Group Work! :D

Headline: Discussing topics on our research-base-project.


Today, we gathered in our small group to discuss about the project that we will be working on. We discussed about the various possibilities and topics that we can do research on. Each of us in the group had to share ideas between one another. Then, we decided that we should all collect newspaper articles when we get home so that we are able to plant new and better ideas from there.


Well, from today's lesson, I had learnt that teamwork and cooperation within the group have to be maintained so that the quality of our work will be better and most importantly, we will HAVE FUN throughout this whole experience! 

Sources: Google Images

More on Worksheets

As for today's Science lesson, we went through more worksheets. As usual, I had learnt more, new Science concepts after this lesson. 


I used to think that the effect of pressure would not affect the boiling point of a substance. But now I think that the effect of pressure actually DOES affect the boiling point. The boiling point of a substance will be higher when the pressure acting on it is raised. This is because boiling point refers to the temperature which the vapour pressure of the substance is equal to the environmental pressure surrounding it.


I also used to think that we were able to smell the fragrance of the perfume because of someone, who had applied perfume, was standing close to us. But I was wrong. Now, I think it is because of the vapour of the perfume contains gas particles which can be moved between the air particles in the room. This process is called diffusion.


I found out that steam (gas) has a greater volume than water (liquid), as the particles in liquids are close together with little empty spaces between them. But for the particles in gases, they are spaced out far apart from one another. Hence, the volume is a lot larger.

Worksheets on Particulate Model of Matter

We went through and did quite a number of worksheets today. The worksheets had let us realise where our mistakes were and where we had went wrong.

3 Thoughts:

1) When we place the balloon in the freezer for some time, it will become smaller in size. This is because when temperature decreases, the particles in the balloon will lose energy and move less quickly. They will then become closer and the air contracts. Thus, causing the balloon to become smaller.

2) Ice has a higher density than water vapour as ice, which is in the solid state, has particles that are arranged closely together. There are more particles packed in ice (solid) than in the same volume of water vapour (gas). Therefore, ice has a greater mass than water vapour in a fixed volume, hence a higher density.

3) Impurities do affect the melting and boiling points of a substance. Impurities will lower the melting point of a solid and increase the boiling point of a liquid and thus, causing the substance to melt and boil respectively over a range of temperatures.

2 Questions:

1) When we place the balloon in the freezer, will the air inside comes to a point where it changes into liquid or solid states?

2) Do the particles in matter have a fixed mass?

1 Useful application:

1) After we had found out our mistakes, we will ensure not to answer the questions in our worksheets or test papers wrongly again. We always learn from mistakes! :)

(Salt - One Common Type of Impurities)

Sources: Google Images

Small Quiz to Check on Our Understanding

The headline is: Small Quiz to Check on Our Understanding.

We had a small test today which helps us check on our understanding on the concepts we had learnt so far. Mdm Riza also told us that there would be small quizzes given every now and then. From this quiz, I have learnt that oxygen molecules, which are in the gaseous state, do not have a fixed shape and volume. This is because the particles in the gas are able to move freely to occupy any available space. Since the particles are spaced far apart from one another, oxygen molecules (gas) can be compressed easily.

I had also learnt that the melting point of matter can be used to identify a substance and to test its purity. For example, we are able to identify that a matter, in its solid state, is probably pure water when we find out that it melts at 0ºC.

(Melting Point of Pure Ice)

Sources: Google Images

Heating and Cooling Curves

Today, we learnt about the heating and cooling curves, which show that the temperature increases and decreases, due to the changes of states of matter. Heating curves are used to represent that the matter gains heat and thus, having a rise in temperature. Whereas cooling curves, they are used to show that matter loses heat and cause to have a fall in temperature.

I used to think that for heating and cooling curves, the temperatures would continuously rise and fall respectively. But now, after gaining the knowledge of these two types of curves, I think that the temperatures would remain constant at some points when the matter is changing into another state.

For heating curves, temperature remains the same for a period of time so that heat supplied is used to overcome the forces of attraction holding the particles together. The temperature will then rise when the matter has completely changed into another state.

Note: Avoid using BREAK. Instead, use OVERCOME.

As for cooling curves, temperature stays constant for some time as heat energy is released so that strong attractions are formed between particles to hold them together in a crystal lattice (solid structure). Then, the temperature will continue to fall when the matter has completely changed into another state.

Sources: Google Images

Explanation on the Changes of States of Matter

Headline: Explanation on the Changes of States of Matter.

We were being taught on how to answer questions which ask to explain the change of state of matter. There are three points that we have to explain. The first is the arrangement of particles, the second is the movement of particles and lastly, we have to state if there is a loss or gain in energy. At this point, we have to assume that the atmospheric pressure is being kept constant and that only temperature causes matter to change its states.

