CLE Worksheets 1 and 2

CLE Worksheet 1

CLE Worksheet 2

CAS Reflection #18: Back to Tennis 3

Last Sunday, I had another tennis session with my trainer. I continue to practice serve and backhand since these two strokes are the ones I am having a hard time executing. This continues on until I managed to hit the ball and serve the ball consecutively without mistakes. After that exercise, I had another game with my trainer.

During this game, good luck was on my side. I managed to return all of my trainer’s shots, weak or strong. This feeling of success is what I want to feel after practicing tennis for a few weeks now. However, it was difficult match and yet, I still lost, but only by 3 points.

After today, I felt great after the game because I played better than the previous game. However, I still need more practice if I want to win the next match against my trainer.

Total Number of Hours: 2

Kinetics Concepts

1) For a reaction to take place between two reagents, two conditions are necessary: (A) The two particles (atoms, ions, radicals, or molecules) must come into physical contact (collide) with each other and (B) The reactants must collide with sufficient kinetic energy to bring about the reaction.

2) There are also some factors that affect the rate of the chemical reaction: (A) Increasing the concentration of the reactants or the pressure of a gaseous reaction. As the quantity of the particles increases, the number of collisions between the reactant particles will increase. (B) Increasing the temperature of the reaction. At a higher temperature, the reactant particles are moving faster, so there will be more collisions, which will make a relatively small contribution towards increasing the rate. (C) Decreasing the particle size of solid reactants. When a solid reacts with a liquid, only the surface particles of the solid can come into direct contact with the liquid reactant particles. If the solid is increasing in surface area (meaning breaking into smaller pieces), more solid particles would react.

3) The minimum amount of energy required to bring about the reaction is known as the activation energy. This is the minimum amount of kinetic energy that must be given to reactants before they will actually react. If two reactants molecules collide without this minimum amount of kinetic energy, they will simply bounce off each other without reacting. In a chemical reaction, if the activation energy is lower, then the reaction is exothermic because the reaction gives off more heat. However, if the activation energy is higher, the reaction is endothermic, because the reaction absorbs more heat.

4) a)

4) b)

4) c)

4) d)

5)

CAS Reflection #17: Back to Tennis 2

Today was another day of tennis. I arrived at the tennis court very energetic and ready to play. I practiced the different strokes that I learned from the previous sessions. After 30 minutes of practicing, I played a game with my trainer.

The game will end once the first scores 8 points. I started the game with an easy serve since it was my first time playing a real game. The time lapses as my trainer and I continue to hit the ball back and forth across the court. It continued on for another half an hour, in which the score ended with 7-7, thus the game will end through a tie-breaker. In a tie-breaker, the player who scores the first 7 points and is leading by 2 points is declare the winner. From that point, I tried my best to hit the ball hard and accurately to win. Unfortunately, I lost the tie-breaker, yet I was satisfied from my first experience playing a real tennis game.

This experience has given me a sense of perseverance. I feel that this sport is something that I can achieve and be good at. The drive-feeling of playing tennis really makes me want to continue playing until I am able to beat my trainer in one game.

Total Number of Hours: 2

CAS Reflection #16: AMC

Last August 4, a group of students were selected to compete in the Australian Math Competition (AMC) at St. Stephen’s High School. There were around 20 or more students that sat along with me, all of which are Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Unfortunately, the seniors seems to have the least number of participants. Nevertheless, this does not bother me since I am ready to showcase what I have learned the past years in my Math classes.

As the bus travels through the traffic, different math questions started to run in my head. I was both excited and nervous about the competition. When we arrived at the venue, I saw a lot of fellow students from other schools, who are also going to compete in this competition. We were then given room numbers for us to proceed to take the written competition.

The proctor gave us the signal to begin answering the test. As I opened the booklet with my questions, I started to answer. As I browse to the questions, they became harder and harder to a point that I could not comprehend anymore. As time continues to move, I became less interested in answering the questions due to its difficulty. Eventually, I left the classroom at the end of the time, without answering the remaining 10 items.

As we rode the bus on our way back to Xavier School, I realize that answering math questions at a whole new level is tough. However, this experience has thought me that I must practice harder in order to be proficient in any difficult math question.

