.4 50 0.72 0.68 0.71 0.7 71 0.72 0.65 0.68 0.68 73.5 60 0.85 0.88 0.91 0.88 68 0.86 0.89 0.91 0.89 67.4 70 0.96 1.05 1.1 1.04 65 STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED 80 STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED 90 STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED 100 STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED STOPPED After observing the results I have obtained and placed in the above table, and with reference to my notes and annotations which I have produced during the investigation, I found that the block of wood, would only reach a certain distance, that is of course due to the thrust (force applied), but as I have followed my initial plan step by step, altering only what I have stated previously, I could not alter anything else or make any extra modifications. I was therefore stuck with the rubber band I had started with. As is noticeable; in the first table which is for the marble, the block stopped at the marker indicating 70cm, and did not proceed. While in the second table which is for the wooden surface, the block reached the mark which indicated 60cm, and did not proceed. This I shall analyse in the following section and state the reasons for. Unfortunately, this investigation was not easy; this is mainly because not every time I let go of the rubber band did the block reach the required mark, and before stating that the block stopped, I did and re-did the experiment to ensure that the block could not indeed reach that level (mark). Sometimes I would also let go of the rubber band before starting the stop-watch. I have therefore tried my best to obtain and use the most reliable results possible. I have followed my procedure step by step, and I have also used the equipment I am most familiar with, and thats to enable me to cope with and provide the best results attainable by the aid of this equipment. I hope that these results are sufficient, and that they will enable me to prove my theory and prediction. After performing my investigational experiments, and identifying the most obvious of the information and mistakes, I intend to proceed to analyzing my results, procedure and implementation of it. Below are the graphs that I have drawn up based upon the average times, and the markings. By analysing the above graph which is the graph for the Marble surface; we can notice at a glance that there is what resembles a straight line. With reference to my physics knowledge, I know that a straight line starting from the 0, and extending at an angle of approximately 46o, indicates uniform acceleration. We also know that a line graph which starts somewhere along the Y-axis, and extends diagonally towards the X-axis resembles uniform retardation. Looking at this graph, it resembles uniform acceleration, but as it is not a V-t graph, it actually resembles uniform retardation. We gather this logically because more time is consumed by the cube, and thats for it to reach the following point. If we look at it scientifically; we could observe that the Y-axis is a time scale, and the higher up we go the more time is consumed 9on the graph), and the X-axis resembles the checkpoints or marker-points , and as we go further eastwards, we cover a greater distance, and by covering greater di stances, force wears away, and as we have started with a pushing force that unbalanced the opposing force, as the force wears off; is consumed, the forces start to balance, until the force completely wears off, and the opposing force has little resistance and is greater than the pushing force, which causes it (the block of wood) to eventually stop, leading it to a state of uniform velocity where acceleration equals Zero. This therefore causes the time consumed to increase. This is because though the acceleration has stopped and returned to a uniform state in which it equals Zero; time is still ticking away, and consequently, more time is consumed! I then studied the above graph for some time, and found that it was exactly the same as the first one. It resembles the trend of uniform acceleration in a V-T graph, but since these graphs are not V-T, and are Distance X time, the observation is different. The graph resembles a straight line, curving towards the end which indicates that the block is slowing down. This proves my theory, yet it also shows us that the speed /acceleration of the block are decreasing, which means that the opposing force seems to balance the pushing force, eventually overpowering it, causing it to slow down until it eventually stops, reaching a state of uniform velocity which is equal to zero. After analyzing the results, I found that there was a slight stability in the results obtained in the repeats. I have also noticed that the recorded times for the blocks passage by each marker or checkpoint each time. There seems to be a pattern in the graph as the results when linked with each other, provide a straight line which is quite rare to obtain. Closer analysis showed that the first graph which was for the blocks sliding across a marble surface had a line which was straight all the way to the end, while the second graph which was for the sliding of the wooden block along a wooden surface starts off straight, but towards the end, curves upwards slightly. This incline indicates a sudden change in the balancing of the forces. And since the incline is upwards, this suggests that the pushing force has been out-powered by the opposing force. I believe the situation to be so because the upwards incline suggests the increase in time consumption, which indicates that the pushing force which started off quite powerful and slightly stronger than the opposing