Gases by Nikolai

What the physical science class has learned about:

1.    Summarize the topic learned in class.

     1.We have been learning about gases and the characteristics of them. How they react to heat, and the smaller the container, the more amount of pressure (with the same amount of gases). Also liquids produce gases from evaporation.

                2. Three interesting facts about the topic.

1.    Gases expand when heated, and if heated enough they can explode like a tire with too much air in it. 

2.    Molecules in the air constantly move around and without an exact pattern they shift and bump into the walls of its container and each other.

3.    Without gas we would not be able to live.

     3. Ask one question about the topic.

1.    How where gases discovered and who discovered them?

     4.  Explain how the topic is important.

The topic is important so we know a little bit more about our planet, how it works and why our bodies react to it the way they do. Also maybe why we are here.

Matter by Bryce

Everything in the universe is made out of matter, and there is a way to classify this matter. Classifying matter can be as simple as its shape, weight, and the color of it. It can also be more complex and classify the makeup of the object looking at its elements and the particles. Everything is classified in some way, and most things have numerous classifications. If there was no classification of objects the world would be very confusing and frustrating because we wouldn't be able to differentiate between objects.

1.    Matter can be broken down to even farther chemical classifications

2.    Elements are categorized into the periodic table of elements by similarities in chemical and physical properties

3.    There are different kinds of mixtures that make up matter

How would the world as we know it be different if we didn't have classify things, and what would the mostly affect for you?

Molecular Geometry by Grace

What is molecular geometry and what are the common molecular shapes?

Molecular geometry is the three dimensional representation of atoms making up a molecule. This geometry determines the properties of a substance, such as reactivity, polarity, phase of matter, color, magnetism, and biological activity. Angles between bonds on an atom depends on the strength of the bonds on a molecule.

It can be determined by spectroscopic and diffraction methods. Microwave and Raman spectroscopy can give information about molecular geometry. Molecular geometries can be, determined best at low and high temperatures. There are many common geometries, such as Linear, Trigonal planar, Tetrahedral, Pyramidal, and Bent.

Linear molecular geometries have angles of 180 degrees. It exists in a straight line and is is between two adjacent bonds. A common example is carbon dioxide and nitric oxide.

Trigonal planar molecular geometries have angles of 120 degrees. The molecules are somewhat triangular and flat. An example is boron trifluoride.

Tetrahedral molecules are have four bonds on one central atom and do not have any unshared electron pairs. The angles are 109.5 degrees with a common example being methane.

Pyramidal molecular shapes are pyramid like. They have triangle like bases and angles of about 107 degrees. Ammonia is a common example of this.

Bent molecules have angles of about 104.5 degrees. They have a non-linear shape and two pairs of bonded electrons. Water is a good example of this molecule shape.

Molecules come in many different types of shapes. These molecules come in different dimensions and vary in angle size, polarity, and other properties.

Note from Ms. Raino: The students got to sign up for the date they wanted- the reason you are seeing so much of Grace is because she believes in getting assignments done, and out of the way.

What are some different types of life that we eat and how do they affect our environment? by Grace

There are many different types of life we consume on a daily basis. The most common of these are fungi, plants, and animals. These items make up our diets and provide the majority of our nutrition.

            Fungi are organisms that break down organic materials and recycle them into vital nutrients. The types are mushrooms, molds, mildews, smuts, rusts, and yeasts. Fungi helps make a lot of different foods such as the use of yeasts in bread and alcohol or molds in penicillin and cheese production. Common mushrooms are portabellas, shiitakes, truffles, chanterelles, and morels.

Plants produce a lot of our nutrition and food. Plants can be gymnosperms and angiosperms characterized by seeds and flowers. Most of our food comes from angiosperms which can be monocots or dicots. Monocots have flowers in groups of 3s and have leaf veins that run parallel. Dicots have flowers in multiples of 4s or 5s and have reticulated leaf veins.

We get many foods from plants such as, celery and carrots from the apiaceae family and lettuce and artichokes from the asteraceae family. We get all our fruits and vegetables from plants. 

Animals provide our meat and animal products, such as eggs and milk. There are different ways to get meat, usually by hunting or domestication. Hunting has become more of a sport than a means of survival. Domestication is the transformation of a species into something beneficial for humans, often through selective breeding. This has resulted in the modern societies we have today because we don’t have to travel to get our food. We also receive more animal products instead of just meat.

