Component 4 personal work samples

Thermal properties of matter

This was a topic we have never touched upon in primary school and i never knew of, so it was very interesting to learn about the different types of definitions.

Component 3: Self-Directed and Independent Research Learning Term 2

A: Independent Research
Topic 5: History of Mass and Density

Einstein's contribution to our understanding of mass was undoubtedly significant, I believe that his ultimate goal was not to create a weapon of mass destruction but to create a deeper understanding of human perception of nature. Einstein's discovery was in many ways good and bad at the same time. For example,the nuclear reactor helped to generate energy to feed our ever growing need of electricity but this source of energy also proved to be a unstable one as proven in Japan in 2011 during the tsunami which damaged the nuclear reactors which caused huge amounts of radiation to leak out and many living in the surrounding area were displaced. Another example was the development and deployment of the atomic bomb in World War 2 which was highly controversial for some said it was a fast and effective way to end the war but others questioned the huge number of lives lost was worth it and if there was a way of ending the war without sacrificing countless lives if we were more patient. Einstein really helped us in our advancement in technology.

Topic 6: 4th and 5th states of matter

Plasma

Who: The existence of plasma was first discovered by Sir William Crookes using an assembly that is today known as a “Crookes tube”, an experimental electrical discharge tube in which air is ionized by the application of a high voltage through a voltage coil.


What: Lightning and electric sparks are everyday examples of phenomena made from plasma. Neon lights could more accurately be called "plasma lights", as the light comes from the plasma inside of them. A plasma globe, illustrates some of the more complex phenomena of a plasma, including filamentation. The colors are a result of relaxation of electrons in excited states to lower energy states after they have recombined with ions. These processes emit light in a spectrum characteristic of the gas being excited

When:1879


Where: Britain

Why: discovered by chance

How: Crookes tube


Bose Einstein Condensate

Who: This state of matter was first predicted, generally,  by Satyendra Nath Bose  and Albert Einstein

What: A Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter of a dilute gas of bosons cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero (that is, very near 0 K or −273.15 °C). Under such conditions, a large fraction of the bosons occupy the lowest quantum state, at which point quantum effects become apparent on a macroscopic scale. These effects are called macroscopic quantum phenomenon.

When: 1924-1925

Where

Why:

How: In 1995 the first gaseous condensate was produced by Eric Cornell and Carl Weiman at the University of Colorado lab, using a gas of rubidium atoms cooled to 170 nano kelvin (nK) (1.7×10⁻⁷ K). 

B: Critical Reviews

The shocking truth about electric fish: Genomic basis for the convergent evolution of electric organs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140626141652.htm

This article is about a scientist identifying the regulatory molecules involved in the genetic and developmental pathways that electric fish have used to convert a simple muscle into an organ capable of generating a potent electrical field.

This article describes the inner workings of the glans which allows it to generate a potent electrical field.

I think that this discovery will benefit humankind to help invent new technology that will make our lives better. 

Component 2: Reflections on Science Performance and Experiences Term 2

Termly Science Performance

My target for my term 2 tests is still B3 as I do not have confidence in myself. My plan to achieve my target remains the same as in term 1 . For class tests, I still need to improve on my presentation of my work and be more specific in my answers.

Plasma Ball Activity

The objective of this demonstration is to help the class gain a deeper understanding of the different properties of plasma

This activity was carried out in the classroom by Mr Tan.

I have learnt from this activity that when someone places his hand on the plasma ball, filaments of light will connect to the points in contact with the ball. There is also a field of electricity around the ball as when a lamp is placed near to it. it will light up. 

the thing i liked most about this activity is the experiment where a person stands on a chair with one hand on the ball and the other holding another who is standing on the floor and holding a lamp and the lame lights up. I liked this experiment the most because it seemed almost impossible that the bulb will light up.

Solubility Test

The objective of this activity is to test out the solubility of different substances.

This activity was carried out in the science lab.

From this activity, I have learnt that different substances have different solubilities and the temperature of the solvent also affects the solubility of the solute.

