Category: Essentials

Core classes in English Literacy, Khmer Literacy, Math, and Science.

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Statistic: Correlation

In this term in math, we kicked off with statistics. We covered some areas of Statistic such as, Analyzing categorical data, Summarizing quantitative data, Modeling data distributions and Exploring bivariate numerical data. One of the topics that was quite challenging to grasp was Exploring bivariate numerical data, specifically correlation and causation. To help us with this topic, we send out a survey with numerous quantitative categories — such as height, weight, number of pens, etc — to Liger students. Then, we used the data we collected from the survey as examples for us to study correlation by graphing scatter plots. 

An example of a scatterplot between two variables.  

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S’mores Lab

S’mores a delicious snack yet, a snack that can be used to showcase chemistry principles. One of the principles that can be showed is limiting and excess reactant. Besides learning about this concept in the classroom, our facilitator created a small lab to strengthen our knowledge of this concept. The objective of the lab was to make s’mores while calculating the limiting and excess reactant within the ingredient we had: chocolate bars, cracker, and marshmallow.

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SAT Prep – Literacy

Similar to Math, this term we are focusing on SAT. Since most of us are having trouble reading historical passages from the SAT, our facilitator assigned an article about America history, from CommonLit, every week and we try to analyze it together. We choose articles related to America’s history because most historical passages from the SAT are based on America’s history.

Due to the fact that English is our second language, the style of writing, the languages the author used back then were very challenging to understand.

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Khmer Poem.

Since last year, we had been writing poems about different topics and the start of this year, we started to conduct all of those poems into a book. With students who were working on editing the book, editing the poems and do writing pieces, the book came out well and made its first debut at the Khmer Literature festival. A poem is a way of communicating or expressing one’s idea through writing or dictating in rhymes and rhythm. It was a feeling of sensation and nostalgia when reading some of my friends’ poem.

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SAT Prep – Math

In math this term, we have been grinding hours in practicing the SAT for the SAT test on October 6th, 2018. We had two weeks of SAT intense boot camp at the beginning of the school year to prepare ourselves for the test. But, before the test come knocking our doors we have time to practice; personally, the only way to be confident and be comfortable with the test is to practice. Since SAT is one of our tickets to getting a good university, I need to sacrifice my time, even if it means I have to pause playing Fortnite, and avoid procrastination and practice the test facing it head-on.

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Introduction to Chemistry

For the past few months, we have been exploring the basic of Chemistry through labs and lessons. The highlight of the unit was the Flame lab test. The objective of the lab was to see what color will the flame emit when putting different chloride into it. The compounds that we were experiment with were, Barium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Copper (II) Chloride, Lithium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, and Strontium Chloride. But, the main purpose of the lab was to understand the energy level. I really enjoy seeing those wonderful colors and also mesmerized by the quantum mechanic behind it.

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Physics Behind the Black Panther’s Suit

How Black Panther’s suit work?

 

Marvel mentioned that Black Panther’s suit  made out of a fictional element called, “Vibranium.” The only fact we knew about Vibranium is that it has the ability absorb and redirect kinetic energy. But how can Vibranium absorbed and redirect kinetic energy?  

 

Let’s say someone is shooting at Black Panther. Now, the bullet that came out of the gun is moving and it has some momentum. So, the mass of the bullet is moving at a certain velocity in a certain direction. What’s more? The bullet is in motion and loaded with energy; we describe energy in motion as, “Kinetic Energy(or KE).”

 

When the bullet impact the suit the energy has to go somewhere as the law of conservation of energy stated, “the total energy of an isolated system remains constant, it is said to be conserved over time and energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be transformed from one form to another.” So where do all of  the energy go? First, let’s look at what type of collision between the bullet and the suit.

 

For elastic collision, the kinetic energy is conserved but for the inelastic collision, “kinetic energy is not conserved due to the action of internal friction.” In our real world, there is no elastic collision (at least within our human sight).  So, the collision between the bullet and the suit must be an inelastic collision.

