A Year That Was

It’s the month of May again, the month of A-Level examination. Every year this time I will have more time since my students will be sitting for the examination. This year, I did a few “first”. It is the first time I watched Thomas Cup live in Bukit Jalil stadium after so many times that we hosted the event. It is also the first time that I watched a “live” musical:--“The Westside Story” in Istana Budaya. I also received a surprise birthday cake this year from the JPA-08 students which I always think that they are not close to me. I was wrong; they too have me in their hearts.

It is more than a year since I last posted in my blog. It is about the same length of time that my students had gone oversea. During the first few weeks/months of their stay, I did drop in to chat with them. But later, I realized that they are quite hard – pressed for time, so I stopped. Since then, I only talk to some of them occasionally, and even that also mostly to the pharmacy people because, in my opinion, they have more time. Pardon me if I am wrong. During such time, there are few changes that I observed. Most are more matured emotionally and in their thinking. Some are still as “innocent” and few are growing too fast --- they are too grey/old in their thinking and emotion ( sounds like observations of the Rutherford's alpha - scattering experiment ) All in all, they have reservations when they talk to me already. Is this the signs of their entering into adulthood?

During the past year, I do drop by my blog and read some of the old posts. It is like visiting the “old house”. Each touch of the “old furniture” brought back some memories. As I indulged in those memories, I suddenly realized that they have all grown up. Now their feathers have fully grown and dried and ready to ……...!? It’s time I must let go.

Bubbly JPA - 07 Students

It was a year ago that I started this blog, right after the trial examination when so many worried students asking me about practical examinations: - How would it be and who will be invigilating the actual examinations? It was set up hoping to calm you down and I am glad that it did. How time flies.
It was as though not long ago that you all lined up in MPH to collect your student handbook on 2nd July 2007. So obediently lined up in rows and only dare to whisper, not talking, let alone talking aloud. Not much of impressions then as you were just as raw as any other intake students.
Later, when divided into classes, I was assigned to teach Physics to JPA1 and JPA2 classes. You are still “fresh” from school then - when I asked a question, you would stand up and answer and would not sit down if I didn’t ask you to do so. I guess the impression of me then was stern and unfriendly. During my lessons, many think that I victimize you by asking you more frequent than the others. Some of you were making faces behind my back, but not to me, it was to your friends. Some of you have to “air your tongue” occasionally. Nowadays you are more interested in the pattern of the wood grains on your table than my questions.
JPA1 were the high-brows, you prefer to seek out the answers yourselves before you decided to ask me. Even then, it is far in-between. JPA2 were, shall I say more passionate and more expressive then. Later, when JPA3 was dissolved and joined the two Physics classes that I have, the class population swelled.
Towards the end of 1st semester, students started to seek my help in Physics, but you are strictly business. You were not at ease to talk to me on other matters.
Then came the 2nd semester and some of you started to come to me and talked to me, not only on academic but other things as well. Some will just “baby talk” to me. You are like my children when they were in primary school. They will talk to me when they came back from school. Just talk about the school, the teachers, their friends, their school bus. They just talk and talk and talk but didn’t’ expect responds from me. Some of you will talk to me on your ambitions, your “dreams”, your worries and shared with me your happiness. You even seek my help when you have stomach-ache, tooth-ache and sore throat. I offered help wherever and whenever I can. Mind mine, messages came in even in the wee hours of the night. You somehow replace the vacant space left behind by my children who have since found their own world. I started to grow fond of the JPA students. I started to treat you like my own children. Sometimes I might forget that you were not my “real” children, I might have said things that might have offended you. If that’s the case, I am sorry. But you are not telling me!
The third semester was a hectic one because of the massive unit 4 and unit 5 you have to sit for at the end of the semester. The teachers are working hard and rush to finish the syllabi and the students are working equally hard to get ready for the examinations. I gave extra classes to ease the pace, but that didn’t go down well with some of you. Nevertheless, I continued with the extra classes. I started to see some tired faces and tensions were high then.
At the start of the 4th semester (the final semester), some of you came to my house to “bai nien”. The BBQ party was a nice one, there were laughers all round. The laughter that were missing from this house for a long time already. As I mingled from one small group to another, I looked at those still innocent faces and listen to those laughers that came out straight from the hearts, with no pretends. I bid farewell to all silently and wish you all the best. I will miss you for a long time.
Through the two years, I taught you Physics principles and learn from you some bad habits. I learnt to use those words such as leh, mah, loh, wor and the “harno”. I learnt to use and like the sms using the hand phone, and latter the msn. I used to enjoy talking to you through sms, only to know latter that I actually annoyed some. Sorry.
I like to watch war movies in my younger days, especially those involved dog-fights and the paratroopers. Every time before the mission, the commander-in-chief will brief his pilots and concluded the briefing with “Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure serving with you” and salute. He said this because he didn’t know whether he will see them again.

