RUIZ Surname Meaning and Origin

Ruiz is a patronymic surname meaning son of Ruy, a short form of the given name Rodrigo. Rodrigo derives  from the Germanic  name  Roderick (Hrodric), from the elements hrod, meaning renown and ric, meaning power. Ruiz is the 21st most common Hispanic surname. Surname Origin:  Spanish Alternate Surname Spellings:  RUIZE, ROIZ, ROIZE, RODRIZ, RUDERIZ Famous People With the Surname Ruiz Josà ©Ã‚  Francisco Ruiz: 19th century Texas pioneer and revolutionaryBlas Ruiz: Spanish explorerCarlos Ruiz: Panamanian professional MLB baseball playerBartolomà © Ruiz: Spanish conquistador Where Do People With the Ruiz Surname Live? Ruiz is the 201st most common surname in the world, according to surname distribution data from  Forebears, found in greatest numbers  in Mexico and with the highest density in Nicaragua. The Rivera surname is also very common in Spain (ranked 12th), Argentina (14th) and Paraguay (17th). Within Europe, Ruiz is most frequently found in Spain, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, especially in the Cantabria region, followed by the regions of La Rioja, Andalucia, Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha. The surname is also very common in Argentina, and found in lesser numbers in France and the United States. Genealogy Resources for the Surname RUIZ 100 Common Hispanic Surnames Their Meanings: Garcia, Martinez, Rodriguez, Lopez, Hernandez... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these top 100 common Hispanic last names?How to Research Hispanic Heritage: Learn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean and other Spanish speaking countries.Ruiz Family Genealogy Forum: Search this popular genealogy forum for the Ruiz surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Ruiz query.FamilySearch - Ruiz Genealogy: Access over 3.3 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Ruiz surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

The Current Regulations On Offshore Oil Drilling - 1456 Words

The current regulations on offshore oil drilling are too restrictive and do not effectively allow the use of our free market. For the free market to work as intended, it must be unregulated. Adam smith, who is widely considered the father of capitalism once stated â€Å"He, generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interests, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By directing that industry in such a manner as its produce maybe of greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society mor effectually than he really intends to promote it.† (Library of Economics np) By this, Smith intended that whatever is best for the individual is usually best for the nation and economy as a whole. As the philosopher behind the advent of free-market principles that this country was founded upon, he is the foremost expert on the subject; therefore, his teachings are still very relevant today. As Adam Smith intended of the free market economy he designed, the United States must begin to implement like policies in regards to all industries. However, the most vital of these industries that must be liberated for the benefit of our country. Oil industries, in particular, throughout recent years have been victims of harsh rulesShow MoreRelatedOffshore Drilling Essay1518 Words   |  7 PagesIsrael, Arab (OPEC) nations in the Middle East restrict oil exports to the U.S. As a result, a decrease in the oil supply caused gasoline prices to quadruple. As America attempted to promote alternative energy sources, oil companies expanded their search for offshore oil. App roximately 25% of oil produced in the U.S. comes from offshore rigs. 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In President Obama’s Oval Office speech after the spill, he makes a claim that offshore drilling must be more strictly regulated, and a shift towards clean, renewable energy must beRead MoreSample Resume : Mechanical Fitter / Leading Hand With Extensive Experience1643 Words   |  7 Pages Mechanical Fitter/Leading Hand with extensive experience and skills gained working for various leading companies over the past 8 years, with proven capabilities performing ongoing maintenance and repairs on wide-ranging engines, generators and drilling equipment. Highly proficient in the fitting and assembly of metal parts, tools and sub-assemblies with the capacity to examine detailed drawings and specifications to find out job, material and equipment requirements. I possess strong technicalRead MoreInformation About Oil And Natural Gas Extraction Industry1373 Words   |  6 PagesDate: September 18, 2014 Subject: Information about Oil and Natural Gas Extraction Industry This Report requested by the principal financial investor, Dr. Maria D. Davidson, includes information required to make an informed decision on whether or not to diversify into the Oil and Natural Gas Extraction industry. The Oil and Natural Gas Extraction industry is involved in the processes required to find and extract crude oil and natural gas. The Oil and Natural Gas industry has performed well in recentRead MoreThe Deepwater Horizon Disaster Analysis927 Words   |  4 PagesThe Deepwater horizon disaster portrays the weaknesses in the current drilling technology, management and design procedures. The outcome of the disaster shows high level of unawareness and unpreparedness, in the drilling companies. 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Typically carried outRead MoreUk Pre Goal Setting Regime5182 Words   |  21 PagesUK Pre Goal Setting Regime Regulating health and safety offshore has been a challenge due to its intricate and hostile environment. In the 1960’s the UK first adopted a self-regulatory approach by the industry that was: ‘not subject to any detailed regulatory stipulations or inspections’ . The Government made it a basic obligation in the licence that licensees must comply with such instruction from the Minister . The minister however had not thought about what these may be. Conveniently the CodeRead MoreThe Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico1155 Words   |  5 PagesPrinciples Environmental Science Introduction Rig of the drilling Deep-water Horizon operated under British petroleum failed in its operation sinking below the seawater of the Gulf of Mexico on the 20th of April 2010. More than 11 workers lost their lives. 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Difficulties in an Internet Music Promotion Company Free Essays

JEJA Entertainment is a great way to offer live music entertainment to music lovers and fans in Australia and to the rest of the world. JEJA is based in Australia but since the Internet cannot be confined to a certain geographical area, the products and services of JEJA Entertainment will have to be offered to music fans all over the world. Although the Internet is a fascinating and emerging means of distributing media content, there are still startup costs that must be considered. We will write a custom essay sample on Difficulties in an Internet Music Promotion Company or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most of the time, internet entrepreneurs explore their business model while pursuing another line of work. This enables them to have a fallback should the Internet business fail. On the other hand, this could also be inimical to the continuous growth of the business. Internet entrepreneurs face a number of challenges in establishing their business. For one, the issue of capital is an important one. The Internet may be seen as a low-cost option for distribution, yet there are a number of operating costs that must be taken into account—the domain name and web servers, the IT personnel who will create and maintain the webpages of the site, the marketing personnel and the production team among others. This will involve thousands of dollars if it were to become truly successful. While internet marketing via email can be a good starting point, there should also be offline promotion so that more people can be made aware of the company and the kinds of products and services that it offers (Perrini, 2006). Startup Capital and Funding Creative and novel ideas that have been largely untested do have a big potential for success in the world, especially so if the medium chosen such as the Internet has so much room for growth. Yet, because of this very same thing, a number of internet media business startups fail! Internet entrepreneurs need startup capital and money that could help them sustain the operations of their internet business up to such time that they can stand on their own and start earning profits. Insufficient funding would mean that the business will not grow as quickly as it is perceived to be and it will not also become as profitable as the business plan states. One of the biggest problems that internet entrepreneurs face is where to get startup money that will help them setup equipment and other needed materials and network for the business. No matter how good an idea may be, without startup capital, it will remain as a good idea and will never be launched to the whole world. Sources of Startup Capital For JEJA Entertainment, there are a number of sources of startup capital that they can draw from. Before identifying the sources of startup capital, however, the entrepreneurs should lay down ¬ the projected expenses in starting up the business. This should include all expenses such as equipment, the establishment of web pages and the maintenance costs, the servers, the domain name, the initial promotional expenses among others. This could lead them to a realistic view of the expenses that they will face. When these expenses shall have been laid out, then the actual amount of funding needed for several months (or years) can then be projected up to such time that the business can become profitable. Personal funds and Loan from Family and Friends The easiest source of startup capital, perhaps, could be the personal funds of the entrepreneurs who will engage in the business. Most of the time, entrepreneurs use their own savings they have gained from years of working as employees. There are also entrepreneurs who inherited a sizable sum of money that they then divert the money for the business that they have conceptualized by themselves or with other friends that they have. In cases where the personal funds of the entrepreneurs are not enough to cover the startup expenses, they ask the help of their family and friends in funding their business. Internet business may be less costly than an offline business that offers â€Å"physical† products and services. The problem with the funding from friends and family money, however, is that this might give the family and friends some expectation that they also have important stakes in the business more than just the money that they lent in starting the business. This can lead to strained relationships and problems in the business due to the unclear expectations from friends and family members. If JEJA Entertainment will rely on this kind of startup funding, then the expectations from both parties should be clear so as to avoid any conflict in the areas of operations of the business. Funding from Banks and Lending Organizations Another riskier source of startup capital is funding from banks and lending organizations. To get loans from banks and other lending organizations, there is a need for collateral in the form of land, car or other valuable collateral. Depending on the soundness of the business plan, banks may fund the startup so that it can take off and become profitable in the long term. Convincing banks to release funds, however, is a big challenge as they want to minimize the risks they face in lending so they can maximize their profits. Venture Capital One of the important sources of funds that have come to light in recent years is venture capital from what has been fondly called as â€Å"angel investors. † These angel investors provide much needed capital for entrepreneurs in the twenty-first century. Venture capital, actually, can contribute to the long-term success of an internet business startup. Angel investors can help budding internet businesses to survive the first few years of competition and difficulties in the market. Most startup companies usually tap venture capital investors not during startup but during the next few years of their operations. If an internet business does not attract venture capital, it is bound to fail within three years according to a study made by Gompers and Lerner (2002). Long-term Profitability, Branding and Reputation Building Even if startup capital were found for JEJA company, there are still a number of factors that it should surmount if it were to be profitable and sustainable in the long run. Long term profitability can be ensured through a variety of strategies and a careful management of resources. Fresh capital is also needed if JEJA were to be truly successful. Brand building is another important matter that JEJA will have to engage in. A successful branding strategy could also build the reputation of the company. Over the long run, this can help the company package itself as a good option for venture capitalists and to its clients all over the world. JEJA needs to be aggressive in its branding strategies because it faces an uphill climb with various competitions online. Even if the online concert option is a good selling point, the company has to create its audience and make it irresistible. The company will have to invest on marketing investments online and offline so as to make people aware of what the business offers. Carefully placed ads on high traffic websites and offline advertisements can yield returns. In addition to this, media exposure and reputation borrowing through sponsorship of concerts by major artists, singers and actors and actresses that visit Australia. Even major events in Australia can be covered by the company so as to gain greater reach, credibility and the preferences of consumers. The longevity of these branding strategies cannot be ensured in the long run (Kotha, Rajgopal Rindova, 2001). Because of this, JEJA Company has to stay abreast with emerging trends in the entertainment industry and in the Internet. These things make the branding strategies more difficult as the marketing personnel of the company will have to keep track of two divergent although related fields—the entertainment industry as well as the reception of fans and media content consumers as well as the behavior of internet surfers and consumers. Long-Term Growth and Strategic Management Securing startup capital is but one of the first steps that JEJA Company will have to secure. As the operations of the company continue and it gains brand recognition in Australia and all over the world, it will have to establish a long term plan that deals with the need of fresh capital, effective management of resources and the establishment of a reliable and recognizable Australian brand. The entertainment industry is highly volatile and continuously changing. If the branding strategies of JEJA were effective, it can readily engage venture capitalists for the provision of fresh capital to finance expansion of operations, offering additional services and products, engaging more geographical areas, and establishing partnerships with a larger number of production companies and studios. The presence of venture capital is a great means of ensuring the long-term growth and profitability of internet businesses (Davila, Foster 7 Gupta, 2003). As such, it has to proactively seek out venture capitalists who believe in the business model of JEJA. This can be done through networking, effective publicity and brand building and making sure that the business delivers the projected income and growth. Conclusion Internet businesses such as Amazon. com, Yahoo, Barnes and Nobles and IVillage among others have, at one point, started out with limited experience and financing. Yet, with effective raising of startup capital, effective branding and strategic management, they managed to grow their businesses (Carpenter, 2000). Although financing is different from the realm of management and branding strategies, it is still a very crucial part of the operations of the business of JEJA. Surely, there will be new trends and challenges that will arise in the area of internet media business. Yet, with the influx of capital from â€Å"angel investors† and other sources, effective branding and strategic management, JEJA management can rise up to become a significant internet business in Australia and all over the world. How to cite Difficulties in an Internet Music Promotion Company, Papers

