In the orientation phase, students select a topic of study that interests them and familiarize themselves with the instruments they'll need to collect data.

On Day Two of this leg of the voyage, Port Watch was assigned to study water phenomena, and Starboard Watch to study weather phenomena. The students spent the day learning about each possible topic within both modules and using all of our instruments. By the end of the day, each student had chosen their topic and developed a hypothesis to test in the coming days.

Of course, the goal in a scientific experiment is not to prove that one's hypothesis is correct; rather, it is to determine whether or not one's theory is supported by the data. To that end, the students woul revise their theories as they entered the data collection phase. Sometimes changing weather affects a student's plans; sometimes an educator suggests how an experiment can take a broader scope. And sometimes, a student just hits upon a clearer method of expressing his or her initial theory.

Since learning to use our scientific gear is a central part of the orientation phase, the photos below illustrate our student crew members working with instruments beyond the scope of their own projects.

Port Watch: Water Science

Annie learns to use a quadrant.

Annie

Annie has chosen to study water salinity within a water column. Her primary instruments will be the Van Dorn sampler, to collect water from varying depths, and the refractometer, to measure salinity levels.

Annie's Hypothesis: I believe that the water salinity is higher on the surface than on the bottom.

Revised Hypothesis: I believe that the water salinity will be higher on the surface than deeper in the water.

Jaquell tests salinity with a refractometer.

Jaquell

While still part of the water team, Jaquell has volunteered to study the mechanical advantage provided by simple machines -- an area of research he'll help us develop into a full study module that future presentation teams could select. His primary instruments will be a system pulleys and weights, and a spring scale to measure resistance.

Jaquell's Hypothesis: I think a supporting pulley will give us twice as much mechanical advantage.

Revised Hypothesis: I think it will be twice as easy to lift a weight with each supporting rope.

Jensen measures the height of the sun with a quadrant.

Jensen

Jensen has chosen to study salinity levels relative to the tidal cycle. His primary instrument will be a refractometer to measure salinity; he has several methods to choose from to monitor the tides.

Jensen's Hypothesis: I think the salinity of the water will increase at high tide and decrease at low tide.

Revised Hypothesis: I think that the salinity of the water will increase from north (upriver) to south (downriver).

Karyn uses a compass to determine our lines of position.

Karyn

Karyn will compare water temperatures at various depths in the water column. Her primary instruments will be the Van Dorn sampler, to collect water below the surface, and a wet/dry thermometer.

Karyn's Hypothesis: I think the temperature will decrease as the depth in the water column decreases.

Revised Hypothesis: I think the temperature will decrease as the depth in the water column increases.

Ryan uses the Secchi disk.

Ryan

Ryan has opted to study water clarity relative to levels of sunlight. His primary instrument will be a Secchi disk.

Ryan's Hypothesis: I predict that the clarity will stay the same because sunlight doesn’t affect the clarity of water.

Revised Hypothesis: I think the water will be less clear the farther north (upriver) it is because there is more run-off in the south (downriver).

Tiffany learns to measure wind speed.

Tiffany

Tiffany is going to explore a potential connection between wind speeds and current speeds. Her primary instruments will be a hand-held anemometer, to measure wind speed, and wooden "biscuits" used to measure current speed.

Tiffany's Hypothesis: I think the speed of the current will go faster because of an increase in wind.

Revised Hypothesis: I think the current speed will increase when the wind speed increases.

Starboard Watch: Weather Science

Aaron studies a sling psychrometer.

Aaron

Aaron has chosen to study air temperature relative to rainfall. His primary instrument will be a wet/dry thermometer.

Aaron's Hypothesis: I think the temperature of the air will get colder because of the rain.

Revised Hypothesis: I think the air temperature and the water temperature will have the same rate of change.

Abbey studies a Van Dorn sampler.

Abbegail

Abbey has selected a new topic for us: Comparing Ph levels in both rain water and river water. Her primary instrument will be a Ph test kit.

Abbegail's Hypothesis: I predict, without any background knowledge on the subject, that rain water by itself has more acidity than the Hudson River before it rains and after it rains. I think this is because the river won’t have much acidity and the river water will dilute out the acidity of the rain.

Revised Hypothesis: I predict that rain water has higher acidity than river water. I also believe that the acidity of river water will increase after it rains.

Alicia collects a surface water sample.

Alicia

Like Jaquell , Alicia has volunteered to study the mechanical advantage provided by simple machines. Her primary instruments will be a system pulleys and weights, and a spring scale to measure resistance.

Alicia's Hypothesis: I think that the mechanical advantage given by involving more ropes in the process of moving weights and objects to different places will make the process easier.

Revised Hypothesis: I think that the more supporting lines are involved, the bigger the mechanical advantage will be.

Austin labels a water sample.

Austin

Austin will be studying wind speed relative to our position. His primary instrument will be the hand-held anemometer.

Austin's Hypothesis: I think that the average wind speed will decrease as we go upriver. There aren’t as many obstructions to the wind (such as buildings and trees) on the ocean as there are inland, so the wind has room to speed.

Revised Hypothesis: There aren't obstructions to slow down the wind over the ocean, so I predict that as we go farther inland, the average wind speed will decrease.

Charly prepares to go out on the channel to take samples.

Charly

Charly has chosen to analyze wind speed over time. His primary instrument will be the hand-held anemometer.

Charly's Hypothesis: I predict that the wind speed over time will increase as it gets later in the day, because the wind today didn’t hit hard till later in the day.

Revised Hypothesis: As the air temperature increases the wind speed will increase.

Fatima helps lower a Van Dorn sampler into the water.

Fatima

Fatima has opted to study solar energy relative to the sun's position in the sky. Her primary instruments will be a solar panel and a voltometer to measure energy output.

Fatima's Hypothesis: I think the sun gives solar energy. Because of the sun, I think it will give the most energy when it is 12 to 1 PM.

Revised Hypothesis: I think the sun gives solar energy. Because of the solar energy, I think that will give us the most energy when it is 2:00 PM.