Saturday, March 28, 2020

Organic Chemistry Courses

Organic Chemistry CoursesA number of undergraduate and graduate programs, at many institutions, are now offering courses in the subject of Organic Chemistry. What is special about the subject is that it is a blend of materials science and the real world of chemistry. The first course is a Ph.D. program in Organic Chemistry that offers a Bachelor of Science in the subject from an accredited institution. An undergraduate course, then, is a three-year program.Upon graduation from a program in Organic Chemistry, students may choose from two programs: a postdoctoral degree or a Master of Science. There are, however, other options, depending on the institution. An option for those with a desire to work with actual chemicals is the opportunity to work in industry, becoming a staff chemist or associate professor. An option for those who would like to pursue a career in research and education is to pursue an undergraduate course in the subject.When you go to a local college, take a look at th e curriculum for the course known as the Honors Program in Stochiometry. In it, you will learn the tools of this and related subjects, which are primarily formula and stoichiometry. The syllabus for the Honors Program in Stochiometry is extensive and rigorous, requiring many hours of study. Since it involves a number of topics, the student should be prepared for a project in organic chemistry as well as a research lab.A master's program in Organic Chemistry is a common choice for those who want to pursue a Ph.D. They will spend a large portion of their academic career in research laboratories. The master's program will also be designed around an area of chemical staining.If you have completed the Honors program in Stochiometry, and wish to continue your studies in the subject, take a look at the curriculum for the Advanced B.S.A. in Stochiometry. This program requires a four-year program, and much more intensive coursework than the Honors program. These four years can also be spent in research or industry.If you are still undecided about which programs to consider, but think the subject of stoichiometry might interest you, you could take an online Organic Chemistry course and learn all you need to know about this subject. Online courses in stoichiometry have become increasingly popular, and this is an easy way to get started. Many students, though, are still hesitant to take such a course, which can be frustrating. It is very easy to learn a few concepts here and there through online courses in stoichiometry, while making the most of the subject.While stoichiometry can make a large contribution to a research or teaching career, it is the subject itself that is the most interesting. Students get to learn about matter and chemical reactions from a great deal of practical experience. If you have taken a look at the curriculum for your undergraduate program in stoichiometry and do not feel you are ready for a Ph.D., there are other opportunities that might be more appropriate for you.