Energy Drinks Persuasive Essay free essay sample

Doing this can make you feel less drunk, but you are still as drunk as a person who drank alcohol all by itself. Consequently, I will argue that energy drinks should have age limits on them. First, I think that energy drinks can cause very bad behavior. In fact, researchers say that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with â€Å"toxic jock† behavior, a constellation of risky and aggressive behaviors. For example, it appears the kids who are heavily into drinking energy drinks are more likely to be the ones who are inclined towards taking risk. Therefore, energy drinks can cause lots of trouble for the kids drinking them. Second, energy drinks can cause not only bad behavior but can lead to bad health and safety. Specifically, the drinks include plant- based stimulants, herbs, amino acids, sugar, vitamins, and the main ingredient, caffeine. In addition, the caffeine content in the energy drinks can range from 107 milligrams to 430 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce can. We will write a custom essay sample on Energy Drinks Persuasive Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page So, energy drinks have ingredients that can hurt your health. Third, mixing energy drinks with alcohol has a popularity that is growing. In fact, researchers say that the addition of caffeine can make alcohol users feel less drunk, but motor coordination and visual reaction time are just as impaired as when they drink alcohol by itself. For example, a study states that students who mixed energy drinks with alcohol got drunk twice as often as those who consumed alcohol by itself and were far more likely to by injured or require medical treatment. As a result, I believe that there should be an age limit on energy drinks because they cause bad behavior, put your health in risk, and mixing energy drinks with alcohol has become a popular way to drink them too. By putting age limits on these drinks, there would be less drunk teens, teens hospitalized from drinking too much energy drinks, and less aggressive behavior. For these reasons, I conclude that energy drinks should have an age limit on them.

Regarding the Research Proposal

The Bill of Rights essays

The Bill of Rights essays The first ten amendments to our countrys constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, play an important role in todays society. These rights can be summed up in the three unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, these amendments can protect someones rights and yet retract them at the same time. Amendment II gives every person the right to bear arms, or own a gun. Everyone in the U.S. could own a gun for themselves, whether they use it in case of self protection or in some cases more mischievous plans. Now, killers have the right to own a gun, whether someone may be suspicious of them or not. It is their right to own a gun, however if they do turn out to cause harm with that gun then they have infringed on the rights of others. Which brings up the question, You cannot deny someones rights, and however, by enforcing someones rights, you might be denying someone elses basic right to life. The Bill of Rights can both help the peoples rights and destroy them at the same time in this situation. In Amendment VIII the Bill of Rights states that excessive bail is not required. This amendment does protect the rights and freedoms of the prisoner at the time of the arrest, however once bail is set and the accused is set free, whats to say that a suspected criminal wont go out and commit another crime, denying the freedoms of others? This amendment also protects people from cruel and unusual punishment. Some may argue that some things, like capital punishment, are in fact cruel and unusual punishment. I believe that capital punishment is far from cruel and unusual punishment. The criminals on death row are usually people who have killed at least one person and took their freedom of life away from them, usually in an inappropriate manner. These people should be happy in the humane way they are being killed, whe ...

Impact of technology on customers (Using the example of Sony Essay

Impact of technology on customers (Using the example of Sony Corporation) - Essay Example New product introduction (NPI) is an effective product launching strategy that enables the companies to overcome competitive pressures, cost challenges, and increased customer expectations. The rapid development of technology has assisted industries to implement the NPI program more effectively. Generally, a new product introduction program includes four major steps such as initiation of the project, development of business plan, execution of project, and conducting of gate reviews. Technology has greater influence on each of these phases. The first phase of the NPI process includes resource planning and trade off studies which are essential to identify potential outsource and offshore development opportunities (Benchmark electronics). For this purpose, organizations like Sony Corporation depend on highly developed information technologies including the internet. In the business plan development phase, technology has assisted the Sony to evaluate market opportunity, market risk, and other technical risks; hence the company could deliver effective services to its customers by understanding the main business issues behind product launching. Sony Corporation updates project costs and other project parameters in the project execution phase. Technology plays a significant role in the updation of projects parameters and development of deliverables for the next phase. Conducting gate reviews, the final stage of the NPI project makes sure that predefined conditions have been achieved and hence the project development is on track. In short, Sony Corporation greatly depends on technology in order to carry out its new product implementation programs effectively, and this practice in turn provides larger benefits to ultimate customers. Ways that added value from new technology Global organizations like Sony Corporation get ranges of benefits from the fast growing technology. The Sony has an online network presence in several formats. For instance, one of the companyâ€℠¢s websites offers different information on its products and services. This website also provides information on corporate applications for its product and service offerings. Similarly, the company provides a Sony Card and PlayStation Card to its customers with intent to allow them in earning redeemable points while they purchase the company’s products and services. Sony’s Rebate Zone website gives rebates by mail following the purchase of a Sony HVR-V1U HDV Camcorder or a Sony HVR-DR60 Hard Disk Recorder/Player (Sony marketing mix). The company’s expenditure of over $5 billion in 2009 can be directly attributed to its focus on research and development (R&D) activities. In addition, the focus on R&D has aided the company to launch technologically improved products in the market. For instance, the introduction of BRAVIA, ZX1, VAIO P series of notebook computer, and the Cyber-shot HX1 compact digital camera can be attributed to the company’s increased conce ntration on R&D activities. This practice also enables the company to revise its product base periodically. It is clear that R&D activities are largely based on wider application of modern technology. As a result of the faster technological development, the company is able to offer improved services to its customers. Support plan for customers Sony Corporation is a global company that daily deals with millions of customers. Customer satisfaction can be completely met only if customers are provided with effective after sales services. In order to effectively answer various customer queries, the company must apply improved modern technology. Firstly, it is advisable for the company to establish an effective customer care system that offers 7/24 hours’ service. In addition, the company can offer toll free services to its customers for interacting with its customer care. From its past experience, the company knows what would be the common questions that an average

Advantages of diversity through career management in the workplace Research Paper

