As a learner, I have carried along my school trek the knowledge that was given to me by the laws and theories I learned and took up.. Let me cut in the chase. The following are my top ten learnings in Science (in descending order) to wit;
TOP 10: Series and Parallel Circuits were one of the topics which I had the most difficulty since first year. Every time I hear these, I tend not to listen because I don't understand. However, these past few months in fourth year, I have mastered the concepts of how electric charges flow differently on these two types of circuits, the series and parallel. When resistors are connected in a series circuit, the current flows through each resistor in one path. On the other hand, when resistors are connected in a parallel circuit, the current flows through different paths. Piece of cake, isn't it? The sum of all resistance for the series circuit is the sum of the individual resistors while the reciprocal of the total resistance for the parallel circuit is the sum of the reciprocal of each resistor.
TOP 9: Work in Science is definitely not the same at work in real, busy life. But, it is associated as well with the concept of work. Work is the product of the force exerted on an object and the distance the object moves. Simply stated, W = F x D. Lifting, pushing, pulling, etc are some of the ways you can have work. Nevertheless, there is always an exemption. If there is no movement from one place to another, then there is no work done on it (Zero work). Work is only done when the force and displacement are in the same direction.
TOP 8: Electronic configuration in Chemistry was sort of ambiguous at first glance but wait until you try to find an EC for an element. It only follows three principles namely the Aufbau Principle, Hund's Rule and the Pauli Exclusion Principle. Normally, we follow the Aufbau principle in which we can apply the s-p-d-f pattern (orbitals). I don't know but I find it fascinating because you just have to write numbers from 1 to 8 and the letters s, p, d, and f. However, of course, you have to follow the rules; for example for the s orbital, there can only be two electrons, for the p orbital, there can only be six electrons, for the d orbital there can only be ten electrons and lastly for the f orbital there can only be fourteen electrons.
TOP 7: Ohm's Law, the mighty law which bonds the three most important concepts in electricity: voltage, current and resistance. Simply stated, Ohm's law is V=IR. Most students prefer to call it "VIR" for easy understanding. Similarly, I also call it like that. V stands for Voltage, I stands for Current and R stands for Resistance. This law shows the interrelationship of these three either directly or inversely proportional to one another. When I have trouble in solving voltage, current and resistance, I run towards this law!
TOP 6: "Gravity is working against me, and gravity wants to bring me down." This is a verse from the song "Gravity" by John Mayer. Well, I relate this to my laziness that I just want to stay at one place or at my bed. The level of attraction between me and my bed is way too high or is it the gravity? Gravity is mainly the natural phenomenon by which all physical bodies attract each other. It is not the typical relationship between a man and a woman. It is not the typical attraction of a person and the food. It is not. When talking about gravity, we are talking about the downward force here. Weight is also the other term for gravity. Have you wondered why you can't float in the air? Have you noticed why the apple on the tree fell on Newton's head while he was sleeping? I have only one answer for that - Gravity. The reason behind we stayed on the ground is because of the gravity pulling us to the earth. It is due to gravity why the apple fell and hit Newton's head.
TOP 5: Calculating Limiting reagents in Stochiometry is one of the hardest concepts to understand for a short span of time. I remember, I had to solve many sample problems to finally get the right solutions and answers. I have to undertake a few steps before coming up with the correct one. However, despite the difficulty, I had the urge of interest to this topic. Chemistry in third year, especially Stochiometry, was really far better than the advanced chemistry. You can apply mathematics and test your thinking skills as well. The limiting reagent is merely the reactant in a chemical reaction that limits the amount of product that can be formed.
TOP 4: Writing chemical formulas is a prerequisite when taking advanced chemistry; it is one of the basic concepts to learn when facing chemical equations too. In third year, all topics were just connected to one another and if you didn't master writing chemical formulas, you will not be able to understand the next concepts. To write chemical formulas, you have to follow a few steps: First, you must know the oxidation number or charge for each element. Then, do the criss-cross of charges (exchange) and these charges will be put as subscripts for each element. You cannot write chemical formulas without familiarizing the oxidation numbers and polyatomic elements so I suggest one should memorize them.
