Term 1 - Focusing on Chemistry
Periodic Table
I have seen a lot of times about this table, in cartoons, Science Labs, Sec 4 notes etc, later did I know that I was going to Study it. The periodic table is actually not use for display purposes to express chimnology, rather a table created to sort the different elements. There are a lot of elements which were later found due to the study of Periodic Table. It was devised by a scientist, using the concept of "Patience" (a game).
The periodic table is also not a randomly piled table, it is sorting the elements based on their proton numbers and Across the Table is the Period as it goes on, while going down is the same Group, and elements in the same Group have same properties.
I learned a lot about the periodic table, and it is definitely not a simple table at all.
The periodic table is also not a randomly piled table, it is sorting the elements based on their proton numbers and Across the Table is the Period as it goes on, while going down is the same Group, and elements in the same Group have same properties.
I learned a lot about the periodic table, and it is definitely not a simple table at all.
Atomic Structure
The atom is a simple ball. NO. It is not, at least, for me at the start. I had a great trouble learning the model of atom and an even greater trouble learning stabilization in Atoms. I knew that Atom is made of Protons, Neutrons and Electrons, but I do not know how does an Atom stabilize itself. I actually needed to spend few hours to understand that topic.
Thinking about this, I think I need to work harder as because if I cannot understand even a simple topic as this, I definitely will have hard times knowing concepts in the future terms.
Thinking about this, I think I need to work harder as because if I cannot understand even a simple topic as this, I definitely will have hard times knowing concepts in the future terms.
Ionic Bonding
After a hard time struggling to familiarize myself with stabilization, here comes something harder(I guess): Bonding in atoms, which form up compounds. I now know how does an Atom stabilize itself, but now this topic says that Atoms can also gain stability by bonding with other atoms. Usually, atoms will be stable if they have obtained an octet structure.
I find this topic a little bit confusing, as we need to really sort out how many atoms are required in combination.
I find this topic a little bit confusing, as we need to really sort out how many atoms are required in combination.
Covalent Bonding
If you understand Ionic Bonding, then Covalent bonding shouldn't be hard. I think actually they are almost the same only that they are different in what they are bonding.
Equation Writing
This is also one topic that I am not very familiar with. Equation writing is basically like writing maths, but it is not that "basic". For example, "Sodium + Chlorine = Sodium Chloride" or "Na + 2Cl = NaCl2". But this given example is easy. Examples like Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Carbonate + Hydrochloric Acid, Calcium Carbonate etc. are much harder. I usually take up a lot of time in Equation writing, as I am not very good with it.
I think this is also quite a confusing topic for me, as I usually get confused when writing the equations.
Acids and Bases
Acids and Bases. I am further confused by this topic. Not in the properties of Acids, Alkalis etc. but rather in the equation writing part. I think that my equation writing is not that strong and thus I would need to study more and review this component again and again if necessary.
Term 2 - Focusing on Biology
Sexuality Reproduction in Human
The Human Reproduction is actually quite amazing. Think of it: We were all once a sperm, as small as 40 upm and then you compare the size of that till now. But this 'amazing' topic in return has "blessed" us with lots and lots of memorization. It is indeed a "blessing in disguise". Nevertheless, I had to memorize a lot of things, like the structure of the Male Reproductive System and Female Reproduction System, the differences between the Male Gamete and Female Gamete, Male and Female Puberty etc.
This topic answers to, not only mine, but I believe other student's questions that has wandered for a long time, that is: "How does a baby come from?" I think that this topic is a knowledge widening topic for me and other students.
I think that studying this topic is actually not that hard, but the only hard part are the things to memorize, which is common in studying Biology: which there are tons of things to remember, if not you are sure to fail the test.
This topic answers to, not only mine, but I believe other student's questions that has wandered for a long time, that is: "How does a baby come from?" I think that this topic is a knowledge widening topic for me and other students.
I think that studying this topic is actually not that hard, but the only hard part are the things to memorize, which is common in studying Biology: which there are tons of things to remember, if not you are sure to fail the test.
Sexual Transmitted Diseases
This topic teaches us things related to Sexual Transmitted Diseases, like different diseases and how to prevent them. Before this, I was only taught that having unprotected sex can result in the most common disease: AIDs. But then after learning this topic it has taught me that there are more diseases other than AIDs, although AIDs is a much worse disease. There is also the teaching of contraceptive methods, or "safe sex" that is to not only control child birth but prevent STD from spreading.I was able to cope with this topic and also, memorize required things!
