25 July 2023
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/
24 July 2023
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/
23 July 2023
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/
22 July 2023
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.
21 July 2023
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.
20 July 2023
Creating a quadratic
Creating a quadratic from a square, a cube and an inverse square. Sometimes Math can be a bit of a challenge.
18 July 2023
Balance
“Why the Rate-Determining Step Is Not Always Obvious” A-Level Chemistry
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