THE WORLD AROUND US-1

THE WORLD AROUND US - I

What is wind energy ?

India is the fifth-largest wind energy generator in the world and the potential for wind energy in India is around 45,000 MW (Mega Watt). It is expected that 10% (10,000 MW) of the proposed addition in energy of 1,00,000 MW in the next ten years would come from the renewable energy sector and more, predominantly, from the wind energy sector. Wind power has come of age and the next 20 years will see greater and enhanced deployment of wind electric generators as a clean and green source of power generation in India and other Asian countries. Against adding some 500 MW per year we should be looking at capacity additions of at least 2,000 to 3,000 per year.

When were coins invented ?

Before money came into use, trading was done by barter -- exchange of goods or services. As the years passed, people began to use various objects as money -- blocks of salt, glass beads, claws of wild boar and bears, animals, shells and axes of stone and gave each object a certain value. Between 1100 and 500BC merchandise of this type gradually changed to proper coins -- round shaped and minted from metals such as electrum, silver and gold. The first to mint silver coins with a value corresponding to the weight were the Greeks, but the use of coins soon spread throughout the Mediterranean. The word 'money' began in Rome in the 3rd century BC because the mint, the place where coins were stamped out, developed in the suburbs of the temple of Giunone Moneta.

Why do bodies need bones ?

Bones provide a strong framework that supports the rest of the body, Without bones, you would flop on the floor like an octopus! Some of the bones form a suit of internal armour, which protects the brain, the lungs, the heart, and other vital organs. All the bones together are called skeleton. You can move and bend different parts of the body because the bones meet at joints.

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ANIMALS FACTS - BIRDS and Animals

ANIMALS FACTS

Why are these blue things scattered all over the ground ?

The blue trinkets belong to a male satin bower bird. The colour blue is irresistible to these Australian birds. They collect all kinds of blue stuff from flowers to bits of glass to just plain trash. Then they carefully place their trinkets in and around a special "hut" , called a bower, that they build out of grass. Female bower birds inspect the bower and its decorations. If a female approves of the male's handiwork, she will mate with him and build her nest nearby.

Why is this animal poking nose into a mound of dirt ?

This giant ant eater is sniffing out a termite dinner. It will use its sharp, curved claws to slash an opening in this tough termite mound. Then it will flick its long, worm shaped tongue in and out of the hole, nabbing dozens of the tiny termites with each swipe of its sticky tongue. Some ant eaters can flick their 61 cm tongues in and out of a termite mound or anthill more than 150 times a minute. Now that is really "fast food!"

How do migratory animals find their way ?

Migration is the mass movement of groups of animals. It is caused by the animals' need to find food, due to climatic changes during the year and due to the need to breed. Migrating animals navigate in a variety of ways. Fish use their sense of smell to recognize their migration paths, and are guided by changing water temperatures. Birds use the position of the Sun to orientate themselves. Some birds have magnetic particles in their ear mechanism that can act as a compass. Mammals depend on their memory. They remember the routes of their migratory journey from generation to generation.

The Komoda Dragon

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard. It grows to 3 m in length, attains a weight of about 135 kg and may live to an age of about 100 years.

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ANIMAL FACTS - Moose,Bisons and Three-Toed Sloth

Who is this moose calling to ?

When a male moose is courting a female, he calls to her quietly and rhythmically, over and over again. The female also makes soft, rhythmic sounds and moves her jaws up and down. The male walks toward the female slowly, with his body stretched out, and sniffs her. Moose generally have only one mate. If the male sees a rival, he may make a loud call and then chase him away. The moose are the largest members of the deer family, and they live in North America. 

Bisons

In 1700 there were some 60 million Bisons in North America. Millions were killed for their meat and because their grazing land was needed for farming. Today the bison are making a slow comeback. There are now about 10,000 in the wild.

The three-toed sloth

The three-toed sloth, found in the tropical forests of South America, is the slowest mammal on Earth. It has an average ground speed of 2.2m per minute, but in the trees it can accelerate to 4.6 m per minute.

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