Science page - contest issue 2016-2017 by The Nucleus

The Official English Publication of The Manila Science High School

SCIENCE

Vol. 53 No. 2

MaScians launch can satellites for World Space Week Manila Science High School (MSHS) Can Satellite (CanSat) team, composed of Jonahlee Xyrkcysz Fabula, 10-Moseley; Jacob Bryan Gaba, 10-Faraday; and Chester Paglinawan, 10–Lawrence; joined the 2nd annual Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) CanSat Competition held at the University of the Philippines–Los Baños (UPLB) Campus, October 6-7. CanSat Competition is an annual contest conducted by the DOSTSEI in conjuncture with the similarly annual celebration of the World Space Week (WSW), a week-long celebration of space-related principles through various contests such as the CanSat and the Water Rocket competition. Contestants’ primary mission was to build and monitor can satellites that gather barometric pressure, altitude, and temperature data

MSHS inventions haul awards in Materials Innovation ‘16 C

ompeting against eight schools and 14 teams, research teams of Grade 10 students from Manila Science High School (MSHS) bagged second and third place during the 2nd Materials Innovation: Materials Research Fair 2016 held at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), September 21. Team of Leonard Bernardo, 10-Faraday and Jasmin Talag, 10-Einstein, won second place while team of Jarod Peñaflor, along with Monique Timbalopez, 10-Lawrence, and Phillip Inocando, 10-Faraday, placed third. Talag and Bernardo’s research paper entitled Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as an insulator made use of elephant grass as an affordable and safe insulation

for weather forecasting and storm predicting. For the secondary mission, contestants were allowed to freely choose other weather-related parameters to be included in the can satellite’s data collection.

Inner workings

In a can satellite, a computeron-module (COM), a miniature circuit board with an embedded computer, is connected with sensors for detecting atmospheric pressure, air temperature, and wind velocity. To complete the primary mission, DOST-SEI provided Intel Edison circuit boards, BMP180 Barometric Pressure, Altitude and Temperature sensors and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. MSHS CanSat team chose humidity and can satellite acceleration as the parameters for their secondary

Assembly for the launch

Owing to the highly technical nature of the contest, the MSHS CanSat team started their preparations nearly a month before the actual launch date, giving the team leeway to build their prototypes well and thorough. “There was a technical training from September 12-16 at the University of the Philippines – Diliman (UPD), then for the next three weeks we had independent construction at MSHS,” Ms. Sarah Ocampo, Robotics adviser and CanSat team trainer, said.

more on page B...

Critical thinking for accurate research. MSHS research delegates employ factual reasoning in answering scientific queries -J. de Luna Photo: UP Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Association Inc.

mission. For these parameters, the MSHS CanSat team purchased a Humidity sensor and 6 Degrees of Freedom, a device that combines threeaxis accelerometers for measuring acceleration and three-axis gyroscopes for determining degree of tilt.

for

Canyong, club adviser, shared the club’s preparations for the event. “The star gazing was actually made possible through the initiative of an alumnus, Mr. Gary Andreassen, who is a member of Manila Street Astronomers (MSA). The club’s role is to prepare the venue and permit slips for students,” Mrs. Canyong detailed. MSA is a subsidiary of the non-profit organization Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) that provides free learning experiences in astronomy for interested students. -Samantha Hermosa

B Science

To Write in the Service of Truth CONTEST ISSUE Vol. 53 no. 2

Researchers top B attle of Wits 2016 S ustained excellence. With the help of experience gained

from previous contests, MaScians bagged awards with their science investigatory projects (SIP) in the National Capital Region (NCR)-wide Battle of Wits (BoW) 2016: Where Theory Meets One’s Ability at the Adamson University, August 20. “It was the same research [also

entered in previous contests],” Hennie Hillary Chiu, 10-Lawrence, who ranked first place, stated. Chiu entered her SIP entitled ‘Annona muricata (Guyabano Extract) as A Way to Inhibit the Growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis’. Her research aims to kill the bacteria that

grow on plastic implants to help organs function properly. Meanwhile, the team of Mary Reign Jasmin Talag, 10-Einstein, and Leonard Gian Bernardo, 10–Faraday, with their work entitled ‘Pennisetum purpureum (Elephant Grass) as an insulator’ placed third.