Advantages of diversity through career management in the workplace - Research Paper Example It is often said that the diversity tends to include various dimensions impacting the identities and the perspectives that the people of the organization bring such as parental status, profession, geographic location and education.Workplace diversity is mainly concerned with the people issue that tends to bring similarities as well as differences in the organization. It is often said that the diversity tends to include various dimensions impacting the identities and the perspectives that the people of the organization bring such as parental status, profession, geographic location and education. The concept of workplace diversity is often sought to include everyone. It can be revealed that the workplace diversity is all about learning from others who are different regarding the dignity, respect for all and thus creating the environment that will motivate others as well to learn from various people in order to capture the benefits of the diverse views (Cornell University, n.d.). It is known that the workplace diversity tends to bring numerous gains to the organization. The overall success including the competitiveness rests upon the organization’s capability to encompass the diversity realizing the benefits provided by it. The organizations that evaluate as well as employ the diversity plans visibly derive benefits out of them. The first benefit that arises is the increased adaptability. The organizations that include diverse workplace can offer solution to the existing problems on a day-to-day basis. The employees from diverse background generally tend to bring with them individual knowledge and/or skill thus assisting in providing various ideas that can adapt to the changing markets demand. A person consisting of diverse skills tends to attract the customers on a global basis. The companies embracing the diversity in the workplace motivate the staffs to perform well and at the highest quality (Greenberg, 2006). It can be revealed that the diversity manag ement programs need to have an impact upon the recruitment of the target groups. It must also have an influence upon the career development programs. The term career management is based on the assumption that the individuals can exercise power over their careers. It is to be remembered that proper career management may not only focus upon the skills as possessed by oneself as well as the nature of the work but also it is quite important to focus upon the decision making skills that can be improved as well as developed with the pace of time. It is the work diversity that shapes the career development plans of the individuals. It is because of the diversity at the workplace that forces an individual to manage his/her careers. It has been evident that the world is undergoing rapid changes and the changes have an effect upon the nature of the work. Embracing the changes may damage the careers of the individuals. The competitive aspect on a worldwide basis gives rise to the global busine sses and the uncertainties in the global economy. Competition has further forced the organizations to perform acquisitions, reorganization as well as restructuring of the jobs. There have further been changes in the psychological relation among the employers and the employee (Greenhaus & Et. Al., 2009). A person pursuing his career plan in accountancy may experience numerous benefits. It can be demonstrated that the accountants possesses one of the finest job prospects. The individuals who have good interpersonal as well as the communication skills are the targets of the employers in the recent times. There are accountant who need to work on teams with others possessing different backgrounds. Therefore, these accountants must possess the ability to demonstrate and explain the accounting information in a clear and concise manner. This clearly relates to the workplace diversity. The accountants need to divert their skills and knowledge among the diverse cultural background groups whic h is referred as workplace diversi

Noble Prize Economist Amartya Sen Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Noble Prize Economist Amartya Sen - Term Paper Example He is widely regarded as the Mother Teresa of economics because of his contributions to the poor. He is currently serving in two universities; in Thomas W. Lamont University as the Professor of Economics and in Harvard University as the Professor of Philosophy. Apart from that he is a distinguished fellow in many other famous universities and institutions like Harvard Society of Fellows, All Souls College, Oxford, Trinity College, Cambridge etc. This paper briefly analyses the contributions of Amartya Sen as an economist to the world. â€Å"Amartya Sen was born on 3 rd November 1933 in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. His ancestral home was in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His family migrated to India following the partition of India in 1947†(Amartya Sen). The meaning of ‘Amartya’ is immortal. The renowned scholar of Indian literature, Rabindranath Tagore was the one who proposed the name of Amartya Sen. Rabindranath Tagore was one of the best friends of Amartya’s fa ther. Sen started his school education in Dhaka; however, the division of India forced Sen and his family to migrate to India in 1947. The latter part of his school education was in Visva-Bharati University school. He has joined Presidency College, Kolkata, for his college education and completed his First Class First in his B.A. (Honours) in Economics. He left the Presidency College as the most eminent student of the 1953 batch. He has continued his higher studies in Trinity College, Cambridge, and completed a First Class BA (Honours) from there in 1956. He has enrolled for a Ph.D. in Economics in Trinity College itself after the completion of BA (Honours) from there. During the same period itself, he was appointed as the Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at Jadavpur University, Calcutta. Later he returned to Trinity College and completed his Ph.D. in Economics. Within economics, he has made original and critical contributions to development theory, planning, capita l and growth theory, investment appraisal, the study of technology and employment, welfare economics, social choice theory, poverty and inequality measurement, issues in the causes and redressal of famines and destitution, and population policy (Subramanian). Amartya Sen is well known for his works for the poor. As mentioned earlier, he is currently regarded as the Mother Teresa of economics. The theory of social choice was developed by Amartya Sen. In his book â€Å"Poverty and famines† published in 1981, Amartya argued that famine occurs not only because of shortage of food, but also because of the inequalities built in to the mechanisms for distributing food (Amartya Sen). Masny of the earlier economists cited the food shortage as the major reasons for famine. However, Amartya was able to prove that even the produced food is not used up properly because of the problems in the distribution system. For example, in India, the government is distributing food to the poor people with the help of rationing system. However, because of the delays in completing the administrative procedures in supplying the food from the food go-downs to the ration shops, a substantial portion of the food items wasted. In other words, the bureaucracy is causing problems in the safe transport of the food items from the ware-houses to the ration shops in India. The increased percentage of corruption in bureaucracy is delaying the paper works. Thus, Amartya was able

