Pressure Essays - State Functions, Thermodynamic Properties

Pressure Aim: To find out the effect of temperature on the pressure of air. Apparatus: 400ml beaker Bunsen burner Data Logger Pressure sensor Temperature probe Round bottom flask Connecting leads Tripod Gauze Plastic tubing Clamp stand Heatproof mat Water Diagram: Method: 1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram. 1. Next, take the readings of the pressure and temperature at intervals of 5C, ending the experiment at 90C. 3. Repeat the experiment three times for a good average. 4. Record all results in the data logger and transfer them to a computer. Safety: Wear goggles Tie hair back Tie all loose clothing Handle all glass with care Avoid putting wires near the flames Do not spill water; this will make the surface slippery Fair Test: Use the same equipment for each trial Have the same time interval in each trial Make sure the same amount of water is used in each trial Make sure the flask is put into the beaker at the same depth Use the same size beaker in each trial Try to keep the flame the same in each trial Prediction: Particles of air are constantly moving around at different speeds. If the air is trapped inside a container, (e.g. a flask like the one used in this experiment) then the particles will hit the inside walls of the container with enough force to create pressure. Sometimes the particles move around fast. This means they have more kinetic energy. They may have more kinetic energy, because the air may be being heated or perhaps the air is more concentrated. However, if the air particles have more kinetic energy, they will hit the container walls with a larger, stronger force. This then creates more pressure, which is detected by the pressure sensor. (Physics, Tom Duncan, Pages 158-159) When the air contained in the flask, is heated, the temperature rises and the molecules gain more kinetic energy. This means the particles move around faster, causing the average pressure to increase. (GCSE Physics, Foulds, Page 158) In this experiment, we kept the volume of air constant, while the temperature is changed. The three pressure laws, one of which states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature. Can be written as P T Where P is Pressure in KPascals and T is Temperature in Kelvins. This must mean that if the temperature is doubled, the pressure will also double. If the temperature is halved, the pressure will also be halved. The reason why this happens is because at a higher temperature the gas particles have more kinetic energy and hit the container walls harder which results in more pressure. Example: If the temperature is 25C (298K) and the pressure is 1.0 KPa, then doubling the temperature to 50C (323K) should double the pressure to 2.0 KPa. If the temperature is 25C (298K) and the pressure is 1.0 KPa, then trebling the temperature to 75C (348K) should treble the pressure to 3.0 KPa. If this knowledge is put into a graph, where the average pressure in KPascals is plotted against the Temperature in Kelvins, I should get a graph which looks like this: - The graph shows the directly proportional relationship between pressure (KPa) and temperature (Kelvins). With my results from the experiment, I will draw and plot an accurate graph like the one above. Results: Tempe-rature (C) Pressure (KPa) Average Temperatur-e in Kelvins Average pressure in KPa (2d.p) Trial One Trial Two Trial Three 25 0.4 0.7 2.0 298 0.4+0.7+2.0 3 30 1.9 2.2 5.4 303 3.2 35 4.1 4.0 8.1 308 5.4 40 5.8 5.7 11.2 313 7.6 45 7.4 7.2 15.0 318 9.9 50 9.6 8.8 18.7 323 12.4 55 10.5 10.3 22.7 328 14.5 60 12.4 11.8 27.3 333 17.2 65 13.7 13.2 31.2 338 19.4 70 15.1 14.5 33.6 343 21.1 75 16.6 15.8 35.7 348 22.7 80 17.9 17.0 38.7 353 24.5 85 19.3 17.8 43.6 358 26.9 90 20.5 18.6 46.1 363 28.4 Analysis (continued): From my results and graph, I have found out that as the temperature increases, the pressure also increases. (School Notes, Plashet School) To prove this using my graph, I will quote five values for temperature and pressure, from my graph. Temperature (Kelvins) Pressure (KPascals) 303 3.2 328 14.5 348 22.7 363 28.4 This table clearly shows that as the temperature increases, the pressure increases too. Increasing the temperature by ten Kelvins, i.e. from 303K to 313K, the new pressure is increased by a factor

Ginzburg essays

Ginzburg essays Proceeding from the following quote, briefly explain Ginzburgs historical model of stylistic change, referring back to Volliet-le-Duc and Gottfried Semper wherever appropriate. A Flower grows in the field because it cannot help but to grow: thus it cannot contemplate whether or not it is appropriate to the field that existed before it. On the contrary, by its very appearance, the flower transforms the general image of the field Ginzburg talks about the formal development of styles and how the modern architecture is grown from the past but isnt necessarily based on the past. These ideas are very much shared by Semper. This growth is singular and linear, based on a preceding proposition, each out growing the latter, but not continuing the old. ...a person making use of the achievements in electricity cannot, under any circumstances, be forced to revert to steam power. Gottfried Semper explains this form of thinking very well in that, we learn from the past, we cannot copy it, as this is a waste but rather we cannot turn our backs on this existing knowledge, and previous epochs. The development and changing of styles is a meshed concept. There is no end or beginning of styles. Ginzburg explains the life of a particular style as a growing organism in that it is born, lives out its youth, matures and lives out its old age, but never dies, but rather atrophies. This is why the actual timing of a style is impossible to track, for there is no death of a style, the life of the style atrophies. Styles cannot be erased because they are not physical elements to knocked down and demolished. So when an epoch forms, there is a trace of the old style, a marking, like a child would have of his parents. Each style has a genetic imprint of its parent, history. A flower grows in the field because it cannot help but to grow... A flower germinates in the grown and is thus, ...

