Component 4

Component 3

Term 1

A:

Topic 11: Science of Photography

A DSLR camera is different from conventional cameras as it uses mirrors and prisms to direct light from the lens to the viewpiece. Shutter Speed is the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second, when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow more light into the camera sensor and are used for low-light and night photography, while fast shutter speeds help to freeze motion. Examples of shutter speeds: 1/15 (1/15th of a second), 1/30, 1/60, 1/125. Aperture is a hole within a lens, through which light travels into the camera body. The larger the hole, the more light passes to the camera sensor. Aperture also controls the depth of field, which is the portion of a scene that appears to be sharp. If the aperture is very small, the depth of field is large, while if the aperture is large, the depth of field is small. In photography, aperture is typically expressed in “f” numbers (also known as “focal ratio”, since the f-number is the ratio of the diameter of the lens aperture to the length of the lens). Examples of f-numbers are: f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0. Focal length, usually represented in millimeters (mm), is the basic description of a photographic lens. It is not a measurement of the actual length of a lens, but a calculation of an optical distance from the point where light rays converge to form a sharp image of an object to the digital sensor or 35mm film at the focal plane in the camera. The focal length of a lens is determined when the lens is focused at infinity. The focal length tells us the angle of view—how much of the scene will be captured—and the magnification—how large individual elements will be. The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the higher the magnification. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view and the lower the magnification.

B:

30,000 year-old giant virus found in Siberia

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140304071433.htm 

Introduction

This article is about a new scientific breakthrough. The largest virus ever have been found at the extreme north-eastern part of Siberia. The scientists were trying to find out the differences between this newly found virus, Pithovirus, and the Pandoravirus.

Summary of the article

This article tells us about the Pithovirus. Scientists at first look of the virus thought that it could be Pandoravirus due to its shape. Then they proved that Pithovirus is not Pandoravirus due to the following reasons. The Pithovirus has about 500 genes while the Pandoravirus can have up to 2500 genes and they replicate differently inside amoeba cells. The Pithovirus formed the first of a new family of viruses. 

Statement of your opinion

I think that the scientific discovery is important as a step in uncovering more about viruses and how the viruses have or could have affected our health. Even though Pithovirus is not harmful to men, we must still understand more about it and maybe find more viruses in the Pithovirus family. 

Term 2

A:

Topic 12: Gardens by the Bay

There are 18 supertrees in Gardens by the Bay, twelve at the Supertree Grove, while the remaining six are placed in clusters of threes at the Golden and Silver Gardens. The trees provide scale and dimension to the Gardens while marrying the form and function of mature trees, the Supertrees also create height to balance the tall developments in the Marina Bay area. The imposing trees have colossal concrete trunks weighing hundreds of tonnes. While thousands of thick wire rods have been used to create artificial branches and canopies. The two man-made eco-systems, or biomes, consists of ‘Cloud Forest’ (0.8 hectares) and ‘Flower Dome’ (1.2 hectares). They replicate the climate of regions which are among the most threatened habitats in the wo

rld, with many plant species facing the threat of climate change and habitat loss brought about by human activities. The conservatories are also a statement in sustainable engineering and apply a suite of cutting-edge technologies that provide energy-efficient solutions in cooling that allows a whole new world of plants to be sustained in Singapore.

B:

A Squirt of Stem Cell Gel Heals Brain Injuries

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/squirt-stem-cell-gel-heals-brain-injuries?dom=PSC&loc=recent&lnk=1&con=a-squirt-of-stem-cell-gel-heals-brain-injuries

Introduction

The article is about a new scientific discovery of a gel which stimulates the growth of stem cells at the injury site. It shows the tests carried out on rats and shows that this gel may help with brain injuries too.

Summary of the article

Dr. Ning Zhang at Clemson University in South Carolina invented a gel that can help save lives. At a injury site, his gel can be injected into someone who is injured and simulates the growth of stem cells. Brain injuries are harder to repair and the article that usual methods may not be useful to the situation.

Statement of your opinion

Scientists have been interested to find out ways to help patients. I think is a crucial discovery and will lead the other scientists to come up with more ways to help injured patients heal faster using the gels and repair brain injuries which is usual harder to heal.

(References included in this post:

https://tysonrobichaudphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dof1.jpg

http://cdn-7.nikon-cdn.com/en_INC/IMG/Images/Learn-Explore/Photography-Techniques/2009/Focal-Length/Media/focal-length-graphic.jpg

https://photographylife.com/iso-shutter-speed-and-aperture-for-beginners

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/g3cu6o2o/understanding-focal-length.html

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/attractions/supertree-grove.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2137404/Gardens-By-The-Bay-Supertrees-Singapore-prepares-opening-day.html

http://www.nrf.gov.sg/images/default-source/GYSS-2015/gardens_by_the_bay.jpg?sfvrsn=0)

Component 2

I: Termly Science Performance

1. What is your target?

A1,.

