Archive for April 7, 2008

Meeting 1

PHYSICS SIA

MINUTES TAKEN: FIRST MEETING

 

Date: 17th January, 2008

Time: 1430pm-1515pm

Venue: Nanyang Girls’ High School, Second Floor, Secondary 309 Classroom

Members Present:

Wong Yi Zhen Stella

Yip Yuk Lum Jennifer

Xia Jing Yi

(Absent: Xu Xi Jing)

 

Matters Discussed: Topic for SIA, Time Plan, Proposal

 

1. Topic for SIA

 

1.1 We looked through many possible topics, such as water pollution and air pollution, but none of these topics had much related to Physics, and it would be hard to base our Assessment on them. Moreover, the rubrics for the Assessment stated that the Physics aspect of our topic had to be mentioned in the textbook, and hence the above potential topics, amongst others, were not ideal.

 

1.2 Finally, we decided on global warming after chancing upon the chapter on infra-red radiation and heat waves in the Physics textbook. We unanimously agreed on the topic: global warming and the greenhouse effect.

 

Action By: Jennifer Yip, Xia Jing Yi, Wong Yi Zhen Stella

 

2. Proposal

 

2.1 Stella offered to create a draft of the proposal as she would have more time—her CCA is only on Tuesdays.

 

2.2 Stella would then send the completed draft to the rest of the group members via email. All other group members are to access their email inboxes and edit the draft or make changes if needed.

 

 

Action By: Wong Yi Zhen Stella

 

3. Time Plan

 

3.1 Jennifer offered to draw up a time plan. This is to ensure that we will not have to make last-minute rushes and will be able to safely finish our project before the deadline (possible competition periods and other events, such as OBS, were considered while drawing up the time plan).

 

Action By: Jennifer Yip

 

 

 

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Glossary of Terms

 Definitions

 
 
 

 

Anthropogenic:

caused or influenced by humans.

 

Conduction:

the process by which heat or electricity passes through a material

 

Convection:

the process in which heat moves through a gas or a liquid as the hotter part rises and the cooler, heavier part sinks.

 

Greenhouse gases :

gases can cause greenhouse effect (which are carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, halocarbons and water vapor— nitrogen and oxygen play no part in regulating climate change)

 

Halocarbons:

chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked by covalent bonds with one or more halogen atoms: fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Infra-red radiation (IR):

·         the energy in the region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum at wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but shorter than those of radio waves. It is a transverse wave, i.e. they travel in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the vibrations.

·         electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than that of red light but shorter than radio waves, i.e. radiation in the wavelength range 0.7 micrometer to 1 millimeter.

 

Infrared:

having or using electromagnetic waves which are longer than those of red light in the spectrum, and which cannot be seen.

 

Ozone:

a poisonous gas with a strong smell that is a form of Oxygen.

 

Radiation:

powerful and very dangerous rays that are sent out from radioactive substances.

 

 

Radiation (of heat):

·         the transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves.

·         powerful and very dangerous rays that are sent out from radioactive substances.

 

Ratification:

approve of; give formal sanction to; express responsibility, or obligation.

 

The Greenhouse Effect:

the process “in which the emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere warms a planet’s surface” (Wikipedia, [website], available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect , 29th February, 2008).

 

Thermal Radiation:

radiation connected with heat

 

Wavelengths:

·         the distance between two similar points on a wave of energy, such as light or sound.

·         the wavelength is the distance between two successive crests, or two successive troughs.

The highest points in a wave are called crests/peaks, while the lowest points are called troughs.

 

 

 

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