TOP 3: Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Therefore, you matter...to me. Hey, we're talking scientifically here! Since the oldest times, since the universe was created, there was already the presence of matter. Matter is made up of tiny atoms and molecules. When classifying matter, we can have pure substances and mixtures. Pure substances focus on the chemical composition of matter such as the elements and compounds. On the other hand, mixtures focus on the physical composition of matter such as solutions, colloids and suspensions. Before I classify matter like this, I was still on the three states of matter, solid, liquid, gas plus plasma (I learned this in Grade 4). Very basic, isn't it? But see how the impact on my life that I could still talk about it.
TOP 2: Archimedes' Principle has always given a "Eureka" to my mind in understanding buoyancy. Archimedes' story in discovering serendipitously the principle is one of the greatest stories ever told in the history of the discovery of Science. From the displaced weight and buoyant force on the water of the bathtub to float or sink epiphanies, Archimedes' principle can lend you a hand!
And finally, number 1 on the roster.... *drumroll*
TOP 1: The Newton's Laws of Motion or the three musketeers of the relationship between acceleration and force has always been there to remind how things move due to the force exerted. The first law of Newton states that an object at rest stays at rest unless a force acting on it moves with constant velocity. For example, a ball at rest will stay at rest unless I kick it and it starts rolling with constant velocity. Moreover, the law also states that an object moving with constant velocity in a straight line will not stop moving unless a force acts on it to make it stop. The second law, on the other hand, states that the acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the net force on it and inversely proportional to its mass. For this law, I just understood the formula for the force which is F = ma. Lastly, the third law or more commonly known as the action-reaction law, states that for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction. Until I reached my fourth and last year, these laws continue to enlighten my mind as I tackled other concepts in Science that may involve motion and forces. Also, Newton didn't force me to learn all these stuffs!
TOP 10: Series and Parallel Circuits were one of the topics which I had the most difficulty since first year. Every time I hear these, I tend not to listen because I don't understand. However, these past few months in fourth year, I have mastered the concepts of how electric charges flow differently on these two types of circuits, the series and parallel. When resistors are connected in a series circuit, the current flows through each resistor in one path. On the other hand, when resistors are connected in a parallel circuit, the current flows through different paths. Piece of cake, isn't it? The sum of all resistance for the series circuit is the sum of the individual resistors while the reciprocal of the total resistance for the parallel circuit is the sum of the reciprocal of each resistor.
TOP 9: Work in Science is definitely not the same at work in real, busy life. But, it is associated as well with the concept of work. Work is the product of the force exerted on an object and the distance the object moves. Simply stated, W = F x D. Lifting, pushing, pulling, etc are some of the ways you can have work. Nevertheless, there is always an exemption. If there is no movement from one place to another, then there is no work done on it (Zero work). Work is only done when the force and displacement are in the same direction.
TOP 8: Electronic configuration in Chemistry was sort of ambiguous at first glance but wait until you try to find an EC for an element. It only follows three principles namely the Aufbau Principle, Hund's Rule and the Pauli Exclusion Principle. Normally, we follow the Aufbau principle in which we can apply the s-p-d-f pattern (orbitals). I don't know but I find it fascinating because you just have to write numbers from 1 to 8 and the letters s, p, d, and f. However, of course, you have to follow the rules; for example for the s orbital, there can only be two electrons, for the p orbital, there can only be six electrons, for the d orbital there can only be ten electrons and lastly for the f orbital there can only be fourteen electrons.
