Matter!

Matter is anything that takes up space and has a mass. Yesterday we were measuring mass and volume by using a scale and some graduated cylinders. Luckily, the things we measured had a mass that was measurable without any complicated instruments, but I've always wondered how scientists measure the mass of large objects... like whales. Or maybe small, miniscule things like atoms and dust mites (which we all know exist). What about volume? How do you measure the amount of water or mass in the ocean? Maybe we'll learn about it later in our unit.

                . --- .
             /        \
            |  O  _  O |
            |  ./   \. |
            /  `-._.-'  \
          .' /         \ `.
      .-~.-~/           \~-.~-.
  .-~ ~    |             |    ~ ~-.
  `- .     |             |     . -'
       ~ - |             | - ~
           \             /
         ___\           /___
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            `'         `'

Penny Lab

On Wednesday, we did an experiment called the Penny Lab. It involved turning a penny into a gold color through a series of chemical reactions. First, we dipped a penny in a hot zinc and sodium hydroxide mixture, and left them there for about 15 minutes. When we came back, we took the pennies out and washed them off in cold water. We started up the Bunsen burner, and made a nice hot blue flame (safely of course). Then, we inserted the pennies into the flame for a couple seconds and washed them off in water. The result: a gold penny! Many came out bent and burnt, but we could see that they had turned a bright yellow gold on the outside.

While you could probably fool young children with them, the reality is it wasn't real gold and it was nothing more than a cover up. :<

Goals and Passions

My Goals and Passions:

1. I would to be able to pass all my classes with As.
2. I want to graduate high school and enter a four year college.
3. I want to major in computer sciences or biology.

I also have a passion for the arts and music, which I would like to take up as hobbies when I have time. I would love to travel all around the world and see Europe and Asia. Most of all, my goal is to be happy in life.