Habits & truth

Blog 4 – Habits and Truths.
For this blog we have to write about something we have been brought up as believing is true but in fact not be.

HABIT:
The habit I have chosen to blog about is about saving money by refuelling your car in the morning.
There are two theories to this.

1. Liquids expand as they get warmer.
Warm Petrol expands and cooler petrol is denser. So if you purchase petrol in the heat of the day you get a smaller volume of petrol.

2. As liquids warm evaporation increases.
Pumping petrol in the heat of the day causes the fuel to evaporate out of the open fuel cap causing a loss in petrol.


This myth has been in the family for years. I have questioned it but never done any research.


FACTS:
• "Gasoline does expand and contract a little depending on its temperature. When gasoline rises from 60 to 75 degrees F, for instance, it increases in volume by 1 percent while the energy content remains the same". (Hard, 2008)

• Tests were also conducted on the temperature changes on petrol stations underground fuel tanks throughout the day.
o" Results. While the air temperature between filling varied by up to 12 degrees, the fuel in our underground tank stayed at a steady 62 degrees F. As a result, we found that after the first few gallons were pumped, the fuel temperature coming out of the nozzle varied very little between morning and afternoon". (Hard, 2008)

• "Someone who gets up at dawn to fill up early won't save even one simple penny. And if he's racing to the gas station to beat out the other early birds, his fuel costs will be 35 percent higher than the guy who drives calmly, according to Edmunds testing. (Romans, 2008) People who really want to save money on gas should look to change their driving style instead of counting on the cool-fuel theory." (Reed, 2008)

CONCLUSION:
While the theory behind the myth is sound the practicality of the myth is false. The savings are Negligible and if you go out of your way to refuel in the morning you will be spending more on fuel then fuelling up later in the day when you are near a petrol station.


REFERENCES:
Hard, G., 2008. Consumer Reports. [Online]
Available at: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2008/08/gas-pump-myth.html
[Accessed 23 04 2013].
Reed, P., 2008. Edmunds. [Online]
Available at: http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/three-gas-price-myths.html
[Accessed 23 4 2013].
Romans, B., 2008. Edmunds. [Online]
Available at: http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/we-test-the-tips-part-ii.html
[Accessed 23 4 2013].

Problem Solving

PROBLEM:  

I Left my laptop charger at home in Cairns only have “2 hr 14 min (80%) ” left of charge in my laptop and have three assignments due this week.

CONTEXT: (Technical Complexity)                                 

What sounds like a simple problem to solve has actually turned into a complex one.

Last Thursday I flew from Cairns back to work on Horn Island where I will be for two weeks.

While unpacking my bags and setting up my room late Thursday night I realised that I had left my only laptop charging cable back in Cairns.

Express post 

•  Last time I had something sent express post from Cairns it did not arrive for over two weeks which meant I was back at home by the time it arrived. This is my last tour up in the Torres which means if I do express post it and it takes over two weeks I will have permanently lost the charger.

Buying it locally

• Not an option either as there is nowhere locally to purchase a new charger the closest electronics store which stocks the charger is in Cairns.

REALITIES: (Practice Space)

This individual problem is a private one. However there has been and will be further incidences of this problem occurring with touring employees forgetting necessary items back at home.

ACTORS:

There are a few key actors in this problem:

Tim (Me): The person who really needs the charger to get these assignments done.

Brianna: (My Girlfriend): The person at Cairns trying to source ways to get the charge to me in time.

TENSONS: (Why the problem exists)

Ultimately it is the main actor (ME) that has made this problem exist:

•  Mindset – Leaving things to the last possible minute and rushing to get packed.
• Disorganised – Leaving the charger not in its usual place where I wouldn’t miss it.
• Pre Planning – This is my last tour up in the Torres Strait, I planned to pack lightly so I have space to bring all my belongings home.
• Emotions – Being my last tour I was excited to get going and get this final tour over and done.

PROBLEM DEFINITION: What the problem would looked like if it were solved

• Stress Levels would significantly be reduced. 
•  Laptop would be charging.
• Brianna would be doing her assignments without worrying about my charger.
• This problem would never happen again to any touring employee.

CONCEPTS: Solutions.

• Create a pre-work checklist – Ensure all items are packed before leaving home.
• Have a second laptop charger in my backpack.
• Organise a Universal laptop charger to be stationed at Horn Island for anyone making this mistake.
• Research quicker, cost effective postage options.

Charge Remaining 0 hrs 25min 13%