Plan of the week

• Monday 
• In class 
• Start Molecular Polarity Simulation
• Finish Lab conclusion 
• Tuesday 
• At home 
• Watch Electronegativity and Polarity video
• Blog post on it 
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Simulation on self assembly
• Practice worksheet on polarity 
• Thursday 
• In class 
• Start planning project 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• Watch Intermolecular Forces video and take notes
• Blog post on it

Plan of the week

• Tuesday 
• In class 
• Get started on modelling half-life using fizzy drinks lab. 
• At home 
• Finish conclusion and any data collections 
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Finish lab if needed 
• Start Molecular Polarity Simulation 
• At home 
• Watch Electronegativity and Polarity video 
• Blog post on the video 
• Friday 
• In class 
• Simulation on self assembly 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• Watch Intermolecular Forces video and take notes
• Blog post on the vide
• Sunday 
• At home 
• New plan of the week post 

Chemical Bonds

From watching the video on the different types of chemical bonds, I learnt that ionic bonds are the strongest because there is an actual transferring of valance electrons that takes place. This is when one element really wants to give an electron and the other really wants to take one. The one that gives an electron will become positive and the one that takes will become negative. Now these (+) and (-) sides will attract and that forms the ionic bond.

Now, covalent bonds take place when both elements have similar electronegativity. Meaning they both are indifferent to how many electrons they give or take. Oxygen has 6 electrons. So, if two oxygen molecules decide to share two of their electrons then they are forming a covalent bond, so that they both have 8 electrons.

Lastly, metallic bonds are when a bunch of metals such as Iron (Fe) come together, then they all become positive (+) because they basically donate their electrons in a sea that is between them all.

Types of Decay Video

What I found interesting in learning about the different types of decay is that in each case a new element is produced. I also learnt that in neutrons can actually become protons by emitting an electron! This is beta decay. This was a new idea to me. Similarly, protons can become neutrons by emitting a positron. This is positron emission. Lastly, I learnt that in alpha decay, the atom emits an alpha particle that consists of 2 neutrons and 2 protons, which has the same configuration as helium because it has the same mass number and atomic mass.

Plan of the week

• Monday 
• In class 
• Beta Decay and Nuclear Fission simulations and worksheets 
• Tuesday 
• At home 
• Watch types of Decay video 
• Watch half life video 
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Get started on modelling half-life using fizzy drinks lab
• At home 
• Finish any recording any data that you missed
• Thursday 
• In class 
• Finish the lab. Write conclusion. 
• Take a look at using allotropes of carbon to differentiate between atoms, elements and molecules.
• Friday 
• At home 
• Blog post on what you learnt from the lab 
• Blog post on allotropes
• Sunday 
• At home 
• Video on ionic, covalent and metallic bonds
• Blog post the new plan of the week. 

Circuits Test

I have finally completed the circuits test. For the most part, it went better then I thought. The major problem for me was the fact that I had literally forgotten most of the things i learnt about circuits during exam week. I had forgotten about the formula for wattage. However, now that I struggled and reviewed everything, I will make sure that this same problem doesn't happen to me again. I want to remember all this information for the final exam. So, I intend to make sure that at least once a week I freshen up my brain and keep reviewing old content. I guess this is also a life skill that I have now learnt. This is just why independent learning and taking initiative can be so beneficial.

Back and Working

Spring break is over, now I plan to get back to work. The wind generator is done, the only thing is that i forget to give the video advertisement to Mr. Monty. I have now put that on a USB and plan to give it in tomorrow. I am currently reviewing for the circuits test which I will be taking on Monday next week. As for tomorrow, I plan to get started on our new unit on chemical and nuclear energy. Today at home to prepare for class tomorrow I plan on playing around with the simulations on decay. Then, tomorrow i will watch the video on types of decay. In addition, I will also watch the video on half-life to help me get started on the lab.

What's next?

Before spring break is over I must take the unit tests. I'm now done with all my labs, and even re-did the ones that needed to be done again. In addition, i'm now done with my part of the wind generator project, so i need to do something more productive in class, rather then just helping my group members with the project. I now plan on beginning my studying for the unit tests, which i will take the week before spring break.

In order to compete this task, I will re-do the practice worksheets, ask Mr. Monty any questions, re-do the quizzes, and lastly, I will complete all corrections necessary from my mid-term.

Wind Generator Video

Today, I finished the advertisement video for the wind generator project. I decided to keep it short and sweet, at about 1:15 seconds. I've learnt that keeping it short works best when it comes to advertisements or persuading the general public to do something though video. Making it short leaves a bigger mark. I plan on sharing this video with my group members in class next week, and i will take their constructive criticism and improve on it.

