Mike's Amazing World of Science

The Bloodmobile Song

2009-08-27T17:45:00.001-07:00

By They Might be Giants

Carbohydrates Keywords

2009-08-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the keywords I want you to make sure you understand. Please write your own definitions if they will help you to remember the meanings:

saccharide

monosaccharide

disaccharide

polysaccharide

glucose

triose

pentose

hexose

aldehyde (aldose)

ketone (ketose)

isomer

starch

amylose

amylopectin

Benedict's test

Form 4 Acceleration Homework

2009-05-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Please look at the following worksheet about PC Bacon and complete for next Wednesday at the latest:

Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide

2009-05-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

The Invisible Killer
Dihydrogen monoxide is colourless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO vapour, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea and vomiting. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.
Dihydrogen monoxide:
* Is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
* Contributes to the "greenhouse effect."
* May cause severe burns.
* Contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
* Accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
* May cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of car brakes.
* Has been found in tumors of cancer patients.

Contamination Is Reaching Epidemic Proportions!
Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in every stream, lake, and reservoir in the World. The pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:
* As an industrial solvent and coolant.
* In nuclear power plants.
* In the production of styrofoam.
* As a fire retardant.
* In many forms of cruel animal research.
* In the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated.
* As an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer! Please do what you can to help!

The Best of Beaker

2009-05-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Everybody's favourite lab technician covers the classics...

A beautiful rendition of 'Danny Boy':

'Yellow' by Coldplay:

Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy':

The Dangers of Cloning

2009-05-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Exercise

2009-05-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Playing about with data

2009-05-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

Please do the questions on the following 2 pages as this week's homework:

Physics Formulas

2009-04-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

These are all of the formulas you should really know for your IGCSE exams. Its not a great copy, I'm afraid, but please note that only some of them are required for the core exams:

This following one is a bit better for coordinated science, and doesn't include all of the formulas on the sheet above:

Polymers

2009-04-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

Please revise polymers and then test your understanding with these questions:

IB SL Questions on Human Physiology

2009-04-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Please revise all our work on human physiology and then try these IB-style questions:

Is it possible to see a prokaryote without a microscope?

2009-04-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Cracking

2009-04-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Plastics and polymers

2009-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Reproduction

2009-04-29T20:26:00.001-07:00

Reproduction (Core)

View more presentations from Stephen Taylor.

Periodic Table

2009-04-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven't got one handy:

Chemical Tests

2009-04-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

You are expected to know a number of chemical tests (including their expected results) for all of your exam papers, but they are especially likely to come up on paper 6. Please take the time to memorise all the tests on this sheet:

The Haber Process

2009-04-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Electro-magnetic Spectrum

2009-04-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Radioactivity Keywords

2009-04-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

I will be uploading as much stuff as I can over the next few days to help you with your revision - please keep up your effort all the way up to the exams. Things like the puzzle below can be printed and completed. Look out for revision pages. Look after your health and see you in a few days. Mike

Form 4 Forces

2009-04-27T16:47:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody. While the school is closed, I will be leaving some work here for you to look at (not too much). Please print these pages to stick in your books, and please complete any questions I upload. Keep an eye out for other posts, and please also don't forget your project - building a machine to fire a ping pong ball as far as possible. look after yourselves and see you in a couple of weeks. Mike

Option D - Evolution

2009-04-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Please look at the following revision pages to help you with option D. Please note that I have only included the information relevant to standard level:

Important revision topics for GCSE

2009-04-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

The attached powerpoint presentation goes through some of the more important topics you will be expected to remember from last year, whether you are doing combined or individual science subjects:

Important topics from form 4

Hall of Fame: Sir Isaac Newton

2009-03-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

Click on the article below to enlarge it:

Electrolysis

2009-02-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

Please take a look at this link from BBC GCSE Bitesize and make notes about the electrolysis of solutions and melts. It is important to be able to predict what substances are produced at each electrode during electrolysis, so please make a note of the reactivity series of metals (and the position of hydrogen)

GCSE Bitesize - electrolysis

Walking with Cavemen

2009-02-14T16:33:00.000-08:00

Please follow the link to the BBC website for their TV seies "Walking with Cavemen". Make notes on each of the species we discussed in class:

Walking with Cavemen

Which food produces the smelliest farts?

2009-01-29T21:21:00.000-08:00

At last ..... a scientific study about what we all wanted to know:

The Truth about Dinosaurs and Birds

2009-01-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

Speciation in Salamanders

2009-01-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

Evolution occurs over timescales of millions of years, but there is evidence that it is occuring now (its just difficult to spot). Take a look at this excellent video clip where differences in the phenotypes of one species of Californian salamander are used to show they are undergoing speciation (in the process of becoming new species).

Syllabuses (Syllabi?)