Mathematical Properties of Waves

Mathematical Properties of Waves Physical waves, or mechanical waves, form through the vibration of a medium, be it a string, the Earths crust, or particles of gases and fluids. Waves have mathematical properties that can be analyzed to understand the motion of the wave. This article introduces these general wave properties, rather than how to apply them in specific situations in physics. Transverse Longitudinal Waves There are two types of mechanical waves. A is such that the displacements of the medium are perpendicular (transverse) to the direction of travel of the wave along the medium. Vibrating a string in periodic motion, so the waves move along it, is a transverse wave, as are waves in the ocean. A longitudinal wave is such that the displacements of the medium are back and forth along the same direction as the wave itself. Sound waves, where the air particles are pushed along in the direction of travel, is an example of a longitudinal wave. Even though the waves discussed in this article will refer to travel in a medium, the mathematics introduced here can be used to analyze properties of non-mechanical waves. Electromagnetic radiation, for example, is able to travel through empty space, but still, has the same mathematical properties as other waves. For example, the Doppler effect for sound waves is well known, but there exists a similar Doppler effect for light waves, and they are based around the same mathematical principles. What Causes Waves? Waves can be viewed as a disturbance in the medium around an equilibrium state, which is generally at rest. The energy of this disturbance is what causes the wave motion. A pool of water is at equilibrium when there are no waves, but as soon as a stone is thrown in it, the equilibrium of the particles is disturbed and the wave motion begins.The disturbance of the wave travels, or propogates, with a definite speed, called the wave speed (v).Waves transport energy, but not matter. The medium itself doesnt travel; the individual particles undergo back-and-forth or up-and-down motion around the equilibrium position. The Wave Function To mathematically describe wave motion, we refer to the concept of a wave function, which describes the position of a particle in the medium at any time. The most basic of wave functions is the sine wave, or sinusoidal wave, which is a periodic wave (i.e. a wave with repetitive motion). It is important to note that the wave function doesnt depict the physical wave, but rather its a graph of the displacement about the equilibrium position. This can be a confusing concept, but the useful thing is that we can use a sinusoidal wave to depict most periodic motions, such as moving in a circle or swinging a pendulum, which dont necessarily look wave-like when you view the actual motion. Properties of the Wave Function wave speed (v) - the speed of the waves propagationamplitude (A) - the maximum magnitude of the displacement from equilibrium, in SI units of meters. In general, it is the distance from the equilibrium midpoint of the wave to its maximum displacement, or it is half the total displacement of the wave.period (T) - is the time for one wave cycle (two pulses, or from crest to crest or trough to trough), in SI units of seconds (though it may be referred to as seconds per cycle).frequency (f) - the number of cycles in a unit of time. The SI unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz) and1 Hz 1 cycle/s 1 s-1angular frequency (ω) - is 2Ï€ times the frequency, in SI units of radians per second.wavelength (ÃŽ ») - the distance between any two points at corresponding positions on successive repetitions in the wave, so (for example) from one crest or trough to the next, in SI units  of meters.  wave number (k) - also called the propagation constant, this useful quantity is defined as 2 Ï₠¬ divided by the wavelength, so the SI units are radians per meter. pulse - one half-wavelength, from equilibrium back Some useful equations in defining the above quantities are: v ÃŽ » / T ÃŽ » fω 2 Ï€ f 2 Ï€/TT 1 / f 2 Ï€/ωk 2Ï€/ωω vk The vertical position of a point on the wave, y, can be found as a function of the horizontal position, x, and the time, t, when we look at it. We thank the kind mathematicians for doing this work for us, and obtain the following useful equations to describe the wave motion: y(x, t) A sin ω(t - x/v) A sin 2Ï€ f(t - x/v)y(x, t) A sin 2Ï€(t/T - x/v)y(x, t) A sin (ω t - kx) The Wave Equation One final feature of the wave function is that applying calculus to take the second derivative yields the wave equation, which is an intriguing and sometimes useful product (which, once again, we will thank the mathematicians for and accept without proving it): d2y / dx2 (1 / v2) d2y / dt2 The second derivative of y with respect to x is equivalent to the second derivative of y with respect to t divided by the wave speed squared. The key usefulness of this equation is that whenever it occurs, we know that the function y acts as a wave with wave speed v and, therefore, the situation can be described using the wave function.

HOSPITALITY AND HOTELS IN THE UK INDUSTRY COURSEWORK

HOSPITALITY AND HOTELS IN THE UK INDUSTRY - Coursework Example ort about the Hospitality and Hotel Industry of the United Kingdom we will discuss the position of the hotel industry today, and how it has emerged from a depression. We will also discuss the ongoing trends, economic factors and other external factors that will affect the hotel industry. Moreover, the report establishes link between hospitality sector and other sectors of the UK economy like travel, tourism and leisure. It has been unveiled that the hotel owners in the United Kingdom are coming out of an approximately three year long economic depression, their revenue had declined significantly. The numbers of occupancies and the room rates have now increased according to the PwC. The four star brand hotels have increased as cutting down in budgets have forced the traveller who is conscious about its travelling cost live in low cost hotels, this has increased competition in the United Kingdom hotel industry due to an increase in the supply of hotels. According to PwC the number of occupancies in the region is estimated to rise to 71 percent, this level was last seen in 2007 and 2008. The rates will be best since 2009; the average daily rates this year might be up to  £60. The main standard for the hotel industry regarding the revenue per available room will increase by 1.8 per cent next year to  £43.44, this is not as good when compared to inflation however it shows some sign on stability in the hotel industry. There are 12,600 hotels in the United Kingdom with 633,000 rooms total; further 20,000 rooms are expected to open in about 200 hotels in 2013 and 2014. In the market for four star hotels there are many developments going on for example Starwood Hotels Aloft which is opening in Liverpool. (Blitz, 2013) The hospitality industry does not merely comprises of hotels and resturants but there are varies range of services and organizations types included in this industry. There are mainly 12 different sectors of this industry. All of these sector offer wide

