1985_10 The Daily Collegian October 1985

              California State
University,
Fresno
The Daily
Collegian
Tuesday
Oct. 1, 1985
Pump
helps to
irrigate
A device that uses sunlight to water
crops may provide crucial aid to Third
World countries in their struggle against
Jim Thomas, a senior in the Agricultural
Business department, has created a solar-
powered irrigation unit as a project for an
independent study class. He said that the
unit is a practical, cost-effective alternative
for underdeveloped countries with limited
...The unit is "specifically
designed to operate in
areas where no reliable
electricity is available."
—Thomas
access to other sources of energy.
The unit is "specifically designed to
operate in areas where no reliable elec-
ti-rcity tsftrvaitebrr,™Thomassaid. Hpl
that solar power is a safer alternative to
nuclear powerand that it is especially val-
problems make it difficult to depend on
oil and gas as energy sources^
The unit that generates 18eT>ower is
called an array. It consists of 51 solar pan¬
els, made of silicon, which'sre'arranged
into three interconnected roirV When the
array is exposed to the sun, subatomic
particles inside the panels are excited by
the sunlight and this creates static energy.
The static energy is then channeled into
the output box, a small metal box att¬
ached to.the underside of each panel,
which then passes the energy into a wire.
The wires from each of the output boxes
converge into a single wire which trans¬
ports the total energy output from the
panels to the DC/AC invertor.
The function of the invertor is to con¬
vert the static energy from a direct current
(DC) into an alternating current (AC), the
type of energy available from a common
wall socket. The pump motor is then
plugged into the invertor and draws on the
alternating current as its power source.
To ensure that the panels receive the full
benefit of tbe sunlight, the array is mounted
on a tracking system that gradually tilts it
to keep it directly underneath the sun
throughout the day. The tracking system
is powered by a solar-powered motor and
at the end of the day, when the last rays
have disappeared over the western hori¬
zon, the motor returns the panels to an
east-facing position, ready for the next
Thomas said that the tracking mecha¬
nism makes the unit much more efficient
than a stationary array which would only
receive the full intensity of the sunlight
once a day, when the sun was directly over
the panels. He said that this is one of only
two such tracking units in California.
Because the amount of energy produced
by the panels is directly proportional to
the intensity of the sunlight, Thomas said
that on a cloudy day the array will not
produce as much energy as when the sky is
clear. He said that the maximum output
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Erotic songs not new, says historian
doesn't mean ii* not a skilled kind of by contemporary music. She aid the
singing.'* thinks the alienation is due to tbe (act that
Though she admits to being "bored" by many composers, especially after World
current popular music, she pointed out War II. adopted a scientific view-to what
"each generation has its own music and iu they were doing.
important for the sake of generational,
identity.*'               ' Bumpass said she sees a revival of older
Bumpass said the kind of music she instruments in concert music "1 dont
grew up with "helped to identify herself as think it's a case of high-tech instruments
an independent person and to be a part of pushing lower-tech instruments out," she
Obscene lyrics have been a part of tbe
music world for many years according to
Kathryn Bumpass, a new music historian
at CSUF.
Bumpass said' secular music from the
Middle Ages has "many erotic songs that
are quite sexually explicit." In comparison
to today's music, one may argue that they
did this sort of thing with more finesse in
the Middle Ages," she said.
She said she thinks parents have some
reason to be concerned as to what their
children listen to, but "it's the parents
business to keep tabs on that sort of
•aid she isveonccmed that
most of the music today seems to be aimed
al young people under age 1S, and most of
what they're bearing is a rather "violent
kind of music."
Bumpass admits she's not up on current
popular music and doesnt have any strong
feelings about it. "I dont hear any real
imagination to tbe music. "It all sounds
kind of mass-produced to me," the taid.
"1 dont think it't true that all pop
vocal** are imskiUed," tbe taid. They
mayhaveaanSerent kind of style, butthat
"I dont think it's a case of high-tech instruments
pushing lower-tech instruments out." ,
—Bumpus
ber own generation." taid- "1 think there"! a wonderful kind of
"Its something: very important to have    pluraljtin in music right now.-
in common with one's peers," the said. Synthtsjucrt and electronic' MM
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Bumpass said she likes ja/* and thinks    ^ ^tin* effect, tbe said. "\\\ nsWt*
if, an "historically and inttlleettialry-    much the hwdware tnatt import**JlV
impc«tamtvpeofmi»aic.-|t'saaiin«fcTuabk   wtat tbe composer and petfwttar «V>
historical fact thatjazz and rock music are
very important American contributions
to world music"
She said she is very interested in 20th-    between lit
century concert music and thinks general
audiences have been thoroughly alienated
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