2009-01-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

Download a pdf version of the syllabus relevant to your course using the following links (the year refers to the year when you will be sitting your exam):

Coordinated Science Syllabus 2009

IB Biology Guide 2009

Chemistry Syllabus 2009

Organelles

2009-01-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

Please watch this video presentation and make your own notes about each of the organelles it covers:

The Mitosis Song

2008-12-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

IB Biology Guide

2008-12-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

This is the current IB guide which has been written for those of you doing exams in 2009. Please click on the link, then on the next page press the orange download button. The other buttons will take you to some crappy advertising.

IB biology guide 2009

Dancing Albert Einstein

2008-11-29T10:16:00.000-08:00

Revising waves

2008-11-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

The BBC bitesize website is especially designed to help you revise for your GCSEs. Please take a look at the link below and try the activities on the website:

waves

IB Biology Past Papers

2008-11-25T20:24:00.000-08:00

To download these papers click on the links below. On the following page, scroll down and click on the orange download button:

Paper 1 May 2002 higher level

Paper 2 May 2002 higher level

Paper 3 May 2002 higher level

Paper 1 May 2008 (afternoon) standard level

Paper 2 May 2008 (afternoon) standard level

Paper 3 May 2008 (morning) standard level

Equations for Mock Exams

2008-11-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

Please look at this sheet (and print it out if you like). These are the physics equations I want you to make sure you can remember for the mock exams.

Coordinated science past papers

2008-11-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

Please click on the links then on the following page scroll down and click on the orange dowload button:

Coordinated science paper 1 June 2003

Coordinated science paper 2 June 2003

Coordinated science paper 3 June 2003

Coordinated science paper 6 June 2003

Coordinated science syllabus

2008-11-23T20:32:00.000-08:00

This is the syllabus for your exam in coordinated science in 2009. Please click on the link, then scroll down to find the download button:

Coordinated science syllabus

Chemistry Syllabus

2008-11-23T20:30:00.001-08:00

This is the chemistry syllabus for your exam in 2009. Please click on the link, then scroll to the bottom of the page to find the download button:

Chemistry IGCSE syllabus

The Reproduction Song

2008-11-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen to the song

Mr. Stuart:The parts of a flower are so constructed that very, very often the wind will cause pollination.If not, then a bee or any other nectar gathering creature can create the same situation.Yes, anything that gets the pollen to the pistils, write it on the list.I'll try to make it crystal-clear: The flower's insatiable passion turns its life into a circus of debauchery!

Mr. Stuart: Now you see just how the stamen gets its lusty dust onto the stigma.
And why this frenzied chlorophyllous orgy starts in spring is no enigma!
We call this quest for satisfaction a what, class?

Sorority girls: A photo-periodic reaction!
Mr. Stuart: Oh, that's good, that's very good.
Hey, I'm lost where are we?
Chapter 2, page 5...
Reproduction, reproduction!Put your pollen tube to work.
Reproduction, reproduction!Make my stamen go berserk.
Reproduction!I don't think they even know what a pistil is!

I got your pistil right here...Where does the pollen go?

Mr. Stuart: Next chapter. In an abstract way, the same thing applies
To the reproductive organs of the more complex life forms.
But now we are dealing with sexual response.
Are there any questions before we begin reading?

Is it possible the female member of some sex on a couch?
Could like get this guy all hot and she never even knew it?
When a warm-blooded mammal in a tight little sweater
Starts pullin' that stuff, is she sayin' that she wants to do it?

Johnny: Can't prove it by me, cause they change their tune
When you got 'em in the back seat.With his heart beatin' fast!

Sorority girls: They make it sound like a track meet, gross!
Yeah, then all they can do is say "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

Reproduction, reproduction! Baby, give it to me now.
Reproduction, reproduction! Is that all you think about?
Reproduction! Come on baby show me that you really love me so!

Ohhh, I think I'm gonna throw up!

Where does the pollen go?

Mr. Stuart:The human is the only being capable of consciously controlling its number of offspring.
Any comments on this?

Paulette: Mr. Stuart, is it true that guys like you, you know, mature and all,
Carry some protection with them for sexual occasions?

Johnny: What's the big deal? Can't a girl just do that thing in a book
Where she adds up the days of her, uh, what do you call it, mentalstration?

Oh, that's really neat!

Yeah, and what will the guy say when the numbers don't add up right, huh?
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Reproduction, reproduction! Hope he's proud of what he's done.
Reproduction, reproduction!He was only pokin' fun.
Reproduction! See what happens when a boy and girl
Don't know how to play it safe?
Reproduction, reproduction!
Reproduction, reproduction!
Reproduction, reproduction! Reproduction!

Where does the pollen go?