Well, the A-Level programme for the JPA 07 is coming to an end and, I have this to say to you too :-- “Ladies and young men, it’s a pleasure to have you in my Physics class”.


“We make them cry those who care for us
We cry for those who never care for us
And
We care for those who will never cry for us”

This is the truth of life, it’s strange but true. Once you realize this, it’s never too late to change.

Adios and bon voyage

No promisses : Tiada janji : Mei2 you3 cheng2 nuo4

All Kinds Of Everything

I used to say that when examination comes, only the teachers and parents would worry, not the students. I think I am wrong this time around, I start to see worried faces among the students of mine. What I want to write here maybe longwinded to some, but I promise you that after this exam, I won't nag you anymore.

For circular motions, centripetal force is the resultant force of all the forces whose line of action passes through the centre of the circle. The resultant force needs to be positive for circular motion to be possible.( Forces towards centre are positive and away from it negative). For roller coaster and a pail of water going in a vertical circle, the reaction keeps the passengers and the water from fallin down when it is at the highest point (strange it may sound). At the highest point, if mg is greater than "centripetal force", water/passengers will fall. It needs a minumum speed for it to go round. If the roller coaster is on the outside circumference of the vertical circle, then it has a maximum speed, higher than this, the roller coaster will ' fly off ' the track.

For SHM, don't forget the definition of the motion and the equation representing the S.H.M. Natural frequency is the frequency of free oscillation of the oscillatory system. It can be forced by another system (driver ) system to oscillate at any frequency following the driver's frequencies but the amplitudes will be small because transfer of energy from the driver will not be effecient. As the frequencies closer to natural frequency, the transfer of energy becomes more efficient and the amplitude increases. At its natural frequency, it will oscillate with maximum ( compared to other frequencies of the same arrangement ) amplitude. Resonance occurs or the system resonates with the driver system. Make sure you know of cases of desirable resonance and undesirable resonance. Same with damping, make sure you know of cases where critical damping is desirable (car's suspension system) and undesirable ( damping of pendulam clock). For the swing of the pendulum, the angle need to be small because the formulation of the equation uses the approximation that for small angle sin a= angle a in radian. For a big angle of swing, the equation is no longer true.

For waves:- to test whether the wave from a source is polarised or unpolarised, we use only one polaroid and rotate the single polaroid:-- if the intensity changes with the rotation, then it is a polarised wave. Otherwise it is unpolarised wave.

To test whether a wave can be polarised or not, we use 2 polaroids and rotate the second polaroid. If the intensity of wave after the 2nd polaroid changes from max to min and to max, the the wave can be polarised. If no change detected, then it cannot be polarised.

For double slits experiment for visible light, the formula lamda = ax/D can be used. When forming this formula, we use the approximation that sin a = tan a for small angle.For microwave double slit interference, because the wavelength is much larger than visible light, the angle is no longer small and the formula cannot be used for calculation of wavelength. We have to use the path different method. For the first maxima after the central maxima, the difference in the distance from the point to the individual source will be 1 wavelenth and so on.

In the fields (gravitational,electrical and magnetic) lines drawn to represent field strength were not evenly spaced because the field strength were not linear.Same with the potentials for gravitational and electrical. They are either inversely proportional to distance or inversely proportional to the square of the distance. ( But the difference in magnitudes btween the consecutive lines is the same.

Due to lack of time, I can only write this much because I have to get it published today. Later than that, you won't have time to read.

Once again, good luck to all.

Hints ? Clues ?

Few more days will be your Physics practical test. If I tell you not to worry, you will never listen to me or believe me. Well, I don't say it is easy, but take my word, nothing to surprise you. I know your tender hearts are under tremendous pressure, can't afford to receive another shock. Just read my earlier post written for your unit 3 practical to revise what to do during your practicals. ( I think is in May 08 )

Hints ? I don't like to give hints because you may interpret wrongly and end up worst. If you can remember the first and the last experiments that we went through, you shouldn't worry at all. We make sure you are well prepared before we send you to the battle front. We taught you, now is the time you use what you have learnt. Use the weapons wisely, just don't invent your own weapon.

