2016 School Magazine

YEAR 11 CHEMISTRY Going into our Extended Experimental Investigation our group was feeling quite nervous and uncertain about our ability to design a procedure which would achieve our goal while keeping all safety measures in place during the experimentation. However, using the first few lessons as testing, and getting to understand how all the equipment worked was highly beneficial as it allowed us to feel more optimistic about starting the actual data collection. I believe the experience of the Extended Experimental Investigation allowed us to develop a great number of our skills including: a better ability to co-operate and communicate as a team; an ability to work efficiently and effectively in a restricted time period; and to better understand experimental processes which will be beneficial during Year 12.

CHELSEA RICATO (11B)

YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY Fostering not only our critical thinking and problem solving skills, Chemistry in Year 12 has motivated students to draw parallels between our current knowledge of the subject and real life contexts. We have been deeply challenged to strive and develop talents far beyond the chemistry classroom. This year a range of topics was explored including chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry and organic chemistry. This knowledge was consolidated through lots of hands-on experimentation which generated exciting and diverse weekly experiences. Chemistry has been an unforgettable journey this year in 2016. It has taught us so much more than to just logically approach problems. We are encouraged to ask ourselves ‘why’ rather than ‘what’. This has stimulated us to delve into deeper perspectives of discovery and hence has shaped us into more discerning researchers. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to study this amazing subject at Girls Grammar and we hope that this high level of education continues in subsequent years.

CHANELLE REN (12O) AND INDIANA CONWAY (12O)

YEAR 11 PHYSICS Year 11 Physics was a rewarding and enriching experience. The thing that surprised us most about Physics was that it was not as hard as everyone made it out to be. This year, we learnt about several interesting topics such as forces, energy, and waves. In the Term IV EEI, we investigated waves and wine glass resonance. This was challenging and stimulating, but at the same time, gave us an insight into what it means to be a scientist. Physics has taught us more about the broader world, and given us a more open minded view on how different things work.

YEAR 12 PHYSICS Senior Physics has been a rewarding and challenging subject which inspired each of the girls to question and critically analyse the world in which we live. Term II in particular allowed all the girls to explore individual problems in the extended experimental investigation task, which encouraged them to think more broadly and laterally about phenomena that are yet to be fully explained. Some of these topics included problems associated with the Van der Pauw Sheet Resistivity Theorem and acoustic waves. Throughout the two years of senior physics, the thought-provoking discussions and abstract concepts learnt fostered a deep appreciation of the subject. The year finished with the Senior Physics cohort transitioning from classical physics into relativistic physics where we learnt the standard model and special relativity, which attempts to answer the fundamental questions of our existence. REBECCA EMMETT (12H), LYDIA GANDHI (12O) AND ALISHA TANG (12W)

REBECCA DAI (11L) AND KELLY KIM (11L)

CURRICULUM / 089