Chemicals on the web - Cubane.

Computer simulated molecules are a great way to learn Chemistry.  When I found out about Cubane C8H8 I thought it was time to review how to "Surf" the web and see new molecules.


There are a number of great web rendering of  molecules: 

1. JMOL  
How?  Search your molecule on Google + "JMOL"
Good things - any browser, any molecule
Bad - can bend bonds


2. CHIME
How? 1. Download Chime plugin,  send in info to publisher
then search Chime + Molecule.
Good things: Can "Scupt" molecules and get a real feel for them
Bad things: you can only show your class on your data projector/ IWB

3. CanvasMOL
How? Just follow this link
Good things: Fast and molcule focused.

Cubane!

Gravity acts through out an object in free fall !

Penrith High reaches + 9 g force in Lab.

Actually it was just swirling a marble in a mop bucket.

The bucket wall was 84 degrees. g x 1/cos(84) = 9.5 g.

Students were asked to calculate the mass required to cause this acceleration at 15 cm in the center of the bucket.

The difference between the bucket and gravitation is that the bucket applies a force at the point of contact of the marble and force pushes and stress through out the marble, where as a gravitational field would tug uniformly throughout the marble. Gravitation gently accelerates the whole marble.

If you were in the marble, in the bucket you would be crushed to death, were as in the gravitational field as the force is spread evenly through out your body you would feel "Weightless". This is also why comets are not crushed as they swing near the Sun.

I am always looking for this explanation in Textbook, as without it it is most confusing.

Eating Sunshine! -Lesson Transcript

Ecology - Transcript

Living things and life; an ecosystem is something that relies upon all of its workings units. Eco means home. An ecosystem is the mechanism of a home. Ology means 'love of'. An ecology is then, by definition the love of or study of mechanisms within an environment or home.
All living things have to eat. I worked out that all life ultimately eats sunlight, or light provided by the sun. Therefore, what is the very first thing you draw in any ecosystem? Answer: The Sun.

Arrows always come from the sun and follow to the grass and continues on the largest predator.

The first thing in an ecosystem is the sun. The first stage of an ecosystem is photosynthesis. This means eating light. Photosynthesis is basically the reason life works and how flora eats light, takes in carbon dioxide or CO2 and emits it back into the atmosphere.

Trees are formed when water and oxygen are 'knitted' together in straight out air.

Technology on the move with a classroom Rover named "Violet".

Specifications:

Manufacturer	prototype built by Dr Hill
Weight	36 kg
Power	mains
Terrain Capability	unsealed surfaces / grass / 25 degree slopes
Deployment time	30 seconds average door to lesson start
Integrated Hardware	1) Data projector (3D) - adjustable mount
	2) Fujitsu Lifebook Tablet PC + docking station
	3) Gyro - mouse for full classroom interaction
	4) Bluetooth Key board
	5) Mobile IP camera
	6) High speed document dual head scanner
	7) 140 W sound system
	8) Technology draw
	- USB microscope
	- USB document camera
	- light, temperature meters
	- DSO nano
Safety:	Passive air cooling
	Industrial Wiring/Earthing
	Ergonomic Design
Pedagogic Advantage	Technology is central in classroom, and moves to student by Keyboard and  mouse.
	Technology goes from store to student more transparently, faster training
Price	$ 8,360 USD

I have built work stations for laser labs, and high technology production lines. "Violet" is ahead of fixed infrastructure IWB on a number of factors. The value is in the bundled and integrated systems.

For more info contact peter.hill26@det.nsw.edu.au

Heads up on Rainbows

Rainbows are polarized - rotating a polarizing filter shows that the only light coming from a rainbow has an electric field oscillating at 90 deg to the rainbow.

Note the Mie scattering white under cloud "holding up the rainbow" is also removed.

The US navy has an excellent article showing the size and uniformity of drops determine the number of rainbow cycles ROYGBIV-ROYG... occur in a rainbow

Q How many pots of gold?
A 2 on the horizon at +/- 38 deg from viewer

Q. Where are they?
A. Step 10 m to the side and see where the lines intersect. They are skew due to the radius of curvature of the earth, so they point they come closest is probably the viewer, meaning the pot of gold is probably the maths you have just done.



These rainbow Mie scattering clouds most days at around 4 pm over the Blue Mountains, when viewed from Penrith. You need polarized sunnies.

I'm as terrible as everyone else not seeing them. I first saw the rainbow in CsS film in 2006, then it was 2008 when I first spotted one.

Schools that share resources!