The functions on a Calculator

 These are two popular A-Level Calculators, but how many students need to learn many of the functions? Most I meet need to learn about the memories, the ENG function, how to get improper fractions as answers or know of the other log button and that's just the 991EX calculator. https://hemelprivatetuition.co.uk/

Centripetal force

 An A-level online practical with me doing the dangerous part.Investigating how the force varies with speed for a fixed radius and mass. https://hemelprivatetuition.co.uk/

Pond

 One of the advantages of having a Pond is the abundance of life we can see down the microscope. Duckweed is my major problem and keeping the pond healthy so all types of creatures can inhabit it. https://hemelprivatetuition.co.uk/

Hashing

 Hashing - a black art of storing lots of information in a little space so the information is quick to access. Theory is one thing but trying it out and building a system explains how and why it works. https://hemelprivatetuition.co.uk/

Energy conversions water turbine

 Looking at energy conversions using a water turbine to a generator and creating light. It is a bit quicker than using the steam engine but brings in discussions on using reservoirs and other forms of HEP.

Benzene Model

 The benzene electron orbital model at #ALevel reveals the beautiful complexity hidden in the GCSE's simpler structures. A closer look can truly transform our understanding!

At GCSE level, students are often taught that benzene is a ring of six carbon atoms, each with one hydrogen attached, and they might be told that the ring contains delocalized electrons which can be represented as a circle inside the ring of carbon atoms. This is a simplified model to help them understand the basics of organic chemistry.

At A-Level, however, the electron orbital model of benzene is introduced, where we delve into the actual quantum mechanical model. Here, it is explained that benzene has a hexagonal structure with each carbon atom forming three sigma bonds (two with other carbon atoms and one with a hydrogen atom). The remaining electron in each carbon atom is in a 2p orbital, which overlaps with the 2p orbitals of the adjacent carbon atoms, forming a delocalized pi electron cloud above and below the plane of the ring. This structure gives benzene its stability and special properties, such as its resistance to addition reactions.

This model further illustrates how the properties of benzene, like its stability and reactivity, can be explained by understanding its electron configuration, how these electrons are delocalized and create regions of electron density, and how this influences how benzene will interact with other molecules.

The shift from GCSE to A-Level and onward into undergraduate studies often involves understanding the underlying principles that explain the rules and patterns students previously learned. It emphasizes the value of digging deeper into these subjects and appreciating their inherent complexity.

Creating a quadratic

 Creating a quadratic from a square, a cube and an inverse square. Sometimes Math can be a bit of a challenge.