Their research counters the negative effects of direct heat from the sun through an eco-friendly thermal insulator from elephant grass as a final covering for walls and roofs. Talag mentioned that the judges were strict on possible errors such as not having lab tests and approximate values for their data as each of the 13 research entries were presented. BoW 2016 is an event hosted by the Adamson University Chemical Engineering Student Society (AdUChESS) featuring three competitions including the Strain for the Brain: Science Investigatory Project Competition in which aforementioned students participated. -Reina Alcaide

Brilliant minds of tomorrow. Through hard work and determination, MaScians embark on a scientific journey to the top. -C. Miranda Photo: Adamson University Chemical Engineering Students Society

MaScians launch... BHave last from the past! you ever wondered what was up in Manila Science

from page A

High School about thirty years ago? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a flashback of happenings from the olden days.

Julienne Ozaeta

Sweet honey sans the honeybee In 1978, MaScian Jose Fadul and his group highlighted the National Science Fair in Bacolod City with their ingenious invention: “Honey Without Bees”, which is honey made from cane sugar, instead of nectar collected by honeybees. They induced fermentation using the same yeast found in honey, and added calcium hydroxide and tartaric acid as a substitute for the salivary enzymes of the bees. The honey made had the same taste and the same nutritive value as the traditional honey made by bees, and could be made in laboratories in two weeks’ time.

MSHS’ blooming paradise Mrs. Evelina P. Barotilla, the second principal of MSHS, envisioned a garden of flowers and plants apart from the Botanical Garden in 1985. Thus, the Orchidarium was born. It was a 4 x 4.7 meter–wide by 2.8 meter–high greenhouse filled with exotic plants and flowers, such as orchids, bought by the school and donated by the alumni. It was located at the north east corner of Quadrangle A, where the Maceda Building now stands.

Commencing countdown, sensors on. Members of MSHS CanSat team meet to integrate robotics with meteorology to build a can satellite. -J. de Luna Photo: Sarah Ocampo Aforementioned sensors were connected to the COM through soldering of junction points and wires. Circuitry was then secured inside a can-sized container along with a parachute to facilitate gentle descent onto the ground. Launch Proper Contestants’ can satellites were raised to a height of 100 meters by drone and then dropped, with the attached parachute opening to soften the device’s fall. Data collected during the drop were relayed to groundbased computers through the Xbee module located in the can satellite

that serves as a transmitter and receiver. After data collection, the MSHS CanSat team interpreted the information in search of weather patterns and conditions that may aid the team in weather forecasting. “For example, the humidity and air pressure data we gathered were within normal parameters, so those factors indicated that the skies will be clear,” Gaba stated. MSHS CanSat team presented the data collected for the primary and secondary missions along with analysis and interpretation to a panel of judges. -Jericho de Luna

MSHS inventions haul awards...

from page A

Throwback to the Botanical Garden Did you know that there used to be 127 species of plants in our Botanical (and Zoological) Garden behind the Bordner Building back in 1983? This was a project of the Science Department under Science teachers Mrs. Virginia Evasco and Ms. Gracia Santos. The garden had herbal plants, such as hanga, which produced sticky, flammable sap that also served as an antiseptic. Moreover, cultivation of annelid worms, also known as vermiculture, was headed by Biology teacher Mrs. Estrelita Borromeo to be used for composting in the garden.

“I am happy with the way our research turned out, with the way it made Elephant grass— something that is undervalued and commonly considered trashuseful and innovative,” Talag stated. Moreover, Inocando, Peñaflor, and Timbalopez’ research paper entitled ‘The utilization of Corn Ash (KHCO3) as a Fire Suppression Agent in Fire Preventing and Extinguishing Measures’ converts biowaste into

useful material in the field of fire suppression and prevention. “We weren’t expecting that both teams from MaSci will win, especially considering the fact that other teams’ research projects were very innovative as well,” Timbalopez said. Talag and Bernardo’s research team won a cash prize of two thousand pesos while Inocando, Penaflor and Timbalopez’ team won one thousand pesos. -Erika Deheart Tato

Science

To Write in the Service of Truth CONTEST ISSUE Vol. 53 no. 2

National

fact:

Is eating organic the healthiest option?

Studies have shown that organic food, such as wild tuna, wild salmon, and organic eggs, actually have a larger chance of carrying bacteria.

YES 62% “It contains less chemicals. Enough said.” –aurora “Common sense tells us that you have to clean and cook it well to make sure it’s safe.” - Hallow “Compared to other types of food, organic has the most nutrients.” - bxteso X- Lawrence

No 38% “We need to have a balanced diet so we need all kinds of food.” – Thea IX-Hertz

E d i to r i a l

Chink in the Armor M

anila Science High School’s (MSHS) primary defense against undernourishment is under threat. MSHS’ administrators are correct in continuing the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). However, its merits may be jeopardized by the lack of a dedicated management team. Undernourishment continues to be a prevalent issue among Filipinos. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), three million Filipino adolescents, along with four million children aged five years and below are considered underweightfor-age. As stated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an individual is considered underweight-forage if his or her Body Mass Index (BMI) is below 18.5. Undernourishment may lead to micronutrient deficiencies and protein-energy under nutrition, which if left unattended may cause energy gaps and general timidity. T h e Department of Education (DepEd) has proposed a countermeasure: the SchoolBased Feeding Program (SBFP). Mandated by DepEd Number 401 for school year 2015 to 2016 and DepEd Order Number 33 series of 2015, the SBFP aims to improve children’s health, nutrition values and behaviour through achieving the goal of having 80% of its beneficiaries graduate from the program. To graduate is to achieve a BMI within the normal range, which according to the CDC starts at 18.5 until 24.9.

