Saturday, July 23, 2011

Trip to PetroScience & Aquaria! (Part I)

So it was set. On the 23rd of July, the club organised a field trip to PetroScience, The Discovery Centre and Aquaria in KLCC. The idea of the field trip was to implement the importance of Science and Nature in our daily lives and it proved to be an exciting and outgoing trip. Around 33 students escorted by 3 teachers whom were Pn.Chuah, Pn.Shantha, and Pn.Ung joined the outing. We were told to be in school before 8.30a.m as the bus taking us to our destination will leaving the school at 9. Everyone arrived as told and final registrations as well as paperwork were completed to ensure the authenticity of the participants and the trip. Soon the bus arrived and we were off to KLCC.













It took us about 40 minutes to reach Kuala Lumpur and another 5 minutes drive to the Convention Center, the trademark building representing the heart of KL.

KLCC in sight.



Welcome to Suria KLCC.

After reaching around 10, we were gathered for a briefing and a welcome speech by the club's president, Harsukhpreet Singh.



After a nice welcome and thank you to the teachers from approving the trip and accompanying them, Harsukhpreet went about the do's and don't during the day. The rules were simple. No problems should be caused, no disturbance to the public around, no leaving the group and lastly do not bring down the name of the school.With those words in mind, we went to PetroScience first to start the day.












On the escalator to PetroScience located at the highest floor in the building.

We have reached! PetroScience never seemed so exciting to us until that moment. It was as if we were still 10 year old kids venturing into an unknown place in the world.





James Thien having the time of his life I should say.

A Kodak moment. We were on TV!

Hot Sciece. Looks hot indeed.



These interactive screens were so fun to interact with. They were touch screens that provided information for users.

Next, we received out entry tickets and queued  up to go in. We entered PetroScience around 10.30 and we were supposed to come out around 1 for our lunch before heading to Aquaria. So off we entered one by one.



The only way of entering further into the place was by taking a ball-like-train which around 6 of us could sit in. We had to take our turns as the first 6 went first and then the next 6 till all of us had gone.







In the ball-like-train, we were taken to our next port through a tunnel which displayed animations about the wonders of nature.







Then, after stepping out of the vehicle, our venture on foot began. To our amazement, they were hundreds of exhibits displayed and it was time to check them all out. I'll let the pictures do the talking now.









There were even puppet theater's present!



The many types of traditional musical instruments in Malaysia.



















The time tunnel!






A Tyrannosaurus Rex!



The Board Of Directors.

















Fossils of dinosaurs preserved in sediments and mud which in millions of years time would create crude oil or petroleum s we know it.





We then entered the Space Gallery!



Thermal imaging of how we look like. The red-er the colour, the greater the concentration of heat.











Wonder how astronauts sleep in space? Well see for yourself.















From space, we're off to the oil platform!



Avinash having a good time.

The mechanics involved in oil platforms.









I'm sure every Chemistry student reading this would agree so.

A pose with the oil platform.









After going through the oil platform and refinery exhibits, we then entered the speed section. Definitely a place for speed lovers.









The Formula 1 race car exhibited definitely brought upon amazement. This is the exact replica used in the Grand Prix races and this particular one is manufactured with collaboration from Petronas.

Leon Mok now know what it's like driving a Formula 1 race car.



Wonder how they got there?


Well this room consists of holograms which capture picture frames of you and project your image on the screen. Cool ain't it?







The teachers too didn't miss out on the fun.



Pn. Chuah having some fun playing with a exhibit while being watched by Pn.Shantha.

I guess Pn.Shantha couldn't resist playing that game too.

Pn.Ung then joined them teachers. It's nice to see the teachers having some fun with themselves.

This exhibit was a speed tester. It calculates your speed of throwing an object, in which this case was a ball.




Jonathon Wong's high score was no match for anybody that day. He absolutely smashed his way to the top with a record throw of 55km/h. 



