Undergraduate /
Electronic Surgery - intellectually exciting concept (not the Stanford one) [15]
I spent a long time trying to formulate this analogy ><. I hope it fits alright.
Describe an experience that you have had or a concept you have learned about that intellectually excites you.500 words)My Electronic Surgery
Surgery is the way! When I received my first Gameboy, it became my closest companion, and I caressed every scratch I found. One day, in the middle of an intense Pokemon battle, the screen faded. Scared, I demanded my dad to revive it. As my dad dissected the body, I witnessed my first transplant of the heart that my dad called "batteries." Once he sealed the incision, I eagerly snatched my friend and switched it on, and to my utmost relief, it flickered to life! I was grateful for my dad's valiant salvation of my dying friend; he inspired me to become a hero like him and save electronic appliances and its users from devastation.
Boom!
Years later, in the distance, I heard an explosion and saw a fire flare from the asphalt road.
Zzyzx!
The neighborhood suddenly died; lights flickered out. Everything stood morbidly still. A power surge had occurred. For hours, darkness dragged on, and I grew restless. Why couldn't the electric company prevent this disaster? Why are the blowout-cleanups taking forever? No one could offer me answers; since that night, I have decided to take matters into my own hands.
I explored power and discovered the captivating magic of electricity. Its ability to deliver power over thousands of miles baffled my imagination; yet, it had its drawbacks: it often degraded the imperfect materials of the cable, causing power failure and costly explosions. Soon, I longed research ways to prevent such disasters. Fortunately, a Berkeley internship offered me a unique opportunity to investigate the underground vessels that fueled our homes with life.
There, I beheld the ugliest cable. Its skin was ravaged with nasty burns; its core was rotten with rust. It was hopelessly dead. However, I remembered my father's heroism and grew determined to study this cadaver for future good.
Surgery is the way! My mentor and I amputated the mutilated cables and hacked at the silicone skin until we reached the copper veins. We dissected every layer and scrutinized the plastic membranes and aluminum arteries. With multi-meter probes, we analyzed the conditions of each segment until we discovered the culprit of the bane of the cable: the cable suffered the lack of degradation detection.
We knew just the right remedy: sensors would detect cable corrosion and alert the people of impending disaster. Together, we investigated the versatility of electrical sensors and prescribed the dimensions and material of potential models. After weeks of rigorous experimentation and calculations, we formulated our final product: interdigitated copper capacitors. With these sensors, scientists can prevent annoying blackouts, and people will no longer drudge through power outages and prolonged periods of expensive explosion-cleanups.
Although have yet to achieve my father's glorious status, I had succeeded in my first surgical endeavor! My success is by no means final though; scientists will still have to manually replace cables. Can we go further and develop sensors that will repair degrading cables? I hope my research will inspire this search for the ultimate, flawless power system.