The Trinity Inquirer - April 2024

The Trinity Inquirer

Founded August 27th, 2020

Contents:

- Biden vs. The World - NewsPage 1

- Powerlifting Club - Clubs & Societies

- Tunneling to the Centre of the EarthPages 3-4

-How good are airport codes?Opinion - Page 5

- The Problem with Big WordsOpinion - Page 6

- The Short and Tall of It - OpinionPages 7-8

- Challenge Yourself - CompetitionsPage 9

Puzzles - Page 10

Contributors:

Biden vs. The World

News

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked concerns about the questionable humanitarian processes employed by both parties. However, a less prevalent discussion is that of the economic ramifications of the conflict and the impact this has on everyday Australians.

Following the invasion, myriad countries implemented sanctions against the Russian Federation, isolating the world’s second largest oil producer from global supply chains. Unable to purchase oil from Russia, countries were forced to look elsewhere for their supplies, often having to pay a premium. The increased cost in crude oil was passed onto consumers – the average price of unleaded petrol in Australia surged well above $2 a litre. As the cost of living continued to increased, this served as another financial blow to many Australian citizens. Page 2

Jack Lauder, Adi Thakur, Eason Yang, Mason Miric, Scott Jin, Mrs Angela Kotsiras, Sage Lingam, Gus King

SAUDI ARABIA’S ROLE

Many countries turned to the 13-member Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to source their oil. Considering the intense oil shortage induced by Russia's departure from global supply chains, it was expected that OPEC would increase oil production to ease the burden of rising inflation across many countries. However, this is a far reach from what occurred Instead of increasing production, OPEC, in particular Saudi Arabia, sided with Russia and refused to increase oil production, causing prices to sky rocket even further.

Saudi Arabia’s reduction in oil production was feigned as means of stabilising the market, however, it is clear and unsurprising that the true motive is a desire to increase revenue. Saudi Arabia’s actions mark a turn in the countries relationship between the West and, more specifically, the United States. Under President Trump the relationship between the two countries thrived; indeed, when Donald Trump was facing midterm with high oil prices at the forefront of many citizens minds, he simply requested for Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, a request with which they complied. Analogously, during the 2020 US election season, Trump requested that the Saudis reduce oil supplies to protect the struggling US shale industry, and, once again, they complied.

In stark contrast to the prior cooperation between the US and the Saudis, Biden's ongoing calls for an increase in oil production by OPEC are going unanswered. Undoubtedly, the deterioration in the relationship was spurred by the crown princes potential involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In solidarity with humanitiarian organisations, Biden openly condemned the Saudi’s actions and refused to meet with the crown prince. But as everyday people continue to battle with the increased cost of living it begs the questions – Is Biden’s defiance really worth it?

Putin and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Powerlifting Club

Clubs & Societies

Recently, Gus King caught up with Mason Miric, leader of the iconic TGS Powerlifting club, to gain insight into the clubs operation and what the future is looking like.

Gus: So what is the deal with the Powerlifting club?

Mason: The powerlifting club is group of boys who drive each other to greatness. Lifting as much weight as possible in the school gym or putting on muscle mass. It is all about getting around each other and competing to beat each other in lifts. The deadlift event is a showcase of dedicated work from several year 12s over the course of many years of training.

Gus: How did it start, how did you get into lifting and why do you do it?

Mason: The powerlifting club started last year, with an OTG, I have now taken over for the better. Lifting is a journey, and getting into it required immense discipline, a challenge year 9 me had not experienced prior. Lifting is something that you cannot cheat, no parents money, no natural intelligence, no way to fast track it, just raw, persistent determination that gives a result only you can achieve, which is what I love about it so much.

Gus: Do I need to be big to get into powerlifting?

Mason: Contrary to popular belief size does not equal strength. Powerlifting is about putting up as big of a number on the squat bench and deadlift, rather than building the most muscle. Strength is superior to size anyway, at least in my opinion.

