Science Assembly with exciting experiments using FIRE!

The Whole School Science Assembly took place this morning and was led by the Secondary Science Department to mark the end of British Science Week 2018.

The Whole School Science Assembly took place this morning and was led by the Secondary Science Department to mark the end of British Science Week 2018. As I have said in the past every year the Department puts themselves under pressure to perform bigger and better practical demonstrations than the year before. This year we decided that a portable gas supply on stage was a must to increase our range of exciting experiments using FIRE (a live feed of which was broadcast on the school Facebook page!)

First up we had Mr Westropp with the aptly named Crackles, making his own magnesium silicide before dropping it into acid. As the title of the experiment suggests that is exactly what we heard and saw! Ms Orchard then continued with her yearly love of doing colourful experiments with a Rainbow reaction (a neutralisation reaction). Next up to the stage was Mr Mortimer (the fire expert) and his methane bubbles. Guest teachers who came to participate included Mr Wild, Mr Webb and Ms Carroll who were all wiling to brave having methane bubbles on their hands set on fire.

Then came the turn of the Physics Department with Mr Duckett showing us the physical properties of Helium and Sulfur Hexafluoride in balloons and the effect on your vocal chords if you inhale these gases. His impression of Bane from Batman was particularly comical.

Back to chemistry and Ms Orchard and Mr Mortimer performed a classic demonstration of the Screaming Jelly Baby (the oxidation of sugar).

Mr Lovatt then demonstrated his Rubens’ tube, a 2D tube where Bunsen burners are used to demonstrate an acoustic standing wave. He had it connected to a keyboard and drums. After showing off his dubious keyboard rendition of White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ on the Rubens’ tube, Mr Minchin our Head of Humanities stepped in to perform a classical German piece ‘The Toccata and Fugue in D minor’ by J.S. Bach on the Rubens’ tube which was a musical masterpiece.

To finish the assembly Ms Westropp resurrected his classic lighting of hydrogen balloons, which this year resulted in the biggest bang ever! The finale saw Mr Westropp and Mr Mortimer igniting more hydrogen balloons accompanied by Mr Lovatt, Ms Bradford and Ms Hemming on the Rubens’ tube.

Thanks to all the Science Team (teachers and technicians) for the time, energy, enthusiasm and creativity they exhibit every year in producing this amazing showcase event at The British International School of Hanoi.

Ms Orchard, Science Subject Leader