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.

Balance

It is a wafer-thin disk. It won't stand on its edge. So how can I achieve this as in the picture? A-level Physics students playing for a Twirl trying to balance the disk  A fun lesson intro to discovering centripetal forces.

 

Kidney dissection

 Students having a go at a Kidney dissection, seeing what structures they can identify. As usual some dissections were better than others, but this is a learning environment, and so there were plenty of kidneys to go around and have another go if necessary.

Exploring OS

Getting computers talking together, Linux to Windows to Mac. Creating a web server and setting up a file server. All done fairly inexpensively using a few Raspberry Pi's.

 

The Story of the electron

Recreating the story of the electron as JJ Thomson discovered it. Presenting students with the facts and discoveries and getting them to come up with their own ideas of what they have found. I really want one of these Teltron tubes, but can I justify the cost?