Rates of Reaction

 Starting with the experiment and working out the individual rates of each reaction using the reaction of Sodium Thiosulfate and Hydrochloric acid in a @pascoscientific colourimeter, the students then plotted the rates against concentration and were pleased to get a relationship.

By pooling the class results, they got a set of error bars that showed the experiment could either be a curve 2nd order or a straight line first order.

Simple Harmonic Motion

We had considerable fun using @Pascoscientific sensors to create a series of experiments to demonstrate simple Harmonic Motion. The students learnt a lot about the properties of pendula because they could set up and record so many experiments in such a short time.

 

Mk2 Circle to Sine Wave

 Making sense of CAST diagrams - how the circle maps onto a sinewave using some @Lego to help. Using an offset wheel to produce a sinewave as the wheel rotates, then showing the same on the @Casio GG50 calculator.

More fun than Hookes Law

A bit more fun than Hookes Law, using the @Lascells Strip Tester to find the stretch and then the breaking point of carrier bags. Which company sold the most robust bags? Even tried out a vintage Woolworths bag.

 

Air Pollution Topic

Biology Air Pollution Topic Practical Measuring the Air Pollution levels using the @Pocketlab Air recording the levels of particulates in different sites gives a series of horror stories relating to the air we breathe.

Punched Card

 Students ask me what sort of computer I used when I was at school. I didn't because only when I went to University did they have one, and then it was run-off punched cards learning Fortran, Algol 68 and Coral 66, and the computer took up the top floor of the Uni.

The Nature of Light

Red and Green Make Yellow. In years 10-11 this is the first time many students have mixed light and become aware of how light is different to paint. And that the sun produces white light broken into a spectrum rather than a yellow sun they got taught in primary school.