TOP 7: Ohm's Law, the mighty law which bonds the three most important concepts in electricity: voltage, current and resistance. Simply stated, Ohm's law is V=IR. Most students prefer to call it "VIR" for easy understanding. Similarly, I also call it like that. V stands for Voltage, I stands for Current and R stands for Resistance. This law shows the interrelationship of these three either directly or inversely proportional to one another. When I have trouble in solving voltage, current and resistance, I run towards this law!
TOP 6: "Gravity is working against me, and gravity wants to bring me down." This is a verse from the song "Gravity" by John Mayer. Well, I relate this to my laziness that I just want to stay at one place or at my bed. The level of attraction between me and my bed is way too high or is it the gravity? Gravity is mainly the natural phenomenon by which all physical bodies attract each other. It is not the typical relationship between a man and a woman. It is not the typical attraction of a person and the food. It is not. When talking about gravity, we are talking about the downward force here. Weight is also the other term for gravity. Have you wondered why you can't float in the air? Have you noticed why the apple on the tree fell on Newton's head while he was sleeping? I have only one answer for that - Gravity. The reason behind we stayed on the ground is because of the gravity pulling us to the earth. It is due to gravity why the apple fell and hit Newton's head.
TOP 5: Calculating Limiting reagents in Stochiometry is one of the hardest concepts to understand for a short span of time. I remember, I had to solve many sample problems to finally get the right solutions and answers. I have to undertake a few steps before coming up with the correct one. However, despite the difficulty, I had the urge of interest to this topic. Chemistry in third year, especially Stochiometry, was really far better than the advanced chemistry. You can apply mathematics and test your thinking skills as well. The limiting reagent is merely the reactant in a chemical reaction that limits the amount of product that can be formed.
TOP 4: Writing chemical formulas is a prerequisite when taking advanced chemistry; it is one of the basic concepts to learn when facing chemical equations too. In third year, all topics were just connected to one another and if you didn't master writing chemical formulas, you will not be able to understand the next concepts. To write chemical formulas, you have to follow a few steps: First, you must know the oxidation number or charge for each element. Then, do the criss-cross of charges (exchange) and these charges will be put as subscripts for each element. You cannot write chemical formulas without familiarizing the oxidation numbers and polyatomic elements so I suggest one should memorize them.
TOP 3: Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Therefore, you matter...to me. Hey, we're talking scientifically here! Since the oldest times, since the universe was created, there was already the presence of matter. Matter is made up of tiny atoms and molecules. When classifying matter, we can have pure substances and mixtures. Pure substances focus on the chemical composition of matter such as the elements and compounds. On the other hand, mixtures focus on the physical composition of matter such as solutions, colloids and suspensions. Before I classify matter like this, I was still on the three states of matter, solid, liquid, gas plus plasma (I learned this in Grade 4). Very basic, isn't it? But see how the impact on my life that I could still talk about it.
TOP 2: Archimedes' Principle has always given a "Eureka" to my mind in understanding buoyancy. Archimedes' story in discovering serendipitously the principle is one of the greatest stories ever told in the history of the discovery of Science. From the displaced weight and buoyant force on the water of the bathtub to float or sink epiphanies, Archimedes' principle can lend you a hand!
And finally, number 1 on the roster.... *drumroll*
TOP 1: The Newton's Laws of Motion or the three musketeers of the relationship between acceleration and force has always been there to remind how things move due to the force exerted. The first law of Newton states that an object at rest stays at rest unless a force acting on it moves with constant velocity. For example, a ball at rest will stay at rest unless I kick it and it starts rolling with constant velocity. Moreover, the law also states that an object moving with constant velocity in a straight line will not stop moving unless a force acts on it to make it stop. The second law, on the other hand, states that the acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the net force on it and inversely proportional to its mass. For this law, I just understood the formula for the force which is F = ma. Lastly, the third law or more commonly known as the action-reaction law, states that for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction. Until I reached my fourth and last year, these laws continue to enlighten my mind as I tackled other concepts in Science that may involve motion and forces. Also, Newton didn't force me to learn all these stuffs!