II. AMAZING RACE 1 !!

It was raining tempestuously out there but it just failed to switch our spirit off from having the Amazing Race 1 today!!

Alright, the race is amazing by the way. But as we should respect the copyright of the original authenticity of the amazing race, the committee edited the race slightly, i.e. our feet don't run... our minds run.

That's about it, as for me and myself, Alexandra, Hao Fang and Reo Sei took each of the four stations of tasks fulfilment, and for the other committee members, Shi Hao as the full-time photographer, May Teng, Li Yin and Lynn Sim for the best awarded and most diligent runners and for Jan Jhin the 'quarantine master', the Amazing Race 1 was simply a defined success of the day.

Both mind trickling and interesting, the tasks have been very carefully planned. As FYI, the 9 of us had our first online conference via MSN last night at the eleventh hour (and we came to consensus that it's just too hard to discuss without verbal means)

We had four tasks (like I said), four stations, four groups.
As for task 1 participants will have to make a 'paper portal' with (obviously) paper (recycled A4) and a ruler for tearing the paper, and maybe a pen for better line judgment. Another necessary material would be a few adventurous Homo sapiens who could fit in that portal and exit the other side.

Then task 2 had Alexandra smiled the whole afternoon. Un-scientifically interesting, (Voon Beeng had it done perfectly as easy as a piece of cake) the players would actually need to bind raffia strings to a pencil, each teammate holding one end of each strings and eventually throw the pencil into a 1.5L mineral water bottle with perfect coordination and teamwork without crossing over the restrictions.

In task 3 everyone failed but at least Dickson managed to grasp the idea at final moment. Hao Fang was brilliant for he's the only one who knows that the Earth is actually round (round or elliptical?)

Task 4 was SIMPLEif you've already learned. Ridiculously with one simple assumption someone has to prove that 'one is actually equal to two' (1=2) ?!

The committee members were glad of everyone's committed enthusiasm, and we once again have proven we are ever more than capable. Enjoy the photos! =D

Alpha's

Bravo's

Charlie's

Delta's

The Triple Entente.

Unity is strength =D Esprit de Corps!

Huan Yong's on the wheel. *What in the world's Lawrence grinning at?

Scientific failure: a destroyed portal.

(-->) Shi Hao as the full-time photographer

Alex: the line's crooked...

Task 4: Prove 1=2 ?!

Task 3: Hao Fang said the Earth is round at the seventh minute.

Task 2: Something to do with science or maths?

Task 1: A4 is certainly a wrong decision.

We all got the wrong message since we were kids.

You girls looked cramped.

Reo Sei and Pn Chan =D

Voon Beeng thinks he's smart. But actually is he?

A tiring post-review.

The Bravo Team strategizing.

Pei Wen: Bao Yun... is something nauseous?

Time to repent.

This ain't exam, RELAX.

Jit Chern's connecting with Pythagoras via bluetooth.

Jan Jhin's in serious action.

Don't ask me.

Two is better than one.

Dickson seemed ambiguous.

Doubtful.

David's waiting for inspiration.
Antonymous expressions between Soon Yin's and Alice's.

Fancying her own masterpiece.

'My name is Mak Aik Lam.'

* * * * * * * *

And that's about the end of our first Amazing Race. The committee will put more mountainous effort in organizing better and very much more exciting programs in the future. Lastly a load of gratitude to our dedicated teacher adviser, Pn Chan, the school (lab authorities) and most of all, each and everyone of you, GRACIAS!

I. SMOKY CHEMISTRY

The day was fine and just perfectly ideal to hoax. It was time to show how interesting chemistry is by making smoke grenades.

Fine. It's not like we're gonna have this (above) bomb and we certainly don't have the permit.

Alright, simple. NOW WE HAVE TO COME TO SEE THAT Now we will certainly get some useful information from the web. This is likely a prominent experiment for its easement and simplicity.

What we will be needing is just as easy as jumping across a 1cm drain..
1. Potassium nitrate KNO3, or known as saltpeter, most likely available in gardening shop, or some occasional pharmacies.
2. Sugar, white or brown, most importantly that tastes SWEET and not salty or spicy.
3. Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, or known as baking soda or baking powder, easily buy-able and cheap in a handful of it.
4. Apparatus in laboratory practice: big crucibles, beakers, glass rods, spatulas, Bunsen burner, tripod stand + wire gauze + triangle + tongs
5. Most importantly, some firework fuses (took me a day to find them)
6. Aluminum foil (a few layers) and duct tapes for 'packaging'
7. Then, some distilled water for cleaning purposes, filter paper

Essential Precautions:
1. If you don't mind swallowing some potassium nitrates which are strong oxidants that catch fire easily, then do not wear any gloves. And furthermore if you still don't mind inhaling some carbon monoxide or dioxide, just neglect about wearing any defacing masks.
2. If anyhow you're somewhat interested into getting burned by some exploded mixture fragments like the incident of P.Kiat, then just forget about adding in baking soda into the molten mixture of saltpeter and sugar.
Because, FYI this typical baking powder helps greatly to slow down combustion in just a tiny amount.