Fashion and Flesh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fashion and Flesh - Essay Example The essay "Fashion and Flesh" talks about Flesh and Fashion. Unfortunately, males also look to these images to determine whether or not the females in their lives can compare, or if they have made the cut to be considered attractive. Television, movies, and magazines have greatly altered our perception of what a normal, healthy, beautiful human being should look like. Plus-size models, though they do exist, are very few and far between. It is almost impossible to find a magazine or watch a television show or movie that does not have a very thin female as the center of attention, or as a supporting cast. Yet when people in real life look around at the other people surrounding them, they tend to become confused at how many different body types there really are in this world and how very few of them can actually be compared to those on the silver screen. Unfortunately, the same perception is made as these people look at themselves. To constantly see size two waists on television and the n to look down at your own size five body has the ability to be discomforting. It suddenly becomes a dream, a goal, to look just like the skinny frame viewed on television. Eating disorders have become very common in young females, and many of these cases can be traced back to the lack of self-esteem they feel after having viewed too many of these thin starlets. They either expect themselves to look the same, or else are expected by others to be just as thin. Becoming the glamorized perception of beautiful has become a task.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Essay Example for Free

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Essay Mordicai Gerstein was born November 24, 1935 in Los Angeles. He attended the Chouinard Institute of Art before moving to New York City where he lived and worked for twenty-five years making animated films for television. He tells on his official website, that he never thought to be something else but a painter, when he grows up (http://www. mordicaigerstein. com). To support his family, he designed and directed animated television commercials. In the mid 1960s he made some films of his own until 1970, when he met Elizabeth Levy, who asked him to illustrate for a children’s book she has written. Encouraged by her and other editors, he started to write his own books in 1980s. In 2004, he received the Caldecott medal for his book â€Å"The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. † Besides the Caldecott medal, he received numerous awards such as AJLA SidneyTaylor Award in 2005, Hornbook Award in 2004 and was chosen as the gold award winner of parents’ choice in 2002. His works include among others Sholom’s Treasure, What Charlie Heard, The Wild Boy, The Mountains of Tibet and many more. Mordicai Gerstein is also a painter, sculptor, and prize-winning designer and director of animated films. Mordicai Gerstein lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Susan Yard Harris, who is also an illustrator, and their daughter, Risa (http://www. mordicaigerstein. com). The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Narrative Consideration In 2003, Roaring Brook Press published Gerstein’s children’s book â€Å"The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. this story opens, French aerialist Philippe Petit is dancing across a tightrope tied between two trees to the delight of the passersby in Lower Manhattan. Gerstein places him in the middle of a balancing act, framed by the two unfinished World Trade Center towers when the idea hits: He looked not at the towers, but at the space between them and thought, what a wonderful place to stretch a rope† (Gerstein, 2004, p. 4). The rising action takes place when Petit knew that the police and the owners of the towers would never allow him walk across the two towers. So he and his friends disguised as construction workers, carried a 440 pound reel of cable and other equipment on an August evening, causing the conflict in this story. After carrying everything up to the roof, Petit and his friends tied the line to an arrow and shot it from one tower to the other and tightened it. After the dawn he started to walk on the wire and the story has reached its climax. He was arrested and was sentenced to â€Å"perform in the park for the children of the city† (Gerstein, 2004, p. 25). This story ends with the picture of the World Trade Center which is long gone now. Based on the narratives, this book contains characteristics of a good plot since it includes â€Å"a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning should quickly engage the reader’s interest (†¦) established by using characters and a conflict that the reader can relate to and care about. The conflict should grab the attention of the reader and create a desire to find out what happens† (Sawyer, 2012, p. 84). Gerstein’s story definitely encompasses this concept. The main character, Philip Petit is captivating and fascinating. His courage and stubbornness can be detected throughout the story. Sawyer (2012) mentions in his textbook that â€Å"a good author will let the reader know the personality and motivation of the character through the character’s thoughts, words, actions, language, and expressions (†¦) the character may change and grow, but the basic portrayal must remain intact† (p. 78-79). Petit’s character certainly remains consistent throughout the story and provides the reader with the feeling of intensity and even personal closeness to Petit himself, while following his actions closely. Interestingly, this mesmerizing story has a real hidden theme which is the 9/11. Using Petit’s character as the medium, Gerstein addresses the effect of the tragedy happened ten years ago. This enables the story to evoke different emotions in readers and offers the opportunities to tackle different topics depending on the level of understanding and maturity of a child. Art Consideration â€Å"In picture books, the illustrations play a key role in conveying the message of the story† (Sawyer, 2012, p. 93). This can be seen in this book. The story is masterfully illustrated using pen and oil colors. Gerstein’s drawing is dramatic and even reckless. This is especially suitable for this story as the plot itself is full of suspense. As the conflict arises and is reaching its climax, the pacing of sentences decreases and eventually becomes a single sentence in order to draw the attention from the readers to the illustration and to increase the expectancy. In its climax, the text completely disappears and a small, framed close-up of Petits foot on the wire yields to two three-page foldouts of the walk. One captures his progress from above, the other from the perspective of a pedestrian. Even though the text is not placed consistently on the same line, they are simple and short enough to follow and are always synchronized with the pictures. The illustration is mesmerizing in its color which matches to the different mood as the events take place chronologically. â€Å"The final scene depicts transparent, cloud-filled skyscrapers, a man in their midst. With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them† (www. amazon. com). Overall analysis After reading this book, I had mixed feelings. First of all, I strongly feel that this targets readers at the age seven and above. The reason is first of all the theme which addresses the 9/11. It is a tricky and difficult topic for children to understand as any tragedy can be. Second reason is the moral of the story. Even though the Caldecott award does not necessarily focuses on the moral or any educational intentions, I did not agree with Petit’s actions. After reading the book, I automatically assumed that the story encouraged the reader to follow any goal they have whether it is ethical or not. The main character even gets away with his rule-breaking action without any punitive consequences. It is clear that his action is an admiration for his profound commitment to his own â€Å"mission† and his willingness not to limit his life according to the constraints set up by society. However, this book not only depicts but even seemingly glorifies deceits and it can be alarming for authoritative figures such as us future teachers. One can argue that it is inspiring to observe someone having such tremendous control of their body and mind with determination. Nonetheless, the way this book comes across can be defiant of authority especially of the police, given that there were many policemen who came to serve alongside the firemen during/after 9/11. Perhaps this book will be a good tool to discuss these issues. In conclusion, despite my disagreement with the moral of the story, I have to give props to the author/illustrator for his skilled and entrancing story and drawings. It is, without doubt, a very interesting story and something that can be conferred in depth. In this regard, I think this book does deserve the Caldecott medal. Although I did not think this book was suitable to read to my children, if used wisely by knowing their level of maturity and understanding, this book can be utilized effectively to help them think for themselves. In his acceptance speech in 2004, Gerstein emphasized this by saying â€Å"children do need adults; I think it’s children that make us become the adults they need. We must give them love and nourishment and books, which, as we know, are part of a healthy diet. My intention in all my books is to give children just what I want to give everyone: something beautiful, magical, funny, and soulful: something that provokes good questions: questions about what an incomprehensible, beautiful and seemingly impossible thing it is to be a human being in this incomprehensible, beautiful and seemingly impossible world. What could be more difficult and more wonderful? † (http://www. mordicaigerstein. com) I hope that he follows through with this philosophy and continues to create children’s book based on this regard.