Antilock Brake System Abs Model Based Design Computer Science Essay

Antilock Brake System Abs Model Based Design Computer Science Essay An Antilock Brake System (ABS) is a closed loop control system that modulates the brake torque that is applied to the wheel in order to prevent the controlled wheel from becoming fully locked. ABS is among the most important safety systems in a vehicle. In automatic highway system, automatic brake actuation is a very important part of the overall vehicle control system. It prevents the wheel lock-up under critical braking conditions, such as those encountered with wet or slippery road surfaces and driver panic reaction (Bosch, 1995). By preventing the wheel lock-up, ABS ensures that the vehicle remains responsive to steering wheel inputs. Reduced stopping distance on account of ABS is more evident on wet or slippery road surfaces (Garrick et al., 1998). 1.2 MODEL BASED DESIGN Designers of embedded control system software face difficult challenges. In addition to the need to complete projects at low cost and within tight schedules, embedded control system software designers must provide predictable performance and competitive features for the products they deliver. Traditional methods of designing, testing, and implementing embedded control systems cause designers to wait until late in the design effort, when actual or prototype products and real-time embedded targets become available, to find out if software really works as it was intended to. Only then, as system integration occurs, can the designer uncover the errors that may have found their way into the product during the early design stages. Model-Based Design with MathWorks tools provides a proven technique for creating embedded control systems. It is used today for satellites, aircraft, and many other aerospace applications, in the automotive industry, and for process control, computer peripherals and industrial machinery. Through Model-Based Design, embedded control system design teams can begin evaluating software designs without using prototype products and real-time targets. The MathWorks environment for Model-Based Design allows engineers to mathematically model the behavior of the physical system, design the software and model its behavior, and then simulate the entire system model to accurately predict and optimize performance. The system model becomes a specification from which you can automatically generate real-time software for testing, prototyping, and embedded implementation, thus avoiding manual effort and reducing the potential for errors. Fig 1.1. Model-Based Design for embedded control system software Changes or corrections to the system requirements and specifications are easily incorporated into the model, fully evaluated by simulation, and automatically reflected in the final real-time embedded software. 1.3. MODELING AND SIMULATION To effectively design an embedded control system and accurately predict its performance, designers must understand the behavior of the entire system in which the control system will reside. MATLAB and Simulink form the core environment for Model-Based Design for creating accurate, mathematical models of physical system behavior. The graphical, block-diagram paradigm of the MathWorks environment lets you drag-and-drop predefined modeling elements, connect them together, and create models of dynamic systems. These dynamic systems can be continuous-time, multi-rate discrete-time, or virtually any combination of the three. You can create custom model elements or reuse legacy code-based models by incorporating C, Fortran, or Ada code directly into the modeling environment. The modeling environment is hierarchical and self-documenting. System structure and function can be clearly expressed by grouping model elements in virtually any combination, allowing large teams to work concurrently on the design. Libraries of hierarchical elements can be quickly created, allowing those elements to be reused easily by other members of the design team or on subsequent designs. Fully integrated into the environment is the capability to graphically model event-driven systems using state charts, truth tables, and flow diagrams. Specialized capability for mechanical and electrical power systems allows models of these systems to be constructed using modeling elements that correspond directly to the structure of the physical system, avoiding the need to express them as mathematical equations. If prototype or actual physical systems are available and input/output data can be acquired from them, mathematical models can also be created using system identification techniques. As soon as a hierarchical element of the model is constructed, that element can be simulated. Simulation allows specification, requirements, and modeling errors to be found immediately, rather than waiting until later in the design effort. As the model becomes larger, through the addition of hierarchical elements or by increasing the complexity of existing ones, the designer can continue to find and correct errors during simulation by using the model coverage, performance profiling, and interactive debugging features. When the physical system model is specified to the required level of detail and simulation has shown the model to be accurate, the control system can be designed. 1.4. CONTROL SYSTEM SOFTWARE DESIGN With the behavioral model of the physical system available, the designer can begin the embedded control system software design. The MathWorks environment for Model-Based Design supports many types of control system design techniques and requirements that range from the simple to the most complex and large-scale. For example, some product designs may require using linear control design methods to determine the correct algorithms and parameters for the control system software. Using MATLAB and Simulink, the designer can automatically create the linear physical system models needed by this design technique, calculate the parameters, and then visualize the results using Bode plots and root locus diagrams. Other applications may require less sophisticated techniques to determine the correct control system design. Regardless of the control system design method used, the MathWorks environment for Model-Based Design helps the designer use interactive simulation to quickly evaluate each contr ol system design model in conjunction with the physical system model and avoid the risk, expense, or need for prototypes or actual physical systems. As the control system functional design is completed and the target environment needs to be considered, the designer can specify implementation details for the software directly in the modeling environment. The MathWorks environment supports all aspects of control system software design, including processor, interface, or standards issues. For example, you may need scaled integer or fixed-point data types for target processors that have no floating-point math capability. The effects of fixed-point mathematics can be evaluated by simulation, to see if the proper data sizes and scale factors have been selected. Data structures that are needed to meet software standards or target environment interface requirements can be defined as part of the system model and then realized when the embedded control system software is automatically generated. When the control system software design is complete, you can simulate the entire system model. During simulation, you can automatically collect model profiling and coverage information that will help you assess performance and discover errors. If performance does not meet expectations or errors are found, you can easily change the model to correct the problem and then simulate the model again to confirm the change or correction. Once simulation of the entire system model has shown that the design meets the desired performance requirements, you can automatically generate software for real-time testing and implementation, using the model as a specification. 1.5. EMBEDDED SOFTWARE TESTING AND IMPLEMENTATION Using the system model and Real-Time Workshop, real-time code for testing, validation, and embedded implementation on the production target processor can be automatically generated. As it is created, the code is automatically optimized for fast execution and efficient use of memory. Automatically generating code from the system model avoids errors due to manual translation of the model into code, and saves time, allowing software developers to focus on more demanding tasks. The MathWorks provides a turnkey software environment called xPC Target for real-time prototype testing, calibration, and validation of this automatically generated code using a PC-based hardware target system. xPC Target includes a real-time kernel, device drivers, and all the support software needed to create a rapid control prototyping system for real-time software testing and validation. It can also be used to provide hardware-in-the-loop capability, using code generated automatically from the physical system model. Hardware-in-the-loop testing allows the designer to simulate the real-time behavior and characteristics of their physical system, so that prototype or production control system software can be tested without the need for the actual hardware or operational environment. For embedded system designers who prefer an integrated capability, The MathWorks has a fully tested, custom configured, PC-based target hardware system. Chapter 2 MODELING AND SIMULATION 2.1. MODELING A computer model, as used in modeling and simulation science, is a mathematical representation of something-a person, a building, a vehicle, a tree-any object. A model also can be a representation of a process-a weather pattern, traffic flow, air flowing over a wing. Models are created from a mass of data, equations and computations that mimic the actions of things represented. Models usually include a graphical display that translates all this number crunching into an animation that you can see on a computer screen or by means of some other visual device.   Models can be simple images of things-the outer shell, so to speak-or they can be complex, carrying all the characteristics of the object or process they represent. A complex model will simulate the actions and reactions of the real thing. To make these models behave the way they would in real life, accurate, real-time simulations require fast computers with lots of number crunching power. 2.2. SIMULATION Simulations (and models, too) are abstractions of reality. Often they deliberately emphasize one part of reality at the expense of other parts. Where as models are mathematical, logical, or some other structured representation of reality, simulations are the specific application of models to arrive at some outcome. 2.2.1 Types of simulations Simulations generally come in three styles: live, virtual and constructive. A simulation also may be a combination of two or more styles. Live simulations typically involve humans and/or equipment and activity in a setting where they would operate for real. Think war games with soldiers out in the field or manning command posts. Time is continuous, as in the real world. Another example of live simulation is testing a car battery using an electrical tester. Virtual simulations typically involve humans and/or equipment in a computer-controlled setting. Time is in discrete steps, allowing users to concentrate on the important stuff, so to speak. A flight simulator falls into this category. Constructive simulations typically do not involve humans or equipment as participants. Rather than by time, they are driven more by the proper sequencing of events. A simulator is a device that may use any combination of sound, sight, motion and smell to make you feel that you are experiencing an actual situation. Some video games are good examples of low-end simulators. Simulations are complex, computer-driven re-creations of the real thing. When used for training, they must recreate reality accurately; otherwise you may not learn the right way to do a task. 2.3. MODELING AND SIMULATING ORDINARY SECOND ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION Consider the second order differential equation (1) This can be written as two first order differential equations if we introduce two new variables, x1(t) and x2(t).   Let x1(t)=y(t).   We can then write two coupled first order equations. (2) (3) The solution can be approximated in Simulink by using two integrators to integrate the first order derivatives. 2.3.1. Building a Simulink Model We start Simulink from the Matlab prompt by typing Simulink.    We will be needing blocks from the Source, Sink, Linear and Non-linear libraries, so double click on them to open them up.   In the window labeled untitled, drag two integrators from the Linear library, connect them, and change their labels. Fig2.1. Building Simulink Model (Step 1) The input to the leftmost integrator is the derivative of x2, and its output is x2.   The input to the rightmost integrator is the derivative of x1 (=x2), and its output is x1.   We can complete the representation of the differential equation except for the input, by adding two gain blocks (and flipping them using the Format option of the Simulink menu. Fig2.2 Building Simulink Model (Step 2) To add the input we will use the clock (from Source), the trigonometric function (from Non-Linear) and another gain block.   The completed diagram should look like the one shown below. Fig2.3. Building Simulink Model (Step 3) 2.3.2. Running Simulation and Viewing Results To view the results of the simulation, add a scope (from Sink).   In this case we only want to view 80 ms of simulation, so go to the Simulation menu and choose Parameters, and set the stop time to 0.08 seconds.   To start the simulation hit the start button, or go to Simulation->Start.   The scope output is shown below (after zooming with the Binocular tool at the top of the scope window. Fig2.4 Simulation Results of the Model It is often desirable to save the data to Matlab.   To save the time variable, the input and the output, we add three To Workspace blocks (from Sink) and give them each a different name (these are the names of the variables that will be in the Matlab workspace). Fig2.5 Building Simulink Model (Step 4) Chapter 3 ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM 3.1 INTRODUCTION Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) are closed loop control devices within the braking systems which prevent the wheel lock-up during braking and as a result, retain vehicle steerability and stability. The main ABS components are hydraulic modulators, wheel speed sensors, ECU for signal processing and control and triggering of the signal lamp and of the actuators in the hydraulic modulator. Fig 3.1 Location of the ABS in a vehicle 3.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM The theory behind anti-lock brakes is simple. A skidding wheel (where the tire contact patch is sliding relative to the road) has less traction than a non-skidding wheel. If we have been stuck on ice, for example, we know that if the wheels are spinning we have no traction. This is because the contact patch is sliding relative to the ice. By keeping the wheels from skidding while we slow down, anti-lock brakes benefit in two ways: The vehicle stops faster, and we will be able to steer while we stop. There are four main components to an ABS system: Speed Sensors, Pump, Valve and an ECU. 3.2.1 Speed Sensor The anti-lock braking system needs some way of knowing when a wheel is about to lock up. The speed sensors, which are located at each wheel, or in some cases in the differential, provide this information. 