Procedures:
-The steps are a whole lot EASY (easy.. in the sense of easily prepared, and just easily results in failure)
1. The proportions of saltpeter and table sugar used are important for the smoke effects later. So use a considerable ratio of KNO3 to C12H22O11 of 5:3, or else, 3:2. Just make sure sugar doesn't dominate the reactant side. Then gently sort them out and mix them together (in solid form: salt powder, sugar crystal, etc.) in a big crucible. Apply low heat with a Bunsen burner (when it says low heat, please, obey).
2. Stir the mixture constantly and try ignore the biting fatigue of your hands while stirring until the mixture finally melts. Further reduce the heat delivered.
3. When the mixture melts completely in the form of exactly the equivalence of peanut butter in spite of its different odor, cease the fire. NOW the baking soda plays its part. Add a generous amount (probably half a spatula) of it into the mixture and stir them slowly until the powder totally diffuses.
4. Okay, now the mixture is KNO3•C12H22O11•NaHCO3, which we wouldn't know how its taste is. Keep in mind: KEEP ON STIRRING because this mixture is only molten without any contents of water in it, and so it freezes back instantly when it is not continuously disturbed.
5. While one is stirring, the other partner should be imaginative enough to create the shape of a desirable smoke grenade with aluminum foil (cylindrical shape gives a professional impression =D). Use your brains on how to fasten the foils and secure your bomb with duct tapes, and probably a pair of scissors. Be very sure you don't enclose the bomb before adding the main role into it.
6. Now the reacted mixture, still being stirred, should be carefully spooned into the bombshell made. Spoon them carefully and as soon as you have filled the shell with these explosives, poke a DRY firework fuse (you can get some from me if you really are desperate about obtaining it from the Malaysia's Constitution) into the still molten/unfrozen mixture. Just be very certain that the fuse is in contact with the mixture you've just cooked. Before enclosing the premature smoke grenade, sacrifice your patience for a few minutes until the whole mixture dries out and solidifies.
7. Now enclose everything and make this a real once-in-a-lifetime smoke grenade of your own. BUT preceding any official smoky launching, please kindly take a needle, or something bluntly sharp (=.=") and poke a hole through the aluminum foil to expose a very small portion of the mixture (the tiny hole should be just near your fuse to ensure the entrance of oxygen gas into supporting the combustion later), the hole should be just as GIGANTIC as a countably few sesame grains.
8. Now what you will need is probably a lighter, be sure to see if the trigger really triggers fire or not. If not, use matches! NOW go AS FAR AS POSSIBLE from the school office (if you're doing this in school) and find a really opened and ventilated area for ignition.
9. The one extra apparatus you will need is a recordable camera.
10. Now stop being excited because the situation is not guaranteed successful yet. Burn the fuse (excessive excitement and anticipation could burn your hand) and run for you life. Now watch from a beautiful distance, maybe 5 mm away and watch your masterpiece to be done. ENJOY!


There is an extra link right below for a better view at special smoke grenade (dyed):
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2383631/ultimate_color_smoke_bomb_how_to_make_it/

And the sincerest acknowledgment to these sites I have referred for better knowledge:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/ss/smokebomb.htm
http://chemistry.about.com/od/fireworksprojects/ss/makeafireworksfuse_4.htm

And... Enjoy the video!

EXORDIUM: Rendezvous of Passion, Enthusiasm and Aspiration.

Greeting, members.

We have all gathered here for a very one purpose. We all have the desire to embrace what science and mathematics have brought to us. We have met one another here to know more, search more, comprehend more, and be fascinated by more, and more.

There's no end in learning. But deep down, we have a will, a will so strong in our subconscious we want to tell just everybody else to have this communique disseminated. 

We have rendezvoused here to err together, and ultimately to have the color of the truth sought in unfathomable perfection.

'In all science, error precedes the truth, and it is better it should go first than last'

-Hugh Walpole-

THINK • STRIKE • SOLVE

 
 
 

 
 President,
Hao Cherng