Effect Of Design On Paper Plane

Effect Of Design On Paper Plane I have decided to write my extended essay on this topic because this activity of flying paper planes was taught to us in our childhood when we were not mature enough to learn the principles of science and investigate and apply them to these planes. But what caught my interest was that how do paper airplanes of such light weights can maintain their flight and speed even while facing winds and other external factors. Firstly, I had decided to write my essay based on the principles used in these planes, but my supervisor guided me that it was too broad and thus, I narrowed down my topic to- To investigate the difference in the flight of the paper planes and the distance covered by it due to the shape, mass and design of the paper planes. Introduction: Paper airplanes are a source of fun and entertainment for many people while they can also be used as a part of learning and gaining some amount of knowledge about the real aeroplanes. Some people have also named this activity as an art named aerogami which derives from the name origami (a Japanese art of paper folding). But, this so called entertaining and competitive activity has a lot of science especially physics related to it as we can associate with different laws of aerodynamics and motion. Paper airplanes have designs ranging from simple planes for kids to competitive and complex ones like moth, tumbler, spike and many more to mention. As kids, we never used to think about these principles and designs that are associated with every part of paper planes from its formation to its flight. But, as a science student, I have got an opportunity to explore the various aerodynamic principles and get a deeper knowledge about the physics of paper planes. History: The history of paper planes is not quite specific as there have been many people who have contributed their theories in this field. Da Vinci who was a famous Italian personality is often regarded as the inventor of paper airplanes while some have the belief that Chinese people are the real makers of this art as they were the ones who invented paper and kites. The modern paper planes saw their creation in the year 1909 while its acceptance was seen in after two decades in the year 1930 by John Northrop. Actually, Northrop tried these designs in order to test the real principles of flying aircrafts. From the early centuries till the current years, there have been many changes and corrections made in the structure of paper planes such as in their shape, style, fashion and lift. Thus, the paper airplanes have seen a lot of modifications in their shape and principles over these years and this credit goes to each and every person who has contributed to it though the history is not quite fa mous or known. Aerodynamics and Paper Airplanes: Aerodynamics is referred to as the branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of air and other gases and with the effects of such motion on bodies in the medium. Aero planes and helicopters follow the principles and theorems of this study of science and this is the case in the working of the paper plane models. The various principles that are used in this study and more specifically in the working of paper planes are drag, lift, flight, thrust, weight and velocity. But I will be concentrating more on the flight of these paper planes in regard with my topic. Lift, thrust, weight (gravity) and drag are the four important factors in the working and the distance covered by paper airplanes. Thrust- Thrust is the force on the horizontal left hand side of the paper airplane which decides the flight of the paper plane and this force comes from the strength of the pilot (in this case the person throwing or flying the paper plane). While taking flight, this altitude is converted into forward motion, which results in the proper flight of the airplane. Lift- Lift is another force on the vertical upper hand side of the paper airplane. Usually, the air below the wing of the airplane push the air on the upper side and the air above the wing push the air on the lower direction. At this point when the lower air pressure is much harder than the upper one, then the airplane is able to fly. And also the wings of the airplane are curved which allows the air to move over the top more quickly, thus resulting in lift or upward push. Drag- Drag is the force that is present in the horizontal right hand side of the paper airplane which allows or decides the maximum distance of any paper airplane. A plane is said to have a lot of drag when the plane pushes a lot of air, in which the paper airplane does not fly more distance. But when the drag is as low as possible the plane is able to cover more distance due to the low amount of air pressure in the horizontal direction. Drag can be compared to the friction present on the surface when any object is moving. Weight (gravity) Weight or gravity is the force that covers the vertical lower hand side of the paper airplane. The airplanes weight must also be less so that it can fight the attraction of gravitation and thus, the plane will be able to fly more distance in the air. The greater the weight, the more the attraction and the lesser the distance covered. Thus, these are the four crucial principles that have to be observed for any paper