2P07: Law of Reflection

It was a new term and it will be our first physics practical of the year. We will be experimenting with mirrors and light.

The experiment is as follows:

1. Place a plane mirror on a sheet of plain paper provided. Use a pencil to trace the outline of the plane mirror. Label the outline of the mirror as ABCD
2. Using a ray box, direct a ray of light at an angle, i = 20.0 degrees to P on the side AB of the plane mirror.
3. Use two crosses R and S to mark the ray incident on P and two more crosses T and U to mark the ray reflected from P.
4. Remove the plane mirror and the ray box. Draw a line OP normal to the plane. Draw a straight line through RS and TU. Let the line RS representing the incident ray meet the side AB at P. Let the line TU representing the reflected ray meet the side of AB also at P.
5. Use a protractor to measure the angles i and r and record in a table.
6. Repeat the experiment for different values of i.

From this experiment, I learnt about the law of reflection and how the angle of incident is always equal to the angle of reflection.

Term 1 Test Reflections

For our first term test of the year, we will be tested on the area of chemistry. It would be mainly on the atomic structure and bonding. The topic was new to us as we have not been taught this before in school. This poses as a challenge to us as it is totally new to us and it is a pretty challenging topic.

2P02: When Dilute Acid Meets Metals...

Today is our second practical of the year and it will be about mixing metals and acids. First, we had to prepare apparatus for this experiment. These apparatus are:

1. 4 test tubes
2. test tube rack
3. Bunsen burner
4. lighter

Materials that are needed for the experiment are:

1. dilute hydrochloric acid
2. magnesium ribbon
3. zinc powder
4. iron fillings
5. copper turnings
6. wooden splint

For the experiment, we first had to fill a test tube with some hydrochloric acid. Next, we put a magnesium ribbon into the test tube of dilute acid. Quickly close the mouth of the test tube with your thumb for a few minutes. Next we need to test for presence of hydrogen and whether it is acidic or alkaline. Finally repeat the steps with iron fillings, zinc powder and copper turnings.

From this experiment I learnt about various things such as how to handle these substances with care. Also I understood how metals and acids will react when mixed and also about the reactivity of metals.

What is Science?

Many ask, what exactly is Science? Is it simply a subject we study in school or is it much more than that? Is it the truth of the universe, the ultimate truth? I believe at least what I believe is that science is the gathering of knowledge and from this pool of knowledge we will apply the necessary knowledge to solve a problem or find a problem and then solve it.

These two videos will show what some scientists think is science and what other people think science really is.

Overview of my Science e-Portfolio

Hi there, 

This is my Science e-Portfolio and what I will be covering in my Science e-Portfolio are my:

• Reflections on test results
• Practical lessons
• Science as a whole
• My ACE assignments
• Contemporary Science Issues
• and other objectives which I hope to achieve through this e-Portfolio

Hope you have a fun time reading my blog! :D

Look out for more updates and have FUN!! :)