force, enabling it to reach this point. But the force has been worn off in the long journey, and eventually, the acceleration of the block starts to decrease which indicates retardation. This retardation results in a weakening of force, which causes the pushing force to weaken, con sequently, it is over-powered by the resisting/opposing force. This proves my theory as I have theoretically stated that: The rougher the surface, the higher the friction, and consequently, the more time is consumed for the block to reach the markers. While the smoother the surface, the less the friction, and consequently, the less time is consumed. With reference to my results, we can see that on the marble surface, the block of wood reached the 70cm marker, that is, with the force that was applied. While the block of wood did not exceed the 60cmmarker on the wooden surface. This suggests that there was a greater opposing force provided by the wooden surface than that which was provided by the Marble surface. Closer studying to the surface enabled me to gather that the marble surface was indeed slightly smoother than the wooden surface. Scientifically, I would say this because the marble is one smooth surface, but the wood consists of fibres (I saw this using a magnifying glass), which cause the block to, slow down. I also thought of looking at the base of the block (I have been catapulting it on the same side), I found it was slightly darker than the other faces (of the cube) and that there were some splinters of wood sticking out of it which were not there when I started. This shows that there was indeed friction and that there certainly was some heat produced. Also, the block was made of the same kind of wood as that of the surface, which could be the cause of the great friction. Its like when we push our two hands upon each other, and try to slide one of them, its quite hard! You will eventually succeed, but by that time, you will have exerted a lot of energy, and anyway, you are applying more force every second by your muscles, and thats to complete the task. But place your two hands the same two hands!) On an icy surface; they will slide pretty easily, and you will probably find a hard time trying to stop them. This is exactly the case, the wooden block is pulled tightly towards the wooden surface by gravity, and as the two surfaces are from the same material, they will stop after a short time. This is because they are of the same material, they are pulled close together by gravity, and the force applied is not renewed. While when we placed the block of wood on the marble surface, we succeeded in making it reach a farther marker than on the wood. This is mainly because the marble surface is quite smooth, (it resembles ice in a way), and has no fragments sticking out f it (splinters), this makes a pretty slippery surface for the block of wood. I have stated previously that gravity plays an important role in this investigation; I have stated that the pull of gravity on the surface and block, cause them to stick close to each other, which plays an important role as this increases the friction, and consequently affects the terminal velocity (speed) of the block. We also know that the mass (size/weight) of the block determines the size of the gravitational pull on the block. We also know that acceleration = Force X Mass. I have therefore decided to weigh the block using an automatic scale, and found that it weighed: 50grams. I have also referred to the following Formula: F1F2 Then movement is present in the direction of F1. F1=F2, Then there is no motion/movement. In this formula, F1 indicates the force applied, the pushing force, while F2 indicates the opposing force. The above graphs are both for the velocity of the block of wood on both of the surfaces. To find the velocity, I had to refer to a formula which linked the speed with the distance and the time; Velocity = Distance / time. With reference to this formula, I managed to calculate the velocity of the block of wood on each of the surfaces. By observing the first graph, which is for the marble surface, we notice that the curve is slightly off-line, which indicates a problem with the investigation. But overall, it represents a curved line which starts at a low speed, and gradually the velocity increases, reaching its maximum as 78cm at the 4th marker (40). It then starts to slow down, but gradually. Unfortunately, I could not apply any greater pushing force on the cube so as to gain more results by it reaching the 100cm marker, because it would then have been an unfair test. We therefore notice that the graph (line) does not extend to the Zero line, which it should have done theoretically. We then observe the second (or in this case the 4th) graph, which is for the velocity of the wooden block on the wooden surface. We notice that the line (curve) is somewhat smoother than the other. If we looked at it more closely, we notice that the left side of the curve is a straight line directly from the zero, (indicated by red dotted line). The line reaches its maximum at 80cm at the 4th marker (40). This means that both the surfaces do not have any dramatic effect upon the block of wood until the 4th marker. This is of course with the exception of the maximum velocity of both surfaces which depends upon the material itself. Looking past the 4th marker, we notice that the 1st graph (3rd) starts to go off-line slightly which could be an anomaly, or could be due to one of the problems I intend to identify in my evaluation. But then, the line goes off at a straight line at an angle of approximately 195o. That is of course with reference to the theory that the line shall stay straight until it reaches the 0 line, which indicates a non-velocity state. This means that the line would probably have had to reach a 200 marker. But of course, there seems to be an anomaly as the line is not 100%straight. On the 2nd graph (4th), we notice that the line, after the 4th marker, seems to incline downwards, towards the 0 line on the X-axis, though, it is slightly steeper than the first graph, as it seems to be inclining at an angle of approx. 