Experiment: House Fires and Fire Safety

1) How do bush fires start and how has climate change made them more common?

- Bush fires normally originate from heat. The heat comes from the temperature/weather. Sometimes, it comes from lightning that strikes a dry patch of plants. It can also come from a spark that can happen when a rock scratch another rock. Occasionally, bushfires can start from humans. Climate change made bushfires common because of the increased risk of the hot dry weather caused.

2) What are 3 ways you could fireproof your house if you lived in an area likely to get bush fires?

- Use a steel frame instead of wood.

- Use bricks

- Use gypsum boards/drywall

3) When something burns it combusts, what is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion?

- Complete combustion takes place in the presence of a sufficient amount of oxygen whereas an incomplete combustion reaction takes place when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen supply.

What is Rock Cycle?

In Science, we were asked to research any chosen topics or any science conspiracy. To show our knowledge, we either had to make a song, video, animation, or poster. The topic I chose was The Rock Cycle. I decided to make a poster to share my knowledge with everyone.

Volcano Project

Aim: To erupt a volcano using baking soda and vinegar.
Hypothesis: I think the chemical reaction will be better if we change the rations of the chemical. 
Equipment: [To make the volcano] newspaper, paint, cardboard, glue, an empty jug of milk 

 [To make the chemical reaction] vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, cold water, and food coloring

Method: 

1. Combine the vinegar, water, dish soap, and 2 drops of food coloring into the empty soda bottle.
2. Use a spoon to mix the baking soda slurry until it is all a liquid.
3. Pour the baking soda slurry into the soda bottle.

Results: 

Discussion: 

Rube Goldberg Machine

In Science, we have been put into groups and created our own Rude Goldberg Machine. In my group, we created a tunnel and an inclined plane. The materials we used are plastic cups, legos and toilet paper roll cardboard. In the end, every groups' machine was put all together and made a big Rude Goldberg Machine. 

This is what it looked like in the end:

Wind Racers

In Science, my friends and I made a wind racer using sticks, trash bag, and a bamboo stick. 

Distance: 9m

Time: 16s 61

V = ∆d / ∆t

Speed: 0.542 ms

Why did you choose your design?

We chose this design because we knew that the sail will help it move with the help of the wind.

How could you have changed that design to make your racer go faster? 

Shorter sail because I thought it was kinda long.

Egg drop experiment

Aim: To build a structure that will prevent the raw egg from breaking when dropped from a significant height.

Method: We used sticks, foam, cotton, bubble wrap to build our structure.

Results: Luckily, we didn't break our egg. We actually never thought that it will work.

Weight:

a. Egg mass = 40g

b. Egg & lander = 824.9

How does a phone uses electricity

In the holidays, I used a device that uses electricity. The device I used is my phone.
This is how a phone uses electricity:
- using a charger
- speaker
- connecting it to the wifi
- screen

Acid Rain

How is acid rain formed? When fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burned, it releases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These acids dissolve in the water in the clouds and make the rainwater more acidic than normal. The acidic water vapour condenses and falls to Earth as acid rain.

How is it affecting coral reefs? It kills aquatic organisms and damages the coral reefs. It also makes the water acidic.

 How can we prevent it? A great way to prevent acid rain is to produce energy without using fossil fuels. We can do this by using renewable sources such as solar and wind power.

- walk or bike if the destination is closed by

- turn of appliances when you're not using them

Crystals

Yesterday, we did an experiment in science. Our task was to form crystals by using copper oxide with an acid.
Aim: To produce copper sulfate salt by reacting copper oxide with an acid.
Equipment: Copper oxide powder, dilute sulfuric acid, 50 mL measuring cylinder, two 100 mL beakers, bunsen burner, tripod, gauze mat, funnel, filter paper, thermometer, spatula, evaporating basin and stirring rod.
Method
1. Add 20 mL of sulfuric acid to a 100mL beaker. Heat the acid until it reachers 70℃. Turn off your bunsen burner.
2. Once heated, use a spatula to add pea-sized portions of copper oxide to the beaker. Stir the mixture for 30 seconds.
3. Repeat step 2 until no more will dissolve. Allow the beaker to cool.
4. Fold the filter paper and place it in the funnel. Place the filter funnel into the second beaker.

5. Make sure the beaker is cool enough to hold at the top. The contents should still be hot. You may need your teacher to complete this step.
6. Gently swirl the contents of the beaker to mix, and then pour into the filter paper in the funnel. Allow to filter through.
7. Rinse the beaker you used to heat the mixture previously, and place it back on top of your tripod filled with 50-60mL of water.
8. Place the evaporating basin on top of the beaker and carefully pour some of the solution from the beaker into the evaporating basin.
9. Gently heat the beaker until the solution in the evaporating basin has reduced by half.
10. Leave the evaporating basin to cool. Once cool, move the evaporating basin to a warm place where it will not be disturbed (i.e a window-sill) and observe over the next few days. Blue copper sulfate crystals should form.

What salt are the crystals? Copper sulfate
Chemical reaction: Copper oxide + sulfuric acid ➝ copper sulfate + water

Experiments

This week in science we have been doing experiments based on base and acids.

