paulsutton

Hi I have been looking at a resource, on the Royal Society of Chemistry website. This is a school investigation, to look at if toothpaste is basic, and therefore can neutralise an acid https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/everyday-neutralisation-myths-busted/4015026.article This investigation is aimed at UK Secondary aged students 11- 14 years. I was thinking, if this could be adapted for use in primary schools ? This experiment uses 0.1 M ethanoic acid (danger: corrosive and flammable) would using white vinegar (this is still ethanoic Acid ) be a good substitute for use in primary education. ? Which is probably far safer. I would guess vinegar is a much lower concentration or more diluted. I am not a expert at all this, but it should work. Thanks Paul Sutton

Being ready is the key to all of this, any country needs to be ready to deploy at the shortest of notice, it seems that Russia can do this. The UK seems to be damaging the steel sector here, rather than investing in it. Great, we seem to need steel to build warships, carriers etc, so lets buy it from Chiba (cheap). Problem from my view point, we upset China --> China blocks steel exports --> we can't build warships as we no longer have the capacity to produce the materials needed. Now apply that to other industries that now rely on china and we are stuck. So what is the link between salaries and cost of weapons ?

Indeed, here in the UK the situation in Ukraine does seem to make the news, but takes lower priority over the pandemic. While The west dithers and divides. Other countries are stepping up to take our place. While the west cuts military, Russia / China seem to have been building theirs up. China is clamping down on the time students can spend playing games, so people CAN study, like that or not it seems sensible if they want a future well trained / educated workforce. Or at least that is how interpret their motive(s) on that one.

I was thinking more for the Copper Sulphate. But I understand your point.

Thanks for this, I have copper sulphate in with my chemistry kit, so can give that a go. I think i need to find a way to grow the initial seed crystal then. I am about to start as a TA in a primary school. There are various ideas here, perhaps we can investigate as a class too. It would need the usual risk assessment though which is fine, as i can find the materials safety data sheets for everything. I will get hold of some pure Sodium Chloride too, as that won't have the Ferrocyanide in. Thanks again Paul

I tried to grow some Salt crystals a while back, it worked using table salt, however this also contains Sodium Ferrocyanide. Would I be better using pure Sodium Chloride (from a chemical supplier) ? I think the crystals should be more cuboid shaped, which I think is how the molecular structure is for Sodium Chloride. I have attached a photo of my previous attempt results. I am not what the Sodium Ferrocyanide does, it is an anti caking agent or something. so that may explain the results. Thanks Paul

I guess he is now about 7, you can perhaps get some plastic tubes (or transparent plastic beakers / containers ) and add vinegar to bicarbonate of soda, this is where the old 35mm film pots are nice as the CO_2 build up makes the lid pop off. You can also make crystals from salt, which I know from working in an after school club, kds reallyseem to like crystals, but it is proobably safer to make them than bashing rocks together in an attempt to remove the crystals (in the case here it was quartz) but to kids they are crystals. I just found this (via a quick search, so not my website) https://www.science-sparks.com/how-to-make-salt-crystals/ Paul

Hi Just posting this here to ask if I am on the right track when explainign an experiment result. I am setting up a STEM group, as part of this I have a book aimed at 7-11 year olds that has lots of simple but still very effective experiment in. One is Adding Vinegar to Bicarbonate of soda in a sealed zip lock back, so when the two react the bag fills with CO_2 and then I guess splits open due to the pressure. A second related experiment is creating a cold pack, similar method, only you put some holes in to reduce the pressure build up, this causes the reactants to cool. looking at this explanation of endo vs exo thermic reactions. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/chemical-processes/thermochemistry/a/endothermic-vs-exothermic-reactions Would I be right in interpreting the above an endothermic reaction as the bag cools down, so absorbs heat and cooling the surrounding area. I have a few other ideas such as crystal growing ingredients such as salt, sugar. Extracting Iron from cereals and a few others, that look interesting als have a few physics experiments I want to have a go at and the room we are using gives the space for this. Hopefully being here will be useful to others too. Thanks you for any help on this REGARDS Paul

Prior to the pandemic, poverty and inequality was hidden to some extent, the pandemic has really put this in the public eye, a UBI could perhaps address issues such as food poverty, allow people to buy basic IT kit the rest of us take for granted and kids could study on their own devices. This in some cases, if they are not turned off from education will help kids achieve more in school , eat properly and produce better outcomes, too many people of all ages seem to be falling through cracks in the system. I am not working, back in January I attended training for a Lego WeDo session for schools. The main which was mean tot take place in about June was cancelled due to the pandemic, and with that went my chance to network with teachers, and school staff and perhaps move in to paid employment. People like me WANT to work, the pandemic is making this far harder to get than normal. A UBI would be a real safety net for a lot of people, , at least it would give people a chance.