3.2.2 Valves There is a valve in the brake line of each brake controlled by the ABS. On some systems, the valve has three positions: In position one, the valve is open; pressure from the master cylinder is passed right through to the brake. In position two, the valve blocks the line, isolating that brake from the master cylinder. This prevents the pressure from rising further should the driver push the brake pedal harder. In position three, the valve releases some of the pressure from the brake. 3.2.3 Pump Since the valve is able to release pressure from the brakes, there has to be some way to put that pressure back. That is what the pump does; when a valve reduces the pressure in a line, the pump is there to get the pressure back up. 3.2.4 The ECU The ECU receives, filters and amplifies the speed sensor signals and ascertains from them the degree of wheel slip and the acceleration of the individual wheels as well as the reference speed which is the best possible calculation of the vehicle road speed. Most of the systems use vehicle specific LSI circuits for this purpose. Fig 3.2 Anti Lock Brake Pump and Valves 3.3 WORKING OF ABS There are many different variations and control algorithms for ABS systems. We will discuss how one of the simpler systems works. The controller monitors the speed sensors at all times. It is looking for decelerations in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. Right before the wheel locks up, it will experience a rapid deceleration. If left unchecked, the wheel would stop much more quickly than any car could. It might take a car five seconds to stop from 60 mph (96.6 kph) under ideal conditions, but a wheel that locks up could stop spinning in less than a second. The ABS controller knows that such a rapid deceleration is impossible, so it reduces the pressure to that brake until it sees acceleration, then it increases the pressure until it sees the deceleration again. It can do this very quickly, before the tire can actually significantly change speed. The result is that the tire slows down at the same rate as the car, with the brakes keeping the tires very near the point at which they will start to lock up. This gives the system maximum braking power. When the ABS system is in operation we will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal; this comes from the rapid opening and closing of the valves. Some ABS systems can cycle up to 15 times per second. 3.4 TYPES OF ABS: Anti-lock braking systems use different schemes depending on the type of brakes in use. Referring them by the number of channels, that is, how many valves that are individually controlled and the number of speed sensors, we have the following:   i) Four-channel, four-sensor ABS This is the best scheme. There is a speed sensor on all four wheels and a separate valve for all four wheels. With this setup, the controller monitors each wheel individually to make sure it is achieving maximum braking force. ii) Three-channel, three-sensor ABS This scheme, commonly found on pickup trucks with four-wheel ABS, has a speed sensor and a valve for each of the front wheels, with one valve and one sensor for both rear wheels. The speed sensor for the rear wheels is located in the rear axle. This system provides individual control of the front wheels, so they can both achieve maximum braking force. The rear wheels, however, are monitored together; they both have to start to lock up before the ABS will activate on the rear. With this system, it is possible that one of the rear wheels will lock during a stop, reducing brake effectiveness. iii) One-channel, one-sensor ABS This system is commonly found on pickup trucks with rear-wheel ABS. It has one valve, which controls both rear wheels, and one speed sensor, located in the rear axle. This system operates the same as the rear end of a three-channel system. The rear wheels are monitored together and they both have to start to lock up before the ABS kicks in. In this system it is also possible that one of the rear wheels will lock, reducing brake effectiveness. This system is easy to identify. Usually there will be one brake line going through a T-fitting to both rear wheels. We can locate the speed sensor by looking for an electrical connection near the differential on the rear-axle housing. Chapter 4 IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM 4.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF ABS On initial braking, the brake pressure is increased, the brake slip ÃŽÂ » rises and at the maximum point on the adhesion/slip curve, it reaches the limit between the stable and unstable ranges. From this point on, any further increase in the brake pressure or braking torque does not cause any further increase in braking force FB. In the stable range, the brake slip is largely deformation slip, it increasingly tends towards skidding in the unstable range. Actuator Desired Slip Controller Vehicle Dynamics Actual Slip Fig4.1. Block Diagram of ABS We model the ABS using Matlab/Simulink where in the various mechanical blocks are realized and mathematical models of the same are readily available in the Simulink library. The ABS simulation model follows the below shown control loop. The reference variable is the desired relative slip which is fed as an input to the system. The control system in our case is the wheel whose parameters like wheel speed are measured. The feedback path consists of the user defined equation which measures the relative slip of the wheel and the error is rectified at the initial stage. The model represents a single wheel, which may be replicated a number of times to create a model for a multi-wheel vehicle. Fig 4.2. ABS Control Loop 4.2 ANALYSIS OF ABS: For understanding the concept of ABS, we make use of the free body diagram of a wheel. We make use of the formulae for force and torque acting on the wheel. The below figure gives us a clear understanding about the forces acting on a wheel. The wheel rotates with an initial angular speed that corresponds to the vehicle speed before the brakes are applied. We used separate integrators to compute wheel angular speed and vehicle speed. We use two speeds to calculate slip, which is determined below. Note that we introduce vehicle speed expressed as an angular velocity (see below). . (Equal to wheel angular speed if there is no slip.) (1) Fig 4.3 Free Body Diagram of a single wheel (2) (3) is the wheel speed divided by the wheel radius. is the vehicle linear velocity. is the wheel radius. is the wheel angular velocity. We can also write (3) as (4) Where V is the vehicle speed, à Ã¢â‚¬ ° is the wheel speed and r is the radius of the wheel. From these expressions, we see that slip is zero when wheel speed and vehicle speed are equal, and slip equals one when the wheel is locked. A desirable slip value is 0.2, which means that the number of wheel revolutions equals 0.8 times the number of revolutions under non-braking conditions with the same vehicle velocity. This maximizes the adhesion between the tire and road and minimizes the stopping distance with the available friction. If an excessive brake torque is applied, the wheel will be locked, which means that it slides on the road surface but does not rotate at all. A locked wheel has no lateral stability and less longitudinal friction force, which is the ultimate force to stop the vehicle. Thus, a braking with a locked wheel will cause longer stopping distance and lateral instability. The tire force from the road surface causes the wheel velocity to increase, thus decreases the wheel slip. A high ÃŽÂ ¼ leads to a large tyre force and a low ÃŽÂ ¼ leads to a small tyre force. In the increasing part of the ÃŽÂ ¼-slip curve, an increase of the wheel slip leads to a larger ÃŽÂ ¼ and a larger tyre force, which reverses the wheel slip to a small value. However, in the decreasing part of the ÃŽÂ ¼-slip curve, an increase of the wheel slip leads to a smaller ÃŽÂ ¼ and a smaller tyre force, which causes the wheel slip to increase continuously. So, the peak point of the ÃŽÂ ¼-slip curve is criti cal. When a braking is initiated, the wheel velocity starts to decrease and the wheel slip starts to increase from zero. The wheel slip may stop increasing and start to decrease before the ÃŽÂ ¼ reaches its peak point. But if an excessive brake torque is applied, the wheel slip may go straightly to a large number, which causes the ÃŽÂ ¼ to pass its peak point and reach somewhere in the decreasing part of the ÃŽÂ ¼-slip curve. If the brake torque is not reduced quickly at this point, the reduction of the road friction force will lead to a rapid increase of the wheel slip and eventually to a wheel lockup. ABS tries to detect when this peak point is going to be reached and then reduces the brake torque properly so that a wheel lockup could be avoided. Fig 4.4. ÃŽÂ ¼-slip Friction Curve It appears to be true that maintaining the wheel slip at the peak point of the ÃŽÂ ¼- slip curve is ideal. However, the position of the peak ÃŽÂ ¼ point varies on the different road surfaces. In addition, stay at the peak point of the ÃŽÂ ¼- slip curve sometime may lead to a poor lateral stability. Thus, many control strategies define their performance goal as maintaining the wheel slip near a value of 0.2. This represents a compromise between the lateral stability, which is best at ÃŽÂ »=0 and the maximum deceleration which usually appears when ÃŽÂ » is between 0.1 and 0.3. 4.3 IMPLEMENTATION The friction coefficient between the tire and the road surface,  µ, is an empirical function of slip, known as the  µ-slip curve. We created mu-slip curves by passing MATLAB variables into the block diagram using a Simulink lookup table. The model multiplies the friction coefficient,  µ, by the weight on the wheel, W, to yield the frictional force, Ff, acting on the circumference of the tire. Ff is divided by the vehicle mass to produce the vehicle deceleration, which the model integrates to obtain vehicle velocity. In this model, we used an ideal anti-lock braking controller, that uses bang-bang control based upon the error between actual slip and desired slip. We set the desired slip to the value of slip at which the  µ-slip curve reaches a peak value, this being the optimum value for minimum braking distance (see note below.). Note: In an actual vehicle, the slip cannot be measured directly, so this control algorithm is not practical. It is used here to illustrate the conceptual construction of a simulation model. Fig 4.5. Simulink Model of the ABS In the above figure, the wheel speed, vehicle speed and the stopping distance are measured and the error value is fed back through the feedback path. Also, tire torque and the relative slip are fed as inputs to the wheel speed block. Notice that the model is a reference model which has its own internal block. Double click on the Wheel Speed subsystem in the model window to open it. Given the wheel slip, the desired wheel slip, and the tire torque, this subsystem calculates the wheel angular speed. To control the rate of change of brake pressure, the model subtracts actual slip from the desired slip and feeds this signal into a bang-bang control (+1 or -1, depending on the sign of the error). This on/off rate passes through a first-order lag that represents the delay associated with the hydraulic lines of the brake system. The model then integrates the filtered rate to yield the actual brake pressure. The resulting signal, multiplied by the piston area and radius with respect to the wheel (Kf), is the brake torque applied to the wheel. Fig 4.6. Wheel Speed Model for the ABS The model multiplies the frictional force on the wheel by the wheel radius (Rr) to give the accelerating torque of the road surface on the wheel. The brake torque is subtracted to give the net torque on the wheel. Dividing the net torque by the wheel rotational inertia, I, yields the wheel acceleration, which is then integrated to provide wheel velocity. In order to keep the wheel speed and vehicle speed positive, limited integrators are used in this model. After we build the ABS model in simulink, we have to configure the parameters related to simulation of the model. We need to specify that the signals are exported to the Matlab workspace where they are analyzed and results are viewed. This is done by checking the signal logging field in the configuration parameters option provided in the simulation tab. Fig 4.7. Configuring Parameters for the model We make a Matlab code which makes use of the inputs and outputs used by the simulink model and we plot the waveforms. 4.3.1 ABS Code h = findobj(0, Name, ABS Speeds); if isempty(h), h=figure(Position,[26 239 452 257], Name,ABS Speeds, NumberTitle,off); end figure(h) set(h,DefaultAxesFontSize,8) logsout.unpack(all); plot(Vs.Time, Vs.Data); set(findobj(type,line),color,[0 1 0]); hold on; plot(Ww.Time, Ww.Data); title(Vehicle speed and wheel speed); ylabel(Speed(rad/sec)); xlabel(Time(secs)); set(gca,Position,[0.1300 0.1500 0.7750 0.750]); set(get(gca,xlabel),FontSize,10); set(get(gca,ylabel),FontSize,10); set(get(gca,title),FontSize,10); % Plot arrow with annotation hold on plot([5.958; 4.192],[36.92; 17.29],r-,[5.758; 5.958; 6.029],[36.55; 36.92; 35.86],r- ) text(8.533,54.66,Vehicle speed (omega_v),FontSize,10) plot([7.14; 8.35],[43.1; 56.3],r-,[7.34; 7.14; 7.07],[43.4; 43.1; 44.1],r- ) text(4.342,15.69,Wheel speed (omega_w),FontSize,10) drawnow hold off h = findobj(0, Name, ABS Slip); if isempty(h), h=figure(Position,[486 239 452 257], Name,ABS Slip, NumberTitle,off); end figure(h); set(h,DefaultAxesFontSize,8) slp = logsout.slp.Data; time = logsout.slp.Time; plot(time,slp); title(Slip) xlabel(Time(secs)) ylabel(Normalized Relative Slip) set(gca,Position,[0.1300 0.1500 0.7750 0.750]) set(get(gca,xlabel),FontSize,10) set(get(gca,ylabel),FontSize,10) set(get(gca,title),FontSize,10) Chapter 5 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION After building the model, we simulate it using the options provided in the same Simulink window. 5.1 RUNNING THE SIMULATION 5.1.1 With ABS Press the Play button on the model toolbar to run the simulation. We can also run the simulation by executing the sim(FILE NAME) command in MATLAB. ABS is turned on during this simulation. Fig 5.1 Vehicle Speed and Wheel Speed(with ABS) The model logs relevant data to MATLAB workspace. Logged signals have a blue indicator. In this case yout and slp are logged (see the model).The above figure visualizes the ABS simulation results. The first plot in figure shows the wheel angular velocity and corresponding vehicle angular velocity. This plot shows that the wheel speed stays below vehicle speed without locking up, with vehicle speed going to zero in less than 15 seconds. Fig 5.2 Normalised Relative Slip(with ABS) 5.1.2 Without ABS For more meaningful results, consider the vehicle behavior without ABS. At the MATLAB command line, set the model variable ctrl = 0. This disconnects the slip feedback from the contro

