Amendments or supplementary information for experiments
All through these supplementary notes, remember that you must carry out your own risk assessment and take suitable precautions.
We are compiling pages about the Applied Science modules - see the links at the bottom of this page.
All state schools and most independent schools which offer GCSE science are members of CLEAPSS and can access their services. See the CLEAPSS website
B1 You and your genes
Activity BP1.4 Cloning plants
Growth medium, cloning cauliflowers and aseptic technique. Check with CLEAPSS
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B2 Keeping healthy
Activity AB2.12 Stilton culture
Using malt-extract broth to culture microorganisms in Stilton cheese
Activity AB2.13 Antibiotic action
Using antibiotic discs to determine their effects on a culture found in the probiotic drink Yakult.
Check with CLEAPSS about both of these
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C1 Air quality
Moreland Technologies supply a Particulates Detector designed for use in this module.
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C2 Material choices
Activity AC2.17 The spider that spun a suspension bridge
Unfortunately this video is no longer available from the 4Learning shop.
It came from the 2002 Royal Institution Christmas lecture series "Smart stuff". If you don't already have a copy, try borrowing one from a nearby school. The lecture transcript is available here:
Channel 4 Smartstuff lecture
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C3 Food matters
Activity AC3.2 Nitrogen in different forms
Drying tubes (absorption tubes) are available from http://www.timstar.co.uk
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C4 Chemical patterns
Lesson 4 says to use 60g magnesium sulphate and 2g potassium chromium sulphate per 100ml. This should be 6g magnesium sulphate.
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C5 Chemicals of the natural environment
Activity AC5.18 Electrolysis of lead bromide
>>Download the diagram showing how to set it up
Lead bromide electrolysis (237 KB)
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C7 Chemistry for a sustainable world
Click on this link Chemistry for a sustainable world, because there's more than will fit on this page
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P1 Earth in the Universe
AP1.30 Relative brightness and distance
This activity can be simplified by using a light sensor that produces an output voltage proportional to brightness. Such a light sensor is available from www.mutr.co.uk (product code SEP 202)
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P2 Radiation and life
Moreland Technologies supply an Electromagnetic Radiation Detector which, when connected to a datalogger, enables the results to be projected for a whole class to see.
A microwave source, detector and accessories are currently (January 2007) available from ASCOL. These can be purchased as a full kit or as separate items. They are shown as a Sale Item in the left column of their homepage.
Activity AP2.4 Selecting colours
The cheap diffraction gratings mentioned in the teacher & technician guidance must be imported from the USA. This poses problems for many schools. Here is a UK source, not quite so cheap but still costing much less than gratings designed for A-level Physics. The Science Store, Hoddesdon, Herts email: service@sciencestore.co.uk
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P3 Radioactive materials
bringing radioactive sources back into action
Activity AP3.8 Radon in your environment
This activity is useful, but not essential for teaching this module. We hope to provide information about sourcing Tastrak, since Dr Geoff Camplin apologises that he is no longer able to do this.
Activity AP3.23 Half-life: making a protactinium generator
An alternative to this apparatus has recently become available from Cooknell Electronics Ltd, Weymouth DT4 9TJ.
This uses fabric gas mantles designed for camping lights. Each mantle contains a small quantity of radioactive thorium. More details at http://www.cooknell-electronics.co.uk/products.php. Go to 'CP3-IC Half Life Demonstration Unit'.
Activity AP3.20 Uncontrolled chain reaction
This demonstration models the chain reaction that occurs when uranium atoms undergo nuclear fission. It was trialled and has been used successfully in at least one school for many years, as well as by other schools following this scheme of work. However, one school has now reported to CLEAPSS a larger than expected flame from the matches on the combined boards. Technicians needed to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher, before more than one-third of the matches had ignited.
We strongly recommend conducting trials before doing this demonstration in class. For more detailed safety advice see Activity AP3.20 Uncontrolled chain reaction .
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P6 Wave model of radiation
Activities AP6.3 How a transverse wave moves Ap6.4 'How a longitudinal wave moves', AP6.7 'How does changing frequency affect wavelength?' and AP6.12 'Ripples in multimedia waves' all make use of Multimedia Waves. This software is available from:
Cambridge Science Media, 354 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3NN, UK
Phone 01480 411288 Fax 01223 573994
sales@csmedia.demon.co.uk http://www.csmedia.demon.co.uk
Activity AP6.23 A closer look at the spectrum
This demonstration involves the dispersion of white light, and detection of infrared beyond visible red in the spectrum. Critical apparatus items are:
• Filament light source. This must run hot enough to produce infrared. Use either an intense light source or an OHP.
If you are using an OHP, use books or some other opaque objects to make a narrow gap of only about 1 mm as the light source. A narrow gap will improve definition in each part of the spectrum, including the infrared. (Clamp the prism to a lab stand in front of the OHP mirror, in the path of the light beam.)
• High dispersion prism
• Filter to absorb the visible light but transmit infra-red
e.g. black perspex 962 from www.theplasticshop.co.uk/erol.html#1267X1281
OR the inside from an unwanted floppy disk.
• Camera which is sufficiently sensitive to infra-red
Related experiments
In class
Students use their camera phones to "see" the output from an IR remote control.
At home
Students can use a TV remote as an infrared source and a camera phone as infrared detector, trying things around at home - black plastics and any other unusual materials, such as:
• paper (try increasing the number of sheets one by one)
• glass, e.g. a drinking glass
• water (find a container that the beam will pass through and then fill it with water)
• lots of different plastics e.g. a plate, plastic bags, transparent plastic, black plastic, a CD
• metals, e.g. a tin, aluminium foil, a foil-type crisp packet
• the back disk from an old unwanted floppy disk (break open the case to remove it)
• a leaf
• wood
• stone
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Applied Science A1 Life care
For supplementary information see Life care technicians notes.
Applied Science A2 Agriculture and food
For supplementary information see Agriculture & food technicians notes.
Applied Science A3 Scientific detection
For supplementary information see Scientific detection technicians notes.
Applied Science A4 Harnessing chemicals
For supplementary information see Harnessing chemicals technicians notes.
Applied Science A5 Communication
For supplementary information see Communication technicians notes.
Applied Science A6 Materials and performance
For supplementary information see Materials and performance technicians notes.
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To access CLEAPSS leaflet PS67
Go to the CLEAPSS members' area by clicking here. CLEAPSS website The username and password you will need is on your CLEAPSS Science Publications CD-ROM.
If you discover any difficulties not mentioned by CLEAPSS, please email Peter Campbell who will either resolve the issue or forward it to CLEAPSS.