200o. This indicates that the marble surface is a less frictional surface in comparison with the wooden surface. I have gathered this because the line of the wooden block after the 4th marker is steeper than the line for the marble surface which is after the 4th marker. This mean that if we were to observe the graphs theoretically, we would find that the line for the marble surface would cover a greater distance, approx. 200cm (2.00m), while the steepness of the line for the wooden surface indicates that it would touch the zero line (X-axis) sooner than the line for the marble surface, I believe that the line for the wooden block will cover approx. a distance of 150cm (1.5m). With reference to the above information, I gather that the wooden block shall cover a greater distance on the marble surface than on the wooden surface, provided that the force applied is sufficient enough to enable the block of wood to cover the distance assigned. This is of course due to the high friction of the wooden surface which exceeds the frictional force of thee marble surface noticeably. With respect to the above statements, there is one contradiction; the maximum speed covered by the block on the wooden surface exceeds the maximum speed covered by the same block on the marble surface. That is by several centimetres (the unit of measuring velocity in this assignment). I have tried to find a scientific explanation for this phenomenon which outlaws any of the conclusions I have reached, but I was unsuccessful. We therefore conclude that the block of wood moved more smoothly on the marble surface. This proves my theory which stated that; the rougher the surface, the higher the friction, and consequently, the more time is consumed for the block to reach the markers. While the smoother the surface, the less the friction, and consequently, the less time is consumed. I therefore gathered that the Rougher the surface, the more the opposing force, and consequently, the more friction and heat are produced. Yet, the smoother the surface, the less the opposing force, and the less the friction and heat resulted. This also proves my prediction which was based on the information I had gathered previously and which stated: I predict that the marble shall prove a very good surface close to ice which will enable the block to shoot across it like a bullet fired from a gun, this is because the marble surface is quite smooth, and also quite slippery, which indicates a low level of frequency. Yet, I predict t hat the 7mm thick carpet and the wooden surface shall prove to have very high friction, and thus, the block shall not be able to cover the complete distance of 1.00metres on that surface, especially with the force applied. This is of course with reference to the data stated above. We also gather that friction is the property that objects have which makes them resist being moved across one another. If two objects are placed one on top of the other, the top object can be lifted without any resistance except that of gravity. But if one object is pushed or pulled along the surface of the other, there is a resistance caused by friction. With reference to the information I have gathered; the value of the C.F depends on The type of surfaces moving against each other. This relates to what I have stated previously regarding the type of surface, and for which I have provided an example using the hands. I have concluded the above after referring to detailed scientific information and also after closely analysing the results and evidence I have obtained. I therefore believe that I have done what was asked of me and that I have performed the task I was assigned and have succeeded in proving my theory, prediction and procedure to be accurate, correct, and reliable. Also by referring to the second graph which is for the wooden surface; we notice that the straight line curves towards the end (upwards), which suggests a sudden change in the balancing of the pushing and the opposing forces. Scientifically, this suggests retardation, and the curve indicates that the block suddenly started to lose the force applied to it. It started off with uniform retardation, and then suddenly started to stop several seconds faster than when it had started. This means that the wooden surface is slightly rougher than the marble surface, and that it provides friction that is slightly more (higher) than that provided by the marble surface. I believe that this is what I was asked to prove. Below is a diagram showing the forces available in this investigation: I have performed this investigation to a good standard, and believe that the results I have obtained are good enough and are sufficient as they have enabled me to prove my theory, prediction and procedure. They have also enabled me to prove what was asked of me. I wish to annotate the procedure I have followed because though I have performed it to a good standard, there are still some flaws in it and I still believe that it could be performed at a standard that would be better, well, no body is perfect. After finishing my investigations, I found that the block was slightly darker than when I started, this indicates that the surface may well not have been clean. This indicates that