Melting: When solid changes into liquid, also known as melting, the particles gain energy and vibrate more vigorously in their fixed positions. They break free from one another and move about randomly when they have enough energy and reached the melting point. They are no longer held in fixed positions but are still close to one another.

Freezing: Particles of liquid lose energy and move about more slowly when a liquid is cooled. The particles will then get closer to one another when they lose more and more energy. They will then become close enough to allow the forces of attraction to make them return to their fixed positions. This change is called freezing whereby a liquid is turned into a solid.

Boiling: Particles in liquid gain energy and vibrate and move about more vigorously when a liquid is heated. The particles will then break free from one another when they have enough energy and reached the boiling point. They will then become randomly arranged, very far apart and moving about at great speeds. Liquid has changed into gas and is known as boiling.

Condensation: The particles in gas lose energy and move about less vigorously at a lower speed when a gas is cooled. The particles will then lose more and more energy and move slower as the temperature falls. They will then become close enough to be attracted to one another and the gas has turned into a liquid. This change of state is known as condensation.

(Changes of States)

Sources: Google Images

Immersing Deeper into Particulate Model of Matter

For today's Science lesson, we had been taught more on the Particulate Model of Matter. After this lesson, I had gained a better understanding of how the particles work in matter and how its arrangement and movement change when matter changes states.

3 Thoughts:
1) When the temperature of matter increases, the kinetic energy of its particles also increases. Therefore, we can say that the kinetic energy of all particles is directly equivalent to the absolute temperature.
2) The process whereby particles of matter move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration is known as diffusion. Diffusion occurs in all three states. However, diffusion in gases is the fastest as the particles in gases move at the fastest rate as compared to the particles in liquids and solids.
3) The arrangements and movements of particles are different when the matter is in different states.
Particles in solids - They have a fixed, regular pattern as they are packed very closely together, strongly attracted to each other and vibrate about their fixed positions.
Particles in liquids - They are not arranged in a fixed, regular pattern as they are packed closely together, attracted to each other and can move over short distances.
Particles in gases - They can move freely in any direction as they are weakly attracted to and far apart from one another.

2 Questions:
1) Since solid particles are strongly attracted and packed very closely to one another, how does a solid diffuses?
2) Do different particles have different sizes?

1 Useful application:
1) When younger brother or sister inquires why ice melts, we can slowly explain to them about the phenomena of how the arrangements and movements of the particles change due to the heat that is gained by the ice.

(Only gas can be compressed)

Sources: Google Images

5 Simple Steps of the Scientific Method!

Well, today we were briefed on the project we would be working on for around half a year. We were told that we have to come up with an experiment which would help us solve problems in our daily lives. Example, we can experiment fruits to test if they can help us generate electricity. Before we start off with the project, we were being taught on the scientific method which consists of five steps that we have to follow.

I used to think that when doing science experiments, we just have to test and conclude. But now, after Mdm Riza introduced the scientific method to us, I think that there are steps for us to follow that will guide us through the experiments and improve the quality of our project.

I used to think that a hypothesis is just a conclusion that we predict about what would happen at the end of our experiment. For instance, we could just say that a cube of ice melts at high temperature. But now I think that a hypothesis is not as simple as I thought. We have to include the term increase/decrease. Therefore, we should change the hypothesis by saying that, the higher the temperature, the faster the cube of ice will melt.

The five steps of The Scientific Method are:

Step 1: Ask a Question
- Through observations and do research

Step 2: Form a Hypothesis
- Prediction of what you will observe after the experiment

Step 3: Test Your Hypothesis
- Conduct an experiment test your question
- Write out your plan (try to have as many methods as possible/come up with independent, dependent variable and controlled variables, etc.)

Step 4: Analyse Your Results
- Collect and record data

Step 5: Form a Conclusion
- Decide results and see if they match hypothesis. If not, try the experiment again

If we follow these steps accordingly, we will definitely score well for this project!

(Scientific Method)

Sources: Google Images

Starting Off with Particulate Model of Matter

The headline is: Starting Off with Particulate Model of Matter.

Today is our very first Science lesson and Mdm Riza gave each of us a sheet of note to let us have a better understanding of the chapter, Particulate Model of Matter. This note tells us how the kinetic theory of particles of matter comes about and why matter changes states.

After this lesson, I learnt that all matter is made up of tiny discrete particles. The particles in solid are vibrating in a highly ordered arrangement, the particles in liquid are able to move over short distances in an irregular arrangement and the particles in gas are moving at a very fast speed in extreme disorder.

I also learnt that particles in liquid and gas usually collide with one another and the walls of the containers they are held in. These collisions are perfectly elastic and thus, there is no loss of kinetic energy in the particles. The kinetic energy of the particles changes only when the temperature changes. Hence, we can say that the average kinetic energy of all particles is directly proportional to the absolute temperature. This in turn will cause matters to change states.

                                          (Particles in the three different states)

Sources: Google Images