Year 6 look a springs

Year 6 have been measuring the extension of springs. 

We add mass to the spring. 

Measure the length.

And write down our results.

We did this with single springs, springs arranged in series and springs arranged in parallel. We found the extension doubled when they were in series and halved when they were in parallel. 

Year 5 investigate enzymes

As part of our topic on the human body Year 5 learnt about chemical digestion. We did an expirment to find out what happens to the rate of digestion if we add more enzyme. As well as answering our aim, we also worked on building on our practical skills and ensuring we are accurate in all our measurements

We measured out some starch solution.

Then we placed iodine in each well of a spotting tile. 

We could then add the enzyme (amylase) to our starch and start the timer. We place some of this mixture in a well of the spotting tile every 20 seconds. If the iodine turned black the starch had not yet been digested. 

We found that the mixture with most enzyme was the first to be completely digested. 

7M vs 7G

Just before we broke up for half term, 7G took on 7M to see which form could identify the best indigestion medicine. We were looking at whether tablets or liquid medicines worked best. A captain was selected from each form and they each drew the type of medicine their form was to test. 7G selected liquids and 7M tablets.

Then we set to work. We measured one dose of the medicine and mixed it with some water.

Then we add Hydrocloric acid to the medicine, a little at a time, and test the pH.

We stopped when the mixture had become pH 1.

Then we made a note of how much acid we had to add. The medicine that requires the most acid is the most effective. 

When we return from half term we will analyse the results and find out which type of medicine works the best (and which form has won!). 

Year 7 make red cabbage indicator

Year 7 have been studying acids and alkalis and have used a number of different indicators to tell them about the pH of substances. Last week they had a go at making their own out of red cabbage.

First they crushed the cabbage with warm water using a pestle and mortar.

Then they filtered the mixture to get their indicator.

Then they could test the indicator with substances and note the colour change. 

Ashdown Iron Site

8S have been studying reactivity of mateals in their latest chemistry topic.
This includes some work on extracting metals from ores so we went to the Ashdown forest to see the Newbridge Iron Site.

 The site map provided by the Wealden Iron Group who research Iron making on the forest

 Searching for evidence of the blast furnace

 Distinctive rock is the waste from the process called slag

 The water course that provides power for the bellows and foundary

 More evidence of slag

 8S archeologists search for more evidence

 The power source

 All searching hard

 And found lots of slag

 A close up

You can see the bubbles in this slag where the carbon dioxidde couldn't escape

May the force be with you.

Year 6 have been investigating forces today

Testing surface tension

And upthrust

Magnetism

Bending water with electrostatic forces

Or investigating impact forces with Mr Purcell's Kick-o-matic. 

Or the extension of a spring

Or how to reduce friction