After speeding around, we headed into the world of nano molecules.





There was this booth confined to a couple of people only. This booth was a hurricane simulator. We were able to experience wind speeds up to 169km/h in that confined space.

The teachers volunteered to experience the harsh conditions of a hurricane and entered the booth.

Pn.Chuah's expression says it all.


From left: Pn.Chuah, Pn.Shantha, Pn.Ung, Pn.Ung's daughter.



It was then past 1p.m. We had to leave PetroScience to have our lunch and make it for Aquaria. PetroScienc had offered so much of fun and we surely wanted to stay longer but unfortunately we had a schedule to follow and came out soon after. After doing a headcount to make sure all of us were still together, we decided to have our lunch at the food court. Our plan then was to head to Aquaria at 2.15p.m and carry on from there. So we were off to the food court.

PetroScience, The Discovery Centre.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for Part II to read all about Aquaria.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Meiosis

This fascinating meiosis video shows how the amazing process works. Watch as the cell prepares as it does for mitosis before the DNA condenses and matching pairs of chromosomes from the mother and father find each other. After trading genes to form hybrid chromosomes, the process continues and unique sets of chromosomes are eventually formed.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Incredible Parachuting Eggs!

Wonder what's the title all about? Well today's meeting was all about making parachutes that can land an egg safely without breaking it within the target zone. We decided to make the parachutes out of everyday materials such as plastic bags, threads, as well as some cellophane tape. Not to forget we also used egg shells as the test subject.

All you need is just a plastic bag, thread and a sticky tape.

Don't forget the egg of course.

Members given a brief explanation about their task. They were then divided into 3 groups.

Time to get into work.



Pn. Chuah decided to take part as well. She didn't wanna miss the fun I should say.





























After an hour of making their parachutes, each team were ready to put them to the test. We then went up to the third floor to drop the eggs. The team that lands their egg within the target zone safely and consistently for three tries wins the competition.






The target zone.



That unfortunate egg landed on of the pipes which really made everyone burst into laughter.

All eager to see their test subjects land in the target zone.

Here, watch videos of the attempts. See how the eggs are slowed down by the plastic bags which act as parachutes.







And after that, the judges consisting of the B.O.D started their analysis and came up with the day's winner and runner up! The winning team will be judged on their creativity, innovation, safety of the egg and as well as their task objective.

Runner up goes to Pn.Chuah and her team!

And finally, the day's winners goes to Shane and gang! Congrats to them for their excellence in building a parachute.

Physics Quiz!

1. When light bends as it enters a different medium the process is known as what?

2. A magnifying glass uses what type of lens?

3. Electric resistance is typically measured in what units?

4. A person who studies physics is known as a?

5. Metals expand when heated and do what when cooled?

6. What is the first name of the famous scientist who gave us Newton’s three laws of motion?

7. What state of the art computer technology is used to train pilots when wanting to copy the experience of flying an aircraft?

8. Electric power is typically measured in what units?

9. The most recognized model of how the universe begun is known as the?

10. Who is the Hubble Space Telescope named after?

11. The wire inside an electric bulb is known as the what?

12. Theoretical physicist James Maxwell was born in what country?

13. Infrared light has a wavelength that is too long or short to be visible for humans?

14. What kind of eclipse do we have when the moon is between the sun and the earth?

15. True or false? Iron is attracted by magnets.

16. What is the earth’s primary source of energy?

17. Conductors have a high or low resistance?

18. Electric current is typically measured in what units?

19. What scientist is well known for his theory of relativity?

20. Earth is located in which galaxy?


Answers.
1. Refraction
2. Convex
 3. Ohms
4. Physicist
5. Contract
6. Isaac
7. A flight simulator
8. Watts
9. Big bang
10. Edwin Hubble
11. Filament
12. Scotland
13. Long
14. A solar eclipse
15. True
16. The sun
17. Low
18. Amperes
19. Albert Einstein
20. The Milky Way galaxy