Reflective Blog 10-19/10-23

     As we entered the class Monday morning, many showed smiling faces while others were disappointed from the test results we took on the previous Friday. Happy or sad, we came in on Monday ready to learn Unit 6. The focus of this unit is to examine particles and their internal structures, We did this through a variety of labs and worksheets that were handed out over the course of the week.

     Starting off on Monday, we were given an introductory worksheet on the "Thomson Model". This required us to grab the Chromebooks and go to a specific website to read about all three of Thomson's experiments. Each question asked about a certain experiment, and the last question asked about the model itself. The model shows a particle with negatively charged electrons in the particles interior. We were then asked to whiteboard the results to make sure everyone had the same idea as to what the model looked like.

     The next couple of days were filled with a fun lab called the "Sticky Tape" lab. The labs goal was to get us to understand where the charge coming from the tape is actually coming from. "Why is the charge present in the tape?", was the more specific question. We were asked to take the tape, place one piece on top of the other, and pull them apart to create a charge. Then we were given multiple cases, where we had to use the tape to attract aluminium foil and paper. This gave us a better understanding that opposites attract and others don't. We were then given a post-lab write up, which we as a class to formulate what we thought the particles looked like at different stages of the lab.

     On Thursday, we started the "U-tube" lab where we were asked to take notes on a tube filled with Chlorine and Copper and see what happens when charges come into play. I am still a little confused as to what happened in the lab, and more specifically the results. I realize that the charges need to cancel out, and I understand that part, but in some cases I can't seem to find why. It was very cool, although, to see the copper form at the bottom of the tube, and the greenish yellow fluid that formed on the Chlorine side. 

     This brought us to Friday, where we finished up the "U-tube" lab and we started a worksheet. We whiteboarded our results of the lab and has a class discussion. Like I said I am still a little confused but I am hoping that we will clear things up on Monday. As for the worksheet, we started that and it seemed to be a slight review of particle diagrams and formulas. As we head on to next week, I know I can see a test in the near future, so I really want to get this material down. Next week should be packed with review and hopefully more labs, and I am quite excited.