 

So what happened during the collision? Well, the suit would bend or deformed even on a microscopic scale and it would take energy to transform into another form of energy to do this. In our world, “It takes energy to physically change or deform some material and most of that energy is lost through internal friction or that material’s atoms.” What if Vibranium could absorb and store KE in the deformation.  Let’s take a peek at a spring. If we would push the spring, it will be compressed in some distance. To compress the spring it would take some energy and where does the energy go? The energy would be stored in the compressed spring as elastic potential energy. What if Black Panther’s suit is made out of billions of billions of billions of billions of molecular springs using Vibranium’s atom. Every impact the Black Panther experienced, the springs would absorb all of the kinetic energy and store it as elastic potential energy.

 

Anyway, one thing that we didn’t consider is the reaction of the object that Black Panther applies the force to. In Newton’s third law of motion, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” So if Black Panther would apply some force to the car then he would have the same amount of force that applies to him. Take a look at this clip.

 

Even though the energy is not conserved, but the momentum is conserved. So the Black Panther would have some momentum toward him.

 

All of the above is possible in our physical world or at least in the near future but one thing that we unable to explain is, How can Black Panther release the energy at once? Could he have some button to press? This is the part where we uncertain about.

Image result for black panther

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGeCiCU7wUI

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/89287/if-vibranium-absorbs-kinetic-energy-how-can-captain-america-hurt-people-with-hi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8A_CP5NMM

https://www.inverse.com/article/15931-what-s-the-closest-real-world-material-to-vibranium

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law

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Literacy: Ancient Civilization

In this literacy unit, we are focusing on ancient civilization. Specifically, we were studying ancient Greece gods and goddesses. Based on this theme, each student has to pick a god, a goddess or a monster from the myth of ancient Greece. From all the list of gods, goddesses or monsters, I picked Medusa.

To depict information we had researched about the character we choose, we had to do some projects that encompass, research paper, character profile, discussion questions, etc.

In this post, I’m sharing my research paper about Medusa.

 

Medusa Myth

Niron Chhlom

 

Imagine the power of turning anyone into stone with only a gaze. This lethal power possessed by Medusa, the Gorgon, who has venomous snakes as hair locks, skin with green scales and a hideous appearance.

 

Most sources described her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto the Sea Titans. She had two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, who were immortals but unfortunately, Medusa herself was mortal. Surprisingly, out of all, Medusa was the brainy one and her name indicated she was the queen of her sisters. Some sources claimed, Medusa lived and died on the island named Sarpedon. But some others claimed her home was Libya. During her life, Medusa vowed to celebrate her entire life as a priestess of Athena.

 

Despite the fact that she was a gorgon, she was the symbol of protection. She was on the breastplate of Alexander the Great. Even until today, two species of snakes were named after her. Most sculptors and vase-painter envisaged her as beautiful as well as petrifying. On the other hand, in feminism, she symbolized rage.

 

The legend of Medusa derived from many sources but mainly Ovid (the Roman poet). Her story goes, she was a priestess of Athena and her beauty was so captivating that it captured Poseidon’s heart. Unfortunately for her, she got raped by Poseidon in the Athena Temple that enraged Athena who then cursed Medusa to a hideous gorgon…

 

Who once had gorgeous hair that intoxicates men.

Who once has pure white milky skin that reflects any light.

Who once has beautiful eyes that were very captivating.

Who once gorgeous, exquisite and beauteous.

 

As the story continues, Perseus, a demigod,  decapitated Medusa and gave her head(that still possess the same power) to Athena who then put it on her shield as a protection.

 

Although Medusa was widely known as a hideous monster, she still earned her spot as a protector. What’s more surprising is the fact that she had her, “profile engraved on the coin of the reign of Seleucus I Nicator of Syria from 312-280 B.C”.

 

Works Cited

History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/achilles/videos/the-story-of-medusa.

 

Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/stheno-euryale-in-greek-mythology.html.

 

“Medusa.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/Medusa/.

 

“Myths and Legends.” The Story of Medusa and the Greek Goddess Athena, myths.e2bn.org/mythsandlegends/userstory18970-the-story-of-medusa-and-the-greek-goddess-athena.html.

