Science for Fun is an enrichment course which explores fun experiments that are related to our daily lives. I found most of the experiments easy to conduct and enjoyable to learn from. The hands-on experiments allowed us to understand the concepts better through experiencing the process. The experiments are mostly about physics and life sciences, which are pretty much applicable to our daily lives.
One experiment that really amazed me was the ‘Hand Boiler’. The set-up was made up of two glass bulbs connected by a tube with some liquid in it. We were tasked to hold the bulb at the bottom and when our hands touch the bulb, the liquid in the bulb began to rise into the tube and into the top bulb. It was a reaction that we did not really expect! The volatile liquid (liquid which evaporate at room temperature / vaporizes easily) actually evaporated under the heat on the hand and the gas exerts a pressure on the liquid and forces it to move up the tube. The expanding gas in the bottom bulb bubbled through the liquid and made it appear to be ‘boiling’. I also figure out that it works from heat of any direction like the top. I’ve have learnt more about volatile liquid through this experiment, which was really a fun and interesting way.
Oobleck was also an interesting experiment, where we get to place our hands in a bowl of slushy blob. There a force going against the applied force of your hand when you are retrieving it from the bowl. The force seemed to be holding the hand down at the bottom of the bowl. The fun in this experiment is actually getting all messy. We are usually not allowed to play with science mixture or chemical, hence the enrichment is really different from our laboratory lessons.
Of course, we did many other experiments like the Cabbage Catalyst, Growing Yellow
Crystals, Hydraulic Machines and many more. Personally, I felt that this enrichment course was very enjoyable as it employ independent learning. It allowed the students to explore the science concepts by conducting the experiments themselves. There were always experts around for us, the students, to consult and seek clarification. This enrichment course also allowed me to make friends with students from other consortium and learnt together. It was a really rare opportunity where we could learn and make friends at the same time. I had enjoyed this session of Science for Fun and I look forward to more interesting Science Enrichment courses.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Reflection: Hydroponics and Aeroponics
I went on a science field trip in May to Oh Farms to explore a modern method of agriculture - hydroponics and aeroponics. Hydroponics and aeroponics make use of modern technology to cultivate plants without the use of soil.
Soil is an important component in growing plants because they provide the minerals for the plants. However, hydroponics replace soil with water and nutrients supplies. Plants need substances like potassium and iron to grow better. Oh Farms obtain yearly supplies of these substances and allocate daily amount to the plants.
We toured around several locations in the farm. I learnt that in hydroponics, plants have to be moved from one location to another in their different stages. Therefore, there are different plant systems to provide the optimum environment for the plant to grow in. We also noticed that the plants are sheltered in white and black netting. It was to protect the plants from direct sunlight and rain to prevent the plant from drying out and to ensure that that impurities of the rain will not affect the plant growth.
I have learnt that water has become very important for plants in hydroponics. The water that the plants take in is not only their source of water but also energy and minerals. These water are recyclable, making the growing of plants to be even more eco-friendly.
Through this field trip, I had an eye-opener on hydroponics and gain a lot on the knowledge of growing plants. Hydroponics is the future of agriculture that allows us to have more control over our vegetables. A smaller area is needed for hydroponics than the traditional way of agriculture. Therefore, it will be a solution for countries like Singapore to grow and supply our own vegetables.
Hydroponics does not have to be a large scale set up, the tour guide atually taught us ho to make use of water to grow our plants. My greatest takeaway is that how technology has allowed us to progress and provide simple but effective solutions to improve our everyday problems like our source of food.
Soil is an important component in growing plants because they provide the minerals for the plants. However, hydroponics replace soil with water and nutrients supplies. Plants need substances like potassium and iron to grow better. Oh Farms obtain yearly supplies of these substances and allocate daily amount to the plants.
We toured around several locations in the farm. I learnt that in hydroponics, plants have to be moved from one location to another in their different stages. Therefore, there are different plant systems to provide the optimum environment for the plant to grow in. We also noticed that the plants are sheltered in white and black netting. It was to protect the plants from direct sunlight and rain to prevent the plant from drying out and to ensure that that impurities of the rain will not affect the plant growth.
I have learnt that water has become very important for plants in hydroponics. The water that the plants take in is not only their source of water but also energy and minerals. These water are recyclable, making the growing of plants to be even more eco-friendly.
Through this field trip, I had an eye-opener on hydroponics and gain a lot on the knowledge of growing plants. Hydroponics is the future of agriculture that allows us to have more control over our vegetables. A smaller area is needed for hydroponics than the traditional way of agriculture. Therefore, it will be a solution for countries like Singapore to grow and supply our own vegetables.
Hydroponics does not have to be a large scale set up, the tour guide atually taught us ho to make use of water to grow our plants. My greatest takeaway is that how technology has allowed us to progress and provide simple but effective solutions to improve our everyday problems like our source of food.
ACE: Production and Uses of Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid is one of the most commonly used acids in the US and in the world. It is widely produced and used in many different areas. One of the most conventional processes to obtain sulfuric acid is the Contact Process. Contact Process is made up of three main stages: making sulfur dioxide, converting sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide and convert sulfur trioxide to concentrated sulfuric acid.
