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TimestampScientific conceptAnalogyArea of scienceTopicRelated web linksCommon / possible misconceptionsPlease add your name below if you would like it to be included on the database as 'contributing author'
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2/8/2020 15:31:02The relative size of a nucleus in an atomA bee in a cathedralPhysics, ChemistryAtomic structure
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2/8/2020 15:32:48The role of mitochondria in biological cellsLike the batteries of a cellBiologyCells, Cell structure
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2/8/2020 15:37:56The internal structure of the EarthA scotch eggEarth sciencesGeology
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2/8/2020 15:39:25The heartA pumpBiologyThe circulatory system
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2/8/2020 16:28:21Atomic structureThe solar systemPhysicsAtomic structure
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2/8/2020 16:33:14Reflection of a light ray from a mirrorA snooker ball bouncing from the side of snooker tablePhysicsLight, Waves, Reflection
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2/8/2020 17:03:48Radioactive decay - exponential decay. Radioactive decay is similar to eating yoghurt with a spoon. You can't scrape all of it out to completely finish it. This is similar to radioactive substances - you can never quite know how when all the radioactive nuclei have decayed. PhysicsRadioactivity, Radioactive decay curve and lifetime
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2/8/2020 18:31:56Refraction of light Like a car wheels hitting mud and spinning slower, causing car direction to ‘bend’PhysicsWaves, Light, Refraction
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2/8/2020 18:35:18Atomic structureParticles compared to ‘gangs’ in this video clip https://youtu.be/khD8fvpqKYIPhysics, ChemistryAtomic stucturehttps://youtu.be/khD8fvpqKYI
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2/8/2020 18:48:09Electrical currentUsing loops of string to demonstrate that current starts moving at all points at the same time. Can use two overlapping loops for parallel circuitsPhysicsElectricity
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2/8/2020 19:20:04Parts of the human eyeParts of a cameraBiologyHuman biology, The nervous systemhttps://sciencing.com/comparison-human-eye-camera-6305474.html
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2/9/2020 12:14:58The structure of the EarthFerrero RocherPhysicsGeology
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2/9/2020 13:43:06Electrical resistanceTurnstiles and a queue of people.The turnstile doesn't just slow the people at the front of the queue, but everyone in the queue. Just like resistance at one point in the circuit affects the movement of electrons everywhere in the circuit.PhysicsElectricityOrigin of the queue and end of the queue doesn't create a complete circuit.
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2/9/2020 13:44:50Moments about a pivotOpening a door by the handle vs next to the hinges (more of a demo than an analogy).PhysicsMoments
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2/9/2020 13:47:43Control variablesRunning a race where some can wear trainers but others are barefoot, some have rucksacks and others do not, some start the race from a different starting line.Experiments and InvestigationsHow Science WorksStudent's may use the phrase 'fair test' since the race is clearly unfair but 'fair test' is often not a sufficient answer in mark schemes. It should be emphasised the full phrase should be 'not a fair test because not all the controls are kept the same'.
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2/9/2020 13:52:25The reason for solid or gaseous state at room temperature.Ball-bearings. One set are non magnetic. The other are magnetic. Those which are not magnetic spread apart freely (weak force of attraction between adjacent particles) therefore represent gas. Those which are magnetic stick together and require vigorous shaking to separate (strong force of attraction between adjacent particles) therefore representing solid.PhysicsStates of matterAtoms are not like 'magnets' as they don't necessarily have one end repelled by another. The ball-bearing model generally has the balls as stationary while the real situation particles are moving. Shaking to separate the particles may give the impression of the requirement of a constant energy input rather than particles conserving their energy through elastic collisions.
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2/9/2020 13:55:27Potential differencePotential difference as objects at different heights (different gravitational potential energy).PhysicsElectricityStudents may gain the impression that individual electrons accelerate within a circuit rather than a queue of electrons moving at the same rate.
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2/9/2020 13:58:12EMF and internal resistanceEMF is like your gross pay, internal lost volts is like tax, tpd is your take home payPhysicsElectricity, EMF and Internal resistance
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2/9/2020 13:58:18Nucleus controlling the cellDNA as an instruction manual for what to do in general and how to respond to environmental changes.BiologyCellsSpecialised cells don't fit this simplistic model. Students may get the impression that environment is not as big a factor in phenotype as it actually is.
