Class 7 News

Newsletter: Week 6 

Term 4 2025, Year 7 Geometry/ Heat/ Acoustics with Harry Brown

As much as possible this unit is delivered in an historical context. Often referring back to ancient Egypt and the achievements of early mathematicians like Thales who quickly worked out the height of the great pyramid by measuring his own shadow. Or Archimedes who famously solved the concerned, kings question about the amount of gold in his new crown, as he slipped into a full bathtub and displaced water equivalent to his own mass. Pythagoras also had an epiphany as he gazed at the tiles on the bathhouse floor and saw his mathematical law concerning the area of the hypotenuse of right angle triangles. We also followed the journeys of these early mathematicians as they travelled the known world visiting many countries and learning everything they could about different number systems and discovering the power of sacred geometry in secret religious sects. Again we travel back to ancient Egypt to see the golden ratio in use and then to Italy where Fibonacci who was initially dismissed as a dreamer is finally celebrated for his puzzle concerning the breeding of rabbits. Here we are delighted to see the magic of a number ratio present in the garden, the beautiful Fibonacci spiral in our own bodies and small animals we measured and drew. As we studied acoustics we were introduced to the most incredible new research concerning the properties of sound, the effects of our thoughts and speech on water and our health. Such stories bring to life the achievements of people who have discovered natural laws or pure truth which meets the needs of the young adolescent, who at this time is satiated, inwardly met, themselves, on an age appropriate search for truth. Students have enjoyed exploring the mechanics of the lever, pulley, transmission, pneumatics and hydraulics. We discovered the different properties of fluids and gasses before moving into a study of the effects of heat and cold on these substances. Various experiments demonstrated how heat caused expansion and made substances lighter. We marveled at the power and properties of sound and left unanswered questions about whether sound travels in waves or exquisite orb like bubbles.

By Harry Brown. I have enjoyed getting to know the students and staff at the school and look forward to working with everyone again next year. Thank you for making me welcome.