Representation of Women in Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart and Perfect Days by Liz Lochead :: Weep Stewart Perfect Lochead Essays

Representation of Women in "Men Should Weep" by Ena Lamont Stewart and "Perfect Days" by Liz Lochead Both plays portray women as very independent people. In â€Å"Men Should Weep†, Maggie is the main female character. She is a housewife living in a male dominated society. The main theme of the play is her journey form oppressed housewife to self-empowered women. Whereas in â€Å"Perfect Days† Barbs the main female character is an extremely independent woman from the start and has worked hard to earn herself her own hairdressers. Maggie’s husband John is a very self-centred character; he doesn’t have a job or any notion to ever help around the house. Yet he thinks that is perfectly acceptable. Due to the way society was in that day and age then it said that once a woman wedded they automatically became their husband’s property. This meant that they had no choice but to obey their husbands every demand. What they said went. â€Å"I’d an idea a wis heid o this hoose† This demonstrates that even though John doesn’t contribute to the family he still feels he is superior to them all. Maggie takes this though she doesn’t argue with him as she believes that he is head of the household and she constantly stands up for him. Lily, Maggie’s independent single sister is very much against men she thinks ‘there aw dirty beasts’. As she argues with Maggie about John but Maggie straight away stands up for her husband. â€Å"You leave John alane! He does his best for us† Even though Maggie knows John doesn’t do anything for her and her children she still stands strongly by her husband as that was the right thing to do. Not only does Maggie have her husband to run around after her and look after her, but she also has five children. â€Å"If you’ve got wee ans, you’ve got tae put up wi the fella that gie’d ya them† The women in the play are constantly making excuses for the men and their behaviour. Maggie is particularly bad at doing this. This is a prime example of this behaviour as Mrs Bone her neighbour gets domestically abused and this is Maggie’s attempt to offer her support. As the play progresses Maggie gradually starts to see sense and comes to realise how weak men really are. â€Å"They canna staun up tae things like a wummen† This shows female strength and is the start of a major turning point for Maggie as she becomes more and more disenchanted with her life. Jenny, Maggie’s eldest daughter runs of at the beginning of the play but returns at the end with money and the opportunity for Maggie and