Making Indicators

Aim: To make an acid-base indicator using everyday substances.
Equipment: Beetroot, turmeric, cranberry Juice, beaker, water, tripod, bunsen burner, gauze mat, HCI
NaOH

For beetroot: Chop the beetroot into small pieces. Place the beetroot in a beaker and add water to cover the beetroot. Boil over a bunsen burner for at least the minutes for the colour to leach out of the beetroot.
For cranberry juice: Pour into a beaker and leave to one side.
For turmeric: Mix 1 teaspoon turmeric in 100 mL cup of alcohol. Place in a small beaker and leave to one side. 

Method
1. You now have five beakers, each containing a different indicator.
2. Using a pipette, place a 5 mL of the cabbage indicator into two test tubes.
3. Add 5mL of HCI(acid) to one test tube and 5mL of NaOH(alkali) to the other test tube.
4. Record the colour change.
5. Clean the test tubes and repeat for the beetroot, cranberry and turmeric indicator.

Neutralisation
Aim: To observe a neutralisation reaction


Equipment
Test Tube
Test tube rack
Sodium Carbonate (base)
Hydrochloric acid (acid)
Universal indicator solution

Method

1. Add approximately 1-2mL of Sodium Carbonate and place the test tube into the test tube rack. Add 3-5 drops of Universal indicator solution.
2. Using a dropper bottle, add HCI drop by drop. Be careful because adding even a small amount of extra acid can mean you'll miss the neutralisation point.

Coloured Fire

In Science, we did the coloured fire experiment.

Equipment
Beaker
Bunsen Burner
Heat pad
Sticks

Powder
Strontium chloride
Sodium chloride
Potassium chloride
Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Copper Sulfate
Copper Chloride



Method
1. Set up the Bunsen burner
2. Get a stick and dip one end into the water
3. Dip the wetted stick into the powder
4. Put the coated stick on flame
(Repeat the method with a different powder)

Oil of Wintergreen

Yesterday in Science we did an experiment. However, we didn't end up with the product we wanted.

Equipment
Beaker
Measuring cylinder
Bunsen Burner
Gauze mat
Test tube
Heat pad
Test tube tongs
Dropper

Acid
Salicylic acid, methanol & sulfuric acid

Method
1. Weigh 0.25 grams of salicylic acid into a 10-15 cm test tube. This weight does not to be recorded.
2. Add 2.0 mL of methanol to the test tube and swirl until the solid dissolves.
3. Slowly add 10 drops of sulfuric acid.
4. Place the test tube in a hot water bath and secure by using a utility clamp and heat for 15 minutes.
5. Cool the test tube in running water.
6. Smell the contents by wafting (wave a hand over the top of the test tube to direct any fumes) and record any observations.

What happened? We didn't end up with the crystals intended. Instead, we ended up with a black liquid.
What should it look like?  It should look like white crystals.
What could we change/try? The amount of acid we put in.

Kiwifruit DNA

Aim: To extract DNA from a Kiwi Fruit.
Material: Ethanol, Salt, Detergent, Kiwifruit, Test tube, Mortar & Pestle
Method
1. Get a kiwi fruit and chop it in half.
2.  Squeeze the fruit in a pestle and mash it with a mortar to break up the cell walls. (Keep mushing it until all the big chunks are gone)
3. After mashing it in, add 2 squirts of detergent
4. Strain the mixture in a cloth and put it in a zip lock bag, to remove all the chunks.
5. Add two pinch of salt in
6. Then strain it again into a test tube and add ethanol in.
Results: At the end of the experiment, I was able to see the DNA of the kiwi fruit floating at the top and all the juice were left at the bottom.

Human Reproduction

Reproduction
Reproduction is the process of producing offspring. There are two main types of reproduction:
- Asexual reproduction where only one parent produces clones of themselves.
- Sexual reproduction where two parents produce offspring which are genetically different from themselves.

Humans reproduce sexually and males and females have different reproductive organs.

Female Reproductive System

1) Ovary = One of the two organs either side of the uterus. They contain the eggs.
2) Fallopian Tube = One of two tubes that connect an ovary to the uterus.
3) Bladder = Urine is stored here before passing out the urethra.
4) Vagina = A tube that connects the cervix to the external opening called the vulva.
5) Uterus = Organ in which the baby develops if an egg is fertilised.
6) Rectum = Elastic sac that stores solid body waste before being passed as faeces.
7) Vulva = The vulva is the external part of the female genitalia.
8) Urethra = tube through which urine flows through after exiting the bladder.
9) Anus = Opening through which faeces pass.
10) Cervix = Junction between the uterus and vaginal tube.

Male Reproductive System

1) Testes = Glands in the scrotum that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone.
2) Urethra = A tube inside the penis through which urine and semen pass out of the penis.
3) Epididymis = Tubes at the back of the testes that store sperm.
4) Bladder = A flexible bag for storing urine.
5) Vas deferens = Tubes that connect the epididymis to the urethra. Often called the 'sperm duct'.
6) Anus = Opening through which faeces passes.
7) Prostate = A gland just below the bladder that produces a fluid that provides the sperm cell with nutrients.
8) Rectum = Elastic sad that stores solid body waste before being passed as faeces.
9) Penis = The external sex organ of a male. A hood of skin covers the head(glans).
10) Scrotum = A sac that holds the testes.