Thursday, 17 January 2013

Sound and light waves

Today we're going to keep looking at sound waves, and start to look at how light waves work too. Answer the following in your books:
  1. What is the approximate range of human hearing? Remember to include units.
  2. What is one difference between sound and light waves?
  3. Explain what separates the different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The image below may help:                                                                          
  4. How are microwaves used in comunication?
  5. Define diffraction, and give one real life situation where it occurs.
  6. What two things influence the amount of diffraction?
  7. Watch this video, showing a non-newtonian fluid on top of a speaker. What type of sound waves seem to have the greatest effect on the fluid? Try to use scientific terms from class in your answer.
  8. How is the normal line drawn in relation to this mirror? Can you give the law of reflection?
  9. How are relfection and refraction different? Think about the angles you have seen today: 
  10. Extension - Why is refraction important for you to see things? Use the image below to help you:

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Term 2 preparation

Next term we are going to start doing your ISA, a practical exam which makes up 25% of your grade for this year. Answer the following questions to help you get ready for it:
  1. What is the independent variable?
  2. What is the dependent variable?
  3. Where should the independent and dependent variables go in a table? What about in a line graph?
  4. What have you enjoyed about science this term?
  5. What would you like to change or do differently?
  6. See how long it takes you to find these keywords. Can you explain what they all mean to the person next to you?
  7. Try any of the science crosswords from the New York Times.
  8. Watch this interactive (click on 'what is a trait?' on the left). What parts of our bodies influence the traits that we have?
  9. Complete any of the other activities on this website, or try and of the old links on this page.

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Revision

Use this document to revise for the bio section of the upcoming progress test.

Revision/metals

Today we're going to do some work with transition metals and review the section you have looked at with Ms. Elias.  Answer the following in your books:
  1. Where are transition metals found in the period table?
  2. What are some properties that they share?
  3. What is an alloy? Give some properties of one alloy from the table:
  4. In what two ways do metals differ from one another?
  5. Give one thing that all metals have in common:
  6. Go to kerboodle, and log in to find the materials in the 'co-ordination and control' assignment. Start working through these to prepare for the progress test. You should start with the 'ups and downs of life' section, as the practical didn't work too well in class.

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Hormones

Today we're going to continue looking at hormones and the functions they have in the body.
Complete the following in your books:
  1. Watch this animation (use subtitles if you don't have headphones). Where does adrenaline get produced?
  2. From the link above, where is oestrogen produced?
  3. name one type of plant hormone, and explain what it does.
  4. Describe how ADH is involved with water balance.
  5. Why does the body need to stay at 37 degrees C?
  6. How does adrenaline affect the body?
  7. Explain how the drug ecstasy can influence water balance:
  8. Write down one new thing you've learnt today, and one question you have about what we've covered.
  9. Try this activity. What effect does respiration rate have on oxygen need?
  10. Use this interactive. By what process does homeostasis work?
  11. Try the game at the end of this slideshow. How can the body control temperature? The highest score in the class will get an achievement point. Good luck!

Extension - Explain how bacteria are used for insulin production.

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

co-ordination and control

We're going to start looking at nervous impulses in the body in more detail today.  Answer the following in your books:
  1. What is the difference between a neuron and a nerve?
  2. What steps are involved in a reflex action? Use bullet points to explain them from start to finish:
  3. How is a reflex action different to a conscious action?
  4. Watch this animation, and explain what an effector is.
  5. Complete this activity, clicking 'stop and analyse'in the top corner once you've tried it. What things could influence how fast you react to the stimulus?
  6. Use this nobel prize interactive site to name the three main pats of a nerve cell.
  7. Using page 4 from the link above, explain what a synapse is and how impulses are carried through them.
  8. What is the sheath on the axon made from? What does this help with?
  9. Read the section on this page called 'when a signal doesn't reach its target'. What is the cause of multiple sclerosis?
  10. Try this interactive link and click on nervous system game. Name one effector you have placed into the body.
  11. Complete this activity, and say what the image is once you have:

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Carbonates

Today we're going to keep looking at carbonates and limestone.  Answer the following in your books:


  1. What do you get when you add a carbonate to and acid? (you should know this from last lesson, but check here to see if you were right).
  2. What is thermal decomposition?
  3. A lime kiln uses limestone to create products used for building. Use this image and the equation in it to describe what gets produced when limestone is heated:
  4. Watch this video.  What are the three main stages in producing cement? 
  5. What is the difference between cement and concrete?
  6. What environmental impacts are there with limestone mining?
  7. Complete the exam-style questions from class, using the mark scheme at the end to check your work. You should complete this at home if you don't finish in time today.