airplane to fly in the air. But, are only these principles responsible for the flight of the airplane? Are there any other factors that are also important in deciding the flight of a paper airplane? Do the physical quantities or the structure of the airplane play a major role in planning the flight or the distance covered? In order to research and find out whether there are any other principles related to the flying of airplanes that are made out of paper, I have performed an experiment that brings out the result whether the shape, weight and the structure play an important role in determining the flight of the paper airplane. Experiment: Aim: To determine the relation between the designs, type of paper used in the paper plane and the flight or the distance covered by the paper plane. Hypothesis: I had the initial idea that the paper planes that are lighter in weight cover more distance as they have the capacity to move in the air with the force or the pressure of the wind. And I also felt that the paper airplane of design Moth will cover the largest distance as I have experimented and used this design many times for its smooth kind of flying. I usually thought that the type of paper and design are both equally important for the flight of paper planes. Variables: Dependent variable- The distance that the paper planes covers is the dependent variable. Independent variable- The type of paper used and the designs of the paper planes are the independent variables. Controlled variable- The force with which the person throws the paper planes can be controlled and also the height and the direction in which the paper planes are thrown are controlled. Uncontrolled variable- the force of gravity and the drag in the air acting on the paper planes are uncontrolled. Also, external factors such as wind, dust particles cannot be controlled. Apparatus: 7 X Meter scale/ Ruler of 100 cm 1 X Chalk 5 X Paper planes of different designs made up of cardboard paper 5 X Paper planes of different designs made up of A-4 size normal paper 5 X Paper planes of different designs made up of hand-made paper 1 X Analytical balance Note: The paper planes used in the experiment must be of 5 different designs but these designs must be used throughout for every kind of paper used. Procedure: 1. Make the following paper airplanes with the following types of paper- Design of paper airplane Type of paper Type of paper Type of paper Pictures Arrow Cardboard Hand-made A-4 size normal paper Moth Cardboard Hand-made A-4 size normal paper Flying fish Cardboard Hand-made A-4 size normal paper Wide Cardboard Hand-made A-4 size normal paper Unknown Cardboard Hand-made A-4 size normal paper Note that the flaps or the wings of the paper planes must be folded in the upward direction. 2. Gather all the apparatus needed to perform the experiment and select a wide, open and a large area without any obstacles such as pillars or other objects in the area where the experiment is performed. 3. Firstly, mark the initial position with the help of a chalk. This position is the point or the line from where the paper plane needs to be thrown. Note that the person throwing the plane with the help of his hands must not exceed or go behind the line while throwing the plane. The initial position needs to be constant for all the paper planes. 4. Take all the paper planes of design Arrow of materials- cardboard, hand-made paper and A-4 size normal paper. Take each one of them and fly them from the height of the shoulder of the person who is throwing the paper plane. Measure the distance covered by the plane with the help of the chalk. Mark the point where the plane falls on the ground and then measure the distance from the initial position. 5. Similarly, repeat the experiment with the paper planes of other designs. Measure and record the distances of all the planes and tabulate the readings. 6. Also, measure the weight of all the paper planes on the analytical balance and record them. Risk Management: While making the paper planes, see to it that the shape is symmetrical and the folds that are made on the wings must be equal on both sides. Also, note that the person flies the paper plane with enough force. This is because the capacity of the paper plane to fight against the drag in the air increases if the initial velocity of the plane is high. Important note: Note that the readings of the distance covered by the paper planes must be taken at least 5 times to reduce the errors during the experiment. Also, whenever the paper planes are thrown, the tip of the paper plane must be made straight so that the plane flies smoothly on the basis of its shape and the type of paper used because the fold or the improper tip of the plane may be an obstruction for the plane to cover its normal distance. Raw and Processed Data: Sr. No. Type of paper Design of paper planes Distance covered by the planes (centimeter) Average distance covered by the paper planes (centimeters) Weight of the paper plane (grams) 1.a. Cardboard paper Arrow 379.30 +0.1 340.70 +0.1 367.10 +0.1 323.00 +0.1 298.20 +0.1 341.66 +0.1 11.319 1.b. A-4 size normal paper Arrow 483.90 +0.1 670.50 +0.1 435.90 +0.1 458.30 +0.1 698.30 +0.1 594.38 +0.1 3.648 1.c. Hand-made paper Arrow 406.20 +0.1 425.10 +0.1 373.60 +0.1 395.80 +0.1 397.00 +0.1 399.54 +0.1 10.062 2.a. Cardboard paper