Science
Year 7: Materials and Rockets
Year 7 visited the Science Museum in South Kensington as part of the Science course to promote the interest and enthusiasm for the subject. The girls started the day in the Materials Gallery which included lots of interesting information about a material we are surrounded by now, plastics. After a brief break for a snack the girls then watched a show about rockets. Isobel Bowie was the lucky participant in one demonstration on stage which included her wearing a “helmet of fire”. The Launch-pad Gallery was a favourite for many students as they are encouraged to push, pull, twist and throw in dozens of different Science exhibits. After lunch the girls met “Sir Isaac Newton” in the main gallery and Newton’s three Laws of Motion were explained with some great demonstrations by a very convincing actor.
“The Material Gallery was so cool because there were long strips of plastic hanging down the ceiling. They looked like giant strawberry laces” Nimra
“David chose me to wear a “helmet of fire” (which was totally safe). He also made two explosions which scared everyone!” Isobel B.
Calling all Year 8 Surgeons!
The Royal College of Surgeons, Hunterian Museum, is a very interesting museum in Central London that houses thousands of preserved animal and human body parts for medical students and the general public to view. It certainly made an impact on the Year 8 girls, possibly starting an interest in a future career in Medicine.
“I thought it was really interesting. I liked how they had the specimens looking very delicate and real which was amazing” Camille
After lunch the girls went onto the newly opened “Darwin Centre” which is part of the Natural History Museum. The Centre has many interactive display on topics such as Biodiversity and Classification. Since Ecology had been a major topic in Year 8 Biology it was good to go to a centre that has world class research. The girls enjoyed taking home a I.D. card with downloaded information which they can now access via their own login.
Energy for the Future? Year 10 visit to The Royal Institution
The end of the year always seems to bring a flurry of educational visits; so intrepid year 10 set forth on a joint Science and Art trip to the Royal Institution and the National Portrait Gallery.
At The Royal Institution pupils listened to the Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture 2010 ‘Powering the future –The Physics of Fusion’ presented by Plasma physicist Dr. Melanie Windridge., who gave a sparkling approach to a complex subject. A woman excelling in the traditionally male environment of Nuclear Physics should give our girls confidence that they can succeed in any field that they desire.
Nuclear Fusion is the process powering the Sun and stars. There is a world-wide programme to uses fusion to produce electricity. It will provide an alternative supply of energy within the next 30 to 40 years. Jess
Fusion is the collision of two or more nuclei which releases energy when they are fused. It is not an easy process because the two nuclei will try to repel each other as they approach because they both have a positive charge. Julia and Maddie
The fusion reactor uses two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium; they fuse to form helium and a spare neutron together with enough energy to keep the sun shining and sustain life on Earth. Flora
Plasma fusion would mean an infinite supply of energy to mankind without pollution. However there are many technical difficulties with fusion. The plasma must be at very high temperatures before the nuclei will fuse. At present less energy is produced than the amount put in. If we can manage to create a machine that produces more energy than used; then we would have created an energy source that could meet all our needs. Daisy
Mr S Hewitt
Head of Science
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