Science Week

For those of you not aware, 13 - 21 August was National Science Week. To commemorate this fantastic occasion, the Science Faculty decided to “have a little fun”….. Throughout the week, in addition to regular Science programs, students have been treated to a variety of engaging activities.

Students were thrilled to see the effect of dry ice (solid Carbon Dioxide) when placed in a sealed bottle within 60L bin filled with water. The pressure exerted on the bottle resulted in water shooting into the air and the bin looking a little worse for wear.

The next activity demonstrating the acceleration of a small car using a small fuel cell was unbelievable, especially when the numbers were discussed – more “G Force” (15+) than experienced in the Space Shuttle (approx. 3), accelerating to approximately 60km/h in under a second! Students have been able to look at the Sun through a telescope using special filters to keep it safe.

The Rubens Tube https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubens%27_tube 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpovwbPGEoo ) 

which looks at the impact of sound waves and pressure in a tube, has been getting a run in the classroom – simply spectacular.

The air cannon is always a popular way of generating a toroidal vortex (a ring of air similar in shape to a doughnut) and being able to “fire” it at objects. Various students have had the opportunity to create non-Newtonian Fluids in class, others have made rock candy or chromatography patterns. Year 10 are being challenged to make a “Mars Lander” in a competition to see which group can safely land a cup of water from a height with least damage/spillage.

Of course, the week also consisted of the Science-centred bell tunes, Science Fact of the Day and Science Joke of the Day. All in all it was a fun, educational and engaging, and the Science Faculty is already starting to plan activities for Science Week 2017….

Mr Kingsley Hunt - Head Teacher Science/Mathematics