2/1 Chemistry update and homework due 2/8

Hi folks,

Kind of a fun lecture today looking into just how strange and bizarre the atom really is.  I hope I blew your minds a little bit. : )

Homework for this week should also be fun.  Take a look at this website http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom.  Click on "download" to get the simulation.  Once it's all set, feel free to play with it a bit.  When you're ready, click on the "Games" tab in the upper left side.  Feel free to do all 4 levels but at least do levels 3 and 4.  Something a little tricky here is that, when they show the element symbol, the atomic number is in the lower left side and the atomic weight is in the upper left.  The ionic charge is in the upper right side.  Keep trying until you get at least 4 out of 5 correct.  There's really nothing to turn in so you're on your honor to give it a shot.  Good Luck!

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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1/19 Chemistry update and homework due 1/26

Hi folks,

Today we have left our discussion of energy and chemistry and begun our investigation of matter and chemistry.  We began by taking a look at the very basic building block of the universe, the atom.  Today we covered the basic structure of the atom, ions, isotopes and the very beginning of understanding the periodic table.

My favorite online periodic table is here http://www.ptable.com/.  Feel free to use it for this week's homework.

The recording of today's lecture is here. 

The homework due 1/26 is to do the enclosed .pdf.

1/11 Chemistry update and homework due 1/18

Hi folks,

Today we basically did a "practicum" where we took what we have learned about heat transfer and put it to the test by creating "thermoses" too keep water as hot as possible for as long as possible.  I did not shoot any video today since the entire day was basically lab work.  Using styrofoam, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and more, the task was to create a device that let as little heat out as possible.  The students had to do whatever they could to avoid heat escaping by the three methods of heat transfer.

Homework for 1/18

1.  Actually DO the assignment from last week where you were to look at 4 coffee mugs/thermoses and analyze them for plusses and minuses as far as the three methods of heat transfer goes.  Basically use the same technique you used today when you analyzed my coffee mug.

1.b. Take a look at a cooler.  A cooler's job is to keep heat from getting into it and warming up the contents within.  Analyze a cooler according to the 3 methods of heat transfer.

2.  Write up what you did today in class.  What were your thought processes as you put together your thermos.  What did you do the try to keep heat from escaping?   Be sure to apply all three of the methods of heat transfer to your answer.

3.  Calculate how much heat was lost in 10 minutes.  Use 100g for the mass of the water and 12 C for change in temp.  (if you can remember your actual delta T please feel free to use that instead).

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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Jan 4 Chemistry update and homework due 1/11

Hi folks,

Today we talked about heat transfer.  The three different ways heat can move from one source to another.

I've included a chapter from my Bite-Size Physics book for homework this week.  Please read the chapter and complete the questions at the end.  (Please, don't look at the answers until you're done with the questions.)

Also for homework, take a look at four thermoses and/or travel coffee mugs.  The job of thermoses/coffee mugs is to not allow heat to transfer out of the drink.  Analyze each of the 4 thermoses/coffee cups in relation to all three different methods of heat transfer.  Some things to think about:

Conduction: Wiggle and bump.  Metals conduct well.  So you don't want metals next to your liquids, it will drain the heat right out of them.  Plastics, styrofoam, glass etc. do not conduct well, so those are better options.  

Convection: This is fluid moving right?  So the key to keeping conduction to a minimum, is to try to keep air movement to a minimum.  You want to have as little air as possible to move around the liquid.  Keeping the thermoses/coffee mugs as full as possible is good and even more important is to have a good lid. 

Radiation: In this case, the heat will leave the same way heat leaves your hands, by electromagnetic waves.  You don't want anything to absorb those rays so light or reflective surfaces are best to have next to your liquids.

Some more things to think about and answer in your thermos/coffee mug essay.

Some thermoses are "vacuum sealed".  Why?  

Is the outside surface of the thermos/coffee mug important as far as heat transfer goes?  (The heat from the liquid is going into the mug...where does it go then?)

What does heat capacity have to do with the materials that a thermos/coffee mug is made of?

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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12/21 Chemistry Update and Homework due 1/4

Hi folks,

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and have a great New Year!

Last week we spent a lot of time going over the problems in the homework and working on how to solve these heat capacity problems.  They are quite tricky but the good news is that this is the hardest math we'll be doing all year.

Homework for next week is to redo the homework from last week.  You won't have to turn this in but take the time to redo several of the problems you did for homework.  Also, take a good look at that ice melting in water problem we did in class.  These problems and more like it will appear on your next quiz, so it would behoove you to be very comfortable with them.  

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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12/14 Chemistry update and Homework due 12/21

Hi folks,

Last week we spent the entire time going through the concept of heat capacity, specific heat and the mathematics behind it.  We've still got a bit of work to do on that and we'll continue this week.

In order to practice some of the math, your assignment for this week is to go back to the chapter uploaded for you last week, reread it and do the following problems.  

2.4 and 2.5 on page 52

2.6 and 2.7 on page 55

2.8 on page 61

This material will be heavily quizzed so really try to get a good feeling for it.  

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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12/7 Chemistry Update and homework due 12/14

Hi folks,

Sorry it took me so long to get this to you.  It took me forever to scan and upload the enclosed homework.

Last week we did a lab where we used the concept of heat capacity and a calorimeter to determine the heat capacity of a metal.  It was a fairly complicated lab and the students had to follow directions and use equations rather intensely in order to complete the lab.

Homework this week is to read the .pdf document I've uploaded to this site. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tttmr8rkgoemg4f/EZ6Cl8IS1u

It's a chapter from the book Exploring Creation With Chemistry and does a very nice job explaining the concepts we've been working with the past couple of weeks.  Feel free to look at some of the problems but we'll be focusing on the math this week.

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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