The different foods we get come from living organisms and are necessary to our lives. We receive all of the nutrition and energy we need because of different types of fungi, plants, and animals.

New Biotechnologies by Grace

What are some new biotechnologies and how do they affect us?

As we progress we invent new things to make our lives better. Common examples of this biotech is Genetically Modified Organisms, Stem Cell Therapy, Gene Therapy, and advances in using DNA for forensic criminology. These biotechnologies can potentially improve our lives.

Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetics were altered using techniques of genetic engineering. The most common example of GMOs are Genetically Modified Crops. These new crops could be more nutritious, resistant to diseases and pests, and more crops. These crops can help with health and help provide more crops per amount of land.

Stem Cell Therapy is the use of stem cells to treat a condition or a disease. This therapy can help cure neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, heart diseases, and more. This can help cure diseases and improve quality of life.

Gene Therapy is an experimental technique using genes to treat diseases. This technique allows doctors to insert genes into a patient to treat a disorder or disease. The most common diseases it treats are Immune Deficiency, Hemophilia, Cancer, and Neurodegenerative Diseases. The treatment of these can improve living conditions and can potentially cure more diseases.

As we have had advances in criminology, mostly do to the use of DNA testing, more criminals have been found and more innocent people released. DNA has begun to play a major role in criminology and in the future crime rates should go down due to more advanced methods of catching criminals.

All of these new biotechnologies are improving the world we live in today. In the future we will have advanced opportunities, health benefits, and less crime. Our lives will benefit incredibly due to these technologies.

Classification of Matter by Sophia

Classification of Matter

           

When classifying matter, you can classify it into two groups. One group is homogeneous mixtures and the other group is heterogeneous mixtures. Also when classifying substances, there is two groups. One group being elements and the other being compounds. According to Google, matter is “(in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy”.  Matter does commonly exist in four states or phases; solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Plasma is hardly found on Earth, yet it is very common in the universe. Most stars are made up of plasma. Apparently, matter gets confused with mass often. A car would be matter, because it occupies space, and has matter. The definition of matter is based on its physical and chemical setup. Matter is made up of what atoms and molecules are made up of. They are made of particles. As particles move in a gas, they begin to take up shape. When the temperature increases, the particles move faster, all because they begin to get more energy. In a solid, particles move slower because they are tightly packed into a certain space. In a liquid, particles have more energy, less dense, and can move freely, like in a gas. As the temperature of matter increases, the density of matter decreases. Matter goes into atoms, and atoms go into protons, neutrons, and electrons. Electrons are negative, protons are positive, and neutrons are neutral. My question is: What are everyday things we do that classify matter? Classification of matter is used everyday, whether inside a lab, or inside a home. 

Questions to ask you students...

In Physical Science students have been learning how to classify matter. You might ask them what are different ways people classify the things around them- scientifically and in every-day wording.

In Advanced Biology students have been researching new bio technologies. These are often controversial subjects- ask you student what they are researching, and what their opinion is, based on the scientific evidence.

In Earth Science, we have been learning about meteorology, and as part of that, have been participating in the citizen science project called Old Weather that has people all around the world reading and transcribing shipping logs from the 1800 and early 1900s. Ask you student about what they have been reading in the logs, and how citizen science can help gather knowledge about our world.

In Kitchen Biology we have been studying the classification of food items, and we started with fungi. Everyone was very excited, and there were lots of great questions produced. Ask students what types of fungi are used as food, and what are used to produce food. Additionally, ask your student to explain the 3-source rule!

In Biology, we have been learning about the history of the Earth, and the exciting life forms that existed millions of years ago. Ask them about the time period they just researched, and how life was different back then.

In Chemistry we have been learning how to speak "Chemistrian" (thanks to Hank Green for the term). Students have been practicing how to form and name ionic bonds. We will be throwing polyatomic ions in the mix come Monday. Ask your student about science can be like learning a new language, and have them explain some of the rules of "Chemistrian."

Next week should see our first blog posts from students for the new year, so stay tuned!

Welcome Back!

Hope everyone had a wonderful break, and a happy New Year. Stay tuned for more updates from the students in the following week.

I'll leave you with the same question I asked my students- How does something you did over break relate to science?