there were dust particles available on the surface, and as dust particles are sharp (when observed under the microscope) and have rough edges, it is therefore believed that they would cause a big difference in my results as their rough surfaces interfere with my investigation. I believe this because as the wood block is sliding across the surface, I am investigating the effect that the surface itself has on the terminal velocity of the block. With the presence of sharp-edged dust particles in the middle (between the surface and the wooden block), more friction and heat are acquired through the dust particles, which slow down the block moderately. Therefore, if I was to perform this investigation once again, I intend to guarantee the cleanliness of the surface I am working on. Another thing was the presence of wooden splinters small, but seen, on both the wooden surface, and the side of the block I was working on. These splinters most certainly would have interfered with my investigation and results. I believe this because the splinters would be between the surface and the block, causing more friction, and therefore slowing down the block, thus affecting the acceleration of this block, and giving me inaccurate results. The next time, I intend to ensure that the surface lack any external effects which might alter my investigation, for the worst. Something else was that the marble was not just one straight block which would have been quite suitable for this particular investigation. In fact, it was a working bench, and it was made up of several tiles. (The tiles had a smooth surface without any drawing or grooves on). The small cracks between each tile might well have affected the velocity of the block; causing it to slow down before reaching the desired marker. This would have given me some false results and would have caused the time consumed to be several seconds more than what it actually should have been. If I was to perform this investigation another time, I would try my best to use one whole tile of marble instead of several tiles, and this should provide me with some results which are more reliable. I was using my naked eye to stop the watch once the block passed the marker, so I could possibly have stopped the watch before the block actually passed the marker, or I could have started the watch several tierces (1 hundredth of a second) after letting go of the rubber band, which means that the timing was not 100% accurate. If I was to perform this investigation again; I would use one of the following: A) Light gates, B) Interrupt Card, C) Or a ticker timer. Any of the above methods would provide me with some reliable results which would be more accurate than the results I have obtained. By observing Graph A; the graph for the marble surface, the result for the 40cm marker is slightly of the line, but as I said previously this could well be due to the dust particles which were on the surface, or could also be due to the splinters available on the faces of the wooden block. It could also be due to my method of timing, either way, if I was to perform the investigation another time, by altering the errors I have identified previously, I look forward to some results which are anomaly-free, and that also contain no errors. By observing Graph B; the graph for the wooden surface, we notice that the straight line curves towards the end, which suggests a sudden change in the balancing of the pushing and the opposing forces. Scientifically, this suggests retardation, and the curve indicates that the block suddenly started to lose the force applied to it. It started off with uniform retardation, and then suddenly started to stop several seconds faster than when it had started. This means that the wooden surface is slightly rougher than the marble surface, and that it provides friction that is slightly more (higher) than that provided by the marble surface. I believe that this is what I was asked to prove. We also notice that there is a semi-anomaly; the result fir the 30cm is slightly out of line, it is slightly lower than where it should be, this could be due to one of the external factors that I have stated previously, or it could be due to some other factor that I have been unable to identify using the tools available to us. I have tried my best to identify the factors which could have affected my investigation and consequently, my results. That is of course with the equipment provided to us. If there are any other factors which I have failed to identify, that would be because of the tools provided to us. Though, I doubt that there are any other factors that could be identified using other apparatus. Overall, I believe that I have performed this investigation to a good standard, and that I have succeeded in proving my theory and prediction. I also believe that I have done what was asked of me, and proved that frictional forces are surface dependant. I have proved it with reference to my knowledge, to external, advanced information, and also with reference to my investigation. Though I have performed this investigation to a fairly good standard, I believe that it could be better and that by performing this investigation again after altering the errors I have stated above, I would be able to provide sufficient evidence and proof which is undoubted and accurate by 99%. I say this because no matter how hard I try, the equipment provided to us are not that advanced, and therefore, there will always be better methods with results which are more accurate than what I have obtained. I have therefore performed this investigation as best as I could, and hope that the results and information I have gathered are sufficient.