Sometimes TV is awesome

I don't watch much TV - because most of it it garbage - but sometimes I realise that there are some true gems in TV land.

Yes, I am five years behind the times re this show - but I have not laughed this hard for a LONG time.

And to make it relevant to this Blog - this episode features guest Physics celebrity professor Brian Cox.

Episode in two parts below:

The Physics of the Big Knights

I was introduced to this animation series recently and have spent the weekend enjoying the adventures of Sir Boris and Sir Morris (and Sir Horace and Sir Doris) - I think that from now on I will teach Space (projectiles, Ep etc) using the fine examples set by the Big Knights.

As a treat here is a special physics/Olympics themed episode:
Revision Q on the way soon.

And in a more-directly-linked-to-physics way. Here is the recent instalment on the Higgs Boson from One Minute Physics.

And in case you haven't seen Veritasium - here are some Physics demo's that will get you thinking (make sure you watch in order)

Can you explain them using Newtons Laws?

What would happen in each case if the system was in zero gravity?...

Chemistry Practice Trial RANT

Rant time - cannot sleep so I'd better get this off my chest.

There is nothing more frustrating for me than to spend considerable time having attended numerous teaching development days and events to learn what it takes to ace the HSC, then spend long hours (cue tiny violins) marking drafts, correcting portfolio's, running tutorials and STRONGLY emphasising key points about the Chem syllabus and HSC to have the same mistakes made over and over again.

If you are making mistakes like this you really need to ask yourself why - if you don't understand a concept then what are YOU actually doing to remedy this. If you do understand the concepts and suggestions given then you really need to think carefully about whether you really are giving your best.

That said - hopefully this practise trial will be a bit of a wake up - the real trial will be better and show some areas for growth and you can peak in time for the HSC.

#1) Mole style Q - there are only so many mole style Q they can ask. I have done my best to demonstrate and have practise at each one throughout the last two terms. We will do more but really, all that is left is practise. If you know this is an area of weakness, what are YOU doing about it? You have the B Hegarty book. You have my study notes that map out the numerical dot points to HSC Q. You have the Success One book with the said Q. If you are serious about improving set aside 6 minutes per night and do 3 marks worth of mole Q. Once you have done them all - go back and do the ones you got wrong. If you get them wrong again ask for advice. Repeat until done. I cannot make it simpler than that.

#2) If multiple choice is your weakness go to the BOS site and do 5 marks worth of MC every night (and use Success One for 2010 & 2011). Once done repeat. Very soon you will see some common tricks and you will be 'immune' to the common traps.

#3) Get your structural diagrams right and get your states right and NEVER write an incorrectly balanced equation

#4) Know the difference between diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioisotopes and know that gamma rays mostly pass straight through the body = very good for diagnosis as  = no harm and they can exit the body to be detected.

#5) For amphiprotic examples - if you want to show it acting as a proton donor (acid) show it reacting with OH-. If you want to show it acting as a base (proton acceptor) show it reacting with H3O+. Only show it reacting with water IF you know whether it specifically acts as an acid or base with water

Eg bicarbonate reacts with OH- as an acid, H3O+ as a base and water as a base (water is a stronger proton donor than bicarbonate so in the water solvent bicarbonate is a base) eg
HCO3- + H2O => H2CO3 + OH-  (hence pH > 7).

#6) When analysing equilibrium curves REFER to LCP & state all the trends of the curve ESPECIALLY the last often forgotten bit (that links to LCP) "...and a new equilibrium is established."

#7) A yellow smoky combustion flame means C(s) produced - so make sure this is reflected in any equation you write.

#8)  Haber - ALWAYS work this in somewhere once you have explained LCP and rate etc " A magnetite catalyst is used so that higher rates can be achieved at lower temperatures where the yield is higher. This increases the overall output of ammonia and profit made by the Haber plant.".

#9) Titles on graphs, show data points and draw a single line of best fit.

#10) When talking about AAS you must say its accuracy - that is the whole point - and why this accuracy needed eg "AAS is accurate down to ppb. This is important when monitoring heavy metals (or trace elements) as their effects become apparent when in concentrations as low as a few ppm and thus are too low to be accurately monitored using traditional wet chemistry (gravimetric) techniques."

#11) When giving a case study for our heavy metal (lead) ALWAYS say its source and its detrimental effects on the body.

