Bryan Foo's reflection

Upon realizing that our previous topic will not bring us as many marks as we expect, my group has changed our topic into doing an experiment that promotes plant growth by changing the PH value of the soil.


There are still some questions that are still going around in my head. Like how are we going to find the acids and alkaline we will need. Also, how are we going to make it original, an idea that nobody has ever thought of. And also is there any specific type of acids that plants will need?

I learned that it is going to take quite some time to make that product and prove that it works. I also learned that plants cannot grow in soil that is too acidic or too alkaline. Lastly, I learned that we should not waste what we have. We have to recycle so that acid rain does not occur too often, which causes the demotion of plant growth.

I agree with the fact that it is not going to be easy to ask everyone to change their habits so that not too much waste is produced. That way, all kinds of pollution will decrease. Lastly, I agree and like the idea that promotes plant growth, as it helps safe planet earth and also, it is an original idea and it follows the theme for this year.

New grace website

http://grace-2010.blogspot.com/

Abraham low Week 2 reflection

Here is the pic.....

Aston Koh week 2 reflections

(1) What is our topic?

Our topic is to find out other ways of producing electricity . If one day , electricity runs out , what are we going to do when we do not have electricity . We will create a potato which will work and give us energy to power something small like a light .

(2) What do I already know about the topic?

I know that we will need a quite a lot of potatoes to support a a light like a battery
So if we are to support something bigger we wold need much more potatoes .

(3) What are the questions I want to ask about this topic? 

What is the exact amount I need to make a light work ? How long will the potatoes last ? 

(4) What are the subjects/skills I can make use of?
We are likely to need a two end clip to connect the potato to the power of the light which is learn in science and skills like observation and the amount of light given out due to the amount of potatoes .

(5) Where can I go to find information for our project? 

We can find more information on the Internet and some books . 

(6) What do I want to prepare to tell others about our project? 

The project will be very environmental friendly so we will try not to use anything that requires energy in our experiment .
 

Our plan is to build a battery.

A potato battery.

A lemon battery / potato battery is a device used in experiments proposed in many science textbooks around the world. It is made by inserting two different metallic objects, for example a galvanized nail and a copper coin, into a lemon. The copper coin serves as the positive electrode or cathode and the galvanized nail as the electron-producing negative electrode or anode. These two objects work as electrodes, causing an electrochemical reaction which generates a small potential difference.

The aim of this experiment is to show students how batteries work. After the battery is assembled, a multimeter can be used to check the generated voltage. In order for a more visible effect to be produced, a few lemon cells connected in series can be used to power a standard LED. Flashlight bulbs are generally not used because the lemon battery cannot produce the amount of current required to light such bulbs. Digital clocks can work well, and some toymakers offer small kits with a clock that can be powered by two potatoes or lemons.

The energy for the battery does not come from the lemon or potato, but rather the energy comes from the chemical change in the zinc. The zinc is oxidized inside the lemon, exchanging some of its electrons in order to reach a lower energy state, and the energy released provides the power. The lemon or potato merely provides an environment where this can happen, but they are not used up in the process.

Reactions

In a lemon battery, both oxidation and reduction occur. Consider the case of a zinc-copper battery; this battery is similar to the original "simple voltaic cells" invented by Alessandro Volta. At the anode, metallic zinc is oxidised, and enters the acidic solution as Zn2+ ions:

Zn → Zn2+ + 2 e-.

At the copper cathode, hydrogen ions (solvated protons from the acidic solution) are reduced to form molecular hydrogen:

2H++ 2e- → H2.

Potatoes, apples, or any other fruit or vegetable containing acid or other electrolyte can be used, but lemons are preferred because of their higher acidity. Other non rusty metal combinations (such as magnesium-copper) are more effective: for example, using a magnesium strip instead of zinc increases the voltage from 1.1 V with zinc to 1.6 V with magnesium. (The exact voltage varies depending on the lemons.) However, zinc and copper are usually preferred because they are reasonably safe and easy to obtain.