Capital Punishment Essay -- Justice Law Government Morals Ethics Essay

Capital Punishment Should we kill killers is the question to answer regarding the controversial subject of capital punishment. There is strong support for both sides and many people have offered their opinions in writing for all of us to examine. John M. Olin, the Professor of Jurisprudence and Public Policy at Fordham University, gave us his Pro-Capital Punishment opinion in the Harvard Law Review in 1986. Although his article was written more than a decade ago the argued topics have not changed. In his work The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense Mr. Olin addresses why he feels capital punishment is necessary in our society and across the world. According to Olin retribution is the number one reason for capital punishment. He goes on to say that the retributive notion of punishment in general is that as a foundational matter of justice, criminals deserve punishment and punishment should be equal to the harm done. What counts as â€Å"punishment equal to harm†? Olin refers to lex talionis commonly known as â€Å"an eye for an eye†. This idea was drawn from the Babylonian Law of Hammurabi from the 18th century. It states: If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death. If it kills the son of the owner, then the son of that builder shall be put to death. Besides being totally absurd there are a couple of points to make. First, retribu tion cannot be uniformly applied to every harm committed. What about rapist? Should they be raped? What about those who commit mass murder? How can we make their punishment proportional? The answer is we can not. Killing one person who killed another serves no practical... ...ntly, especially if death is involved, then we need to stop, back up and say â€Å"what is going on here?† Criminals no doubt deserve to be punished, and punished with severity appropriate to the harm they have caused to the innocent. But severity of punishment has its limits, both by justice and basic human dignity. Too many studies have shown that a lengthy sentence of 20 to 30 years of a murderer has been proven to be sufficient. After this period of time most individuals have proven to be constructive, worthy members of society and have lived prosperous lives after being released. I do however; recognize the fact that many individuals should stay in prison for the rest of their lives for the safety of all as well as retribution. For a Nation that is supposed to be founded on Christian morals and beliefs I have to wonder how they justify much of what they do.

Wavelength Conversion Four Wave Mixing in Silicon Waveguide

Wavelength Conversion by Degenerate Four Wave Mixing in Silicon Waveguide Abstract – Four-wave mixing (FWM) is one of the interesting nonlinearities in optical systems. It is mainly used for wavelength conversion. To investigate the factors that affect the wavelength conversion efficiency, the evolution of Four-wave mixing (FWM) in silicon waveguide is modeled using matlab. The method of modeling is described. The effects of input pump power and waveguide length on the conversion efficiency are investigated.Results show that when propagating along a 0. 048m silicon waveguide, both the input pump power and stroke power decreases, while anti-stroke power increases first and then decreases along the waveguide. It is also shown that for a 0. 048 silicon waveguide, output anti-stroke power is the maximum when the input pump power is 3W. Also, when the input pump power is kept constant, there is a most effective waveguide length for wavelength conversion. Keywords -FWM; model; conve rsion efficiency; input pump power; waveguide length 1 IntroductionFour-wave mixing (FWM) is an inter modulation phenomenon in optical systems, whereby interaction between three waves (two pump waves and a signal wave) produce a fourth wave (idler wave) [1]. This phenomenon can be used for all optical wavelength conversion (AOWC) and entangled photon generation [2, 3]. As extremely small core of si wires produce the nonlinear optical effect even under low optical power, Silicon is used as waveguide in our project for practical wavelength conversion by FWM process with longer waveguide lengths and smaller propagation loss[4].Factors that affect optical wavelength conversion are being studied to enhance the conversion efficiency. It has therefore become important to study FWM in silicon waveguide theoretically to increase the conversion efficiency for further experiment. In our project, FWM matlab to study the factors that affect the conversion efficiency. This paper discusses the fac tors that affect FWM’s conversion efficiency in silicon waveguide. Theoretical treatment is presented in section 2, where FWM in silicon waveguide is described. The method to model FWM in silicon waveguide using matlab is described in section 3.Results are shown in section 4. Results show that both the input pump power and the waveguide length play an important part in the FWM’s conversion efficiency. 2 THEORY The FWM process involves the interaction of four waves (two Pump waves, one signal and one idler wave) as they propagates along a medium. In our project, silicon waveguide is used as the medium. The schematic diagram of FWM in silicon waveguide is shown in figure 1. Here, E represents the electric field of the respective waves and normalized such that power P=|E|^2. Subscripts ‘p’, ‘s’ and ‘a’ represent pump, signal and idler respectively.The superscript ‘f’ represents forward propagating waves. [pic] Figure 1 S chematic diagram of FWM in silicon waveguide . 3 METHODOLOGY The evolution of the three waves along the silicon waveguide can be modeled by the following differential equations [1]. [pic][pic][pic][pic] where Aeff is the waveguide effective core area, ? is the wavelength, ? is the linear propagation loss and ? is the TPA coefficient, ? is the FCA cross section and ? eff is the effective carrier lifetime. h and c follow their usual physical meaning of Plank’s constant and free-space speed of light respectively. k denotes the linear phase mismatch and can be expressed as[pic]. ? is the nonlinear parameter assumed to be the same for three wavelengths and defined as [pic] where n2 is the nonlinear refractive index. To simulate the evolution of the three waves along the silicon waveguide, the above four differential equation are solved simultaneously using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF) method [2]. |Parameters |Input-Output simulation values | |? |100/4. 34 m-1 | |Aeff |0. 17? 10^(-12 ) m2 | |? 0. 7? 10^(-11) m/W | |? p |1310? 10^(-9) m | |? eff |1? 10^(-9) s | |c |2. 998? 10^(8) | |h |6. 626? 10^(-34) Js | |? k |0 m/s | |? p |1. 0297? 10-21m2 | |? |2. 43 ? 10^(-11) m/W | 4 RESULTs and discussion . 1 Modelling of FWM in silicon waveguide Given Pp=1W, Ps=0. 001W, Pa=0W and L=0. 048m, Pump power, stroke power and anti-stroke power are drawn with respect to the position in the waveguide. [pic][pic][pic]The figures above show that when propagating in the waveguide, both the pump power and stroke power decrease while the anti-stoke power increases. This is as expected, as the interaction of the pump wave and stroke wave produce the anti-stroke wave. The increase of the anti-stroke power comes from the decrease of the pump and stroke power.It can be seen that, at the end of the waveguide, the pump power is only 0. 26W and the stoke power is only 0. 026W. Both of them decrease 74% of their original power. Both the pump power and stroke power decrease fast at the beginni ng, and then their decrease rate becomes slower when propagating further in the waveguide. This implies that the higher the pump power and the stroke power, the higher the propagation loss. As a result, the anti-stroke power increases fast at the beginning and then its increasing rate slows down. At the length of 0. 42m, the power of the anti-stroke reaches its maximum value which is about 3. 2*10^-5W. Then the anti-stroke power starts to decrease slowly. This may be because when the pump and stroke power is small, the gain of the anti-stroke power is less than its propagation loss. 4. 2 Effects of input pump power on conversion efficiency Given Ps=0. 001W, Pa=0W and L=0. 048m, Pp changes from 0 to 10W with step 0. 2W. The graph of the output stroke power and the output anti-stroke power are drawn with respect to the input pump power. [pic] Figure 2. 1 Output stroke power with different input pump powerThis graph shows that the larger the input pump power, the smaller the output str oke power. This is as expected, as the larger the input pump power, the larger the propagation loss. The output stroke decreases slower when the input pump power is higher. [pic] Figure 2. 2 Output anti-stroke power with different input pump power This graph shows that when the input pump power is less than3W, the higher the input pump power, the higher the output anti-stroke power. This is as expected, as more input power can be converted to anti-stroke power when the input pump power is larger.When the input pump power is larger than3W, the output anti-stoke power decreases with the input pump power. As the higher the input pump power, the higher the propagation loss. When the input pump power is larger than3W, the propagation loss dominates. 4. 3 Effects of waveguide length on conversion efficiency To investigate the relationship between the waveguide length and the conversion efficiency, input power are keep constant, Pp=1W, Ps=0. 001W, Pa=0W, L changes from 0. 001m to 0. 1m wit h step 0. 001m. Output stroke power and output anti-stroke power are drawn with respect to different waveguide length. pic] Figure 3. 1 Output stroke power with different waveguide length This graph shows that the longer the waveguide length, the smaller the output stroke power. This is as expected, as the longer the waveguide length, the larger the propagation loss. The decreasing rate of the output stroke power decreases with the waveguide length. [pic] Figure 3. 2 Output anti-stroke power with different waveguide length This graph shows that when the waveguide length is less than 0. 048m, the output anti-stroke power increases with the waveguide length.This implies that the gain is larger than the propagation loss in the waveguide. When the waveguide length is larger than 0. 48m, the output anti-stoke power decreases with the waveguide length. At waveguide length larger than 0. 048m, the propagation loss is larger than the gain of the anti-stroke power. The output anti-stroke pow er has a maximum value of 4. 5*10^3 when the waveguide is 0. 048m. Thus, the most effective waveguide length is 0. 048m. 5 Conclusion The conclusion serves the important function of drawing together the various sections of the written report.The conclusion is a summary, and the developments of the previous sections or chapters should be succinctly restated, important findings discussed and conclusions drawn from the whole study. In addition, you may list questions that have appeared in the course of the study that require additional research, beyond the limits of the project being reported. Where appropriate, recommendations for future work may be included. The conclusion should, however, leave the reader with an impression of completeness and of gain. AcknowledgmentThe author would like to express her deepest gratitude to A/P Luan Feng and PhD student Huang Ying for their guidance, assistance and advices. The author also wishes to acknowledge the funding support for this project fr om Nanyang Technological University under the Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) programme. References The template will number citations consecutively within brackets [1]. The sentence punctuation follows the bracket [2]. Refer simply to the reference number, as in [3]—do not use â€Å"Ref. [3]† or reference [3]† except at the beginning of a sentence: â€Å"Reference [3] was the first †¦Ã¢â‚¬ Number footnotes separately in superscripts. Place the actual footnote at the bottom of the column in which it was cited. Do not put footnotes in the reference list. Use letters for table footnotes. Unless there are six authors or more give all authors’ names; do not use â€Å"et al. † Papers that have not been published, even if they have been submitted for publication, should be cited as â€Å"unpublished† [4]. Papers that have been accepted for publication should be cited as â€Å"in press† [5]. Capitalize only the firs t word in a paper title, except for proper nouns and element symbols.For papers published in translation journals, please give the English citation first, followed by the original foreign-language citation [6]. 1] G. Eason, B. Noble, and I. N. Sneddon, â€Å"On certain integrals of Lipschitz-Hankel type involving products of Bessel functions,† Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, vol. A247, pp. 529-551, April 1955. (references) 2] J. Clerk Maxwell, A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd ed. , vol. 2. Oxford: Clarendon, 1892, pp. 68-73. 3] I. S. Jacobs and C. P. Bean, â€Å"Fine particles, thin films and exchange anisotropy,† in Magnetism, vol.III, G. T. Rado and H. Suhl, Eds. New York: Academic, 1963, pp. 271-350. 4] K. Elissa, â€Å"Title of paper if known,† unpublished. 5] R. Nicole, Title of paper with only first word capitalized,† J. Name Stand. Abbrev. , in press. 6] Y. Yorozu, M. Hirano, K. Oka, and Y. Tagawa, â€Å"Electron spectroscopy studies on magneto-optical media and plastic substrate interface,† IEEE Transl. J. Magn. Japan, vol. 2, pp. 740-741, August 1987 [Digests 9th Annual Conf. Magnetics Japan, p. 301, 1982]. 7] M. Young, The Technical Writer’s Handbook. Mill Valley, CA: University Science, 1989.