Country Risk Analysis-China Essay

With the development of economic globalization, foreign direct investment (FDI) is increasingly being recognized as an important factor in the economic development of countries. Although FDI began centuries ago, the biggest growth has occurred in recent years. This growth resulted from several factors, particularly the more receptive attitude of governments to investment inflows, the process of privatization, and the growing interdependence of the world economy. Team B will perform a country risk analysis to ensure that endeavors of investing into the Chinese markets are warranted. Initial ScreeningGreater China has been one of the most dynamic areas in the world economy. With the entry of the China into the World Trade Organization, China’s financial markets emerge on the frontier of economic reform and openness. Financial services also provide the most exciting foreign business opportunities in China. However, the recent Asian financial crisis illuminates the problems in China’s state-run enterprises and an ill-functioning banking system. This paper is looking for the business opportunity of financial services industry in China. It will begin from the review of the emerging economies to explain why the specific region was chose. The research of this paper also includes business analysis in China, a review of profitable industry, the business entry strategy and its functional areas operate in China. At the end, the future strategy and the recommendations will be discussed for the further steps in this investment. Potentials/FDILooking at the environmental factors of China, the economic development it has undergone in the past 15 years is of increasing interest to marketers. It has developed and continues to grow into a great trading partner. If this growth pattern continues, China will someday have significant economic influence on the world. One reason China could have a particularly large effect is due to the number of Chinese citizens. China supports over 1.29 billion people and this number is increasing by .93%. If the standard of living persists and income levels rise, it would be possible to accept the Chinese as potential consumers that would unlock a huge market  of individuals. The massive population has been a burden on China because the economy, as it stands now, cannot bear to support such a number of citizens. The government is trying to gain control of this problem by limiting the number of children to one per household, with exceptions to ethnic minorities and those living in rural areas. Other countries are offering their services to attempt to control the birthrate by showing the government that population control can be managed without a coercive and involuntary approach. The government has been losing its authority due to political changes and popular resistance that make population standards difficult to maintain. Therefore, some projections still approximate that 1.6 billion will make up China’s population by the year 2025. Countries wishing to take advantage of China’s emerging opportunities are investing a large amount of time, effort and money in order to access such a vast market. These possibilities were made possible when China started its reform in 1978, opening its doors to foreign investments and trade. This changed a self-reliant central economy into a mixed economy that combined state owned enterprises and private businesses. China could now allow individual citizens to have different amounts of incomes. The results have changed China dramatically making it the fastest growing economy for 15 years. When the reforms began in 1978, 60 percent of the population earned less than $1 a day. Since the reform, GDP has grown steadily by an average of 9 percent. In the year 2000, GDP grew by 8 percent. Currently, per capita is equivalent to $3600 and as the economy continues to expand the purchasing power of individuals will increase as well. The new economic reform policy intends to reduce central planning and increase business autonomy and spread income. Many problems still exist, despite the success of the policy and rapid economic growth. There is a movement for more privatization of some State Owned Enterprises because many remain unprofitable. In the year 2000, 46.5% of the SOEs were running at a loss. These problems stem from the socialist system that is still in place under their Constitution. Under the Chinese Constitution, it is the  responsibility of the government to manage the economy by means of production quotas and price setting. This apparent contradiction between the reform policy and the Constitution (1982) seem to work against each other. China will never succeed at full potential unless it retires the Marxist views and embraces a market directed system. Economic IndicatorsChina’s economic growth remains quite high due to the large investments from the United States and Europe. The labor sector has a competitive edge with the rest of the globe now, where outsourcing of work to China is a priority among the large corporations. The Second Screening tries to look at more specific types of economic indicators to determine the risk and safety for a foreign company to invest in China, a country that has a communist government. â€Å"According to the World Economic Forum, China has moved up from 33 to 39 in their 2002-2003 Growth Competitive Index while the IMD has mainland China listed as number 12. Summary data can be accessed below.†In terms of trade surplus, there are fluctuations all the time due to the business cycle. Not all cycles of goods and services in China fall into predictable patterns†China’s trade surplus in March fell to $6.9 billion, well below forecasts and down sharply from February’s $23.7 billion surplus, reports AP. It was not clear whether the drop in March was the result of government efforts or would have a lasting impact.†(www.metrics2.com)http://www.metrics2.com/blog/economic_indicators/Inflation is something that remains as long as prices keep going up, and there are no controls of prices. The Chinese communist government does have strict controls over the Chinese currency. Its central bank controls the overall balance of payments within the country when dealing with foreign investors, as the United States. â€Å"China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.3 percent year-on-year in July, mainly due to the lagging effect of price hikes at the end of 2003 and one-time factors, said the monthly report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Thursday. â€Å"The July inflation rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the 5 percent rise in June, making it the second  consecutive month that China’s inflation exceeded 5 percent. Currency ConvertibilityCurrency in China is called the â€Å"Renminbi and although it tries to be strictly controlled by the Chinese government, the currency competes on the world currency market just like the American dollar and the Euro. The currency is tied to the economic health of the country in terms of balance of payments. Sometimes this is difficult to understand because of the globalized world economies today, where every country deals in all of the world’s currencies. International corporation for example can pay for goods and services in any form of currency. â€Å"The official currency of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is Renminbi (meaning in Chinese: â€Å"people’s currency†). The People’s Bank of China, the PRC’s monetary authority, issues the Chinese currency. The official ISO 4217 abbreviation of China’s currency is CNY, but it is also abbreviated as â€Å"RMB†. Colloquially, the Chinese currency is also called Yuan and Kuai.†(www.danwei.org)Gross Domestic Product†China is likely to declare itself the world’s fourth largest economy next week, having leapfrogged Italy, France and Britain, after a widely expected revision of its annual gross domestic product figures.