Homeostasis

2008-11-11T15:43:00.000-08:00

The human transport system

2008-11-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

Excellent slideshow produced especially for IB students. Please take a look:

Transport System

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: diesease coronary)

Nerves, impulses and synapses

2008-11-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Enzymes

2008-11-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

The importance of enzymes

Synapses

2008-11-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

Detailed information about synapses (a bit too detailed for the IB) can also be found be following this link:

How impulses pass through synapses

GCSE Chemistry Past Papers

2008-11-02T17:01:00.000-08:00

Follow these links to download Cambridge GCSE past papers
(scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the download button)

June 2008 paper 1

June 2007 paper 1

November 2008 paper 1

June 2003 paper 1

June 2003 paper 2

June 2003 paper 3

June 2003 paper 6

Life after having a stroke

2008-10-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

How does a nerve impulse travel?

2008-10-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Reproduction Song (from Grease 2)

2008-10-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

The IB Diploma Handbook

2008-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

A link to the IB diploma handbook

What you need to pass the IB

2008-10-25T10:28:00.003-07:00

Here is some information to explain what you need in order to pass your IB:

*At least three subjects must be completed at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL).
*Should four subjects be completed at HL then only two need be completed at SL.
*All six subjects must have been awarded a numerical grade higher than 1, with a minimum total score of 24.
*The CAS requirement of 150 hours must have been completed.
*The Extended Essay and TOK course must have been completed and essays submitted.
*Additionally a grade D or better must have been awarded in either the Extended Essay or TOK.
*If the overall score is 24-27, there is no grade 2 at HL and not more than one grade 2 at SL; if the overall score is greater than or equal to 28, not more than one grade 2 at HL and no more than two grades 2 at SL; altogether, there are no more than three grades 3 or below.
*At least 12 points (12 for overall score 24-27; 16 if four HL subjects are taken) must have been gained on HL subjects, and 9/8 (6/5 if only two SL subjects are taken) on SL subjects.
*The final award committee has not judged the candidate to be guilty of malpractice.
*A minimum amount of hours must be achieved per year by students in order to pass. If an excessive amount of hours are missed, they may have to resit the year.

Circulatory System

2008-10-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

The circulatory system

The heart

Biological Molecules

2008-10-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Biological molecules

Transcription and translation

IB Biology assessment

2008-10-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

For info about assessment for IB biology (your exams and what they will be like), please click the link below

IB biology assessment

Nerve Impulses

2008-10-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

Or how does an impulse travel from your pain receptors?

Find out how nerve impulses travel through the body by clicking on the link below to biologymad.com. This is a website designed for the old A level biology exam, but contains a lot of info useful for the IB.

How nerve impulses travel

Hip Hip Hooray..... for DNA

2008-10-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

by Peter Weatherall

Hip hip hooray.... for DNA

2008-10-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

by Peter Weatherall

In every living cell,
There’s a useful tool,
Containing information,
In a molecule.

Chorus:
Hip Hip Hooray for DNA,
It provides the key,
To the plans for making,
Everything in you and me.

A single strand of DNA,
Can alphabetically,
Be sequenced by the letters,
A, C, T and G.

Chorus

The letters can be put into groups of three,
Which go to make a genetic recipe eeeee,
Cells can use this recipe,
Written down in genes,
To decipher how to make,
All of our proteins.

Chorus

Proteins can be used
To make body parts,
Such as lungs and livers,
kidneys and heaaarts.

Chorus

….To the plans for making
Everything in you and me.

Watch the video here

Chemistry dating

2008-10-16T18:03:00.001-07:00

Or what really happens when the elements get together.....

Your Nervous System

2008-10-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Story of Ernest Rutherford

2008-10-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Ernest Rutherford came up with his "orbital model" of the atom while working at Manchester University. He also did a series of experiments with radioactivity, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1908.

Have a look at this video which explains some of his work:

Natural decay (The Radioactivity Song)

2008-10-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

By Mark Rosengarten.

listen to the song

The nucleus of an atom is filled with lots of stuff,
There's protons and there's neutrons, thats really quite enough,
But sometimes an atom has too much of one of these,
And lets slip out decayed particles, kind of like a sneeze.

Its decay,
Natural decay,
HOORAY!

Its decay,
Natural decay,
HOORAY!

Some nucleii spew out whats looks like helium,
It's an alpha particle, made by uranium,
It's nuclear notation, it is 4,2 He,
And it is really dangerous, causes burns to you and me.

It's decay,
Alpha decay,
HOORAY!

It's decay,
Natural decay,
HOORAY!

Nucleii like C14 give a little, biddy sneeze,
It's a beta particle, an electron if you please,
It can travel fast, but it don't take much to stop,
Turns a neutron to a proton, watch the Geiger counters hop.

It's decay,
Beta decay,
HOORAY!