Plan of the week

• Wednesday 
• In class
• Work on video planning for the wind generator project 
• Do practice worksheet number 2 
• Friday 
• In class 
• Take some actual video footage for the video. 
• Help group members with write up 
• Sunday 
• At home 
• Start putting together video footage to show partners next time. 

Wind generator advertisement

This week I've been trying to plan an advertisement video for our wind generator. However, i got caught a little behind due to the fact that the wind generator wasn't quite finished yet, it was still in the planning process, so I couldn't record any video clips. However, I did think of how I will put the video together.

I plan on having the first part of the video focusing on just how the sing generator works and it's features. Then, the second part of the video will be why it's beneficial to the general public and why they should consider buying it.

Wind generator project designs

We were having a hard time with the wind generator project; we couldn't decide upon the design. However, as we kept trying, we learnt that we don't need too many magnets. It only makes the invention heavier and it's a waste of magnets. In addition, I learn that we need something to move the magnet pretty fast. For example, when we used a small wheel from a torch, it moved the magnet quite fast and we generated about 5 volts of electricity.

Plan of The Week

• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Record short video of wind generator in action
• Begin planning video commercial (layout, plan, what you will be doing, how you will do it, etc) 
• At home
• Start putting planning ideas into action, play around on imovie and come to class with something to share. Be prepared to know what you must record next. 
• Thursday 
• In class
• Share what you did with group members. 
• Record some more things that you need to. 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• Keep working on the video

Plan of The Week

• Tuesday 
• In class
• Work on wind generator project. Meet with partners, and remind each other of the tasks assigned to each member. 
• Wednesday 
• In class
• Magnets worksheet 2
• Wind generator project
• Thursday 
• At home 
• Make a list of everything you've learned so far about magnetism, and study all the things you don't know 
• Friday 
• In class
• Take magnets quiz
• Wind generator project 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• Review parallel circuits information by re-doing the parallel circuits worksheet. 

Plan of The Week

• Monday 
• In class 
• Share electricity generator lab conclusion with partner 
• Share investigation 7 with partner
• Work on second magnetism worksheet
• Wednesday
• In class 
• Start preparations for wind generator project 

* I won't be in Islamabad from Thursday to Sunday because I'll be travelling to MUN 

• Friday night 
• In hotel 
• Take some time at night to work on your part of the project that you discussed in class on Wednesday 

Electricity generator lab

There was a change in my original plan. On tuesday in class, it only took me about 10 minutes to finish the electromagnetic lab, and since my partner was not in class that day, I decided to go ahead and start the electricity generator lab. Then, on wednesday, instead of doing the second practice problem, I finished up the lab. 

From the electricity generator lab, I learnt that when the speed of the bar magnet is increased, then it results in more voltage. From the data I could see that when the magnet was moving at 10 RPM, then there was barely any voltage at all. However, as it went to 30 RPM the voltameter started moving faster, and finally at 70 RPM, it was moving very fast. This is due to the fact that when the magnet is moving faster, it results in the electrons also moving back and forth faster. This results in the voltameter moving back and forth, which shows us more voltage. 

Electromagnets Lab

What I was looking to find out was, how does the battery voltage affect the magnetic field of a magnet? From doing this lab, I learnt that the strength of an electromagnet can easily be changed by changing the amount of electric current that flows through it. In addition, the poles of an electromagnet can even be reversed by reversing the flow of electricity. The magnetic strength is the same for each absolute value, even if the x and y axis poles are different.

Plan of the week

• Tuesday 
• In class 
• Finish electromagnetic lab 
• Discuss answers to investigation 7 with partner 
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Magnetism 1 and 2 practice problems 
• Thursday 
• At home 
• Blog entry about the lab and what you learnt in it. 
• Friday 
• In class 
• Start preparations for the wind generator project 
• Sunday 
• At home 
• Blog entry on anything you've learnt 
• Blog entry for next weeks plan 

Time Management

I think that my problem is the fact that I don't go exactly as my plan wants me to. I am good at making plans for my self. However, I have a hard time following them for some reason. Sometimes its not my fault. For example, in class I couldn't do investigation 6 because it wasn't ready so I did 7 instead. However, when it comes to managing my time at home. I should be doing much better, and I know I can. Instead of doing investigation 6, my partner Ploy and I started the simulation on magnetism and electricity. We did a lab on this and our question was, "How does the voltage effect the magnetic field of a magnet?" We haven't tested it yet, but we assumed that if the voltage is more, then the magnetic field of a magnet will be stronger. Due to the fact that it will have more power to expand it’s magnetic field.