Nitrogen Essays - Industrial Gases, Nitrogen, Pnictogen, Free Essays

Nitrogen Essays - Industrial Gases, Nitrogen, Pnictogen, Free Essays Nitrogen Nitrogen, symbol N, gaseous element that makes up the largest portion of the earth's atmosphere. The atomic number of nitrogen is 7. Nitrogen is in group 15 (or Va) of the periodic table. Nitrogen was discovered by the British physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772 and recognized as an elemental gas by the French chemist, Antoine Laurent Lavoiser about 1776. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless tasteless, nontoxic gas. It can be condensed into a colorless liquid, which can be compressed into a colorless, crystalline solid. Nitrogen exists in two natural forms, and four radioactive forms (artificial). Nitrogen melts at -210.01 degrees C, (-349.02 F), boils at -195.79 C (320.42 F), and has a density of 1.251 g/liter at 0 C (32 F) and 1 atmosphere pressure. The atomic weight of nitrogen is 14.007. Nitrogen is obtained from the atmosphere by passing air over heated copper of iron. The oxygen is removed from the air, leaving nitrogen mixed with inert gases. Pure nitrogen is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air; because liquid nitrogen has a lower boiling point than liquid oxygen, the nitrogen distills of first an can be collected. Nitrogen compresses about 4/5ths by volume of the atmosphere. Nitrogen is inert and serves as a diluent for oxygen in burning and respiration processes. It is an important element in plant nutrition; certain bacteria in the soil convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form, such as nitrate, that can be absorbed by plants, a process called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen in the form of protein is an important constituent of animal tissue. The element occurs in the combined state in minerals, of which saltpeter (KNO ) and Chile saltpeter (NaNO ) are commercially important products. Nitrogen combines with other elements only at very high temperatures of pressures. It is converted to an active form by passing through an electronic discharge at low pressure. The nitrogen so produced is very active, combining with alkali metals to form azides; with the vapor of zinc, mercury cadmium, and arsenic to form nitrides; and with many hydrocarbons to form hydrocyanic acid and cyanides, also known as nitriles. Activated nitrogen returns to ordinary nitrogen in about one minute. In the combined state nitrogen takes part in many reactions; it forms so many compounds that a systematic scheme of compounds containing nitrogen in place of oxygen was created by the American chemist Edward Franklin. In compounds nitrogen exists in all the valence states between -3 and +5. Ammonia, hydrazine, and hydroxylamine represent compounds in which the valence of nitrogen is -3, -2, and -1, respectively. Oxides of nitrogen represent nitrogen in all the positive valence states. Most of the nitrogen used in the chemical industry is obtained by the fractional distillation of liquid air. It is then used to synthesize ammonia. From ammonia produced in this manner, a wide variety of important chemical products are prepared, including fertilizers, nitric acid, urea, hydrazine, and amines. In addition, an ammonia compound is used in the preparation of nitrous oxide (N 0) a colorless gas popularly known as laughing gas. Mixed with oxygen, nitrous oxide is used as an anesthetic for some types of surgery. Used as a coolant, liquid nitrogen has found widespread application in the field of cryogenics. With the recent advent of ceramic materials that become superconductive at the boiling point of nitrogen, the use of nitrogen as a coolant is increasing. In conclusion, it seems as if Nitrogen is very helpful in the modern world. It is used in dentists office's to using it for industrial applications. Without this element the world would be a little different in some fields.

ACT Test Dates Full Guide to Choosing (2019, 2020)