If you are not sure about the circuit connection, ask the supervisor to have a look. No marks will be deducted if there is no major help given. Well, remember that less marks is always better than no marks at all.

Your first paper will start on Monday,19th January. With the experience of your trial examination, I am sure you are well prepared this time. What I can do here is to wish you well and wish you luck, lots of it. Take care.

Adios

Through The Path Together

When I reported for my first posting as a trained teacher, the old principal has lots of advices for the young and inexperience teacher like me. What caught my eyes were some phrases written by some writer, which I have forgotten his name. I can't remember the whole thing but the last sentence was "..... whatever I wanted to do,oh Lord, let me do it now, for I'll never pass this way again". That touched me. Until now, I still remember the old,kind and sincere face of the principal.

Next week, your examination will be in full swing. And before you realised, it is all over. Spare some time to walk with me through the path.

Many of you would have lost touch with your practical, I will go through briefly with you the dos and don'ts and hope it will help.When you are using the micrometer scres gauge and vernier callipers, you have to mention the intrument you are using, zero error readings and how you take the measurement. Example : The vernier calliper is used to measure the diameter of the beaker at two different point, two readings perpendicular to each oher were taken at each point. Zero reading = 0.00 cm.

When doing capacitor experiment, don't forget to discharge the capacitor before taking any readings. When discharging the capacitor, you don't have to dismantle the capacitor from the circuit. Just off the power and connect a spare lead to the two legs of the capacitor, count 3 and take off the spare lead again. How to make this experiment as accurate as possible? (a) Neutralise the capacitor everytime before taking reading (b) Repeat the readings. As for repetition, take 3 readings if it is individual or take 2 if it is a contiuous experiment , eg time is running and you are taking the reading at fixed time interval.

Some of the precautions/techniques are :

• eye same level with meniscus when taking reading of liquid level
  zeror error check
• repeat measuments (at different places if appropriate)
• different methods (approaching and moving away)
• use of marker at centre of oscillations to aid timing
• use of set square for checking vertical or horizontal arrangements
• interpolation of analogue scales

In the practical tests, marks will be awarded for employing and describing such techniques

For part (c), usually there will be a column for you to calculate the values to be used in plotting the graph. Usually, the values need to be in 2 decimals.

Save The Best For Last

When I started the blog, it was after your second semester revision week following the trial examination. Some of you were nervous towards the practical examination because you have no experience whatsoever. Happily I started the blog and am glad it managed to help to calm down quite a number of you. This time, I am writing the post with a heavy heart.

After the starry night dinner, pictures taken that night were uploaded. One of the students commented, “Sir, you are sad we are leaving you ar, you are not smiling leh “.

How observant they are. I can’t deny that I am sad. There are a few factors that contributed to this. One is unavoidable, you are going to leave us real soon and there is a very high possibility that we will not see each other again. This, I can’t change it and I have to learn to accept it. The other factors, well, I am trying my best to revert it even though it may have a low chance of success. As one of the students came to me the other day saying she has a lot of worries and I advised her that for those she can’t change it, she has to learn to accept it. But for others, don’t give up even it may have only 1% chance of solving it. Well, I am trying. If I am not successful, then I may have to carry this sadness, with regret, for the rest of my remaining life and to my tomb.

This time around, the trial examination results are not as desirable. Don’t give up, I know you can do it. You always rise to the occasion, just like your first semester. Are you trying to “SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST”? Rest well and prepare well for the final thrust come January 2009.

Best Of Luck To ALL Of You.

Ready To Fly ?

Recently, there is a new game-show by the Astro called “Ready To Fly ?”.

The participant has to name a destination he or she wanted to go and then collect the points in order to reach the destination. Your situation now is very similar to the game show:

You have chosen your destination:- the conditional offer from the various uni ( already received or going to receive ). Now you have to collect enough points to be able to fulfill your dream:- your examination results. The question is :- Are You Ready To Fly ?

If you are well prepared for your January 2009 examination, you are ready to fly. Your recently concluded trial examination is a good yardstick. If you feel that you didn’t prepare well enough, then you have to make full use of the month-long rest to really prepare yourself. It is a difficult task because all the 9 papers will be over in 4 days, with no rest in between. You have to prepare yourself physically as well as mmentally for your task.

I hope all of you are ready to fly --fly, fly away to your dream-land.

GOOD LUCK to ALL of you!!