Flying fish 299.10 +0.1 353.20 +0.1 381.40 +0.1 297.50 +0.1 292.20 +0.1 324.68 +0.1 13.511 2.b. A-4 size normal paper Flying fish 311.70 +0.1 373.00 +0.1 282.50 +0.1 344.90 +0.1 381.70 +0.1 338.76 +0.1 4.397 2.c. Hand-made paper Flying fish 287.30 +0.1 293.70 +0.1 366.00 +0.1 330.60 +0.1 360.30 +0.1 327.58 +0.1 12.483 3.a. Cardboard paper Moth 358.20 +0.1 399.10 +0.1 322.30 +0.1 371.70 +0.1 448.20 +0.1 379.90 +0.1 10.786 3.b. A-4 size normal paper Moth 492.90 +0.1 421.00 +0.1 455.80 +0.1 583.10 +0.1 502.60 +0.1 491.08 +0.1 4.395 3.c. Hand-made paper Moth 389.30 +0.1 324.20 +0.1 462.40 +0.1 387.00 +0.1 353.20 +0.1 383.22 +0.1 9.244 4.a. Cardboard paper Delta-Wing 276.00 +0.1 201.90 +0.1 250.10 +0.1 196.30 +0.1 227.00 +0.1 230.26 +0.1 14.371 4.b. A-4 size normal paper Delta-Wing 252.60 +0.1 259.40 +0.1 299.90 +0.1 274.70 +0.1 251.30 +0.1 267.58 +0.1 4.400 4.c. Hand-made paper Delta-Wing 296.20 +0.1 257.80 +0.1 231.60 +0.1 237.60 +0.1 241.50 +0.1 252.94 +0.1 11.196 5.a. Cardboard paper Paper Jet 226.40 +0.1 214.40 +0.1 183.20 +0.1 165.10 +0.1 180.70 +0.1 193.96 +0.1 12.948 5.b. A-4 size normal paper Paper Jet 335.10 +0.1 307.80 +0.1 362.30 +0.1 330.00 +0.1 405.40 +0.1 348.12 +0.1 3.907 5.c. Hand-made paper Paper Jet 336.40 +0.1 291.60 +0.1 337.90 +0.1 367.80 +0.1 337.20 +0.1 334.18 +0.1 7.927 The uncertainties in the experiment is + 0.1 cm because least count on the meter scale is + 0.1 cm. Observations: From the observation table, we can almost indicate that the heaviest paper plane in every type of design covers the shortest distance while the lightest paper plane covers the highest distance. We see that the paper planes made out of cardboard paper are the heaviest in every design of paper used and the ones made out of A-4 size normal paper are the lightest. But in the table, there is an observation for the paper planes of design Paper Jet where the distance covered has drastically reduced for the cardboard paper when we compare planes with other types of papers used and also when we see the difference between other types of paper planes. Conclusion of the experiment: From the above observation, we can state that the design and weight of the paper plane and the type of paper used are important to determine the distance covered by the paper airplanes as we obtain different readings of distances covered by the paper airplanes of different designs. But, here the question arises as to why the weight affects the flight of the paper planes and another question is that what are the other relevant factors that affect the flight of the paper planes. Wings functioning theory: Wings are important features of any object or creature when it comes to flight and balance in air. Birds have wings with the help of which they are able to fly and for fast transportation and development of technology, these principles of the wings were used in the making of aero-planes. And these wings also play a crucial role in enabling the paper airplanes to fly through air. According to Bernoullis principle in relation to aerodynamics, whenever the speed of air is greater, the pressure that the air exerts on the surface is lower and vice versa. Thus, we can relate this principle to paper airplanes and state that when the paper airplane is in air, the air passes through both- the upper as well as the lower part of the wings. Also, the wings have an angle of attack as the wings are not straight while passing through the opposite air drag and they create an angle with the air. According to my experiment, when the wings pass through the air, the angle of attack is created with the air and thus, the wings move upwards. This activity makes the speed of air greater in the upward part of the wing and reduces the speed in the lower part. On applying the Bernoullis principle, the pressure on the upper part reduces, thus creating suction with the wing and pulling them upwards. While the pressure under the wings increases and this pushes the wings in the upward direction. This helps the paper airplane to remain aloft and stable in the air. There is another principle that helps the paper planes remain in air for a longer time which is Newtons third law of motion which states that every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction. During the flight of the plane, the wings face a considerable amount of air coming towards it and when this air applies force or creates pressure on the wings, the wings, in return, apply force and pressure on the air which helps them to remain stable in the air. Thus, Bernoullis principle and Newtons third law of motion are both appropriate reasons for the flight of paper airplanes in the air with the help of the wings. Also, this theory varies accordingly with the different types of designs used in the experiment because not all planes have the same structure of wings and thus, the amount of pressure and the amount of force applied on the wings is different. For example, the arrow, moth and delta wing have the same type of wings that are mentioned in the theory (that is they are tilted upwards). But designs such as paper jet and flying fish have quite different shapes of wings that are evident from the diagram of the airplanes shown in the experiment. Thus, for the paper jet, there are several folds and flaps in the wing itself and thus, the amount of pressure and the