2. What is my plan to achieve my target?

To study notes regularly and read the textbook and the internet for a more clear understanding of the topics learnt.

3. For tests, whats are the areas you need to improve and what concrete steps that you would take to improve?

The areas I need to improve is mainly about my concepts and some newly learnt topics. I will spend free time reading and memorizing concepts.

II: Reflections on Science Experiences.

Activity I...

Name of Activity: Aviation Science Sabbatical Air Race

Objective of Activity: To work in a group of 3, perform manual navigation and perform a flight through specific checkpoints.

Venue: Computer Lab 2 (School)

This activity have taught how to do manual navigation for aircraft and some flying experiences on the FS9-Cessna 172SP Skyhawk. I have understood the compass on the aircraft shows magnetic heading but using a protractor and ruler on a map, we will get the actual heading. Therefore, we need to convert that actual heading into magnetic heading so that we an flying towards our destination. The activity also gives me some time to fly the FS9. I had prior with the new and updated FSX Demo but the feel of flying using nothing but the mouse and flying using a joystick is completely different. Some things I can never try and learn using the mouse can be done using the joystick. For the air race, what I feel best is that it gives me a opportunity to work closely with the other members of my group to plan out the route and flying the aircraft.One bad point about the air race is that the trainer does not allow us to use all the functions the plane have like the autopilot so that we can get our hands off the joystick and plan the route. At first, me and another member of the group was planning the route then after we got our takeoff initial heading, we took off. Then after passing 2 checkpoints, I took over flying the plane for a decent and landing. I have many experiences with X-Plane (another type of aircraft simulator) and performed very smooth decent and landings. According to the map, one of the runways may have been used for parking so we tuned into air traffic control at or destination airport, which people who does not fly MFS does not know off. We are able to get clearance from air traffic control which runway we should land on and got directions to the airport.

Activity II...

Name of Activity: Indicators for Acids and Alkalis

Objective of Activity: To tell whether the solution is acidic, alkaline or neutral.

Venue: Science Lab

Picture of Activity:

Through this activity, I have how to handle chemicals in the lab, stirring and mixing chemicals, and most importantly how to separate acidic, alkaline and neutral chemicals from each other. The good thing about the activity is that I had a chance to do a hands-on experiment instead of reading off the textbook only. However, I had experienced problems controlling the volume of chemicals added such that they will be constant.

Activity III...

Name of Activity: Properties of Acids

Objective of Activity: To investigate the role of water in acid

Venue: Science Lab

Pictures of Activity:

During this activity, I compared the difference when water is added to citric acid crystals as compared to ethanol. With water added, the citric acid solution turned acidic by turning blue litmus paper red. The experiment helped me to understand the different effects water and ethanol have on citric acid crystals. However, the experiment may not be accurate due to contamination of the chemicals involved.

Component 1

Issues in Teaching and Learning Science

1. Problems that you faced in the learning of Science and how you overcome these problems?

When learning Science, we get to know more concepts. However, sometimes our prior knowledge may go against these concepts. Sometimes what I had believed to be true for a long time was proved wrong by Science. Science is all around us so it is important we understand it so we understand more about the world we are living in. I tried to forget as much things when learning something new so the information wouldn't confuse me. Learning with a clean mind makes me learn more instead of refusing the Science concepts and only accepting what I believe is true. 

Another problem that I faced is that Science concepts can be hard to memorize by themselves. There are a lot of concepts that I have learnt and need to keep in mind. So, I read up on the Science concepts and understand more about them to help me memorize the Science Concepts better.

2. What are the scientific concepts that I have learnt?

a. Density is mass/volume. Density cannot be directly measured, it must be inferred from the 

relationship of the mass and volume. In order to calculate density, we have to take the precise mass and divide it with the exact volume.

b. Images in a mirror is laterally inverted.

c. Group 0 elements are noble gases.

3. How are these knowledge and skills useful and relevant to the real world?

Science is all around us. Science is what formed this world. So it is important that we understand Science thus we can explain what is going on around us. What we learn in the classroom is part of everyday life. It does not mean we have to see and feel the science going on, sometimes Science is invisible to the human eye. All the knowledge and skills got me to know the answers to some of the many questions around us. There is a question and answer to everything around us and it is called Science.

4. What I have learnt which is beyond my textbook/notes knowledge?

a. Element 117, a super-heavy element, have been found by scientists in Germany.

b. Mach 1, the speed of sound, is 661 knots at sea level.

c. Air pressure at a high altitude is so low that humans could not survive.