Currently, the SBFP has 11 beneficiaries: eight from Grade 7 and three indigents, which is the term for non-Grade 7 beneficiaries. This is in line with the previous year’s enrolment figures, which were 12 from Grade 7 and two indigents. MaScians who are beneficiaries of the SBFP are given what they essentially lack – a balanced meal. As noted in the menu plan prepared by the feeding program teacher, currently Mrs. Cristina Rico, meals provided to the beneficiaries must always include meat or vegetables, a source of carbohydrates, and a fruit. This menu plan is then provided to the Manila Science Teachers

A few aforementioned activities may be unfamiliar to the common MaScian – that is because proper implementation of the entirety of SBFP has not yet been achieved. First and foremost, the dissolution of the Home Economics (HE) department in MSHS left the SBFP lacking in proper management. The Canteen Laboratory, now H11, allowed beneficiaries to eat meals that follow the menu plan under the supervision of a dedicated helper. Now, with the beneficiaries lumped together with the general MaScian populace in being served by MaSciTEC staffers, the tedious guidance expected under such a program is nowhere to be seen. Nobody in the SBFP management – neither the MaSciTEC staffers nor Mrs. Rico – has time to devote to close supervision of the beneficiaries. Additional problems have also arisen in other aspects of the SBFP. The menu plan is, according to Mrs. Rico, not being adhered to. Cooperation between MaSciTEC and the administration must be achieved through compromise. It is necessary for everyone to cooperate in maintaining the integrity of the SBFP. Undernourishment prevails even in the present age of capitalist abundance. Without stringent countermeasures, undernourishment may threaten to reduce productivity and weaken the body’s immune system, leaving us open to harmful diseases.

.Fdissolution irst and foremost, the of the Home

Economics (HE) department in MSHS left SBFP lacking in proper management. and Employees Cooperative (MaSciTEC), whose employees are expected to strictly implement the food guide. Along with a balanced meal, beneficiaries are educated in nutritional awareness through complementary activities such as deworming, food production in the form of Gulayan sa Paaralan (GSP), and waste segregation and composting. These activities aim to imbibe in beneficiaries the necessary nutrition values that are supposed to guide them in their eating habits.

“The food we eat have chemicals and preservatives for a reason and that is to be safe for consumption.” –Mlle. Liberty VERDICT: Out of 381 respondents, 236 said yes and 145 said no. Even though it has been proven that there are dangers in consuming organic food, MaScians still believe that it is still the better option over conventional food.

Local

Do you think implementing a paperless homework and lessons will improve the students’ learning capabilities?

f a c t : Some teachers have set up online classrooms where students pass

their schoolwork, making collecting and grading more efficient for their teachers.

YES 51%

“In a way, paperless homework will aid the students in honing all their skills.” - Patrick XLawrence Countries with higher literacy rates have abandoned the standardized system and we should follow suit. – anna

No 49%

“I think that further explanation and demonstration by the teacher is essential to learning.” – wat IX- Burbank Not all students have a reliable internet connection at home. – Syntax Animatrix 9-Ptolemy

VERDICT: Out of 381 respondents, 193 said yes and 188 said no. More students agree to having online classrooms because of convenience. However, the gap between the two sides is very small.

FAD

Was the orange fruit named after the color orange, or was the color orange named after the orange fruit? “The color was named after the ripe orange fruit. We do not create the color, we just base it from what we see on our environment.” - Pythagoras “Either way, it makes no difference in the world of ideas.” - Glenn “The chicken came first.” Tabula Rosa “Does it matter? Just eat the orange.” - Yasmin

“Will this solve hunger?” - Mint Green

world

“I could make this my research topic.” - Kulot Marianne Hadap Francine Soriano

D Science

Fruit Juice: Juicekolord

What do we have? Kopiko 78: Php 20.00 Barista’s Best: Php 25.00

Coffee:

Puyat no more

Energy Drink:

Weight gain[torade] While you gain relief from drinking energy drinks like Gatorade, you also acquire extra pounds in your body! This thirst quencher contains 50 calories per serving which can be harmful for MaScians who are not physically active because these calories can contribute to weight gain. Not to mention the load of sugar that an energy drink has (heart disease? Oh no!). Too much consumption of Gatorade can also lead to hyperkalemia, a condition wherein the body has an abnormal concentration of potassium. Gatorade: Php 30.00

Iced Tea:

What do we have?