Total Number of Hours: 5

Kinetics: Rate of Reaction

There are many things that we do today involves the subject of chemistry. One application from Chemistry is Kinetics or the Rates of Reactions. Rates of reactions is a topic wherein one finds or learns how fast does a chemical reaction to occur or to produce their respective products. These rates depend on the various chemicals or reactants one uses, including their internal and external environments.

One example of a chemical reaction that involves kinetics or rates of reactions is the rate of explosion of fireworks from the ground to the sky. In this chemical reaction, the person who creates fireworks have to use various kinds of metals to produce different colors (i.e. calcium chloride can produce the color orange). These people have to also measure the rate for the firework to explode at a certain height from the ground to the air for it to explode, and eventually, admired by the people watching.

Rate is measured here in terms of the time it takes for the reaction to take place; at the same time, the rate for it to explode in the air. This can be seen when the fireworks shows its colors in the sky, and thus the reaction has already happened. Basically, it is a combustion reaction of a metal with a non-metal or producing a salt (i.e. lithium salts).

 

Sources:

http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fireworks/fireworks.htm

 

Reflection on VC Conference (July 28, 2011)

During the video conference with Nehru World School, the students of each school were able to exchange ideas about their livelihood and culture of their respective countries’ religions. Most of the students were eager to exchange and discuss some of their ideas and thoughts to the other school.

As the students were talking to each other via video conference, the atmosphere of the conversation was very lively; it was somewhat formal, yet it felt that everyone is willing to talk more and share more. The tone of the conversation was friendly, in the sense that, both sides showed respect and listened to each other’s answers. Through the conference, I was able to learn that the one of the Nehru students consider “religion as the root of humanity”, while the Xavier participants said that “religion is a binding factor” for us Filipinos.

I think that for the next VC participants to make an effective dialogue, it will be best if both sides exchange an introduction about their countries historical and religion backgrounds. I believe that talking about each countries’ backgrounds is effective, so that each school can get a feel and understanding about each school. Thus, I can say that the recent video conference was another success for Xavier School.

CAS Reflection #15: Math Challenge

Last Friday, our teacher provided us with a simple math problem set to answer on. This problem set will help gauge how much math lessons we can recall. This is can also help me get to know the other members since we can help each other in solving. Some of the problems that I encountered were somewhat difficult. There were a few questions where I could not comprehend at all. Eventually, the teacher told us to stop and discuss the answers.

As we discussed the answers to the different problems, all of the members including myself were listening attentively. Some of us, including myself, wanted to volunteer in solving one of the problems. By doing so, we were able to interact with one another. I also felt that through this simple exercise, I managed to not only understand the difficult math questions, but also made new friends.

From this experience, I feel that teamwork and cooperation are key factors in having a great learning environment, so that all of us can learn and be happy at the same time.

Total Number of Hours: 1.5

CAS Reflection #14: Back to Tennis

Last year, I was assigned to take tennis as my sport during last year’s first semester. During that time, I felt that this sport was actually something interesting that I wanted to do. Eventually, I started to play this sport yesterday.

As I reminisce the different strokes that my P.E. teacher had taught me, doing it again was difficult. It had been a year since I played the sport at school. Everything felt new to me again, but I still managed to hit the ball at some point. As I continue to practice my strokes, I am certain that I will be able to master the sport eventually.

Total Number of Hours: 2

CAS Reflection #13: First Weight Lifting

Today, I had just experienced my first time lifting weights and performing various kinds of physical exercises. The gym at Xavier School has complete gym equipment that can help strengthen one’s body. I was happy to be assigned to take Fitness as my P.E. since this can help me become more healthy and strong.

As I perform the different weight lifting exercises, I had some difficulty in lifting the weights due to some of them being heavy; at the same time, it was my first time lifting them, so it felt heavy at first. After a few tries, I got the feeling of lifting them properly and consecutively.

From this experience, I feel that fitness is really important in living a healthy life. With this, I will continue to practice lifting weights, and eventually, be able to do various kinds of exercises involving weights.

Total Number of Hours: 1.5