Gus: How long will it take me to be as big as Mr Hong?

Mason: Considering Mr. Hong’s 140cm frame, it would take about a week to amass that much size. But in all honesty, several years of hard work and diligent training, both at the gym and in the kitchen will allow you to surpass the Hong’s immense strength.

Gus: What does the future of the club look like, will we be seeing any more public competitions like the deadlift last term?

Mason: The future of the club will very likely have more public competitions at lunchtime, involvement from teachers as well as more student competitions, and 1-2 trainings a week, where everyone gets around each other and lifts heavy weight. Also, if there is enough participants, going to an outside of school event to compete against other people your age!

Gus: For all the readers, how does one join this fantastic club?

Mason: Chuck me an email at 617722@trinity.vic.edu.au , with your name, year level, and your level of experience.

Gus: And last words, last promotions?

Mason: Powerlifting or building muscle in general is a challenging thing to do, but no matter what your body type is, or what experience you have, everyone can benefit from joining this, whether it fuels your competitiveness, or you simply want to push your limits, there is a place for everyone.

Tunneling to the Centre of the Earth Science

Part I: The misconceptions

For millennia, the centre of the earth has had important religious and mythological purposes. The ancient Greeks believed it to be the place where Tartarus, their version of hell, while Vikings thought it was an icy land. Even in the 1800s, explorers attempted to find portals in the north pole that led to the core of the earth.

Clearly, reaching the centre of our planet is fascinating idea, leading to many films and novels about tunnelling to the core.

A common theme amongst these stories is their ideas about gravity. You’ve probably heard about the formula for gravity, which says that gravitational attraction increases as an object gets closer to another object: F=G Mm/r^2

Seemingly, as we move toward the centre of the earth, the strength of gravity would increase. This would peak right before the actual middle of the earth, and then drop to zero at the centre, because in the actual centre, the earth’s gravity on opposite sides would cancel each other out.

But after a little think, this idea doesn’t quite make sense. Why would gravity rise to its absolute peak just before the middle, and then suddenly drop to zero? Why should this change be so sharp?

The true effect is strange, but far more interesting.

Part II: The actual effect and shell theorem

Remember how we said that at the centre of the earth, the attraction of each half of the earth should cancel?

The same thing happens when we are partway down the sphere. Each part of the earth attracts you in a different direction, and these end up cancelling each other out.

In the 19th century, a slightly obscure guy who you might have heard about, called Isaac Newton, published his theory of universal gravitation. In the same book, he derived the two shell theorems. The first states that in a hollow, spherical shell, the force of gravity is exactly zero, no matter where you are.

For example, in the following spherical shell, the people at the blue dot or the red dot would feel no gravity and float around! (Assuming the shell is 3D.)

Tunneling to the Centre of the Earth

Science

The second theorem states that a person outside a spherical shell would feel a gravitational pull equivalent to if the entire shell’s mass was concentrated at a point.

The earth certainly isn’t a hollow shell, but we’re not that far off. By stacking multiple shells together as shown:

And doing some algebra, we get a graph of force versus radius, like this:

Part III: Implications

Where the dashed line represents a radius inside the earth, and the solid line represents a radius outside the earth.

The force of gravity inside the earth follows a very nice, linear trend!

Whilst there aren’t really any plans to drill to the middle of the earth (yet!), the shell theorem is still applicable in various contexts.

You might have wondered why, in science class, you calculated the attraction between planets with Newton’s force of gravity theorem, even though the planets are not actually points and some parts of the planets are closer than others.

But it turns out that planets are very nearly spherical. Using the second shell theorem, then, the resultant attraction force between planets is the same as the force if they were points!

In Newton’s time, this theorem caused an uproar, mainly because of religious reasons: Hell could not be in the centre of the earth, because the fire and brimstone would be floating around.

-Eason Yang

How Good are Airport Codes?

Opinion

How good are airport codes?