reaction force from the wings towards the air, are different at different parts of the wings. One part of the wing has several folds on one another while one part has a smooth surface. So, the wings air pressure at the smooth surface of the wing may be different than the pressure and force on the folded surface. Thus, there are possibilities of various kinds of movements such as ups and downs or loops or nosedives of the plane and thus, there is a difference in the distance covered by these planes. So, we can draw conclusions that the design of the wings or the planes is on e factor that is responsible for the distance covered by the paper planes. Weight theory: The observation table from the experiment proves that for these designs, the greater the weight of the planes is, the lesser distance is covered by them. Drag is the horizontal force that acts on the paper plane when it flies through the air. Thus, this force becomes an obstacle for the plane to cover more distance. In order to fight and resist this air pressure, we need to have a strong material of paper which has the capacity to resist the air drag. From the materials of paper used, cardboard paper is the heaviest and we can thus, say that it has the largest amount of power to resist air drag. But, at the same time, there is a force of gravity acting downwards towards the ground surface. And according to theory of gravity, the more the weight of the object is, the greater is the attraction. Hence, we can say that though the cardboard paper is the heaviest, it also has a greater force of attraction due to gravity. This mixture of gravitational force and the air drag makes the cardbo ard plane cover the least distance. Thus, the weight of the paper used is one reason which affects the distance covered by the paper planes. The above theories indicate that the wing functioning theory forms the basis for which the paper airplanes fly and the weight theory determines the distance covered by the paper airplanes in relation to its weight. Though the normal paper has the least weight, the wind and the force from the person throwing the plane enable the plane to move smoothly in the air. Thus, as there is least attraction of gravity for this plane, it is able to fly farther distances. Thus, the weight theory in regard with drag and gravity helps to determine the distance covered by the planes. Evaluation of the experiment: Improvement of errors: While throwing the paper airplane, the force applied on every paper airplane might not be the same which leads to the variations in the readings obtained. In order to improve this error, the person must decide a particular fixed amount of force or energy that he will apply to the plane. This action can help to reduce some amount of errors. The experiment is performed in an open area where there are now windows or sources of high air flow. Though high amount of air flow is avoided, there is a possibility of some kind of passage of wind which might affect the flight of the paper airplanes. For example, the amount of wind present may not be equal all time and thus, this may affect the flight of planes accordingly. Thus, the thrower must use enough force that can help the paper airplanes to overcome gravity and fight the air resistance. The distance covered by each paper plane was measured five times in order to reduce systematic errors. This step may also affect the flight of paper planes sometimes as the landing of the paper planes is very which may include crashes with the ground surface. Due to crashing, the sharp tip or the nose of the paper plane may get disturbed or blunt. And this change in the shape of the tip may lead to the variations in distances covered. To overcome this error, the thrower must be careful and always try to straighten up the tip of the paper airplanes. By doing so, the crashing of the planes can be avoided and the normal flight of the paper planes can be maintained. The folds and flaps of the paper airplanes have to be done with perfection so that there is no problem with the flight of the planes and the planes can cover their actual distances. For paper airplane readings of paper Jet, we notice that the distance covered by the normal and hand-made paper is quite different and higher than that covered by the cardboard paper plane. The reason for this is the design and the stiffness of the cardboard paper. The design of this paper plane is very complex and it includes several minor and major folds and flaps. Due to the tough material of cardboard paper, it is very difficult to follow all the steps of the design. Thus, the design of this plane is not perfect enough and the folds also do not remain stable. This is the reason why the paper plane covers very less distance as compared to other planes of the same design. In order to avoid these construction errors, the person may change the type of design used that fits according to the material of paper used or the folds must be done carefully and a much better plane of the same design can be constructed. The apparatus used in the experiment such as the analytical balance and the meter scale must work properly to avoid systematic errors and the weight and distances of the paper planes must be measured carefully. The calculations such as the average distance must be correct to avoid any random errors.

