Q&A - P3 Science

[Muffins]

tianzhu:

Muffins:

hi tutormum, first, the cold water will make a little of the bottle contract, making the droplet move towards Y. Then,l after about 1 minute, the air inside X will contract, causing the droplet to move towards X.

Hi Muffins,

I am wondering if you’ve ever carried out an experiment which shows that the ink droplet move to the right slightly first, then towards X when flask X is immersed in cold water.

For primary science, is it necessary to elaborate that the ink droplet moves slightly to the right first? I think this information is not covered in primary textbook.

Best wishes

Hi Tianzhu, long time no talk, buddy!

Actually, I have carried out this experiment and it is true that the ink droplet will move towards the right first, in this case.

You are also right in saying that this is not covered in the syllabus, until P5. In P5, you will have to elaborate on this quite a bit!

[tianzhu]

Muffins:

Actually, I have carried out this experiment and it is true that the ink droplet will move towards the right first, in this case.

Hi Muffins

Good Morning
It’ll be interesting to hear how you would explain why the ink drop moves slightly right first before moving towards flask X. Please share your view.

Best wishes

[ET-PH]

Thanks Tianzhu and Muffins, I couldn’t tell my dd the answer when I went through this paper with her previously. After looking at your replies (though not sure I am correct), I have explained to her that bottle X being in contact with the cold water first, contracts, pushing the ink towards Y. When the coldness propagates to the air in bottle X, the air in bottle X contracts and causes the ink to move back towards X.


Best Regards
ET-PH [/quote]

[tianzhu]

[quote]Thanks Tianzhu and Muffins, I couldn't tell my dd the answer when I went through this paper with her previously. After looking at your replies (though not sure I am correct), I have explained to her that bottle X being in contact with the cold water first, contracts, pushing the ink towards Y. When the coldness propagates to the air in bottle X, the air in bottle X contracts and causes the ink to move back towards X. [/quote]
Hi ET-PH

A good way to make science alive is to explore further by asking more questions.

First thing first, whether the ink droplet moves to the right slightly first has no relevance in answering your earlier question. This will only come into play into question such as --- What will happen to the ink drop? Explain your observation.

From my kid’s textbooks (PSLE Science 2009), I can’t recall seeing any explanation on this happening. The textbooks merely touch on the expansion of liquids and gases without elaborating on why the ink drop moves slightly in one direction before moving in the opposite way. However, if I remember correctly, there was one similar type of question in my kid’s ws and the model answer states that the ink drop moves slightly in one direction before moving towards the other.

I am not sure whether the schools expect PSLE students to describe in such details. In my opinion, there is hardly anything in primary syllabus that can help to explain this scenario.

Best wishes

[buds]

tianzhu:

A good way to make science alive is to explore further by asking more questions.

I agree with you tianzhu. Knowing the facts alone ain't enough.
It is the ability to question and analyze that will ensure that the
questions can be understood in its context properly. Cos with our
DD1 who is doing Sci for the first time this year, we have had our
share of struggles with regards to analysis and investigative work.

What we want to inculcate in her is the ability for her to ask the
investigative questions to herself, in relevance to the questions
that comes out in her assigment and her papers instead of US
parents always being around to question her to make her see
the need for analyzing..

For example... knowing the characteristics of animals alone is not
enough when it comes to answering what animal Y is... if the MCQ
states... animal Y ....

i. can fly..
ii. has hair on its body..
iii. gives birth to young alive on land..

:faint: Imagine having to ask her or rather most times \"tell her\" :x to
run through all characteristics of animals until she is able to come up
with the answer for animal Y. :faint: It can get tiring... and at times
frustrating that questioning herself isn't automatic.... yet. :xedfingers:

She is doing better of late which i do tell her, that it makes me very very
happy that she is more independent and trying to apply what we have
done together.. :love:

tianzhu:

First thing first, whether the ink droplet moves to the right slightly first has no relevance in answering your earlier question. This will only come into play into question such as --- What will happen to the ink drop. Explain your observation.