Plan of the week

• Monday
• In class 
• Investigation 5 
• Tuesday 
• At home 
• Finish answering last part of investigation 2
• Blog entry on investigation 5
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Investigation 6
• Thursday 
• In class 
• Investigation 7 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• Watch Magnetism 12 - Khan Academy video 
• Blog entry on Investigation 6
• Sunday 
• At home 
• Blog entry on Investigation 7
• Journal plan for next week

Ferromagnetic Materials

In investigation 4, i worked with iron fillings. I magnetised and demagnetised iron fillings inside of a straw. While the straw was magnetised, we put it next to some more iron fillings. We saw that when the iron fillings lined up in one direction, it meant that the straw was magnetic. However, When they were scrambled, it wasn't magnetic. In addition, we saw that when something is magnetised and you place a compass near it, then the needle of the compass will always point to the magnetic object. However, I'm still a little confused as to how magnetising and demagnetising occur. So, I will try to get the answer to that question.

Differences between electrostatic and magnetic interactions

While doing investigation 2, I discovered some differences between electrostatic effects and magnetic effects. Firstly, I found out that magnetic interactions can be stronger. For example, in one of the tests we did, I saw that a magnetic interaction can still take place even with a paper acting as a barrier. However, electrostatic interactions don't take place if something is blocking the way. In addition, I also saw that water doesn't have an effect on magnetic attractions. However, inside the water, the electrostatic interactions did not take place. This further adds to the fact that magnetic attractions are stronger.

Plan of the week

This is the week after exam week. So, time to get back to work rather then studying.

• Tuesday 
• In class 
• Go over the exam 
• magnetism 1practice worksheet 
• Wednesday
• In class 
• magnetism investigation 2 and 3
• Friday 
• In class 
• magnetism investigation 4
• Saturday 
• At home 
• magnetism 2 practice worksheet 

Exam prep

I did the take home test for size and scale again. I understood most of it. However, I think I just need to go over converting units a bit more. I get a little confused when it comes to that. I'm fine when it's something like mm to m. However, for example, if it's mm to km, then I get a little confused. In addition, I looked over the study guide for the exam. I'm confident about the circuits area. However, I need some work on sound waves and beats. I will prepare for this by going over the worksheets we got earlier this year. I will complete them to the best of my ability.

Plan of the week

• Monday 
• At home 
• Watch circuits part 4 again. 
• Tuesday 
• At home 
• Do Size and Scale Take Home Test again to study for the exam. 
• Wednesday 
• In class 
• Re-do flow of electricity lab. 
• Go though practice problem worksheets. 
• Friday 
• In class 
• Investigation 2 

Exam preparations

I studied quite a bit over circuits and light and sound energy. I think my understanding of circuits is good. However, I need to really review on light and sound energy as I'm unclear about quite a lot. For example, I need to review how to use the periodic table properly. To be honest, I'm worried about the exams because I think I won't do so well. This is why i'm giving my self these 30 minute study periods every weekend.

Investigation 1

My week didn't go exactly according to plan. Instead of watching the intro to magnetism video at home, I watched it in class. This was due to the fact that I couldn't complete the written part, as some number calculations were wrong on our poster. That is why, today in class, instead of re-doing my lab, I decided to go ahead and complete investigation 1. I will re do my labs on the weekend in some in class next week. From doing the investigation today i learnt that some objects will repel against magnets, some will attract, and some will strongly attract. In addition, i played around with the super magnet too, which was stronger then the other one.

Plan of the week

This is the first week back after winter break. So, i'm getting started again. The circuit's project was supposed to be fully completed. However, due to some complications in group member's communicating, the written part was not completed. This week, I'll only have Wednesday and Thursday. So, I will finish up that written part of the project. In addition, I will start familiarising my self with magnetism by watching the video's. Then, next week i'll start doing the magnetism investigations. Lastly, for the next couple of weeks, I'll start studying for the mid term.

• Wednesday 
• In class
• Finish written part of project
• If finished early, re-do circuits 1 worksheet for review. 
• At home 
• Watch Magnetism Intro video by Khan academy. 
• Thursday 
• In class 
• Ask Mr. Monty questions about magnetism that you're un sure about. 
• Re-do flow of electricity lab. 
• Saturday 
• At home 
• 30 minute study period. Watch video's. Do practice problems. Take notes. 
• Sunday 
• At home 
• 30 minute study period again. Make a Quizzlet with important vocabulary and study it.