Censorship On The Internet :: essays research papers

Censorship on the Internet Five years after the first world wide web was launched at the end of 1991, The Internet has become very popular in the United States. Although President Clinton already signed the 1996 Telecommunication ActI on Thursday Feb 8, 1996, the censorship issue on the net still remains unresolved. In fact, censorship in cyberspace is unconscionable and impossible. Trying to censor the Internet its problematic because the net is an international issue, there is no standard for judging materials, and censorship is an abridgment of democratic spirit. Firstly, censorship on the Internet is an international issue. The Internet was constructed by the U.S. military since 1960s, but no one actually owns it. Thus, the Internet is a global network, and it crosses over different cultures. It is impossible to censor everything that seems to be offensive. For example, Vietnam has announced new regulations that forbid "data that can affect national security, social order, and safety or information that is not appropriate to the culture, morality, and traditional customs of the Vietnamese people." on June 4, 1996. It is also impossible to ban all things that are prohibited in a country. For instant, some countries, such as Germany, have considered taking measures against the U.S. and other companies or individuals that have created or distributed offensive material on the Internet. If the United States government really wanted to censor the net, there is only one solution - shut down all network links of other countries. But of course that would mean no Internet access for the whole country and that is disgust by the whole nation. Secondly, everyone has their personal judgment values. The decision of some people cannot represent the whole population of those using the net. Many people debate that pornography on the net should be censored because there are kids online. However, we can see there are many kids of pornographic magazines on display at newsstands. It is because we have regulations to limit who can read certain published materials. Likewise, some people already use special software to regulate the age limit in cyberspace. Why do people still argue about that? It is all about personal points of views. Justice Douglas said, "To many the Song of Solomon is obscene. I do not think we, the judges, were ever given the constitutional power to make definitions of obscenity."II. In cyberspace, it is hard to set up a pool of judges to censor what could be displayed on the net. Thirdly, censorship works against democratic spirit, it opposes the right of free speech and is a breach of the First Amendment.

Intercultural Communication and Conflicts Essay

The communication between different cultures is very difficult. Intercultural communication can lead to misunderstanding and confusion. You may offend someone without even knowing it. Nonverbal communication is challenge as well such as handshakes, eye contact, hug, and etc. These problems happened so many times from my fiancee who is from America and me who is from South Korea. One day, my father visited to our place for holiday. When my father walked into our place, my fiancee was lying on the sofa and then he said â€Å"Hi. In Korean culture, when adults come to you, you need to stand up and bow to them. That moment, my fiancee’s behavior was disrespectful to my father. This tells us that we grew up differently since we have different culture background. However, we both have the attitude where we like to learn about each other cultures. It gives us a better understanding and respect more. To me, language barrier is one of issue with communication. When I moved to America, I barely spoke English and I was really afraid of speaking with other people, especially in English; however, time went by, as went to high school, college and join in the Army in America, I became more interactive in communication with people. Also, my fiancee helps me to learn and correct my English skill. Interpersonal communication Thousands of people use more online email, texting, Facebook, twitter, and etc. to communicate now, because it’s easier and faster to communicate to others. On the other hand, online communications can be bad. More likely, face to face communication can be avoided. I realized that most people use smart phone anytime and anywhere now. Sadly, it happens during class, meeting, dating, waiting, and dining. In fact, one of my nieces who is 6 years old refused to talk and listen to me when I discipline her. Instead face to face communication, she wanted to text me to say â€Å"sorry. † I didn’t accept her apologize because I believe in true meaningful interpersonal communication should be face to face communication.