To all Group members pls upload the picture on pg 4 of worksheet 2.

Brendon where is your reflection???

Bryan Foo's reflection

Our topic is to reduce energy wastage by using potatoes to power simple items like clocks and maybe items that do not require much energy to function. I roughly know the steps to make a potato powered item and also the items required. I want to ask some question about this topic. "how much power a potato can produce?" and "does the size of the potato affect the performance of the object?".
I can make use of my fathers experience in fixing circuits to set up this potato powered circuit. I can find information I need from the internet and books as these are my main sources of information when I need them.
Lastly I want to tell people about the advantages of having most small objects being powered by potatoes. The amount of energy it can safe if majority of people use it, especially when the situation the world is currently in, where air and water pollution has harmed the earth too much.

Worksheet week 1

Brendon reflection

Facts

What I know

Team work is important in this project. This project comprises of many objectives. We must be creative to complete the project. We must form close bounds with each others.

Ideas

What I think

This project is going to be very interesting. This project is very interactive. We get to interact with our friends. We get to interact with the teachers.

Learning Issues

What I want to find out

How can our project outcome influence others. In how many ways can we work together to come out with an outcome. how to effectively organize a group to complete the project. If we can organize our time efficiently

Action Plan

What I can do

Get involve in everything the group does. Do my part as a group member. Contribute ideas to the group. Be active in group activities e.g meeting .

Group Name

Our group name is Graceful Marist. It means we are devoted to the project and are willing to put in our best effort.


My name is Abraham low
I am a good member of our
group because I am the
leader.
My name is Bryan Foo
I am a good member of our
group because I am very
creative
My name is Brendon Tan
I am a good member of our
group because I am very
active in the project.
My name is Aston Koh
I am a good member of our
group because I am very
organized.
Our group’s motto: We strive for the
best!!! :)

Brendon quick upload the worksheet we did in class!

Reflection

Abraham low 2A (1)

Facts
I know that we have to work hard to achieve something.
Must be optimistic so that we can make something no one has made before.
Some group members are not very enthusiastic about the project
There are many people with great invention inventing something new would be a challenge, so we have to think out of the box.

Ideas
We must be creative.
Hardworking to achieve what we want.
Determination to finish the project.
Think extraordinary to think of something other people would not have thought of.

Learning Issues
How do people who invent things came up with the idea.
What do we learn from grace?
By making a product what do me learn in the processed?
Does the product we have to do with our study?

Action Plan
Lead the group
Make sure everyone plays a part
make sure that everyone is enthusiastic
Make sure that the product is able to do what is said to do

Aston Koh

What i Know , I know that we must work as a team in order to succeed . In order t o work as a team , we have to cooperate . we must put in our best in the project . we also need to have plenty of creativity .

What I think , the project will be very tough and will test us a lot . This project is very interactive and we need to do this things more . We may do the environment topic . We may create something to help the earth .

What i want to find out , What can we do to help people better in their daily lives .how to work with different people even if u dont like him .Be responsible . Learn how to lead .

What can I do work hard on the project . Spend sufficient on it .Do what is necessary . And complete the work on time .

Done by :

Aston Koh

Bryan foo reflection

I know that I have a good group. All of us are ready to put in out best effort in the project. I also know all our good points and some of our bad points. We will try to help each other out during the project.
I have some ideas for the project. The theme is to be environmentally friendly. So I thought that we could come out with something that somehow helps reduces air pollution. For example, we could come out with something that helps people stop smoking as smoking is a factor contributing to air pollution.
I want to find out what is the main cause of air pollution. This is so that we can reduce air pollution to the maximum. That is if our "idea"(not confirmed) works out. Also I want to take this opportunity to find out more about my friends.
I will try to start doing research. I will try to be a step ahead of others. So that we will not have to squeeze everything to the last minute. And I will do my part to contribute to the project.

Bryan Foo

Link to GRACE website

http://grace-mshs.blogspot.com/