Physical Processes – School Science and Laboratory Supplies for Forces and Energy Study

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

Physical Processes – School Science and Laboratory Supplies for Forces and Energy Study

The school science forces and Energy range allows pupils to get hands-on in their physics lessons, teaching them the principles of heat, wind and electrochemical energy with fun and interactive ways of learning about power from natural energy.

Power House kit

The kit focuses on the heat and light energy from the sun, the energy from the wind, as well as with electrochemical and plant energy.  Students will learn how to transform and use these forms of energy.  With the Power House kit students can build a model house complete with solar panels windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist, sail car and more.  Plant watercress, prepare sauerkraut, and make chewing gum.  They will learn how plants convert sunlight into energy for human bodies and human engines.
The thoughtfully designed series of experiments was developed by physicist Uwe Wandrey.  Professor Wandrey creatively integrates physical science and technology lessons with the adventure of building a home and living on a remote island.  To survive, students must learn how to harness the power of the sun and the wind as well as tap the energy of other physical forces.  The storyline follows the experiments in a stepwise fashion.  Easy-to-follow activities make it fun to build models and use them for students experiments.

We hope that building small models such as are provided in the Power House kit will inspire students to plan and construct something on a larger scale.
The Power House experiment manual is much more than just a set of instructions.  The manual is organized around the story of a group of island dwellers who must learn to live sustainably using the resources available to them on their small island.  As students read their journal entries and learn of their products and experiments, teachers can build models of the same projects and conduct the same experiments alongside them

Solar Energy Panel Kit

The Solar energy panel kit was developed for schools to demonstrate the use of solar cells to provide electrical power.  The kit contains a solar cell on stand with outputs at 1.5, 3 or 4.5 volts; a motor with fan and disc attachments; a motor stand; a music module which will work at low sunlight levels); a lamp; jumper wires for altering cells output; a spanner and an instruction and information booklet.

Wind Turbine Kit

Developed with and endorsed by the National Energy Foundation, the Wind Turbine Kit offers a hands-on, interactive way to learn about wind power.  The kit is ready to use straight out of the box, and offers the advantage of being able to measure electrical energy produced directly on a voltmeter or using a data logger.
Using the kit indoors with a fan or outdoors in the wind, investigations can be carried out by adjusting the number of blades used (combinations of 2, 3 or 6 blades) or adjusting the pitch of the blades.  The tailplane enables the turbine to rotate to face the direction of the wind.
Study of the production of electricity can be further extended by investigating the effect of gearing ratios between the turbine and the generator, using any of the three different combinations provided.  Includes: 1.5-6V generator motor, 6 propeller blades, 3 gearing options (3:1, 1:1, 1:3), Motor LED and buzzer modules, dual-scale voltmeter and user manual/operating instructions.

Philip Harris is the leading supplier for Primary, Secondary and Further Education laboratory supplies and science education resources with a full range of biology, chemistry and physics equipment and supplies.

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Marine Biology – Microscopic Life In The Ocean

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Marine Biology – Microscopic Life In The Ocean
Marine biology involves the study of different life forms in the ocean, both plant and animal. Scientists and individuals continue to show interest in the ocean since there are still so many things left undiscovered. Some parts of the saltwater environment remain unknown simply because human beings cannot access these readily. You have to know more about the hierarchy of the life forms and how each interact with each other and the environment.

Microscopic Beings

Microscopic life in the ocean is very diverse and is understood in the least sense by individuals. Viruses, for example, is rarely explored and considered. Phytoplankton’s function and role is understood better because of its vital position as the most numerous primary producers in the planet. Phytoplankton is grouped into cyanobacteria or blue or green algae or bacteria, diatoms, different kinds of algae like brown algae, red algae and green algae, euglenoids, cryptomonads, chlorophytes, dinoflagellates, prasinophytes and silicoflagellates.

Zooplankton is usually larger and may not be microscopic. Several protozoa are zooplankton, including radiolarians, dinoflagellates, foraminiferans and zooflagellates. Some of the beings are also phytoplankton, with the plant and animal type usually breaking down into very tiny organisms. Other zooplanktons can include arthropods, polychaetes, cnidarians, urochordates and annelids.

The Plants

There ocean has very diverse plant life. Microscopic photosynthetic algae provide a big portion of the photosynthetic output of the world compared to all the terrestrial forests. Majority of the niche occupied by sub plants on terrain are usually known as seaweeds that build kelp forests. The intertidal zone is an ideal place to find plant life in the ocean, where beach grass and mangroves may proliferate. These can function as habitat for other animals.

The Fishes

Fish has transformed several biological functions from other big organisms. Fish breathe by getting oxygen from the water through the gills. The fins function by stabilizing and propelling fish in the water. Some of the most popular fishes include clownfish, sardines, bottom fish, sharks, barracuda and ling cod. Fishes will thrive in different depths and parts of the ocean, depending on their need. Some will migrate to other regions depending on the current temperature, habitat and availability of food.

Reptiles, Birds and Mammals

There are many reptiles that live in the sea like sea snakes, saltwater crocodiles, sea turtles and marine iguanas. Majority of these reptiles have to come back to land to lay their eggs. Some of the extinct species like the ichthyosaurs transformed and no longer needs to return to land. Several seabirds are also present such as penguins, albatrosses and gulls. These spend most of their time in the ocean, while others prefer to stay inland.

There are mainly 5 kinds of marine mammals. The polar bear is considered a marine mammal since it greatly depends on the ocean. Cetaceans include toothed whales like porpoises and the sperm whale. The sea otter is part of the Family Mustelidae. Sirenians include the sea cow, manatee and dugong. Seals, walruses and sea lions are grouped as pinnipeds.

If you are interested in Aquaculture and Marine Biology, why not to Become a Marine Biologist. Find out more: How to Become a Marine Biologist.

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