#12) Elective - If you ever get a Q about history of elecrochem - or a Q about any one of Galvani, Volta, Davy and Faraday - even if the Q is bizarre at LEAST spell out what each scientist did with respect to electrochem. We did it in class, we wrote an essay on it. Just do it. And for the record Faraday not only came up with the quantitative Laws of Electrolysis that helped make electrochemistry valuable to industry and research (linking charge, mass and valency) but also developed the TERMINOLOGY to communicate about electrochemistry.

#13) Technically oxygen solubility is higher at low temperatures and high pressures. BUT in there deep ocean where there is low temp and high pressure there is no (or little) oxygen to dissolve anyway so these factors have little impact on the oxygen content of the ocean - what does make a difference is the wave mixing and photosynthesis at the surface making oxygen near saturation, but the steadily decreasing photosynthesis, slow diffusion and increasing respiration and decomposition reactions that steadily decrease oxygen (with a small bump near the bottom due to deep ocean polar currents).

 Hopefully when you look at these suggestions - there is nothing there that you cant do. Just need the practise, practise, practise to make sure that you do them naturally.

Minecraft x G.O.T. = AWESOME

"Why would anyone play Minecraft?" was heard in the labs this week.

Well if: "Because you can dig in virtual dirt for four hours to find a piece of diamond ore!" is an answer that doesn't convince you then look at what these awesome people have done. Thye are recreating Westeros! Check out the live map here and screenshots below (from here) - and videos of how they do it here.

 

One Minute Physics

I found this You Tube channel today - One Minute Physics - brilliant.

The clips below (typically 1-2 minutes long) are relevant to HSC Physics (particularly QTQ). While they are designed for 'the person in the street' they go beyond what is strictly required by the HSC syllabus but they are excellent for filling in the gaps and answering the questions that crop up about quantum mechanics (sorry about the messy links - no time to tidy them up)

Neutrino - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAAmAbJvvJg&feature=plcp

Schrodingers cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYyCHGWJq4&feature=plcp

Wave/Particle #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_h4IoPJXZw&feature=plcp

Wave/Particle #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_riIY-v2Ym8&feature=plcp

Standard Model I: Intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVO0HgMi6Lc&feature=plcp

Standard model II: PEP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxeb3Pc4PA4&feature=plcp

Standard Model III: Bosons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_RhISgoXUs&feature=plcp

Standard Model IV: Higgs pt 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uh5mTxRQcg&feature=plcp

Standard modle V: Higgs pt 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASRpIym_jFM&feature=plcp

Extra stuff - further beyond (but linked to) the syllabus

Spacetime – ARRGGGHH brain hurt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5S-hA9uKEM&feature=plcp 
GPS and relativity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky4RgRvVDoA&feature=plcp

Einstein’s famous 1905 papers: Photoelectric Effect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSgIDgGpRpk&feature=plcp

Einstein’s famous 1905 papers: special relativity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajhFNcUTJI0&feature=plcp

Einstein’s famous 1905 papers: E=mc2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW7DW9NIO9M&feature=plcp

Einstein’s famous 1905 papers: atoms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrUBPO6zZ40&feature=relmfu

Standard Model

It looks like the discovery of the Higgs Boson is going to be confirmed tonight. The standard model is the last focus area of the QTQ elective and thus you should probably know about it.

It would be VERY good to read the following - you don't need to memorise anything at this stage - but being AWARE of what the Standard model is would be very good.

1) From the Sydney Morning Herald - a surprisingly good video explanation: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/weve-observed-a-new-particle-leaked-video-reveals-apparent-god-particle-confirmation-20120704-21g63.html

2) An outstanding website - read all the links down the left (each one is a small PowerPoint like page) - covers A LOT of the QTQ elective http://www.particleadventure.org/standard-model.html 

3) A brief summary http://superstringtheory.com/experm/exper2.html

4) The standard model summarised into a picture - http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~dfehling/particle.gif

5) & two articles about 'where to next' http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/supersymmetry-explained/ & http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/theo-le-bret/higgs-boson-beyond-the-standard-model_b_1641492.html

6) My attempt at a mind map summary of the QTQ elective - you should be able to follow the top half - the bottom half is what is coming up. Click on the pic for the big version or you can find the original (and the website where I made it - its a free login and very easy to use) - here

7) Below is a very interesting video on how the Large Hadron Collider (LHC, ie The Synchrotron at CERN) works.