Term 3 - Focusing on Physics (and some Biology: Ecology)
Ecology
Back to school! Basically this topic is actually a revision about our primary school things, only with more complex terms.
In primary school, we have learned food web, food chain, predator and prey etc. Basically this topic is just some recap and bonus information about the ecosystem and the study of ecology. As such, this topic was not taught a lot as it was indeed something like a recap.
However I did find some terms hard to memorize as this is really a recap for me - I have not studied ecology for 1 year? I think. But actually it is comprehensive, as I have the background of it and it should be quite easy for me to do a quick memory scan back into primary school - with some added information.
In primary school, we have learned food web, food chain, predator and prey etc. Basically this topic is just some recap and bonus information about the ecosystem and the study of ecology. As such, this topic was not taught a lot as it was indeed something like a recap.
However I did find some terms hard to memorize as this is really a recap for me - I have not studied ecology for 1 year? I think. But actually it is comprehensive, as I have the background of it and it should be quite easy for me to do a quick memory scan back into primary school - with some added information.
Reflection of Light
New topic: Light. Do you know that you can read this because the light is traveling into your eyes? That's what I learned. In the mirror, you look at yourself, light is reflecting the image of you. That is called reflection.
Basically, light is reflecting anywhere, anytime, any place. It occurs right in front of your computer too! But you don't see a reflection of yourself in the table? Well, the table has, actually a very coarse surface which appears as if smooth to us. It's something like an orange - it looks smooth, but when you look closer it has a lot of tiny bumps.
Basically what this topic is teaching is that we are introduced to the first and very basic thing about light, that is reflection. There are laws about reflections, like the incidence ray is the same as reflected ray.
This topic is actually quite easy to understand, as it is quite simple, like the light bounces of in the same angle it comes in sort-of-thing. Thus I did not find any real difficulties in understanding this topic.
However, the real hard part is the drawing the light diagram. In a test it usually takes up quite a lot of marks. And for a person like me who tends to do careless mistakes might suffer a lot. Actually a light diagram for reflection is quite easy, but I have learned one thing in doing this: I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
Basically, light is reflecting anywhere, anytime, any place. It occurs right in front of your computer too! But you don't see a reflection of yourself in the table? Well, the table has, actually a very coarse surface which appears as if smooth to us. It's something like an orange - it looks smooth, but when you look closer it has a lot of tiny bumps.
Basically what this topic is teaching is that we are introduced to the first and very basic thing about light, that is reflection. There are laws about reflections, like the incidence ray is the same as reflected ray.
This topic is actually quite easy to understand, as it is quite simple, like the light bounces of in the same angle it comes in sort-of-thing. Thus I did not find any real difficulties in understanding this topic.
However, the real hard part is the drawing the light diagram. In a test it usually takes up quite a lot of marks. And for a person like me who tends to do careless mistakes might suffer a lot. Actually a light diagram for reflection is quite easy, but I have learned one thing in doing this: I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
Refraction of Light
After learning Reflection, here comes Refraction. There is only a minor difference in the 'le' and 'ra', but a huge difference in terms of topic. It is completely different from reflection.
Refraction happens when Light travels through a different medium. Its what makes us think the river is more shallow, the pencil bending in a cup of water, the fish not in its position in water etc. This phenomenon occurs as when light travels through a different medium, the light speed decreases and thus tends to "bend".
I had some problems while studying this topic, mainly that I do not know how to draw Refraction Diagrams? But I think it also requires some memorization of facts and of course, inevitably to be careful and not careless.
Refraction happens when Light travels through a different medium. Its what makes us think the river is more shallow, the pencil bending in a cup of water, the fish not in its position in water etc. This phenomenon occurs as when light travels through a different medium, the light speed decreases and thus tends to "bend".
I had some problems while studying this topic, mainly that I do not know how to draw Refraction Diagrams? But I think it also requires some memorization of facts and of course, inevitably to be careful and not careless.
Lens
Lens. Glasses. Magnifying glass. Camera. Mobile phone. Projector. All have LENSES. In this topic I was taught with two lenses: Convex and Concave.Its quite easy to differentiate which lens are which: Convex lenses 'vex out' while concave lenses 'cave in'. But it goes harder when I have to remember the different properties and specific things like concave mirror at the focal point will have.... etc. But however I am more confused with how to draw the lens diagram, which is to draw how the lens travel through the lens and they either converge or something.
