Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015 - (Page 47)

knossos games by Tim Boester Wind Farm On each piece of land for a planned wind farm, you need to determine how to place wind turbines in order to maximize the amount of electricity generated. Each wind turbine will face into the prevailing winds. Each turbine needs space to the left, right, and behind, forming a T-shaped footprint, to operate. The footprint for each wind turbine must fit completely onto the piece of land. According to the specific topology of the land, some places (designated in blue) have more consistent winds than the surrounding area. Wind turbines placed on these squares will produce 50% more electricity compared to those placed on other squares. Note that only the wind turbine needs to be placed on a blue square, not the entire T-shaped operating footprint. Example: Instead of simply placing the maximum number of wind turbines on a piece of land, strategically placing fewer turbines in windier places may result in more electricity being generated. If two layouts produce the same amount of electricity, the better solution uses fewer wind turbines. Here are two pieces of land to be used as wind farms. How can you position turbines to generate the most electricity? Solution for Knossos Games 22.4: Here are the missing instructions: From the Start hexagon, alternate jumping 1 hexagon, then 2 hexagons (in a straight line). You cannot jump across solid black bars (walls) between hexagons. You can land on the same hexagon multiple times. When you land on a green hexagon, add the number given on that hexagon to your total. When you land on an orange hexagon, subtract the number given on that hexagon from your total. Starting with zero, the Start hexagon immediately adds 9 to the total. At no time when traveling through the puzzle can your total be greater than 9, nor can it be less than negative 9. Tim Boester is an educational psychologist who studies how people learn math. He has more puzzles available at www.knossosgames.com. Can you find the shortest path to land on the Finish hexagon that returns you to your starting total of zero? www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine imagine 47 http://www.knossosgames.com http://www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015

Big Picture
In My Own Words Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy, UC Berkeley
A Solar-Powered Solution to the Water Crisis Using the sun to purify water
The PolluCell Generating electricity using waste and pollution
More than a Race The Solar Car Challenge
Energy Agenda The power of teen research
Energized! A crash course in fuels of the future
Grease Is Good Helping the environment and the community with biofuel
Fueled by Algae Sara Volz and the powerful potential of pond scum
The Future of Energy Five careers in green power
My Sanskrit Yaatra Connecting with my culture through language
Devoted Awareness My internship with Until There’s a Cure
Selected Opportunities and Resources
Off the Shelf Review of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options Interview with green architect Andrew Thompson
One Step Ahead Six things incoming college students should know
Planning Ahead for College Developing your passions
Students Review: University of Pennsylvania
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015