If you are interested in Astronomy and Space I suggest In the Night sky : Orion, which is part of OpenLearn ( http://www.open.ac.uk/ ) from the OU, that covers a lot about stars, planets, star life cycles, and searching for exoplanets, there is a lot of crossover with other courses, which is sometimes a good thing, But as this is longer then you will cover what is also in the shorter courses such as The Sun. And if you need to discuss something further you could always ask here on the forum. Paul

In terms of anti poverty, Would a universal basic income be far better for society, ? If you increase taxes then you get accused of punishing the rich. This is from Jan 2020 World’s billionaires have more wealth than 4.6 billion people https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/worlds-billionaires-have-more-wealth-46-billion-people I wonder what the Covid 19 pandemic has done to these figures, we know that Amazon and Facebook have done very well from the news. But the cost is to the millions facing job losses, evictions, and poverty. In other news Both Bill Gates and Mark Zukerburg are apparently now centi-billionaires, so worth something like $ 100 Billion Dollars, meanwhile there are people who use Facebook who can barely afford to make ends meet and buy food. Maybe we need to define the term 'learn' and bring in some child development experts in to this. https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/#gs.dho62l

A child learns from the parent or their environment, and this seems to apply to the animal kingdom too, a adult chimp for example uses a stick to get food (termites) from a hole in the ground or tree, the youngster copies the adult. I think we are finding animals and their social structures are far more complex than first thought but in a way they are also remarkably similar they can feel loss, grief, and well as happiness. I can't find the reference to what I may have refereed to earlier, (it's on a poster somewhere) I did find this https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/researchweek/ResearchWeek2020/All2020/37/ I think we are seeing increasing evidence that the first few years of a child's life are essential, not just with what the are exposed but their diet and stimulation is also important, for development.

I will need to look that up, but may be we need to make some tough decisions somewhere. Like how do we fund social care and adult education, if that means higher taxes, or other funding streams these are tough decisions, that may be unpopular unless people see results from these policies. Maybe it is people and their needs that are different,if we are all unique and different needs and level of needs then we all need help in different ways. hence the complexity.

Agreed, if not jail, there are for example complexes of secure housing, and secure, perhaps sheltered communities, they are not locked up as such but are in a secure / safe environment. Where they have access to the help they need.

Well that is why the justice system needs hand out justice that fits the crime or crimes that have taken place. One size can't fit all. If you look at the 3 that killed PC Harper, we are looking at burglary, theft of a car, and dragging PC Harper behind for over a mile, causing horrific fatal injuries. Odd how none of them noticed. Then they just laugh about it, showing contempt for everyone including the family and friends of the victim. So while I agree with longer jail terms, surely those who show remorse, or admit their crime (say they do the same thing) that remorse and or admission should be taken in to account. Those who show no remorse and laugh clearly need the laugh wiped from their faces. The 3 who killed PC harper are apparently now appealing against their sentence. Give judges the power to hand out very harsh and long terms, so they then have the power and option to also commute that to shorter terms. For petty theft, perhaps the jail term could be determined by treatment and then education so people are helped back in to society and are less likely to offend again, jail should not be a place they would want to go back to, but the education and treatment leaves them in a better place. So if that programme takes 3 years then you have 3 years for petty theft, it depends on the individual, but that can be start off in a medium security prison which has access to proper training and funding. Perhaps the last six months they can be released for work, and return for the evening and night, special wings to allow for that. And yes some prison terms should not prevent you from going in to the police, in fact having been inside, it may make you a better candidate to talk to groups of people about choices and consequences. Very complex, but maybe we need to make tough decisions to get to the best outcomes for people.

So what are some solutions to this?, it seems change is needed on both sides.