 

<a href=”https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/myths/medusa/”>Medusa: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net</a> – Greek Gods & Goddesses, February 7, 2017

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Physics Behind Bottle Flipping

Besides learning new concepts, in Physics we did a research about, Physics Behind Everyday Lives. To explain my curiosity, I did a research about physics behind bottle flipping. Even though it is a simple topic but there a lot of unexplained things that I’ve never known before. Here is my presentation.

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Alternative Book Ending

Image result for crossover alexander

This is an alternative ending to a book called, ” The Crossover.” In fact, it is also one of the books that I enjoy reading.  Below you will find the alternative ending to the book I wrote.

 

Along the way to the basketball game inside the car, everyone was quiet as a statue. Finally, Josh and JB arrived the court to play their last game of the season. While Josh and JB were late to their basketball game, Mr. and Mrs. Bell were heading to the bleachers. Josh and JB went straight to the bench and got ready to join the warm-up with their teammates. Coach yelled from five seats away, “You two are late again! Get ready to warm up!” Josh replied, “Yes coach!” Since the incident happened between JB and Josh, JB hadn’t spoken a word to Josh even though his mom tries to persuade JB that it was just an incident, but JB isn’t the amenable person. Training was over, everyone gathered up in front of the coach, and as coach delivering speeches to everyone, Josh always looks at JB, and his eyes were spelling the word, “sorry” but JB didn’t even give a glance back at Josh.

Everyone was ready for the game, except Josh and JB because they still got their head in their dad’s situation. Before the game started, Josh looked at the bleachers for his parents and unfortunately, he couldn’t locate them anywhere around the bleachers. Josh kept looking at each of the exits, and he caught his parents going through one of the doorways. “Josh! Put your head in the game!” Coach yelled. The team was going to the court, but coach stopped Josh and gave him a private speech, “Josh, put your head in the game man, we’re going to lose if you and your twin are not communicating.” Josh nodded with a worried look. Josh joined the team and gathered everyone including his brother.

Game started.
The clock is TICKING!
JB is DAzzLING!
Josh is CROSSING
A FaKe left and past RighT to JB
JB turn
Jump ‘n
ShooT
The basket goes SWOOSH!!!!
This is not an easy game.

The clock buzzed, the third quarter was done, they’re down to 46 and 38, coach gathered everyone. Josh was still thinking about his parent. Surprisingly, JB came in and asked Josh, “What’s going to happen to dad?” Josh worriedly reply, “Not sure bro, let’s hope our dad is okay.” The ref whistled, and everyone backed in the court,

JB, chest passed to Josh
Josh, behind the back and crossed right, opponent’s ankles broke
And up head passed to Vondie
Vondie passed to JB for THREE!
The clock is ticking for the last 25 seconds this final season game. The crowd was roaring, the ball was bouncing, and the players were screaming, JB was thinking, Josh was staring at JB. Two opponents were coming up to Josh. He bounced passed to JB.
The score is 77 to 75
JB quick pass to Vondie closed down by two defends, Behind-the-back-pass to Josh, 15 seconds to the buzzer
Josh Triple TREAT
GO left
CROSS righT
Behind the BACK
BETWEEN the legs
A blind pass to JB in the open space.
JB got the court to himself, 5 seconds left.
JB rises straight, aiming for the trajectory to the basket
The crowd was silent as a big empty building
SWOOSH!!!
Nothing but net!
JB the buzzer beater!
The game ended, 77 to 78, the Wild Cat won!
After the game, Josh and JB rushed through the exit and ran to the hospital for a 100m nearby the school, and quickly asking people for the emergency room and dashed through the door to the emergency room. There they found their mom waiting outside the room.

With the twins praying for their dad and holding their mom’s hands from both sides. After 10 minutes, a doctor came out with a small smile on her face. “His condition is better right now, but further treatment is needed.”

A month later, Mr. Chuck Bell recovered, and even though he now has no problem with patella tendonitis, he chooses to be a basketball coach for the Wildcat and a coaching consultant. As always, after school, before dinner, the boys and Mr. Bell would go to the park and practice basketball.