Whether you like it or not, you probably have experienced flying in an aluminium can high above in the air. With nothing to entertain you except the 20-year-old inflight entertainment shows, you look down at your ticket. Having giant letters in bold like MEL, MEB or MLB. You ponder, who named these and why?

The IATA code system, used for large airports, is made up of 3 letters based on the first 3 letters of the airport name. It is organised by the International Air Transportation Association, an independent aviation agency. This agency makes 3 letters to identify every large airport in the world, from commonly used airports (JFK) to less used airports (LEM). The IATA code helps you purchase tickets in other countries when you don’t understand their languages, just remember your 3 letters. Making it easier for not only you but the ground crew trying to *not* lose your bags.

So, say I wanted to fly to Nashfield in the U.S, I would ask for the IATA code NAS. And then hop on a plane all the way to Nashfield the Bahamas. This is because NAS was taken by Nassau International Airport which claimed the code first, thus Nassau was named NAS. IATA not only allocates codes but also coordinates individual airport preferences but also aviation agencies in different countries. However, the IATA isn’t the only code system, in the U.S the FAA has their own 3 letter codes. Unlike the IATA code system, the FAA prefers commercial airports not to use certain codes that begin with the letters NQWKZ. However, other countries exist, and these guidelines are only precedence and not laws thus these restricted codes are used anyway.

Megacodes are codes that cover entire areas, for example, if I wanted to go to London. Instead of entering the code for London Heathrow airport, I could just enter the megacode LON which will find me an airport in the greater London area, even though they are an hour apart. Some other codes are NYC for New York and MOW for Moscow.

Having 3 letters in the IATA code offers 17 thousand options, so… the number of airports but the number of airports is 40 thousand. All these airports couldn’t possibly fit, now it is time to introduce you to a different code system, ICAO, made by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. They might seem alike, but ICAO covers all aerodromes which is a technical term for any runway, this might be the world’s busiest airport to rarely used runways on ranches. The ICAO system has 4 letters which give 456 976 options, ICAO utilises this freedom by making the space between letters 1 and 2 include location data. The first letter is roughly where on earth it is like S for South America, U for USSR which is now Russia and J for Mars, with only one airport code JRZO which stands for Jezero crater. Thus, for one airport, there might be 3 codes.

In conclusion, there are different airport code systems, but the primarily used one is IATA. So don’t mistype your airport codes and land in Mexico when you were supposed to go to Australia.

- Scott Jin

The Problem with Big Words Opinion

No one likes writing essays. They’re a mad rush to cram as many words as possible onto a page in a tiny amount of time, while trying to make out that you understand what you’re writing about. All of this writing, thinking, and getting distracted by the noisy conversation happening outside the classroom consumes valuable time that can’t afford to be wasted. Big words only make this problem worse. There are a huge amount of words in the English language to choose from, and using an excessively long and complicated one wastes time that could instead be used to write multiple smaller words to much more effectively convey your point.

To prove the time wasted due to the use of big words, I designed an experiment with features often seen in SIS tests, such as not having enough lines to write my conclusion, control variables and repeat trials. In the experiment, I measured the time taken to write seven synonyms of varying lengths: big, huge, large, massive, colossal, voluminous, and Brobdingnagian. The graph of the results below illustrates the almost perfect correlation between word length and writing time:

There is almost nothing more satisfying than having more than two minutes to write a conclusion at the end of an essay (apart from finishing an essay right at the end of the page), and by omitting big words, there will be plenty of time to write a conclusion.

Big words are not only pointless in essays, but also in speeches. How many times have you been sitting at assembly or presentation night while certain people (not wanting to name any names (although let’s be honest everyone can think of a person guilty of this)) are reading out their unbelievably long speech, and been completely lost due to the obscure words they are using? A speech is about getting a point across quickly, not a competition to see who can use the longest word. Long and obscure words only detract from your point, as every word that the audience does not understand is a pointless word, and therefore a waste of time. These big words also increase the time that it takes to get your point across to the audience, and time is precious in speeches. Most people can barely pay attention to a speech for 30 seconds, let alone the minutes that your speech will take if you use unnecessarily long words.

