Decoding the Universe
SECONDARY SCIENCE
This year, our College celebrated National Science Week with a journey into the mysteries of the cosmos under the theme ‘Decoding the Universe.’ Thanks to the National Science Week grant, our students were given the unique opportunity to explore some of the most profound concepts in modern science—through hands-on experimentation, creative inquiry, and a whole lot of curiosity. The week began with the Year 10 students, who brought a spectrum of colour to the celebrations with their flame test experiments using spectroscopes. By heating metal salts in a flame and viewing the emitted light through a spectroscope, they unlocked the hidden fingerprints of elements. Each bright line in the spectrum told a story—sodium glowed yellow, copper shimmered green, and potassium burned lilac. This hands-on investigation showed how astronomers decode the light from distant stars and nebulae to determine their composition, connecting classroom Chemistry to the far reaches of the universe.
Year 8s used the IEC Diffraction Kit, and recreated Young’s Fringes experiment—a historic investigation that transformed our understanding of light. By carefully observing the delicate patterns of diffraction and interference, they discovered how light waves bend, overlap, and create intricate fringes. For many, this was their first step into the world of wave-particle duality, a cornerstone of Physics that explains everything from rainbows to modern technologies. Meanwhile, Year 9s embarked on ‘Echoes from Space.’ They explored the concept of gravitational waves—tiny ripples in the very fabric of space- time caused by cataclysmic cosmic events such as colliding black holes and neutron stars. What made this journey so engaging was how they brought this invisible phenomenon to life through sound. Using tuning forks, they experimented with vibrations, and resonance, showing how waves can travel, bounce, and even make objects shake— without ever laying a hand on them! At the same time, our Year 7 students took centre stage with a spectacular gravity well simulation. Armed with a simple hula hoop, stretched fabric, latex ping pong balls, and marbles, they built a dynamic model of how gravity warps space-time. As they rolled the marbles around a central ‘mass’
they saw orbits form, spiral paths emerge, and the pull of gravity come alive before their eyes. This interactive demonstration illustrated how planets move around stars and how binary systems can send out gravitational waves—a truly cosmic dance reimagined in our school grounds. The grant allowed us to create experiences that bridge the gap between complex theories and tangible, memorable learning moments.
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