From my kid’s textbooks (PSLE Science 2009), I can’t recall seeing any explanation on this happening. The textbooks merely touch on the expansion of liquids and gases without elaborating on why the ink drop moves slightly in one direction before moving in the opposite way. However, if I remember correctly, there was one similar type of question in my kid’s ws and the model answer states that the ink drop moves slightly in one direction before moving towards the other.

I am not sure whether the schools expect PSLE students to describe in such details. In my opinion, there is hardly anything in primary syllabus that can help to explain this scenario.

To the quote in bold, hats off! :salute:

I agree whole heartedly with that! :celebrate:

There IS hardly anything much in the syllabus / textbooks to enrich the
children more on the topics they have covered... hence the need for us
(or me at least in this case.. :P) to build our Science guide library. :politebleah:

Thankfully, getting books and teaching/learning resources come as retail
therapy for me.

tianzhu:

Best wishes

I foresee having the need to consult you every now and then, tianzhu for
your logic and expertise in Math & Science is rewarding me in more ways
than one.. hehee.. not just for DD but also enriching for me personally to
be able to keep up with national education requirements and standards for children of our generation.

Best wishes to you too.
Hope you have a good week ahead. :celebrate:

[tianzhu]

ET-PH:

Thanks Tianzhu and Muffins, I couldn't tell my dd the answer when I went through this paper with her previously. After looking at your replies (though not sure I am correct), I have explained to her that bottle X being in contact with the cold water first, contracts, pushing the ink towards Y. When the coldness propagates to the air in bottle X, the air in bottle X contracts and causes the ink to move back towards X.

Hi muffins

Have your teacher taught you how to explain why the ink drop starts to move slightly in one direction first before moving in the other way?
Have you started your Chemistry lessons?

Best wishes

[ChiefKiasu]

tianzhu:

ET-PH:

Thanks Tianzhu and Muffins, I couldn't tell my dd the answer when I went through this paper with her previously. After looking at your replies (though not sure I am correct), I have explained to her that bottle X being in contact with the cold water first, contracts, pushing the ink towards Y. When the coldness propagates to the air in bottle X, the air in bottle X contracts and causes the ink to move back towards X.

Hi muffins

Have your teacher taught you how to explain why the ink drop starts to move slightly in one direction first before moving in the other way?
Have you started your Chemistry lessons?

Best wishes

Glass has one of the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion, which means that it hardly expands when heated. This is also the reason why glass bottles crack quickly when directly heated with an open flame.

It is safe to say that we should not consider the case when the glass contracts due to the cold water, because the rate of contraction of the air in the bottle will far exceed the loss of volume due to the glass.

[tianzhu]

Hi Chiefkiasu


If I can recall correctly, there was a question on two flasks with an ink droplets in a tube linking them in one of my boy’s ws in P4/P5.

Heat was applied to flask A, and the answer given was the ink droplet moves slightly to the left first before moving to the right towards flask B.I think the kids are taught this in schools, as muffins had already stated this(move slightly) in one of his earlier post. The reason is that the heat reaches the flask first.

Maybe as we continue our journey, we may be able to offer some reasonable explanation.

Best wishes

[tianzhu]

buds:

I foresee having the need to consult you every now and then

Hi buds

Well, by the time your ah girl reaches P6, much of PSLE science will be erased from my old memory.

I hope I can still be of any help to you.

Best wishes

[ChiefKiasu]

tianzhu:

Hi Chiefkiasu


If I can recall correctly, there was a question on two flasks with an ink droplets in a tube linking them in one of my boy’s ws in P4/P5.

Heat was applied to flask A, and the answer given was the ink droplet moves slightly to the left first before moving to the right towards flask B.I think the kids are taught this in schools, as muffins had already stated this(move slightly) in one of his earlier post. The reason is that the heat reaches the flask first.

Maybe as we continue our journey, we may be able to offer some reasonable explanation.

Best wishes

It's the same concept. Whether the ink drop moves one way before the other depends on the relative thermal expansion efficiency of the container and the gas, and also the conduction of heat of the material's container. If the material allows heat to be conducted through it before it expands, then the rate of expansion of the gas will negate any perceived effects of the expansion of the container. So if a lead container (which has one of the greatest coefficiency of thermal expansion) is used instead of the flask, then I will agree with the observation that the ink drop will move one way and then the other.