Knowing long and obscure words is pointless for another reason. You are never going to use them in your life, except when trying to make yourself pointlessly sound smart in essays and speeches. Imagine if, on the nightly news, the newsreader said “Recent elucidation: Erudite scholars, ensconced within sanctums of scientific inquiry, have unveiled prospective paradigm shifts in oncological therapeutics, proffering auspicious vistas for humanity's beleaguered brethren” (side note: if chatgpt becomes the newsreader we are going to have to revert to messenger pigeons). No one would know what they meant, as the majority of people have better things to do with their time than memorising the definitions of thousands of useless words.

Big words are a completely pointless burden on society, and as such, they deserve no place in essays and speeches

-Jack Lauder

Graph of word length against writing time

The Short and Tall of It Opinion

In the grand tapestry of life, where every inch counts, one question stands tall (or not-so tall, depending on your perspective): Is it better to reach for the stars or remain closer to the Earth? Yes, we are diving straight into the age-old debate of tall versus short but fear not folks, for we are taking a light-hearted journey through the heights and depths of this amusing dilemma. But beyond the stereotypes of sky-high titans and pocket-sized dynamos, lies a spectrum of human heights, each with its own set of advantages and quirks.

Did you know that the average human height has been increasing over time? Scientific research has suggested that better nutrition and healthcare are contributing factors. Interestingly, some cultures throughout history have associated height with a different perspective.

The Vikings valued tall warriors, while the ancient Egyptians saw shorter pharaohs as closer to the gods.

Health considerations come into play as well. Short stature presents no scientific disadvantages, but some studies suggest a higher risk of certain conditions like osteoporosis. Conversely, tall stature suggests risks of back pain, joint-related ailments, and certain cancers being more common in taller individuals.

The psychology of height is intriguing. Studies have suggested that height, a number on the doctor’s chart, can affect people socially, with both individuals can experience a sense of insecurity and pride. However, confidence and self-belief can overcome height-related stereotypes.

Around the world, there's a noticeable variation in height due to genetics, nutrition, and environmental factors. The Netherlands boasts the tallest average population, while Indonesia ranks on the shorter side.

Looking to the future, genetic engineering offers a hypothetical possibility of influencing height. Additionally, as awareness of human height variation grows, architects and designers are starting to consider creating spaces that are more universally comfortable.

First let’s put our spotlight on the vertically gifted individuals, who navigate the world with their heads held high – literally, they have a built-in advantage in spotting that elusive cereal box on the top shelf. They excel at sports which requires height like basketball or volleyball and can often see over a crowded concert venue. In the realm of nicknames, tall individuals might be affectionately called “skyscraper or “beanstalk”.

Viking warrior's were notoriously tall

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun

The Short and Tall of It

Opinion

However, they also face the perpetual challenge of ducking through “head- bouncer doorways. Also, airplanes? Torture chambers for the vertically blessed. Finding clothes that fit? A constant struggle.

Studies even suggest a correlation between height and increased earning potential but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Short people, fear not! Your stature is a superpower in disguise. The pocket-sized wonders, enjoy the cozy embrace of legroom in every seat, yet they might need a ladder just to grab a jar of peanut butter from the top kitchen cabinet.

Picture this: The struggle of short folks at concerts, like watching a game of peek-a-boo through a sea of bobbing heads. Yet, the pocket-sized marvels have mastered the art of weaving through crowds like pint-sized ninjas, making their way to the front row with stealth and determination. In the realm of nicknames, shorter people might embrace endearing terms like "fun-sized" or "pocket dynamo."