I did not really enjoy this activity because there was much stirring involved and my hand became quite sore at the end of the lesson.

Elements, Mixtures and Compounds

The objective of this activity is to observe the formation of compounds by the bonding of two elements through a chemical process.

This activity was carried out in the lab.

I have learnt from this activity that a compound is formed only when two elements are bonded together by a chemical reaction. If it is not, it is a mixture.

I liked the chemical reaction between the magnesium ribbon and the oxygen in the surrounding air as it produces a bright white light which was quite stunning.

Component 1: Issues in Teaching and Learning Science Term 2

I face fewer problems now in term two but what I am most worried about is the mid year exams. I try to prepare myself for the exams by constantly revising my science notes so that I will be well prepared for the exam.

I have learnt the use of different measuring instruments, mass ,weight ,density , elements, compounds and mixtures.

These knowledge and skills will be relevant in the research industry construction and the use of the measuring instruments will useful for architects.

I have learnt about obsolete units of measurement, the impact humans have made on nature and how we may be driving ourselves into extinction from the self directed and independent learning component of term 1.

Component 4 personal work samples

1P2: Making Observations



   

This was one of the first lab visits of the year  and all of us were excited using the lab apparatus and watching the chemical reactions in the test tubes. Many of us did not have a chance to work in a lab in primary school and the was certainly a first for us.

   

Component 3: Self-Directed and Independent Research Learning Term 1

A: Independent Research
Topic 2: Measurement units of the past
Ancient Roman Units of Measurement

Acetabulum was a measure of volume (fluid and dry) used by the Ancient Romans.
Amphora was a unit for measuring liquids or bulk goods in the Roman Empire, and for estimating the size of ships and the production of vineyards.
Duella was an ancient Roman unit of weight

Who: The Ancient Romans
What: Weight Length and Volume
When: 27 BC-476 AD
Where: Ancient Rome
Why: For the complex measuring problems of civilization - surveying land to register property rights, or selling a commodity by length - a more precise unit is required.
How:The ancient Roman Units of Measurements were built on the Hellenic system with Egyptian Hebrew, and Mesopotamian influences. The Roman units were comparatively consistent and well documented.

Topic 4: What is time
To me, time is not definable. I define time as a film and just a fabric for us to move and act.
Time may be there or not be there to me time is just a measurement thought up by man explaining something that is not understood to satisfy his need to be all knowing.

B: Critical reviews

3 Billion to Zero: What Happened to the Passenger Pigeon?http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/3-billion-to-zero-what-happened-to-the-passenger-pigeon/

The main purpose of this article is to remind us how human race have impacted on nature. The key scientific question that the author is addressing is how humans have been driving species to extinction

This article is about a postdoctoral associate at National Taiwan Normal University tried to find out how the passenger pigeon species was wiped out.

I think this article will really help in helping people realize the huge and negative impacts humans can have on nature and make them change their way of living which can hugely impact the course of nature and could well determine the future of the human race for we just might be like the pigeons and the boom and bust scenario may happen to us and our advancement might very well lead to our own doom.

Component 2: Reflections on Science Performance and Experiences Term 1

Termly Science Performance

My target for term 1 is at least a B3 as my science has never been my strong subject. My plan to achieve my target is to work hard  and revise on the science concepts I have learnt. For class tests, I need to improve on my calculations and presentation of work.

Measurements

The objective of this lesson it to learn how to use and read the measurements on a micrometer screw gauge and vernier calipers.

This lesson was carried out in the lab.

From this lesson, I have learnt how to use two new measuring instruments, the micrometer screw gauge and the vernier caliper.

I did not really enjoy this activity because the numbers on the instruments were quite small and I had trouble reading them. I also had trouble with the decimal places and cm and mm.

Pendulum

The objective of this activity is to find out the relationship between the length of the pendulum and the time taken for one oscillation.

This activity was carried out in the science lab.

I have learnt from this activity that the shorter the length of the pendulum, the shorter the time taken for one oscillation.i also learnt that the safest way to conduct this experiment is to release the pendulum at a angle of 10 degrees any more than that, the pendulum may swing out of control.