Status of Women in the United States

The status of women in the United States throughout history has grown significantly. Throughout history women had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than. Women were seen to be just wives and mothers and take care of the homes while the husbands worked. Women did not have a say in having jobs, voting, or even attending college. It appears that a lot of things began to change around the 19th and 20th century. For example in the beginning of the 19th century, women began working outside the homes in large numbers, in textile mills and garment shops.The medical profession had also changed their attitude about women as well. This was considered to be suitable work for women. In the 1920's women were given the right to vote, however their political roles were minimal. Women have made a noticeable mark in the world today. Men have become more acceptable of the different roles we play. The change throughout the years have been reflected in the politics, employment and even in our s tatus within the home. 2. The status of women in the U. S. is that women are getting some of the same benefits as men.There are many organizations that fight for the equality of women and they are succeeding. When we look at how women are now allowed to be doctors and nurses, and receive the same pay. We also now see women in the courtrooms as judges and working in the construction area beside the men. Women have advanced greatly and have a lot to be proud of . We are striving daily to be treated fairly with the men and it is well deserved. There may be a small percentage of males that may feel that women are not equal to them, however, the larger percentage feels that women are equal.Women have struggled for years to be next to man and not in front or in back. Women work just has hard as a man and Appendix H3. however, the larger percentage feels that women are equal. Women have struggled for years to be next to man and not in front or in back. Women work just has hard as a man and should be paid just as well as a man. 3. Some of the concepts of masculinity and femininity I that I see in the society and in the media would be such as men should only be truck drivers, construction workers, railroad workers. Women should be in jobs such as nurses, homemakers, daycare providers, retail in the ladies departments.As far as the media is concerned, it is a little tricky to me because we now see men and women doing the news and also doing different television shows. Men used to be seen only doing the tough roles as gang members with guns and so forth. Women are now portrayed in these types of roles a well. Women and men may be seen as equally sharing these kinds of roles when it comes to the media. I think that it is a good thing for them to share roles equally. They both work hard and should be treated fairly. 4. The social status of GLBT people historically has been that they were not accepted into society years ago.They could not let society know that they were cou ples or they would either be jailed or even hurt. Most the them would have to keep their relationships hidden from society and even from their own families due to the ridicule that they would suffer. Many men and women would have to pretend that they were heterosexual in society so that they would not be judged. They could not be open and honest about their true identity. 5. The status of the LGBT is today's society is that they are accepted more into society. They have many activist that fight for their rights to be equal and they have won.For example, the biggest victory was same sex marriage. A lot of couples that were not able to broadcast their relationships are now able to be married. Appendix H4. 5. continued The couples are now able to enter society and be a family outside their homes without feeling judged. They are able to express their feelings openly through rallies, blogs, and in the media. They have come a long way and are proud of their accomplishments. 6. I believe t hat some of the social and political issues relevant to women and GLBT people in the United States is that same places of business are still having an issue with treating them fairly.For example, if a gay couples enters a place of business, they are automatically frowned upon and some are given less than fair treatment. When it comes to women, they are can be treated unfairly as far as when a woman goes to have her car repaired or if she goes to purchase a car. Many may see her as a helpless person and that she is not aware of what she is doing and will try to take advantage of her. The political issues are that the GLBT are seen in the news as constantly protesting and fighting for their rights.Many people in the political arena who do not like this group will not support any cases, any bills to be passed to support this group. As for the political issues for women, I would have to say for an example regarding the support of abortion laws. Some on the political parties may not agre e with this and so they will not support any passing of laws regarding abortion. Appendix H5. References http://www. now. org http://www. equalityfederation. org Papachristou, Judith, ed. Women Together: A History in Documents of the Women's Movement in the United States. New York: Knopf, 1976.

Sri Lanka Facts and History

Sri Lanka Facts and History With the recent end of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, the island nation of Sri Lanka seems poised to take its place as a new economic powerhouse in South Asia. After all, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) has been a key trading hub of the Indian Ocean world for more than a thousand years. Capital and Major Cities Administrative Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, metro population 2,234,289 Commercial Capital: Colombo, metro population 5,648,000 Major Cities: Kandy population 125,400Galle population 99,000Jaffna population 88,000 Government The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has a republican form of government, with a president who is both head of government and head of state. Universal suffrage starts at age 18. The current president is Maithripala Sirisena; presidents serve six-year terms. Sri Lanka has a unicameral legislature. There are 225 seats in Parliament, and members are elected by popular vote to six-year terms.  