NewGuy2005 53 #26 September 29, 2009 QuoteQuoteHow can they possibly teach to this level in a 9th grade physical science class yet so many other topics seem to fall completely by the wayside? What level are they teaching to? It's not like the kids are going to learn anything about quantum physics by doing it. I think it's probably quite easy work for teachers since they can turn a difficult science subject into an easy art subject. That way they can teach science without actually doing any science. I can't say I'm impressed. My daughter understands the concept of the probability cloud and was able to explain it to me, so they must be doing something other than art. However, I will admit that I'm not too crazy about this project. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #27 September 29, 2009 QuoteQuoteHow can they possibly teach to this level in a 9th grade physical science class yet so many other topics seem to fall completely by the wayside? What level are they teaching to? It's not like the kids are going to learn anything about quantum physics by doing it. I think it's probably quite easy work for teachers since they can turn a difficult science subject into an easy art subject. That way they can teach science without actually doing any science. I can't say I'm impressed. It's the granularity of the information. I'd expect it in a chemistry class or a physics class, but not 9th grade physical science which, generally is an overview of how the basic science works with relation to the world in general.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #28 September 29, 2009 Quote My daughter understands the concept of the probability cloud and was able to explain it to me, so they must be doing something other than art. However, I will admit that I'm not too crazy about this project. Sounds like she grasped the concept and the project is a waste of time. From what I've seen, a lot of school stuff is a waste of time. Teaching whole math with the language angle is a waste of time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #29 September 29, 2009 QuoteTeaching whole math with the language angle is a waste of time. Could you please elaborate on whatever it is you're referring to in the statement above? I don't understand what you mean by "whole math with the language."Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #30 September 29, 2009 Instead of just learning and doing the math, they have you write a paragraph on how you came up with the answer. The kids end up doing less math practice and more time writing fuzzy feel-good essays on how subtraction works. Yes, it's really that lame. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 0 #31 September 29, 2009 QuoteIt's the granularity of the information. I'd expect it in a chemistry class or a physics class, but not 9th grade physical science which, generally is an overview of how the basic science works with relation to the world in general. I don't know, you'd have a hard time giving an overview of quantum physics without explaining the probabilistic nature of it. Modeling the electronic structure of Vanadium is a tough thing to ask and is way beyond a 9th grader to do properly. Hell, it would probably make a decent PhD thesis so I doubt the teacher would know the right answer if she saw it anyway. It just seems like little more than pointless hoop jumping and that is what I would find rather annoying. That is, if it were any of my business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #32 September 29, 2009 Quote Instead of just learning and doing the math, they have you write a paragraph on how you came up with the answer. The kids end up doing less math practice and more time writing fuzzy feel-good essays on how subtraction works. Yes, it's really that lame. I hadn't heard about that. Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VideoFly 0 #33 September 29, 2009 I'm no expert, but you might try a ball or marble with layers of bubble wrap and marbles secured with clear packing tape. It would show clear cloud-like layers of a noticeable thickness with electrons embedded within the layers. Otherwise you can hand in an empty jar and tell the teacher that your model is inside and it is actual size. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #34 September 30, 2009 Quote Otherwise you can hand in an empty jar and tell the teacher that your model is inside and it is actual size. That's what I would like to do. After repeated questioning of my daughter, we are getting down to what is actually required. Turns out that what the teacher wants is going to be fairly easy to make, even if it's not that true to life. Thanks to everyone that responded. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,106 #35 September 30, 2009 QuoteQuote Computer graphics. Do you have access to Mathematica or Maple? No-one to my knowledge has made a real-space model showing what you want, which is, presumably, all the 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s and 3d electrons all in the correct places. Just the 3d orbital is very complicated, all by itself. Have a look at this: http://www.hydrogenlab.de/elektronium/HTML/einleitung_hauptseite_uk.html This is the best representation I've seen so far. Even that only shows one state at a time, not ALL of them. I think the assignment as reported is silly.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,106 #36 September 30, 2009 Quote Instead of just learning and doing the math, they have you write a paragraph on how you came up with the answer. The kids end up doing less math practice and more time writing fuzzy feel-good essays on how subtraction works. Yes, it's really that lame. "How do you think 2 feels when it's multiplied by 3?"... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #37 September 30, 2009 QuoteQuoteQuote Computer graphics. Do you have access to Mathematica or Maple? No-one to my knowledge has made a real-space model showing what you want, which is, presumably, all the 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s and 3d electrons all in the correct places. Just the 3d orbital is very complicated, all by itself. Have a look at this: http://www.hydrogenlab.de/elektronium/HTML/einleitung_hauptseite_uk.html This is the best representation I've seen so far. Even that only shows one state at a time, not ALL of them. I think the assignment as reported is silly. True, but it helped this layman understand the concept. I think the assignment is silly, too, with regards to teaching Physics. However, teenagers (especially mine) need to learn brainstorming, communication, problem solving, and people skills as well. This assignment is helping with that, so I'm not going to complain. The kid can be smart, but smart goes a lot further when you have the other skills, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #38 September 30, 2009 Quote "How do you think 2 feels when it's multiplied by 3?" LOL"Is that fair to 2? Should the order be reversed for equality?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #39 September 30, 2009 Quote Instead of just learning and doing the math, they have you write a paragraph on how you came up with the answer. The kids end up doing less math practice and more time writing fuzzy feel-good essays on how subtraction works. Yes, it's really that lame. Sounds like what I spent the last two years of college doing. Except they called it theory. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #40 September 30, 2009 Quote"How do you think 2 feels when it's multiplied by 3?" Like a fat cow? Orgy gone wrong/right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