I liked watching the pendulum swing back and forth the most as it felt hypnotic.

Bunsen Burners

The objective of this was to learn the right way to use the bunsen burner during practical work.

This activity was carried out in the science lab.

I have learnt the correct use of the bunsen burner and when the air hole is opened, a non luminous flame will be formed and when it is nt, a luminous flame will be formed. And when the air hole is fully opened, strike back may occur as the flame will bun at the gas jet.

My favourite part of this activity is using the bunsen burner and watching the flame burn and feeling the heat on my face.

Component 1:Issues in Teaching and Learning Science Term 1

I have faced many problems in teaching and learning science and the most serious problem I face is the understanding of science concepts. I try to solve this problem by clarifying the concepts with my classmates that do understand them or asking my parents and siblings. I found this very useful as I can communicate with my friends and family members easily.

I have learnt how to plot graphs, scientific methods and basic laboratory orientation.

These knowledge and skills are useful are  very relevant in the real world. For example, graph plotting is useful if you need to plot statistics for your company. You will need to know what type of graph is the most useful for which type of data. As for the scientific methods and basic lab orientation, they will be useful if I were to go into the research industry.

I have also learnt about the Rorschach test and how it uses ink blots to test subjects' perceptions of  them they are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning. It has been employed to detect underlying thought disorder, especially in cases where patients are reluctant to describe their thinking processes openly. I have also learnt about Moore's law which is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware , the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. Lastly, I also learnt more about the SI units and how they are used and why we use them.

SI Units

SI Units

The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and is the world's most widely used system of measurements, used in both everyday commerce and science. It comprises a coherent system of units of measurement built around seven base unit , 22 named and an indeterminate number of unnamed coherent derived unit, and a set of prefixes that act as decimal-based multipliers. It is part of the International System of Quantities

The standards, published in 1960 as the result of an initiative started in 1948, are based on the meter -kilogram-second (MKS) system, rather than the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system, which, in turn, had several variants. The SI has been declared to be an evolving system; thus prefixes and units are created and unit definitions are modified through international agreement as the technology of measurement progresses and the precision of measurements improves. The 25th CGPM meeting in the fall of 2014 will change the definitions of some base units, particularly the kilogram.

The driving force behind the development of the Système international was the diversity of units that had sprung up within the CGS system of units and the lack of coordination between the various disciplines that made extensive use of units of measurement. 

The system has been adopted by most countries in the developed world, though within English-speaking countries, the adoption has not been universal. In the United States metric units are not commonly used outside of science, medicine and the government; however, United States customary units are officially defined in terms of SI units. The United Kingdom has officially adopted a partial metrication policy, with no intention of replacing imperial units entirely. Canada has adopted it for most governmental and scientific purposes, but imperial units are still legally permitted and remain in common use throughout many sectors of Canadian society, particularly in the building trade and railway sectors.

Moore's law

       Moore's law is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware , the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. The law is named after Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel Corporation, who described the trend in his 1965 paper. His prediction has proven to be accurate, in part because the law is now used in the semiconductor industry to guide long-term planning and to set targets for research and development. The capabilities of many digital electronic devices are strongly linked to Moore's law:Processing speed, memory capacity, sensors and even the number and size of pixels in digital camera. All of these are improving at roughly exponantial rates as well. This exponential improvement has dramatically enhanced the impact of digital electronics in nearly every segment of the world economy. Moore's law describes a driving force of technological and social change, productivity and economic growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

The period is often quoted as 18 months because of Intel executive David House, who predicted that chip performance would double every 18 months (being a combination of the effect of more transistors and their being faster).

Although this trend has continued for more than half a century, Moore's law should be considered an observation or conjecture and not a physical or natural law. Sources in 2005 expected it to continue until at least 2015 or 2020. However, the 2010 update to the  International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors predicted that growth will slow at the end of 2013, when transistor counts and densities are to double only every three years.