the world in a different light
In an introductory sharing for the use of GeoGebra to my colleagues, I have prepared a simple template for them to try their hands at animations of points and other elements.
You can try the same too. Create a moving point by typing into the Input field (5,5*sin(time)) so that you get a point at x = 5 that oscillates between 5 and -5 in the vertical direction.
Through this GeoGebra app, students can observe how the gradient of the displacement-time graph gives the instantaneous velocity and how the area under the velocity-time graph gives the change in displacement.
In the GeoGebra app below, you will see a displacement-time graph on the left and its corresponding velocity-time graph on the right. These graphs will be referring to the same motion occuring in a straight line. Instructions
This GeoGebra app allows students to observe the difference between instantaneous and average velocity from a graphical perspective.
This GeoGebra app allows users to change the magnitude and direction of the force acting on an object, as well as the initial velocity.
The change in kinetic energy is calculated along with the work done in the direction of the force.
This demonstrates a very important concept in Physics known as the Work-Energy Theorem, where the net work done on a particle equals to its change in kinetic energy.
The photos taken were done using my camera phone with the solar filter in front of it.
The thin “ring of fire” looks rather thick when captured by my camera as the light tends to be slightly diffused.
In a nutshell, Sci-sational Christmas offers value-for-money interactive family festive fun.
Open from 1 to 25 Dec 2019 at the Annexe of Science Centre Singapore, visitors will enter 3 main activity zones:
Watch as two “elves” try to outdo each other by performing scientific demonstrations based on opposing ends of the temperature range – under very carefully controlled conditions of course.
The number of asterisks show the loudness of the explosion. The heat experiments in the “Fuel Efficiency Department” are:
Over at the “Alternative Energy Department”, the elf tried to impress us with:
To me as a science teacher, these experiments would have made the tickets worth the money already. After all, demonstrations like these are usually the highlight of science museums all over the world. But there are more…
After exiting the first workshop, visitors are brought to the candle making workshop. We were each given a rubber mould, some melted soy wax, colouring and a few drops of liquid scents to make our own Christmas tree candles.
Do take care not to add too much colouring or the tree may not freeze evenly and hence, break easily. On hindsight, I should have used mainly non-coloured wax with a little green colouring for the base of the candle (to pour in last) to get a snow-covered Christmas tree.
The escape room offers plenty of fun for the kids in the group. There are clues planted all over Santa’s office and the session is facilitated by an “elf”. The aim is to unlock a number lock under the fireplace in the office for the kids to crawl out from.
There is a secret door for the grown-ups, though, so we need not worry about our outfit or painful knees.
The only downside is that visitors are placed in groups of 15-20, most of whom are strangers – unless you register as a big group of friends. However, most kids would often get quite involved and interactive despite not knowing one another.
I highly recommend this activity for families with kids aged 5-12. At a price of $15 that includes general admission to the Science Centre, it is far more worthwhile than a conventional escape room experience in Singapore and is something my own kids find meaningful and exciting.
I have a feeling that the Science Centre might organise more escape-room styled activities in future as they are quite the craze nowadays.
Visitors might want to note that the 3 zones would last a total of about 50 min. The entry timings are: 11AM, 12NOON, 1:30PM, 2PM, 2:30PM, 3PM, 3:30PM, 4PM and 4.30PM. You will need to indicate your preferred timing when purchasing the ticket and show up on time at the entrance, which is near the fire tornado exhibit.