† â€Å"Economists say the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which is due to release part of the results of its first national economic census on December 20, is likely to put a much bigger figure on the size of China’s services sector. â€Å"Political and Legal barriers to doing business in ChinaThe People’s Republic of China is a dichotomy of cultures and lifestyles. While maintaining the culture of an old world, there is a marked representation of Western culture all over the larger cities in the country. However, anyone wishing to do business in China will have to know and understand both cultures, and all the legal and political implications involved in doing creating a successful presence in China. In China, the first step in doing business is to have a legal framework to operate your business. You need a legitimate platform to launch your business venture. It is not advisable to use proxy or another Chinese company to conduct business in China (www.seve.gr). While the most obvious barriers to doing business in China include tariffs and other financial  limitations, there are some non-tariff barriers that could inhibit a business from doing business in China. Entry BarriersGovernments often provide trade consultations and administrative guidance to companies to facilitate implementation of their respective industrial policies. In some countries the role of government may take the form of a caretaker, coordinator and leader providing guidance, coordination and arbitration. In order to achieve these goals, governments use such tactics as licensing, foreign exchange allocations and quotas. These tactics could interfere with free trade and become a barrier to market entry (www.foxweb.marist.edu). Profit Remittance BarriersFinancial controls may take the form of exchange controls, multiple exchange rates, and prior import deposits, as well as credit restrictions and profit remittance restrictions. Exchange controls limit the amount of currency that can be taken abroad. Such controls limit the amount of currency an importer can obtain to pay for the goods purchased. It also limits the amount of currency an exporter receives for goods sold and the length of time it can hold the currency (www.foxweb.marist.edu). Prior to 2005, most businesses in China were state-owned and it was virtually impossible for non-state businesses to enter the Chinese market. However, in 2005, China lifted trade barriers that would allow private businesses to invest in the infrastructure, industry and utilities of China. Although the government has displayed support for the development of non-state economy in recent years, there are still barriers to the development of the private sector especially in the power and oil industries. Even in Shanghai where the private economy booms, the non-state business often faces many limits from various industries (www.English.peopledaily.com). Cultural IssuesChina’s estimated population for 2007 is greater than 1,321,800,000 with â€Å"a relatively small cohort.† (CIA, 2007) The median age  in China is 33.2 (32.7 male and 33.7 female). Exhibit 1 (CIA, 2007)Life expectancy is estimated at 72.88 years. Seven out of every 1,000 people die each year. Infant mortality rate is 22.12 per every 1,000 births (20.01 male and 24.47 female). (CIA, 2007). The Chinese ethnic population is 91.9% Han Chinese; while the remaining 8.1% is made up of Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other. Exhibit 2 (Cyborlink, n.d.)Culturally, China ranks highest in long-term orientation. â€Å"This dimension indicates a society’s time perspective and an attitude of preserving; that is, overcoming obstacles with time, if not with will and strength.† (Cyborlink, n.d.) Geert Hofstede has conducted many cultural analyses and ranked China the lowest in Asia in regards to individualism. This is thought to be in part to an emphasis on a Collectivist society by Communist rule. Culturally, the Chinese are close and committed to family and relationships and loyalty is considered very important. Hofstede also noted that China ranks 80 in regards to power distance; while the rest of Asia averages 60 and the rest of the world averages 50. â€Å"This is indicative of a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society. This condition is not necessarily forced up the population, but rather accepted by the society as their cultural heritage.† (Cyborlink, n.d.) In regard religions, China is an atheistic society (94%); while only three to four percent are Taoist, Buddhist, or Christian, and one to two percent are Muslim. Education in China is very important. â€Å"Two years before the dawn of the 21st Century the Chinese government proposed an ambitious plan intended to expand university enrollment to ensure a greater output of professional and specialized graduates.† (Cyborlink, n.d.) The government’s goal is to develop an elite of world-class universities. Today, 90.9% of the Chinese population is literate; however, only 85.5% of Chinese females are literate compared to 95.1% of Chinese males are literate. The 2006 estimated Chinese labor force consisted of 798 million people with  an official unemployment rate of 4.2% for urban areas. Unemployment and underemployment rates for rural areas are considerably higher. According to the 2006 labor estimates, 45% of the labor force was involved in agriculture; 24% industry; and 31% services. Exhibit 3 (CIA, 2007)Competitive forcesNumber, size and financial strengthWith this being a relatively new product idea there is very little competition. That is not to say that there is no competition. Similar software exists however it does not take into account the end user. Most fashion software is for the designer more so than the consumer. Our software allows people put in there body type and shape and then see how clothes would look on you before you ever step foot in a store. Market shareWith a very small number of competitors is allows for firms to have very large shares of the market. We understand that being brand new we will not be able to have the entire market, however within the first three months we expect to grow it by a factor three. This is very ambitious but we feel with our strategic partnerships and quality product we should be the market leader within the first 18 months. Marketing strategiesOur marketing strategy will be to associate our self with an established fashion label(s). We will use there good name to help promote our product as a product extension of the clothes. DistributionWe will distribute our products through online stores as well as their contemporary bricks and mortar counterpart. We feel this is the best over all solution to get the product into the hands of as many people as possible. The competition utilizes the internet as well as physical stores as well so we must do both as well. Modes of entryAs for the mode of entry, we have decided that because of the bureaucratic red tape associated with doing business in china it would be most beneficial if we combined our efforts with an already established clothing company. That way we would not have to launch a completely new company however just branch out as a different product line to an existing  brand. We will probably use price skimming as this type of software will be aimed at consumers who are willing to pay a premium for fashion. Also they might perceive a lower price as a lower quality product. An alternative mode of entry could be if we sold our software to multiple clothing makers and allow them to use the software as a tool. This also would eliminate some of the governmental procedures. This solution would also get the product out and into more users. The products of this industry are services, it is extremely important to build good relationship with customer and build customer loyalty in long term. This issue is currently managed by the group successfully. The only challenge is to keep the standard when entering the China market. In the highly competitive business atmosphere currently occurring in China, there is a large shortage of qualified employees. Many companies are eager to attract as many skilled professionals as possible, especially in financial services industry. Local business giants realize the urgency and magnitude of their needs. Besides the great number of expatiate executives, management-training companies in Shanghai have mushroomed to several thousand to provide the management talent. In conclusion, with the speed up of world economic integration process and the gradual opening of financial market after China’s entry into WTO, China financial services sector will have to face more powerful competition and challenges from overseas intruders. China will be stepping up infrastructure development and offering equal opportunities to both the foreign banks and the domestics. It also is a greater opportunity for WF to take a step in sharing the market. References China lifts barriers of private business into monopolized industries. (2005). Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/20/eng20050120_171269.htmlCIA. (2007, April). China. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from The World Fact Book:https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.htmlCyborlink. (n.d.). China. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from International Business