It's decay,
Natural decay,
HOORAY!

Isotopes of potassium emit a positron,
Its called beta positive, don't know who's side it's on,
A proton becomes a neutron, the mass remains the same,
And that is how the positron plays the nuclear game.

It's decay,
Positron decay,
HOORAY!

It's decay,
Natural decay,
HOORAY!

When a nucleus emits any of these,
It can also give off gamma,
With instability its easy,
It goes at the speed of light, 'cos that's really what it is,
And it has no mass or charge,
Only lead can stop it whiz.

It's decay,
Gives off gamma rays,
HOORAYS!

It's decay,
Natural decay
HOORAY!

The Respiratory System

2008-10-09T21:24:00.001-07:00

Carbohydrates

2008-10-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

I recommend everybody visits the Royal Society of Chemistry at some time in their lives. Here is a link to their information about carbohydrates for IB students:

Carbohydrates

Natural Decay (The Radioactivity Song)

2008-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Prof. James Watson talks about DNA

2008-10-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

The Structure of DNA

2008-09-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Reproduction of the HIV virus

2008-09-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

How long is your DNA?

2008-09-21T07:39:00.002-07:00

Science in the News

2008-09-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

September 2008

World's rarest tree frog found

Scientists recreate the Big Bang in Switzerland

Americans plan to drill for oil in Alaskan waters

Packaging chemical may cause heart problems

DNA tests used in fight against dog poo

Chinese go into space

Fight against malaria given money boost

Chinese astronaut walks in space

The Caspian sea monster

October 2008

The world's loneliest bacteria

Alien invaders hit U.K.

Indian space programme blasts off

Giant spider eats bird

Great White Shark killing display

November 2008

Russian submarine disaster

December 2008

Black hole confirmed at the centre of the Milky Way

February 2009

Genome of Neanderthals sequenced

Did climate kill off the Neanderthals?

Early human footprints found

March 2009

Are we alone in the Universe? Nasa launches Kepler space telescope

Obama to change law on stem cell research

Chimp planned attacks on zoo visitors

Dinosaurs more feathery than previously thought

Briton breaks wind-powered speed record

June 2009

New element discovered

The Elements Song, by Tom Lehrer

2008-09-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium,
And hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium,
And nickel, neodymium, neptunium, germanium,
And iron, americium, ruthenium, uranium,
Europium, zirconium, lutetium, vanadium,
And lanthanum and osmium and astatine and radium,
And gold, protactinium and indium and gallium,
And iodine and thorium and thulium and thallium.
There's yttrium, ytterbium, actinium, rubidium,
And boron, gadolinium, niobium, iridium,
And strontium and silicon and silver and samarium,
And bismuth, bromine, lithium, beryllium, and barium.
There's holmium and helium and hafnium and erbium,
And phosphorus and francium and fluorine and terbium,
And manganese and mercury, molybdenum, magnesium,
Dysprosium and scandium and cerium and cesium.
And lead, praseodymium, and platinum, plutonium,
Palladium, promethium, potassium, polonium,
And tantalum, technetium, titanium, tellurium,
And cadmium and calcium and chromium and curium.
There's sulfur, californium, and fermium, berkelium,
And also mendelevium, einsteinium, nobelium,
And argon, krypton, neon, radon, xenon, zinc, and rhodium,
And chlorine, carbon, cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin, and sodium.
These are the only ones of which the news has come to Ha'vard,
And there may be many others, but they haven't been discovered.

My Favorite Science Songs

2008-09-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Try these links to listen to the best science songs on the internet:

Monty Python's Galaxy Song

Tom Lehrer's Elements Song

'Lithium' with sock puppets

Magnetism - Get Perpendicular

The Bloodmobile song by They Might be Giants

The Large Hadron Rap

Why Does the Sun Shine? by They Might be Giants

Radioactivity by Kraftwerk

The Reproduction Rap by Jamie Lee Spears

She blinded me with science featuring Dr. Magnus Pyke

The Human Heart

2008-09-09T18:11:00.001-07:00

The Heart

2008-09-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

A nice video which shows how the human heart works.

The Digestive System

2008-09-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

A Non-Newtonian Liquid

2008-09-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

From a Spanish TV show in which two guys run across a swimming pool filled with water and maisena! (you could do some research to find out how this is possible).

The Periodic Table

2008-09-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

An interactive periodic table, with information about each element that speaks!

periodic table

What is a transformer?

2008-09-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

Not this:

But this:

What is a magnet?

2008-09-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Fleming's Left Hand Rule

2008-08-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

Flemings Left Hand Rule (my attempt to draw my own hand).

This lets you work out which way the coil of an electric motor will spin.

D.C. Electric Motor

2008-08-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

How does a direct current (d.c.) electric motor work?
This video featuring some groovy music will show you.