Height doesn't define who you are. Whether you're reaching for the stars or comfortably nestled into a low chair, remember, height is just one detail in the rich tapestry of who you are. Embrace your stature, celebrate the diversity it brings, and maybe use it to your advantage!

Think about the famous short and tall characters in movies and TV. Short kings like Tom Cruise manage to be action heroes, while tall women like Gwendoline Christie slay dragons in Game of Thrones. Height doesn't define who you are!

After all, the real winner in this tall vs. short saga is the one who can laugh at life's eccentricities, no matter their altitude.

-Adi Thakur

Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Hart

Challenge Yourself

Competitions & Challenges

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

Calling all young poets! Join the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards to express yourself through verse. Write a poem, record a video, and share your passion. This is your chance to shine in literature!

Learn more at https://dorothea.com.au/

Boroondara Literary Awards Young Writer’s Competition

Enter the Young Writer's Competition, a platform to showcase your prose and poetry talents. Organised by Boroondara Council and Rotary Club of Balwyn, this literary award celebrates creativity. Don't miss your chance to shine!

For more details, visit: https:// www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/about-council/awards/ boroondara-literary-awards/enter-boroondaraliterary-awards

The Australian Science Olympiads

The Australian Science Olympiads offer motivated students staged competitions to explore scientific concepts deeply.

With the aim of selecting the national team for the International Science Olympiads, the program fosters excellence.

For more details, visit: https://www.asi.edu.au/ program/australian-science-olympiads/

University of Melbourne Micro Mathematicians Enrichment Program

Discover Micro Mathematicians – an exciting opportunity for advanced students in grades 5 to 10!

Engage in free workshops exploring diverse mathematical topics, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

For more details, visit the University of Melbourne's Mathematics and Statistics Outreach:

https://ms.unimelb.edu.au/engage/outreach/ micro-mathematicians?_nocache

The David Dodson Institute for Public Speaking Excellence

Enhance your public speaking skills with the David Dodson Institute for Public Speaking Excellence! This program, which is run at school, offers a supportive environment for students to gain confidence and refine communication abilities. Available only in Term 2, sessions are held Monday mornings before school. Don't miss this opportunity to become a more effective communicator. Enrol now!

If you would like to be involved in any of the above competitions or enrichment programs, please email Mrs Angela Kotsiras at KotsirasA@trinity.vic.edu.au, to assist you with registration, resources and mentors.

Want to Write for the Inquirer?

We’d love this magazine to truly reflect the thoughts and ponderings of the inquiring minds of students across the school, and the depth of intellectual and cultural life here at Trinity. With this in mind, we are keen to accept Op-Eds, letters, freelance pitches/articles or even feature story content suggestions from any and all students. (That means you!)

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please reach out to us at 616605@trinity.vic.edu.au (Sage Lingam) or 630011@trinity.vic.edu.au (Gus King).

Links and Sources:

Page 1, Biden vs The World: https://media.defense.gov/2019/Oct/07/2002191381/-1/-1/0/191007-D-BD104-001.JPG

Page 5, How Good are Airport Codes :

Image 1: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.r8ycM20EsaOUFC5WnuDRwwHaE8?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain

Image 2: https://cdn.sculptform.com.au/app/uploads/2021/04/15105227/Melbourne-Airport-masthead-600x398.jpg

Page 7, The Short and Tall of It:

Image 1: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/91/3d/94/913d94adf56cae40136b08637e73fb6a.jpg

Image 2: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.KTXpilDlEEgEy5KuvLYlzQAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain

Page 8, The Short and Tall of It:

Image 1: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kuh153BquITRF9TYEQsjOicsQ75FDZvqirZ-H1Y-7BEY_0pLcow-ytJpbQt9w_Ynm_V1FGqgEN9V_3r66Bg7A=s512

Image 2: https://fadeawayworld.net/.image/t_share/MTkyNzAxNTc4NTMxMDU0NjIx/shaq-hart.jpg

Front Cover: Image edited from https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~csk/hat/