Ayos Tea nga ba?

Smart C+: Just because your drink is called a fruit juice Php 25.00 does not always mean it is healthy for your body! Yes, it may be natural and has lots of vitamins and Fiber Fruit: antioxidants, but this kind of beverage contains a Php 25.00 great amount of sugar (you remember fructose?) and Trop icana: calories as much as a soft drink has, and too much Php 25.00 intake of sugar is not good for your health. It can cause u Mogu: metabolic dysfunction, an increase in your uric acid Mog Php 30.00 levels, and damage to your liver.

This beverage may help us get through our puyat days but it costs our body more than we think. For one, drinking coffee with an empty stomach or drinking it first thing in the morning, is unhealthy. It stimulates hydrochloric acid production which the stomach must only do when digesting large meals. Caffeine and other compounds found in coffee beans can irritate the stomach and lining of small intestines. This can cause abdominal spasms and cramps.

What do we have?

To Write in the Service of Truth CONTEST ISSUE Vol. 53 no. 2

Considered most refreshing of them all! But do you consider iced tea as something dangerous to your health? According to Dr. Mark Mulac, a urologist from Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois, iced tea can cause painful kidney stones. Iced tea contains high concentration of oxalate which contributes to the crystals formed in kidneys.

What’s in

What do we have?

in your

Drink?

T hirsty? There will not be a day in our

lives when we will not have the urge to drink water to satisfy our body needs. But sometimes, for MaScians, water is not enough. For extra money, you will not just have cold and refreshing water to consume but also an energy booster that will help you get through the day! But beware, these beverages have various effects on your body. You may be contented with what you bought but you will never know how it affects your health.

C2: Php 25.00

Nestea: Php 25.00

Chocolate Drink:

Choco- Is it too -late?

Who doesn’t love chocolate? Chocolate drinks are known to have numerous health benefits to those who consume it but that does not mean chocolate drinks do not have negative impact as well. As they say, too much of anything is not good. It contains sugar or refined carbohydrates which can cause spikes in blood sugar. This will make your body resistant to insulin and may potentially lead to Type 2 diabetes.

What do we have?

Choco Chug: Php 30.00

Gaining Momentum

Milo: Php 20.00 (smaller cup) / Php 30.00 (larger cup)

There is no problem drinking these types of beverages for a while but too much consumption can lead to health issues. MaScians should be aware that their health must always come first no matter what. Remember to drink responsibly. -Sofia Delos Reyes

Physics behind Bottle Flips and Pen Spins A

s the latest trends continuously acquire velocity, it is no surprise that a mere bottle and a regular pen have been adopted as the new normal. Now, a water bottle is not only considered as a container to hold beverages to drink, but it has also been included in feats that only extraordinary people could achieve. Flipping a water bottle so that it lands upright on a table or a ground, unfortunately, requires more than just a cup of patience and attention. The same goes for pen spinning, wherein simultaneously pushing the pen

with your middle finger and moving your index finger back off the pen is not the only complication that you could encounter. Despite the challenges, we can still go along with the trend by applying some additional physics concepts learned throughout our stay in MaSci. Without even consulting our lucky stars, assurance from these will remove our hesitancy every time we attempt to perform the aforementioned tricks.

It all begins with a flick of the wrist. Fortunately, well-thought techniques have already been established relating to the physics of the stunt, such as: Filling a water bottle up to about a third allows water to adjust easier to the angular momentum since it can move freely; Applying the knowledge of angular momentum, a concept wherein an object moving will not change its motion unless acted upon by another force; Holding the top of the bottle, and not its body, as to impart the same force that causes the bottle to spin; and Bearing in mind that by the time the bottle is released, the landing will only depend on the water as it is the basis of the slowing down of rate of rotation, as the angular momentum is transferred to it.

Complete cooperation of all of your fingers is the key to success. In order to win, one has to understand that:

Gravity is the only force acting upon this trick as you place your finger close to the pen’s center of gravity;

Applying torque, a tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, begins the rotation; and

Plain kinetic energy and angular momentum, which is stated above, are also applied.

As we become accustomed to the ways of the game, successfully applying these concepts will guarantee triumph. Do not let yourself be fooled by the simplicity of these games, as complex concepts are readily backing them up. -Earlynne Castillo