Experiencing Cities Essay

The text â€Å"Experiencing Cities† by Mark Hutter deals with micro sociology and symbolic interaction theory. This means the way people experience the urban world in relationship to their everyday lives. This would include the interaction with others that would create meaning for them from the physical and human environment of the city. The exercise was to pick up certain aspects of micro sociology and use my life experiences as examples to show my understanding of this theory. The text uses perspectives from other social science disciplines in studying the city. Some of these included urban history, art, architectural history, urban geography and environmental psychology. Global urbanization is discussed in the last chapter, which to me helped me to understand where I am in the context of the world. I am a twenty-one year old, female student. I attend college full-time, work full-time and live with my parents in New York City. I am single and have no children and hope to obtain my degree in Social Sciences. First I would like to discuss symbolic interactionism and the self in society. Functionalism, conflict theory and evolutionism tend to be macrotheories that direct the sociologist toward large-scale phenomena, their relationships and changes in them. To use an example from my life would be the terrorist acts that happen on 911. This is a macrosocial phenomenon but at the micro level it affected me and my family, the family members of the victims and New York City. On the Macro level it affected the United States, and on a wider picture it also affected the globe. Symbolic interactionism, like exchange theory, is a micro orientation. It is a theoretical map that directs the sociologist in quests to understand how individuals interact in face to face relationships, relationships that are the foundation of social life. Unlike exchange theory, symbolic interactionism does not stress concepts of rewards and costs. Instead it is an emphasis on the human self, symbolic communications and interaction between persons based upon symbolic communication. The self is the process that is made up of the interaction of two self-aspects. These are â€Å"I† and â€Å"Me†. This is the knowing of self, the self asking and revising questions in the present or the â€Å"I†. Then there is the self-aspect composed of past experiences and conscious identity, the â€Å"Me†. The â€Å"I† is the self-aspect that exists in the present, which notes the world around it, that questions, that is impulsive, and that suggests my behavior. The â€Å"me† is based on past experience and is judgmental of my impulses. The â€Å"I† is my creative self; the â€Å"me† is my social self. For example I am basically a night person; I am working on this exercise at midnight. Being a night person I believe that the best way to be sure to have a good morning is to sleep through most of it. Because of this I have always tried to have my classes scheduled for afternoon or evenings, when possible. But last quarter I found to my horror, that due to a series of circumstances, I was forced to take a course that met on Monday’s at 8 a. m. This is a time of day I have rarely seen and when I have seen it, it was not because I was up very early, but because I was up very late. When the alarm clock rang at 6:15, the immediate impulsive action of my self arising in my â€Å"I† was to pull the plug on the alarm and go back to sleep. I would have done so, had not the â€Å"me† aspect of my self reminded me that would be a bad idea. As the socially aware, judgmental self-aspect, it reinforced me of the need to get up, shower, and eat so I could meet my responsibilities as a student and my goals. But I was still very tired and my â€Å"I† suggested that I sleep another half hour. My judgmental â€Å"me† aspect suggested twenty minutes more was the maximum time I could sleep if I was to meet my responsibilities. I proceeded to go back to sleep for twenty minutes and at 8:00 a. m. I went to my economics’ class ready to absorb the knowledge. Society is created by interactions between persons first with their selves that allow them to plan and coordinate their own behaviors. But social interaction first requires more than selves and it depends on symbolic communication through language. A verbal symbol is a sound which indicates some object. The spoken word say for example chair means something to sit on. People who are born in the same society learn more or less the same symbols. For example, I went to Ohio once to visit a friend I asked for a soda and was told that she didn’t have soda but she had Pepsi. That’s what I wanted, but in Ohio they ask for a pop. People born in the same society that pick up the same symbols helps conversations between persons in which joint plans are made and communicated. So the existence of the self and symbolic communication makes group interaction possible. Because I have self and can communicate symbolically I can form groups such as my family, my college and my religion. These are the foundation of social life. People will think of the world in terms of symbols that represent objects and these objects can be physical like chairs and books, social like teachers or sisters, and abstract such as truth, liberty, or evil. To understand cities and the development of cities I thought of looking at urbanization first. Urbanization refers to masses of people moving to cities and to these cities having a growing influence on society. Urbanization is worldwide. To understand the city’s attraction the first thing to consider is the pull of urban life. New York City offers an incredible variety of social events such as music ranging from rock to classic, architectural history, and cultural diversity. It also offers anonymity, which I find so much better than the scrutiny and restriction my friend had in her small town in Ohio. But probably the most important factor would be the opportunities in jobs. There are three types that life in cities by choice the cosmopolites, which I fall into, are students, intellectuals, professionals, artists, and entertainers. We are pulled to the city because of the conveniences and cultural beliefs. The single, another group I can associate with, are young unmarried people that are staying in the city because of the job and entertainment. Staying in the city reflects a stage in my life course, because after I marry and have children I have thought of moving to the suburbs. Then there are the ethnic villagers that are united by race-ethnicity and social class. These people live in tightly knit neighborhoods that resemble villages and small towns around New York City. Moving within a close circle of family and friends trying to isolate them from what they view as the harmful effects of city life. There are two groups that have little choice about where they live; they are the deprived and the trapped. Symbolic interactionism focuses on society as an outcome of persons with self-identities interacting with one another. An example of how symbolic interactionism can be applied to me by how I view myself as say; a drinker I have been taught about drinking through interaction with my friends. The learning requires interaction in a number of steps. This process is often accompanied by learning to explain away some unpleasant sensations caused by drinking in excess. Once drinking begins individuals will change their self-concept and thoughts of themselves as an occasional or to regular use of alcohol. So major changes made by alcohol were not caused by the alcohol but by learned changes in self identity. So in addition to other theories critical theory, phenomenology and ehtnomehtodology are also important to experiencing cities. Critical theory focuses on alienation and social contradictions and how they are overcome. Phenomenology focuses on how claims to knowledge about society are constructed. Ethnomethodology looks at how social actors make sense of their own actions and all of these are used to understand society.