Sulfur dioxide can be obtained by burning sulfur in an excess of air as burning involves oxygen. Excess oxygen is used to mix the sulfur dioxide for the next stage. The sulfur dioxide oxidises to sulfur trioxide using oxygen in the presence of vanadium oxide catalyst. Sulfur trioxide is more efficient in producing sulfuric acid.
SO3 + H2O -> H2SO4
However, water cannot be added directly to sulfur trioxide as its reaction is so uncontrollable that it creates a fog of sulfuric acid. The reaction forms a corrosive aerosol which is very difficult to separate, instead of a liquid. Therefore, the sulfur trioxide is first dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum, also known as fuming sulfuric acid.
H2SO4 + SO3 -> H2S2O7
The product can then be reacted with water to produce twice as much concentrated sulfuric acid as what was used to make the oleum.
H2S2O7 + H2O -> 2H2SO4
There are also many other production methods of sulfuric acids like the Wet Sulfuric Process, which is also a conventional method that is used widely. The large production of sulfuric acid is essential as it is so commonly use that large production is necessary to meet the demands of the world.
Sulfuric acids are commonly found all around the world as it has many usages. They are often used in manufacturing fertilisers, different form of acids, disinfectants, cleaning agents and many other substances and chemicals. Sulfuric acid is extremely corrosive, hence proving to be an effective cleaning agent and disinfectant.
Sulfuric acid is mainly used in fertilisers like the superphosphate of lime and ammonium sulfate. It is often reacted with potassium and phosphate to create a fertilizer for the plant as these chemicals provide the plant with nutrients. Therefore, it is commonly used in the production of fertilizer.
Sulfuric acid is also greatly used in steelmaking and iron industries as it helps to remove oxidation, rust and scale. It is also used as an electrolyte in lead acid batteries, used in the manufacturing of nitroglycerin acid and tri-nitro-toluene (TNT) in the explosive industry, and it helps to remove sulfur compounds in gasoline.
All in all, sulfuric acid poses as a useful substance that is produced and used greatly in the world. It has conventional production methods and a wide range of usage, hence making it one of the most used chemical in the world.
15/05/2011
Sulfur dioxide can be obtained by burning sulfur in an excess of air as burning involves oxygen. Excess oxygen is used to mix the sulfur dioxide for the next stage. The sulfur dioxide oxidises to sulfur trioxide using oxygen in the presence of vanadium oxide catalyst. Sulfur trioxide is more efficient in producing sulfuric acid.
SO3 + H2O -> H2SO4
However, water cannot be added directly to sulfur trioxide as its reaction is so uncontrollable that it creates a fog of sulfuric acid. The reaction forms a corrosive aerosol which is very difficult to separate, instead of a liquid. Therefore, the sulfur trioxide is first dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum, also known as fuming sulfuric acid.
H2SO4 + SO3 -> H2S2O7
The product can then be reacted with water to produce twice as much concentrated sulfuric acid as what was used to make the oleum.
H2S2O7 + H2O -> 2H2SO4
There are also many other production methods of sulfuric acids like the Wet Sulfuric Process, which is also a conventional method that is used widely. The large production of sulfuric acid is essential as it is so commonly use that large production is necessary to meet the demands of the world.
Sulfuric acids are commonly found all around the world as it has many usages. They are often used in manufacturing fertilisers, different form of acids, disinfectants, cleaning agents and many other substances and chemicals. Sulfuric acid is extremely corrosive, hence proving to be an effective cleaning agent and disinfectant.
Sulfuric acid is mainly used in fertilisers like the superphosphate of lime and ammonium sulfate. It is often reacted with potassium and phosphate to create a fertilizer for the plant as these chemicals provide the plant with nutrients. Therefore, it is commonly used in the production of fertilizer.
Sulfuric acid is also greatly used in steelmaking and iron industries as it helps to remove oxidation, rust and scale. It is also used as an electrolyte in lead acid batteries, used in the manufacturing of nitroglycerin acid and tri-nitro-toluene (TNT) in the explosive industry, and it helps to remove sulfur compounds in gasoline.
All in all, sulfuric acid poses as a useful substance that is produced and used greatly in the world. It has conventional production methods and a wide range of usage, hence making it one of the most used chemical in the world.
15/05/2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Impression of Science
I will like to kick start my new science ePortfolio by sharing my impression of science. I feel that science is an element which we cannot live without. Science has been integrated into our daily lives and constantly progressed over the centuries. Science is all about discovery and through discoveries, mankind progresses. A thousand years ago, we know nothing about gravity, energy or modern technology. It is the perserverance of people who discovered them that gives us the knowledge of the mechanism of the world.
'Science Never Sleep' means that science is everywhere at anytime. We study science regardless of language because science is universal. Science goes beyond language, race culture. In science, we see effort and imagination. Science always existed but they have to be discovered. The process of discovering and proving a new idea is the excitement of science. I enjoy science because it is all about revealing the concept behind a problem.
Science will not only revolve around the same thing but they revolve around anything and everything. Science is learning.
'Science Never Sleep' means that science is everywhere at anytime. We study science regardless of language because science is universal. Science goes beyond language, race culture. In science, we see effort and imagination. Science always existed but they have to be discovered. The process of discovering and proving a new idea is the excitement of science. I enjoy science because it is all about revealing the concept behind a problem.
Science will not only revolve around the same thing but they revolve around anything and everything. Science is learning.
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