Here is another 'general population' clip about it

Here are three about what happens during a collision. The 'hairy' looking second & third videos are actually tracks of the paths of all the new matter (particles) created during two real collisions between lead ions at an energy of 574 TeV. That they can make those tiny ions collide at that speed/energy is incredible, that such collions actually MAKE new matter is amazing, that they can detect and track it all at such high speed and in such short timeframes blows my mind.

8) And - fianlly - I'm reposting this because it is so good:

The clips below aren't the best quality - (its the best I could upload to the blog) for the full experience see here (though you should watch the second one on the page first, then the top one).

9) And while we are on the topic of QTQ - you should probably look at this too: http://drblurg.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/cloud-chambers-qtq.html 

The End of Term 2

Thank you for a great term and for introducing me to – 

The HSC Teachers’ Term 2 Lament (Thanks to CollegeHumour)

Now and then I think of all the things I’ve taught you.
Every handout with a Far Side cartoon apropos.
You don’t want to live that way.
Forgetting every word I say.
You said you’d never let it go.
I guess mnemonic devices just weren’t enough for you though*
You really ‘disappoint me somewhat’
I worked so hard to teach you something and now you don’t know nothing.
What does the conch symbolise?
Or anything beyond the first three digits of pi?
And what about SOHCAHTOA?
Or asexual reproduction of a protozoa?
I guess you didn’t need that though.
Now it’s just a study that you used to know.

* ie Solo hated mangoes so had to eat monkey nuts for water – or whatever…

 But on that topic - tonight I did some research on the scale of the universe site and I have the proof I was looking for:

Keep the questions, summaries, essays, everything coming throughout the holidays. I don’t want to get bored. Actually I’m bored already hence this ridiculous post. So, get to it!

And Physicists - make sure you watch the two clips on the previous post.

And to finish the term – some more sesame street with one of the greatest voices today (song at 1:15):

Right Now

As you are probably aware  - the Science we learn in yr 12 was cutting edge about 100 years ago. For a look at the cutting edge of Chemistry/Physics see these excellent animations below. The first is good for everyone to know about. The second is vital for Yr 12 Physics (QTQ) - NB the comic bit starts at 1 min in. More below the clips for the Physicists.

The clips below aren't the best quality - (its the best I could upload to the blog) for the full experience see here (though you should watch the second one on the page first, then the top one).

Also see here, here & here for Newton's Laws as they apply to Science students (to make it more relevant to you, you could replace graduation/thesis/PhD with 'completing an assessment', and grad student with 'HSC student')

BTW PhD (piled higher and deeper) Comics is a very clever & very funny site - though you might appreciate it more once you've had a taste of university life.

As the 2nd clip implied, it's interesting to compare modern Particle Physicists to the Chemists of 100 years ago trying to piece together the periodic table. What they are putting together now is the 'Standard Model' - which is like a Periodic Table of subatomic particles. It is incredible to think of the advances in Chemistry that have come about since the ordering of the elements and developing a deeper understanding of their structure. One can only image where a greater understanding of the subatomic world will take us.

IN-YOUR-FACE DRAFTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

225 is a big number

I challenge you to have the patience to sit down and write out every number from 1 to 225

225 is a big number

But it is a shame that 225 is fifteen squared and not twelve squared because this song (courtesy of old-school Sesame Street) sums up exactly how I feel right now.

This is in the Blurg top-ten songs of all time

& BTW  - it should be compulsory by law to say 11 like they do at 1:33 in the clip
& UPDATE - ditto for '10' at 0:35

Transistors and Breakthroughs

Just clarifying some stuff from today - the valves (thermionic devices) we saw are now replaced by  semiconductors (solid state devices) - one of the most recent Radeon graphic cards  has a Graphics Processing Unit  (GPU)  with 4.3 billion transistors in ~350 square millimetres. That is approaching 12 million transistors per square millimetre.

If that GPU was made out of the smallest valves we saw in class today it would cover an area of about 1 square kilometre.

And  - because I want to keep pushing you into a Science based career (photonics, quantum computing, fusion power...) here are the links to those articles we discussed today:

Red photons to yellow photon for solar cells here

The universe sized computer made of 300 atoms here

And a comic (LOL-worthy, for me anyway) about quantum computing (from here originally)