Free Essays on Dreams And Reality In Heart Of Darkness

Joseph Conrad’s story Heart of Darkness contains several prominent themes. The theme of dreams creates an atmosphere of ambiguity and mystery. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad portrays the characters and plot as mysterious and â€Å"dark.† The theme of dreams in Heart Of Darkness increases the ambiguity of the novel while revealing depth and personal torment in the character Marlow. In the story, Dreams reveal Marlow in his youth. As a child, maps fascinated Marlow. He is especially entranced by the blank unexplored spaces. Marlow dreams â€Å"When I grow up, I will go there† (Conrad, 5), referring to â€Å"a white patch† on a map. Marlow actually completes his only articulated dream and explores these areas. The dream falls short of the reality. Marlow fulfilled his dream of exploring the â€Å"blank spaces,† however the reality of his experiences was extremely different from his childhood fantasies. Marlow gains valuable insight about the world and himself by fulfilling his goal and traveling to Africa. By describing Marlow’s childhood dreams, Conrad portrays Marlow as good, innocent, and pure. However, Marlow is innocent because he has not yet been exposed to the darkness. Marlow seems to relate the entire story as he would relate a dream. The story is complex and Marlow is unsure that he is being understood. â€Å"It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream- making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is the very essence of dreams†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Conrad, 24). Marlow’s experiences seem ambiguous and unclear. His experience is as difficult to communicate as a dream. Marlow compares his journey to a dream, emphasizing the self-discovery and internal nature of his experience. Marlow states his general outlook on dreams; that the pa... Free Essays on Dreams And Reality In Heart Of Darkness Free Essays on Dreams And Reality In Heart Of Darkness Joseph Conrad’s story Heart of Darkness contains several prominent themes. The theme of dreams creates an atmosphere of ambiguity and mystery. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad portrays the characters and plot as mysterious and â€Å"dark.† The theme of dreams in Heart Of Darkness increases the ambiguity of the novel while revealing depth and personal torment in the character Marlow. In the story, Dreams reveal Marlow in his youth. As a child, maps fascinated Marlow. He is especially entranced by the blank unexplored spaces. Marlow dreams â€Å"When I grow up, I will go there† (Conrad, 5), referring to â€Å"a white patch† on a map. Marlow actually completes his only articulated dream and explores these areas. The dream falls short of the reality. Marlow fulfilled his dream of exploring the â€Å"blank spaces,† however the reality of his experiences was extremely different from his childhood fantasies. Marlow gains valuable insight about the world and himself by fulfilling his goal and traveling to Africa. By describing Marlow’s childhood dreams, Conrad portrays Marlow as good, innocent, and pure. However, Marlow is innocent because he has not yet been exposed to the darkness. Marlow seems to relate the entire story as he would relate a dream. The story is complex and Marlow is unsure that he is being understood. â€Å"It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream- making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is the very essence of dreams†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Conrad, 24). Marlow’s experiences seem ambiguous and unclear. His experience is as difficult to communicate as a dream. Marlow compares his journey to a dream, emphasizing the self-discovery and internal nature of his experience. Marlow states his general outlook on dreams; that the pa...

Atticus Finch, a Father and Teacher

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is full of life lessons and influential figures as siblings Jem and Scout grow up without a mother. As a single parent raising Scout and Jem, it is their father Atticus Finch who influences the children most. Atticus challenges them to be better people and helps them to discover many important life lessons. Some of these include not judging a book by its cover, compromising and keeping your head high and fists down. These lessons play a crucial part of Jem and Scouts’ growth into young adults and allow them to stay strong during the controversial trial of Tom Robinson. One of the first lessons Atticus teaches Scout is compromise He promises that â€Å"If [she] concedes the necessity of going to school, [they’ll] go on reading just as [they] always have. † (Lee 31) Atticus knows Scout is fond of him reading to her, so takes advantage of the situation, not only to convince Scout to go to school, but also to teach her how to compromise. Someone who did not know Scout as well as her father does would not have seen this unique solution or been able to explain the concept to her as well as her father could. Scout’s disastrous first day at school proves to be a flop but is full of valuable teachable moments for Atticus. During the very same conversation† Atticus teaches Scout not to judge a book by its cover. (†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢First of all’ he said, ‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. ’ ‘Sir? ’ ‘Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it:’† (Lee 30) This lesson helps Scout to get along better with her teacher while teaching her to be more understanding of other peoples situations as she exams situations from their point of view. This is not the only time Atticus has to address Scout’s volatile personality, and how it comes out in public. Nor is it the only tie he uses it to teach her a lesson. Atticus again has to address Scouts aggressive behavior after she gives Cecil Jacobs a bloody nose while defending Atticus’s name. This is not the first time Atticus has had to talk to Scout about fighting, but unlike other times, He take the opportunity to teach her a lesson, which sticks with her more than just a simple scolding ever could. He tells her that â€Å"[She] might hear some ugly talk about his [defense of Tom Robinson] at school, but to do one thing for [him] if [she] will: [to] just hold [her] head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to [her], don’t †¦ let ‘em get [her] goat. † (Lee 76) By asking her to do it for him, Atticus makes a stronger impression on her than threats over could. Scout would take a punishment if it meant standing up for Atticus, but she wouldn’t do anything to disappoint or break a promise with her father. Atticus knows this, and uses it to his benefit to make sure Scout does not get into trouble. Given his situation as Tom Robinson’s lawyer, this is one of the most important lessons he could ever teach Scout. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird shows Atticus teaching not only Scout valuable lessons, but also the reader too. Lessons such as compromise, not to judge a book by its cover and to use our words not our fists. These valuable lessons are learnt in our youth but often forgotten, as we grow older. Atticus Finch influences his children in such a way that they will never forget these vital life lessons. Lesson we can all learn and live by!

Human Resource Management Autonomy, Data Collection, and Job Research Paper

Human Resource Management Autonomy, Data Collection, and Job Descriptions - Research Paper Example n of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as defined in Self-Determination Theory, has been identified as an important predictor of individuals’ optimal functioning in various life domains.’ (Broeck, Vansteenkiste, Witte, Soenens & Lens, 2010) Thus autonomy yields a positive attitude towards life and work resulting in improved performance and low employee turnover in an organization. According to the latest issue of TIME magazine, the CEO of Apple Tim Cook sets the example of giving autonomy to his team thus motivating them to be more responsible and productive ‘Cook knows that his commitment to excellence is inseparable from the incredible ensemble at Apple.’ (Gore 2012) The collection of job analysis information is done through questionnaires, interviews and observation. These three traditional methods provide detailed information for the job analysis and generate data used to produce the required job description and job specification. The information gathered through questionnaires gives an overview to the job requirements’ thus matching it to the employee’s ability. The interview process gives detailed in-depth information helpful in the formation of job description. The observation method provides chances of any required amendments in the job description based on the personalized analysis of the employee and his ability to perform his tasks. ‘It is important to analyze specific issues for job analysis information.’ (Condrey 2010) In order to understand the specific issues, the methods are also used in combination with each other in order to provide a better platform for structuring the job description for the employees . Broeck, A., Vansteenkiste, M., Witte, H., Soenens, B., & Lens, W., (2010). Capturing autonomy, competence, and relatedness at work: Construction and initial validation of the work-related basic need satisfaction scale. Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology, 83,