The Prime Minister is Ranil Wickremesinghe. The president appoints judges to both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. There are also subordinate courts in each of the countrys nine provinces. People Sri Lankas total population is approximately 20.2 million as of the 2012 census. Nearly three-quarters, 74.9%, are ethnic Sinhalese. Sri Lankan Tamils, whose ancestors came to the island from southern India centuries ago, make up about 11% of the population, while more recent Indian Tamil immigrants, brought in as agricultural labor by the British colonial government, represent 5%. Another 9% of Sri Lankans are the Malays and Moors, descendants of Arab and Southeast Asian traders who plied the Indian Ocean monsoon winds for more than a thousand years. There are also tiny numbers of Dutch and British settlers, and aboriginal Veddahs, whose ancestors arrived at least 18,000 years ago. Languages The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala. Both Sinhala and Tamil are considered national languages; only about 18% of the population speaks Tamil as a mother tongue, however. Other minority languages are spoken by about 8% of Sri Lankans. In addition, English is a common language of trade, and approximately 10% of the population are conversant in English as a foreign language. Religion Sri Lanka has a complex religious landscape. Almost 70% of the population are Theravada Buddhists (mainly the ethnic Sinhalese), while most Tamils are Hindu, representing 15% of Sri Lankans. Another 7.6% are Muslims, particularly the Malay and Moor communities, belonging primarily to the Shafii school within Sunni Islam. Finally, about 6.2% of Sri Lankans are Christians; of those, 88% are Catholic and 12% are Protestant. Geography Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India. It has an area of 65,610 square kilometers (25,332 square miles), and is mostly flat or rolling plains. However, the highest point in Sri Lanka is Pidurutalagala, at an impressive 2,524 meters (8,281 feet) in altitude. The lowest point is sea level. Sri Lanka sits at the middle of a tectonic plate, so it does not experience volcanic activity or earthquakes. However, it was heavily impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which killed more than 31,000 people in this mostly low-lying island nation. Climate Sri Lanka has a maritime tropical climate, meaning that it is warm and humid throughout the year. Average temperatures ranges from 16 °C (60.8 °F) in the central highlands to 32 °C (89.6 °F) along the northeast coast. High temperatures in Trincomalee, in the northeast, can top 38 °C (100 °F). The entire island generally has humidity levels between 60 and 90% year-round, with the higher levels during the two long monsoonal rainy seasons (May to October and December to March). Economy Sri Lanka has one of the strongest economies in South Asia, with a GDP of $234 billion US (2015 estimate), a per capita GDP of $11,069, and a 7.4% annual growth rate. It receives substantial remittances from Sri Lankan overseas workers, mostly in the Middle East; in 2012, Sri Lankans abroad sent home about $6 billion US. Major industries in Sri Lanka include tourism; rubber, tea, coconut and tobacco plantations; telecommunications, banking and other services; and textile manufacturing. The unemployment rate and percentage of the population living in poverty are both an enviable 4.3%. The islands currency is called the Sri Lankan rupee. As of May, 2016, the exchange rate was $1 US 145.79 LKR. History The island of Sri Lanka appears to have been inhabited since at least 34,000 years before the present. Archaeological evidence suggests that agriculture began as early as 15,000 BCE, perhaps reaching the island along with the ancestors of the aboriginal Veddah people. Sinhalese immigrants from northern India likely reached Sri Lanka around the 6th century BCE. They may have established one of the earliest great trade emporiums on earth; Sri Lankan cinnamon appears in Egyptian tombs from 1,500 BCE. By about 250 BCE, Buddhism had reached Sri Lanka, brought by Mahinda, the son of Ashoka the Great of the Mauryan Empire. The Sinhalese remained Buddhist even after most mainland Indians had converted to Hinduism. Classical Sinhalese civilization relied on complicated irrigation systems for intensive agriculture; it grew and prospered from 200 BCE to about 1200 CE. Trade flourished between China, Southeast Asia, and Arabia by the first few centuries of the common era. Sri Lanka was a key stopping point on the southern, or sea-bound, branch of the Silk Road. Ships stopped there not only to restock on food, water and fuel, but also to buy cinnamon and other spices. The ancient Romans called Sri Lanka Taprobane, while Arab sailors knew it as Serendip. In 1212, ethnic Tamil invaders from the Chola Kingdom in southern India drove the Sinhalese south. The Tamils brought Hinduism with them. In 1505, a new kind of invader appeared on Sri Lankas shores. Portuguese traders wanted to control the sea-lanes between the spice islands of southern Asia; they also brought missionaries, who converted a small number of Sri Lankans to Catholicism. The Dutch, who expelled the Portuguese in 1658, left an even stronger mark on the island. The legal system of the Netherlands forms the basis for much of modern Sri Lankan law. In 1815, a final European power appeared to take control of Sri Lanka. The British, already holding the mainland of India under their colonial sway, created the Crown Colony of Ceylon. UK troops defeated the last native Sri Lankan ruler, the King of Kandy, and began to govern Ceylon as an agricultural colony that grew rubber, tea, and coconuts. After more than a century of colonial rule, in 1931, the British granted Ceylon limited autonomy. During World War II, however, Britain used Sri Lanka as a forward post against the Japanese in Asia, much to the irritation of Sri Lankan nationalists. The island nation became fully independent on February 4, 1948, several months after the Partition of India and the creation of independent India and Pakistan in 1947. In 1971, tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka bubbled over into armed conflict. Despite attempts at a political solution, the country erupted into the Sri Lankan Civil War in July of 1983; the war would continue until 2009, when government troops defeated the last of the Tamil Tiger insurgents.