It could be that is because as civilians you expect if you get pulled over you will be met by an officer with gun drawn or at least one of them can open fire at a seconds notice, hence you show hands at all times. so the situation is tense from the start, where as here, and watching police programs where they pull people over the situation is a lot less confrontational. On the other hand look at what has happened here with PC harper being dragged for over a mile by 3 people in a stolen car, only for them to be charged with manslaughter, what is worse they got what was it <10 years and they thought it was funny when arrested and were smirking I am no expert but quite how 3 people in a car, didn't notice what was happening to the police officer is most disturbing and makes me wonder how someone came to the conclusion.

It does seem in a lot of cases these people are 'known' to the police which does raise the question of how well the Channel /prevent programme is funded, or maybe more to the point how well partner agencies are funded. Anyone referred has to give consent but also can be referred to say youth services (if under 18) to provide more positive activities, of course funding for which has been cut right back. I sort of understand the process from undergoing the online awareness training for prevent and channel processes.

Indeed as with the case in the Westminster bridge attack, which I have mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I am guessing your from the UK, I watched Dom (Dom Littlewood) Does America this morning, ( 18/8/2020 ) he was working with the Texas police department, they carry spray, taxers and guns of course, but go in to every situation as if it is hostile, even a routine car stop, and they expect to be shot at and maybe killed.

In the UK we have what was called the IPCC independent police complaints committee it is their job to look in to situations if a police officer opens fire it can be referred to the IPCC or the police can refer the matter so it is investigated and the facts gained as to why. Even with the Westminster bridge attack last year, it was the people that held down the terrorist and the police shot him dead, he had already stabbed two people to death. I think the police referred themselves.

The police here in the UK try and diffuse situations, very rarely do the police open fire and kill people, a very low percentage of UK police carry Guns. Those that do are specialist units. Police carry Tazers . I think most have access to CS gas (or is it pepper spray).

I agree, while as you say we as a society we need make it clear they have done wrong, the rehabilitation could be about teaching them the skills they need to contribute to society in a positive way, which is what we want. There is no point taking someone who can't read and write, who commits crimes, to one side, put them in jail, releasing them only for them to go back to what they were doing before, because they lack literacy skills for example. Surely this is a barrier to them getting a good job, decent accomodation and adult education courses may not be available or there could be other barriers. So yes, jail needs to send a strong message, but also perhaps help people back on track but not be seen as a free ride to a free 2nd chance education you are till locked up in your cell, still denied freedom to come and go, and still subject to rules. Lets find out why that person in jail, clearly there are some crimes that warrant locking up for a very long time, but it seems for many, prison is a revolving door, we also need to perhaps fix the system so ex offenders can actually work in certain posts, perhaps having been on the wrong side of the law, been in jail, but took the chance and to work hard, and gain a good set of qualifications to turn their life around, that person could mentor people and steer them away from jail which from experience they would not want any one else to have to go through. Jail should not be the only way to turn lives around, we need proper funding of adult education and homeless / addiction / other groups who take people who have fallen off the radar and actually help them, that may stop them falling in to the revolving door mentioned above. Also no reason really why some ex offenders should not be able to say join the army, police or other services, for the same reason, as a community officer you perhaps are there to prevent and help people to stay on the right track.

There are such things as mitigating circumstances. If behaviour is learned then a child who is abused may go on to abuse others as an adult or even as a child, while clearly this is not acceptable it can be taken in to consideration. On a similar note a person who is a victim of say domestic violence may kill in self defence or maybe poison their abuser, is this murder (even if planned) or is it a sign they want to get out of a situation and feel killing their abuser is the only choice they have. Each case should be treated as an individual case.

Surely rights go along side responsibility, I have the right to go out and walk in to my local town centre, but the responsibility to act safely, obey the law for example. In a similar way have having a drivers license gives people the right to drive, when a person reaches 18 or 21 (in the US) they can buy alcohol they they have the responsibility to drive safely and are considered able to make judgements, if they choose to drink and then drive, and end up killing someone they need to be held accountable. Granted the seller also has some responsibility to refuse to sell more to someone who is clearly intoxicated. --- On a side topic, I get notifications of replies here, if I click on the link I get the following. I logged in and then tried to follow the link a 2nd time, and got the same error page. Any idea what is causing this?

Do guns ever kill people ? or do people kill others with guns, ? I hardly know anything about fire arms, but there are now safety features so they don't accidentally fire, if you are an adult parent with children, should guns not be locked or in a secure place out of reach.. Have adults been charged when a child picks up a gun and kills a friend with it, (playing) depending on age is it the child's fault if they pickup a gun, to them it may be something to play with. ? All this is very complex