Stephen M. Portz teaches technology at Space Coast Middle School in Cocoa, Florida. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts Education with emphasis in Engineering and Graphic Design, and Construction. He also holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Central Florida.

An educator for the past thirteen years, Steve has also been heavily involved in the space industry since 1979. Over this period of time, he has worked on various manned and unmanned space flight systems: For Rockwell Int. he worked as a Thermal Protection Mechanic on the Space Shuttle Orbiter 'Columbia;' In 1991, for NASA, he did Schematic Capture and Electrical Engineering Design work for renovations to the Launch Control Complex; In 1992-93, Steve was employed with United Technologies providing Engineering Design support for Shuttle Booster and Parachute Recovery Systems; In 1996, he worked as a curriculum designer for the Astronaut Memorial's Hands On Technology Lab; During 1997-98, he was employed with Lockheed Martin on the Atlas Program doing Engineering Design and Smart Schematics of the Electrical and Fluids Systems of Complex 36; In 1999, he worked on the NASA website building graphics for the Shuttle Mission Archives Page; This past year, he worked for USA Fluids Engineering Support on the renovations to the Complex 39 Machine Shop.

PUBLICATIONS:

• 2001 - 'Creating Digital Imagery.' T.H.E Journal, Vol. 28 Number 8. 38-42.
• 1999 - 'Satellite Technologies in the Classroom.' T.H.E Journal, Vol. 27 Number 1. 56-58.
• 1997 - (Cover Feature) - 'A Schematic Interpretation of Fluid Power Systems.' Tech Directions, 4, 17-20.
• 1995 - 'Industry Keeps Teachers up to Speed.' Tech Directions, 1, 39-40.

Answers published at PhysLink.com up to date:

1. What is a fuel-cell and how does it work?
   
   
2. Is it purely coincidental that the moon rotates on its axis in synch with its revolution around the Earth, keeping the same face always pointed toward us?
   
   
3. What are the advantages of ABS braking systems compared to other hydraulic braking systems?
   
   
4. Who is the inventor of television?
   
   
5. How does a cat land on its legs when dropped?
   
   
6. Who invented the transistor?
   
   
7. Why does a golf ball slice or draw? What is the difference in the flight of a golf ball hit with back-spin and one hit with top-spin?
   
   
8. How does a transistor work?
   
   
9. How does a sailboat move upwind?
   
   
10. How does a solar cell work? Is it possible to create one using simple lab apparatus?
    
    
11. Does the temperature of a football (or baseball, soccer ball, etc) affect how far it will travel when kicked/hit?
    
    
12. How do quartz watches work?