B322 Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities Essay

B322 Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities - Essay Example However the treatments are frequently conducted over a fairly long period of time and at considerable expense. The acupressure complimentary treatment centre deploys modern technology in order to provide complimentary health benefits at an affordable price to the general public. The target market is the general public. Competitors are complimentary treatment centres and individual practices and also allopathic general medical treatment centres and individual practices. Also to a lesser degree health spas and beauty salons. Acupressure is a derivative of acupuncture which out of all the complimentary healing systems is the most recognised. In particular acupressure has the advantage over acupuncture in that no needles are used in the treatment plan. The acupressure centre will employ state of the art technology to derive benefits similar to acupressure to its customers, however at a much more competitive price and in a manner which allows for considerable longer and more frequent treatments than provided for by the traditional acupressure practices. I have considerable commercial experience combined with a long term interest and experience of complementary medicine. While I believe in complimentary medicine I find the present practice of complimentary medicine to be laborious and expensive. By leveraging my commercial experience I believe I can create a unique twist on the present complimentary health offering. Question 2 Prepare a report of up to 1,200 words addressed to your tutor. Describe the main features of the competitive market in which you intend to do business and explain how and why your idea will be innovative. Explain clearly what particular innovation or market gap your idea addresses and what benefits it will offer to your target customers. Explain how you will acquire or develop the skills necessary for successfully launching your idea. You should take into account: l the concepts covered in the

Labor market discrimination Gender and Racial based Essay

Labor market discrimination Gender and Racial based - Essay Example Discrimination refers to distinction, restriction, differential treatment or exclusion which makes a person or a group in position of disadvantage when compared to others who are in similar circumstances or situations. Discrimination is part and parcel of social life and it is impossible to find any aspect of social life without discrimination. There are several types of discrimination and these include race, religion, age, ethnicity, gender, sex, language and disability (United Nations Economic and Social Council, 2009).. Basically, discrimination manifests itself through prejudices advanced against or in favor of another person, depending on the reasons stated above. The occurrence of prejudice normally refers to rejection of a person because the person belongs to discriminated group. Discrimination is also a matter of attitude among those who either practice it or become a victim to it. Since discrimination is something that is highly dependent on one’s attitude, it ought t o be considered in terms of both the one who is discriminated against and the one who is doing the discrimination. Though different types of discrimination exist all over the world with differences in intensity and magnitude, racial and gender discriminations are more widely and universally present. Racial discrimination refers to the difference shown to individuals on the basis of real and perceived racial difference while gender discrimination is due to difference in the sex. This difference is because of the assigned gender roles, prejudices and social construction. Review of literature on prevalence, causes and effects of gender and racial discrimination in the labor market are discussed in the following sections. ... ial and gender intolerance appears to be every bit of the societies and hence, it is interesting to review the causes and effects of these discriminations on labor market based on the earlier studies. Review of literature on prevalence, causes and effects of gender and racial discrimination in the labor market are discussed in the following sections. Prevalence of Racial and Gender based Discrimination in the Labor Market Large number of studies reveals that there is intensive racial discrimination in the US labor market. This kind of discrimination is essentially occurs through allocation of disadvanges and privileges depending on the color of one’s skin, or in other words, it is called as ‘colorism’(Hersch 2008). Racial discrimination is found across the job market, both in the industries; field as well as in the domestic chores. According to Ingram (2008), racial discrimination also manifests itself in the labor market through house hold chores. He argues that the time spent for attending the household chores should be considered as labor hours. He also presents evidence to the effect that US Blacks as well as non-white couples (heterosexual) tend to be discriminated against by being given extra workload in the house. The study is the evidence of pre-labor market discrimination as the labor for household chores is more discussed in it. As with racial discrimination in the market, there are a quite a number of empirical studies which shows the existence and effects of gender based discrimination in the labor market. Gender based discrimination is predominant in the domestic labor market with women normally working overtime and extra hours (Banton, 1998). Studies have also attempted to identify forms in which discrimination occurs. Along to Banton (1998), gender