Chew Yun Hui
1) What did you do today?On the first half of the day, we did the experiment on extraction of caffeine from beverages. Firstly, we had to do a risk assessment worksheet to evaluate things that we can do and things that we cannot do. Next, we are brief by Doctor Bonnani on the steps and procedures on how to extract caffeine out of beverages. After that, we conducted the experiment with the guide of our student advisors. Through this whole experiment, there were four main processes, boiling, filtration, solvent extraction and rotary evaporation. Our end product is solid caffeine that exists in white solid particles.
On the second half of the day, we did the fastest ball challenge. We had to find out the angle of inclination that gives the ball the fastest time of travel and a time of travel of 1s. The concepts that we had to make use is conservation of energy and trigonometry, as using a protractor to measure the angle of the ramp is not accurate. Therefore, making use of the height of the ramp and the length of the ramp to calculate the angle of inclination.
2) What did you learn today?
For the extraction of caffeine experiment, I learnt that we have to be clear of the rules in the lab, as it has many dangerous chemicals and unknown substances. We have to wear goggles, lab coat and gloves at all time in the lab. I also learnt how to use some of the apparatus that i never did in SST, like the rotary evaporator and the separating funnel.
3) How did you feel about today’s activities?
I felt that today's activities is very meaningful as we are exposed to a different learning experience, that we did not have. It was a great opportunity to learn from the student advisors and the Lecturer itself. For the extraction of caffeine, we are exposed to a different kind of lab experience, with more lab apparatus and chemicals. If given a chance, I will want to continue to further research about this experiment and collect even more detailed and clear data. We will be able to apply these knowledge in the future, when in other science-based projects. We will also be able to apply these knowledge to academic work.
For the fastest ball challenge, We make use of certain knowledge that we already had, like the laws of conservation of energy into this experiment, we are practicing how to do apply learning. This experiment also helps us to deepen our knowledge on this concepts.
Darelyn Lim
1) What did you do today?
Briefly your day’s activities
We extracted caffeine from tea bags and acquired the three techniques:
1)Büchner filtration
2)Solvent Extraction
3)Distillation using a rotary evaporator
We also determined the angle of inclination for which the time of travel across the horizontal track will be least. We learned concepts of conservation of energy, kinetic and potential energy in order to complete the project.
We also managed to determine the angle of inclination for which the time taken to travel from one photogate to another is about 1 second.
2) What did you learn today?
Discuss any learning points from today’s activities
We learned about the three techniques in order to extract caffeine from tea bags as well as the positive and negative effects of caffeine.
We learnt that caffeine is unhealthy and should not be over consumed as it may lead to dire consequences such as deaths and hallucinations. We also learnt how to operate certain lab equipments which are unfamiliar to us and the safety precautions we should take before conducting the experimental process.
Through the fastest ball challenge, we learnt about the concepts of conservation of energy, kinetic and potential energy. The angle of inclination should not exceed a certain value in order to allow the ball bearing to travel the least time from one photogate to another as there will be too much gravitational potential energy which will be converted to sound and heat energy and very little kinetic energy will be left for the ball bearing to travel across the horizontal track.
3) How did you feel about today’s activities?
Describe how the project has affected your understanding of the discipline?
I have learnt more filtration techniques besides the few that we had learnt in school and also the process of extracting caffeine from beverages. If given the opportunity, we can conduct the same experiment again without needing the guidance of teacher/student advisors. For the fastest ball challenge, it enhanced our understanding of the concepts of conservation of energy and we will be able to apply it to academic work or research work.
How may this discipline be applied elsewhere?
In the future, we will be able to apply the filtration techniques we learnt to conduct other experiments that we might be interested in or school work related experiments. We will also be able to apply the concepts of conservation of energy to academic work.
Share your insights for the programme overall?
I have gained a lot of knowledge from this project and it was really an eye opening for me as such lab equipments that were used in the project are not available in our school for use and we were never given an opportunity to conduct such experiments.
Ong Gavin
1) What did you do today?
We did two activities/ experiments which consisted of the Fastest Ball Challenge and The Extraction of Caffeine From Tea. For the fastest ball challenge, we managed to determine the angle of inclination and learnt to make use of the concept of conservation of energy, kinetic and potential energy in order to complete the project. As for the extraction of caffeine from tea, we learnt the the three techniques and methods which were Büchner filtration, Solvent Extraction, Distillation using a rotary evaporator.
Qn 2) What did you learn today?
We learnt the different methods for extracting caffeine from tea and the positive and negative effects of drinking caffeine. We also learnt that if we consume too much caffeine there will be consequences such as having headaches frequently and having hallucinations. Finally, we learnt how to handle lab equipments that we are not familiar of properly. As for the Fastest Ball Challenge, we learnt about the concepts of conservation of energy, kinetic and potential energy. In order to allow the ball bearing to travel the fastest from one photogate to another photogate, there is a certain angle of inclination that we should not exceed.
Qn 3) How did you feel about today’s activities?
It gave me a better understanding of conservation of energy which is of good use when doing other academic work. I also learnt three other types of methods of filtration that are not taught in school. So, if we need to use those three methods of filtration for work, I will have lesser troubles in trying to understand them and have no problems trying to figure out how to use them. We can apply the different types of filtration methods when doing other project works or school-related works. We also learnt how to handle different lab equipments safely so, in the future, if we are doing lab work and using the same type of equipments, we will have to trouble in handling them and will be safe. We can also make use of the concepts of conservation of energy that we learnt today for other work. Overall, The programme was very enriching and I learnt many new things and also got to try out many different equipments that are not available in our school.
1) What did you do today?
Briefly your day’s activities
Today, we went to the School of Physical and Mathematical Science to conduct the two experiments to find out how to extract caffeine from drinks and to complete the Fastest Ball Challenge.
For the first activity, we learnt the the three techniques and methods which were:
1)Büchner filtration
2)Solvent Extraction
3)Distillation using a rotary evaporator
For the second experiment, we were supposed to find the angle of inclination and learnt to use methods to conserve energy that is being wasted through conversion
2) What did you learn today?
Discuss any learning points from today’s activities
We learnt the proper method of extracting caffeine from Lipton Tea and also the harmful effects of consuming too much caffeine.
For the fastest ball challenge, we learnt about the concepts of conserving energy, and the angle of inclination so that the ball can roll the fastest using the concept of Trigonometry.
We also learnt how to handle unfamiliar lab equipment and how to converse with the TA’s to inquire about their studies in NTU
3) How did you feel about today’s activities?
It gave me a greater understanding of the work involved in the real world society.
I learnt other filtration techniques that can be used outside school.
I learnt many new things and also got to try out many different equipments that are not available in our school.
I will also be able to apply the concepts of conservation of energy to academic work.
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