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2/9/2020 14:59:30Convection currents in the Earth's mantle, used to explain plate tectonics.We observe my lava lamps.Physics, Earth sciencesPlate tectonicsThat the mantle is one homozygous substance or that the mantle is liquid.
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2/9/2020 15:36:03Dynamic equilibrium Walking up, or down, an escalator travelling at same speed but in the opposite direction. Helps with the concept that position of equil. does not need to be central.ChemistryCentral position
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2/9/2020 17:00:58Mitosis - Chromatin/chromosome Cooked spaghetti is chromatin. Spiral pasta is a super coiled chromosome BiologyCells, Cell division Spaghetti is not a double helix structure
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2/9/2020 19:25:03Functions of cell structures I use an airport analogy to help my pupils learn the functions of the nucleus, cell membrane and cytoplasm. I have done this with S1 (CfE level 3) as this is their first time learning this content. I encourage pupils to think about the cell as an airport. The nucleus is likened to air traffic control which controls everything that is happening in the cell. The cell membrane is represented by passport control or border security because it controls what enters or exits the cell. The cytoplasm is represented by the departure hall because this is where people are interacting (where the chemical reactions occur in the cell) BiologyCells, Cell structure
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2/9/2020 19:26:42Intermolecular forcesSimple molecular structures. Pair up students, each to wear one disposable glove and shake hands. Duct tape their handshake (a covalent bond). Have whole class as (diatomic) molecules. Take toilet roll (intermolecular forces) Student in one molecule to hold with another student molecule. Apply energy - forces (toilet roll) breaks but duct tape (bond) doesn't. Additional "fun" bit = students try to break covalent bond - (peel off disposable glove)ChemistryMolecular bonding
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2/10/2020 10:00:36Series and Parallel Circuits - potential difference and currentBuses - bus station = cell/battery, bus stop = component, bus counter = ammeter, bus conductor = potential difference (difference in number of people on the bus before and after a component)PhysicsElectricityflow of charge as physical objects
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2/10/2020 11:26:51Levels of organisationZooming in and out in Google maps (cell = classroom, tissue = school, organ = town, etc)BiologyOrganisation
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2/10/2020 11:29:44Specialised cellsVehicle design. A generalised car has 4 wheels, a steering wheel, an engine and seats. But this is specialised for different purposes (e.g. a Formula 1 car, a bus or a JCB).BiologyCell biology
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2/10/2020 15:37:31intermolecular forcesWeak intermolecular forces are like the weak magnetic forces holding North to South poles of magnets together. Strong forces hold the two poles of a single magnet togetherChemistry
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2/10/2020 17:33:12Refraction of lightIt's like a shopping cart rolling off the parking lot into a grassy area at an angle. One wheel will hit the grass first, causing that side to slow down and the direction of the cart will bend. There are pictures online that help with the explanation.Physicshttps://science.howstuffworks.com/mirage1.htm
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2/10/2020 19:36:07Infrared absorption and emission Consider energy as money. Those who earn (absorb) the most can spend (emit) the most. Those that reflect (do not absorb) cannot spend as much (poor emitters).PhysicsEnergy, Radiation, Waves
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2/10/2020 19:40:22Transverse and longitudinal wavesWrite both in lower case and put arrows on ends of each line. 't' points forwards/back in two directions and has right angle, 'l' points forwards/back in in one direction only.PhysicsWaves, Sound waves, Electromagnetic waves
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2/10/2020 19:43:22Nuclear stability Taking students on a trip. Most stable groups are small and equally balanced. If a group is too large, or imbalanced then unstable.PhysicsAtoms, Radioactivity, Radioactive decay
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2/11/2020 22:49:45Nuclear FissionNeutron collides with Uranium to undergo fission. Products have more kinetic energy than the reactants.

Pool - breaking the triangle. While ball is hit softly and slowly moves towards triangle of balls. Upon collision, the triangle breaks sending the balls in many directions, at speeds much greater than the white ball collided with triangle. 		PhysicsAtoms, Radioactivity, Nuclear Fission
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2/11/2020 22:55:42Particles and antiparticles - pair productionTwo protons collide at high speeds. Their kinetic energy is converted into matter. The particles produced tend to be sub-atomic particles that are outside electrons and neutrons.

Two apples are collide at high speeds. Instead of smashing apart, all their energy is turned into matter and now you have 2.apples, 6 pineapples, 4 bananas, 16 strawberries and 2 avocados.
PhysicsParticles, Radiation
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6/23/2022 14:29:00testtestPhysicstest
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