ACT Test Dates Full Guide to Choosing (2019, 2020) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Looking for info on the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 ACT test dates? Knowing the most accurate ACT test dates is crucial for a solid test-taking plan. Though you might be tempted to go ahead and register for the next possible test date, what you should really be doing is finding a date that works well for you and your schedule. In this guide, we offer an overview of upcoming ACT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates. We also give you tips on how to choose an ACT test date and go over which test dates work best for juniors, seniors, and more. ACT Test Dates and Deadlines for 2019 and 2020 ACT test dates are generally on Saturdays, but you might be able to take the ACT on a different date if you have a religious exemption or are taking a special school administration of the test. Here, we give you all ACT test dates, normal registration deadlines, late registration deadlines, and score release dates for 2019 and 2020. The dates are organized into two tables: one for the 2019-2020 school year test dates and one for the 2020-2021 school year test dates. ACT Test Dates 2019-20 The test dates for the 2019-2020 school year have all been confirmed by ACT, Inc., as have the registration deadlines and score release dates. Test Date Normal Deadline Late Deadline Online Score Release* July 13, 2019** June 14, 2019 June 24, 2019 July 23; August 6, 2019 Sept 14, 2019 Aug 16, 2019 Aug 30, 2019 Sept 24; Oct 8, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Sept 20, 2019 Oct 4, 2019 Nov 12; Nov 26, 2019 Dec 14, 2019 Nov 8, 2019 Nov 22, 2019 Dec 24, 2019; Jan 7, 2020 Feb 8, 2020 Jan 10, 2020 Jan 17, 2020 Feb 19; Mar 5, 2020 Apr 4, 2020 Feb 28, 2020 Mar 13, 2020 Apr 14; Apr 28, 2020 June 13, 2020 May 8, 2020 May 22, 2020 June 23; July 7, 2020 July 18, 2020** June 19, 2020 June 26, 2020 July 28; August , 2020 *The first date is when multiple-choice scores come out; the second date is when complete scores (with the Writing section) come out.**No test centers scheduled in New York or California on this date. ACT Test Dates 2020-21 While the 2020-21 ACT test dates have been confirmed by ACT, Inc., registration deadlines and score release dates have yet to be confirmed; thus, the ACT deadlines and score release dates below are estimates based on the patterns of previous testing years. Test Date Normal Deadline Late Deadline Online Score Release* Sept 12, 2020 Aug 14, 2020 Aug 28, 2020 Sept 22; Oct 6, 2020 Oct 24, 2020 Sept 18, 2020 Oct 2, 2020 Nov 10; Nov 24, 2020 Dec 12, 2020 Nov 6, 2020 Nov 20, 2020 Dec 22, 2020; Jan 5, 2021 Feb 6, 2021 Jan 8, 2021 Jan 15, 2021 Feb 17; Mar 4, 2021 Apr 3, 2021 Feb 26, 2021 Mar 12, 2021 Apr 13; Apr 27, 2021 June 12, 2021 May 7, 2021 May 21, 2021 June 22; July 6, 2021 July 17, 2021** June 18, 2021 June 25, 2021 July 27; August 10, 2021 *The first date is when multiple-choice scores come out; the second date is when complete scores (with the Writing section) come out.**No test centers scheduled in New York or California on this date. In the tables above, there are two dates in the "Online Score Release" columns. The first date is for multiple-choice scores- your composite ACT score and your individual section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science. The second date is for complete ACT scores; these are your multiple-choice scores plus your Writing (essay) score. If you take the ACT without Writing, you should generally receive your full ACT score report within two weeks after your test. If you take the ACT with Writing, note that the essay usually takes an additional two weeks for scoring, meaning you won't receive your full ACT score report (with your essay grade) until about four weeks after your test date. Also, be aware that any colleges you put down to get your scores won't have access to your official ACT score report until your essay has been graded as well. ACT Test Dates 2019-20: Visual Calendar and Trends To help you plan your test-taking schedule, we've created a handy visual representation of the 2019-20 ACT dates. This calendar shows us how ACT tests are staggered throughout the year, as well as where the overlapping of score release dates and registration deadlines often occurs: (C) 2019 PrepScholar Inc, Use with Link to PrepScholar.com Allowed You probably noticed right away that ACT test dates are clustered closely together in the fall and more spread out in the spring. This is done to give seniors more chances at attaining their ACT goal scores before college application deadlines (typically in the late fall and early winter). The tests in the spring target juniors and students studying for the test early. Of course, you don't have to be in a certain grade level to take any of the administrations- you're welcome to sign up for whichever ACT dates you want, regardless of where you are in high school. ACT scores generally come out right around the registration deadline for the next test. This can make it tricky to take two back-to-back exams, but you will usually get at least your multiple-choice scores before the late registration deadline, so it's still possible (though not necessarily advisable) to sign up for the next test. In addition, registering for back-to-back ACTs doesn't give you sufficient time to prep for your retake. With such a short amount of time to study in-between tests, you'll likely see only minor (if any) improvement in your scores. Warning: ACT / SAT Test Dates May ChangeSign up to Receive Free Updates // Choosing the Best ACT Test Dates for You: 5 Key Factors Which ACT test dates you choose is ultimately up to you. But whether a test date is the right test date for you depends on five primary factors, which we go over here. #1: When Are Your College Applications Due? One of the most important factors is your college application deadlines. Generally, ACT scores are released 10-14 days after the exam. After that, ACT, Inc. sends score reports in batches to schools as often as schools choose to receive them (usually this is at least once every two weeks). This time frame, however, does not include the processing time for ACT scores, which can vary significantly for each school. So what does all of this mean for you? Basically, you must take the ACT well in advance of your college application deadlines so you can ensure your ACT scores get to your schools in time. I suggest taking the ACT at least four weeks (ideally more) before your applications are due. If you're taking the ACT with Writing, give yourself even more time- at least six weeks. Common deadlines are January 1 for regular decision and November 1 or 15 for early action/early decision. Don't forget: if your scores arrive late or aren't processed until after your school's application deadline has passed, your application could get disqualified. So the earlier, the better! #2: Are You OK With Ordering Priority Reports If Necessary? If the ACT test date you want is extremely close to your college application deadlines and the four free score reports don't cover all of the schools you're applying to, make sure that you're OK with having to fork out extra money for priority reports. With priority ACT reports, your scores should face little difficulty getting to your schools before the deadlines. Priority reports cost $16.50 and deliver ACT scores (once they’re released) within three to four business days after your request has been processed (which takes one to two business days). #3: How Many Times Will You Take the ACT? You should also be thinking about how many times you're willing to take the ACT in order to reach your goal score. Is there a chance you’ll want to retake it? At PrepScholar, we recommend taking the ACT two or three times in total: First, as a junior in your fall semester Second, as a junior in your spring semester Third, as a senior in your fall semester (or the summer before fall semester) If you didn’t take the exam at the beginning of your junior year, try to take it for the first time in February. This way you’ll get your scores in March and will have plenty of time to study and decide whether you’d like to retake the ACT in June, July, or later. Try to avoid registering for back-to-back dates in the fall of your senior year. You likely won't get your scores until the regular registration deadline for the next test has already passed. Furthermore, it'll be a struggle to prep efficiently and with such little time in-between tests; you'll probably be pretty busy with college applications as it is! #4: How Much Time Do You Want to Dedicate to ACT Prep? Another huge factor is time. How many months will you be able to devote entirely to ACT prep? How many points do you need to improve your baseline score by to reach your goal score? (Your baseline score is the score you start with before you begin any prep. You can find yours by taking an official ACT practice test.) Our usual recommendation is to study for the ACT for three to six months. This amount of time should allow you to hone your test-taking skills and strategies without burning you out. However, what's more important than months is the total number of hours you put in. Here are our estimates for the numbers of hours you’ll need to study for the ACT based on how large of a point improvement you want: 0-1 ACT point improvement: 10 hours 1-2 ACT point improvement: 20 hours 2-4 ACT point improvement: 40 hours 4-6 ACT point improvement: 80 hours 6-9 ACT point improvement: 150 hours+ Clearly, the bigger the point improvement, the more hours you’ll need to study. This is why it’s helpful to craft an ACT study plan as soon as possible- ideally, long before your test date! But not everyone has ample free time they can spend studying for the ACT. At a minimum, try to commit to 10 hours of ACT prep. If you only have a month or so before test day, our in-depth guide will show you what steps to take to get the score you want. #5: Do You Have Any Obligations You'll Need to Work Around? Lastly, before choosing an ACT test date, consider how your desired test date fits into your overall schedule. Will you have any obligations on that date or in the time leading up to it? Do you have any commitments that might prevent you from being able to study effectively for the ACT? I suggest using a planner to keep track of major events and tests you have coming up. Include all major school and extracurricular activities, such as school plays, AP exams, school projects, family vacations, weddings, etc. If there are any conflicts with your desired test date, you can then look for an alternate date that'll better fit into your personal schedule. Quick Guide: When Should Juniors Take the ACT? When Should Seniors? We can’t tell you which exact ACT test date will work best for you, but we can give you some advice on which test dates best suit certain situations. Below are four common scenarios with quick tips on the ACT test dates you'll want to prioritize for each. Scenario 1: You’re a Junior Best Dates For 1st Test: September, October, December For 2nd Test: February, April, June There are no risky ACT dates if you’re a junior since all your college applications won't be due until sometime during your senior year. Really, you can take the SAT whenever you want! That said, I recommend taking the test at least twice: once in the fall of junior year and once in the spring. This way you’ll have the entire summer to finalize your college plans and decide whether you want to take the ACT again. If you didn’t take the ACT your fall semester, aim to take it as soon as possible in the spring, ideally in February or April. Either of these dates ensures you'll have June and July to consider for retakes before your senior year. Scenario 2: You’re a Senior Best Dates: July, September, OctoberRiskier Dates: December September and October are popular test dates for seniors because they offer you one final shot at getting the ACT score you want before college applications are due. Incoming seniors also have a July test date, which I strongly recommend opting for if you're worried about carving out time for ACT prep in the fall. December is risky. If you've got deadlines in early January, December ACT scores might not get to your schools in time. (This partly depends on whether you're taking the Writing section.) But if your deadlines are in late January or later, December should be OK. Scenario 3: You’re Applying Early Action/Early Decision Best Dates: June, July, SeptemberRiskier Dates: October Most early action deadlines are November 1 or 15, so it's important to take the ACT as early as possible, preferably in June or July before senior year. Taking the test over the summer ensures you’ll have one final chance to retake it your senior year in September (should you still want to raise your scores). Just don't rely on the October test date. Only if your deadlines are on or after November 30 (as is the case with the University of California system) would I suggest possibly opting for the October test date. But this is playing it extremely close, so stick with September if you can! Scenario 4: Your College Application Deadlines Are in February or Later Most schools require applications to be submitted by November, December, or January. But those whose applications aren’t due until February or later offer seniors more options for ACT dates. Below are various late college application deadlines and their latest recommended ACT test dates and riskier ACT dates. Recommended dates should have little to no trouble in getting your scores to schools in time, whereas riskier dates are less reliable and might fail to get your scores in by the deadline. Choose wisely! College App Deadline Latest Recommended ACT Test Date Riskier ACT Test Date February December - March December February April February - May February April June April - July April June August June July September July - ACT Test Dates: Summary The ACT is offered seven times a year: September October December February April June July Note that the July test date is only be available within the US (though it's not administered in New York, much like the February test date). When choosing an ACT test date, it's important to consider the following factors: When your college application deadlines are Whether you’re taking the Writing section or not How much time you’re willing to dedicate to ACT prep Once you've answered these questions, you'll be on your way to picking out a surefire ACT test date! What's Next? Ready to register for the ACT? Use our in-depth walkthrough to help you sign up for the test, and read our guide to find the best test center for you! Need additional help choosing an ACT test date? See our factors you should think about before setting a test date. It's also important to consider the time you have to study and the advantages of taking the ACT multiple times. Wondering whether to take the SAT or the ACT? Check out our complete guide to which test will be easier for you. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.