Friday, March 6, 2020

?? Classroom Tech How Virtual Reality is Helping to Bring Learning to Life

?? Classroom Tech How Virtual Reality is Helping to Bring Learning to Life Classroom Tech: How Virtual Reality is Helping to Bring Learning to Life The way that we learn has evolved over time, from philosophers passing on their secrets via word of mouth to the invention of the Gutenberg press and the rise of the World Wide Web.And with the 21st century well underway, tutors and teachers for all age groups have access to a new generation of learning tools that have the potential to revolutionise the field of education.Tech in classrooms is nothing new, and it’s not uncommon for pupils to use laptops and tablet computers during lessons. And, with studies showing that iPads boosted maths scores by 20% and increased pass rates by 49% at separate schools, it’s hard to argue against its efficacy. But iPads and other tablets are only the beginning.A New Generation of Classroom TechOne of the biggest current trends in the tech industry is the rise of virtual and augmented reality. By 2018, it’s predicted that the total number of virtual reality users will reach 171 million, while revenues are set to increase by over 3,000% over fo ur years.And virtual reality isn’t just for gamers â€" it can also be useful in the classroom because it engages different learning styles. Auditory learners learn by listening, visual learners by seeing, and kinaesthetic learners by touching things and interacting with them. Virtual reality is a mixture of all three.In fact, a number of new startups are developing technologies that blend virtual reality and the world we see before us. Most notably, Pokémon Go used augmented reality to become the most downloaded iPhone app in the world in 2016, although it’s only educational if you’re learning how to catch ‘em all.What This Means for PublishersPublishers have always had a responsibility to change with the times, and doubly so when it comes to the field of education. It’s important for publishers to begin with, so that they can continue to innovate for their readers, but the advent of new technology also opens up whole new opportunities for non-fiction books in particular. Virtual reality tools allow educational publishers to blend audio and video with written text, offering the potential for 360-degree views and interactive lessons and tutorials. While the technology is still in its infancy and it’s far from perfect, the potential applications are virtually limitless.The Virtual Reality LandscapeThe VR market is expected to be worth $30 billion by 2020, with 500 million headsets by 2025. 28 million people will be paying for VR hardware and content by 2018, and 200,000 developers have already registered to build games for the Oculus Rift.Luckily, there’s plenty of activity in the education sector, too. Companies like zSpace, Alchemy VR and Immersive VR Education have set up shop, dedicating themselves solely to providing schools with packaged content and teacher training. Google has joined the fray too, providing thousands of schools across the world with a temporary VR kit as part of their Pioneer Expeditions programme.Of course, price will alway s be a barrier for new technology, as schools and educational facilities have to make the most of their limited budgets. But the basic technology doesn’t have to be too expensive â€" as shown by kits like Google Cardboard ($20) and Samsung Gear VR ($99) â€" and it’s likely to become cheaper over time.Immersive Learning ExperiencesThere’s still work to be done before virtual reality becomes as ubiquitous in the classroom as the exercise book, but there are already early signs of the technology’s potential. In the future, we can expect to see truly immersive learning experiences in which a new generation of teachers will be able to bring any subject to life.History teachers can take their students into the middle of a battle. Geography teachers can lead a foray into areas that are inhospitable to human life, and so can science teachers when they talk about other planets. English teachers can introduce students to Shakespeare and Dickens, and Spanish teachers can take their stu dents to Madrid with the flick of a switch.This all signals a fundamental move in the way that we prepare our children for the future. We’re moving away from ‘learning’ a topic and starting to allow kids to ‘feel’ it. This is good news for pupils, because it’s often easier to see and hear something than to have it explained to you. The Future of VR in the ClassroomImagine a school where there’s a field trip every day, only without the stress of loading students into a bus and having to drive them somewhere. When kids get home, the question will change from “what did you do at school today?” to “where did you go at school today?”Teachers will be able to build lesson plans using customisable tools that are developed specifically for that purpose, or they’ll be able to use off-the-shelf software from third-party developers who specialise in the education industry. Whole classes will be able to experience virtual and augmented reality as easily as watching a DVD or visiting a computer room. Meanwhile, haptic feedback and other real-world crossovers will become more common. Companies will develop technology to allow VR users to feel wind, smell the ambience, and even to reach out and interact with virtual objects through real-world gadgets. VR will go from being a promising experiment to a truly immersive experience.A Bright FutureThe more you think about it, the more you start to realise the potential of virtual reality in the classroom. There’s a long way to go before VR becomes truly ubiquitous, and the future of the technology lies in the hands of software and hardware developers, as well as their customers and investors.But while our current technology isn’t perfect, it still has a lot of value, and you’d be wise not to dismiss it out of hand. VR isn’t for everyone, and every student has a different way of learning, but you might just find that it brings subjects alive in a way that nothing else can compare to.About the author This post is written by Marc Defosse, the founder of Ribbonfish. This tech startup provides innovative solutions and consultancy to the publishing and media industries. With a focus on Salesforce Microsoft cloud platforms, the company builds impactful enterprise software for the digital age. Website:www.ribbonfish.co.uk

Help Your Kid Learn to Love Reading and Writing - TutorNerds

Help Your Kid Learn to Love Reading and Writing - TutorNerds 5 ways to help your kid learn to love reading and writing over the summer Reading and writing are one of the most important things children can learn. Students learn these skills at different rates and may need a little bit of time to work on certain elements of reading comprehension or writing during the summer months. These tasks can either seem like a difficult chore or can be a really fun part of a student’s daily schedule depending on how they view reading and writing. There are lots of ways to help kids learn to love reading and writing over the summer so they can be successful during the school year and refine these important building blocks of learning our experienced Los Angeles reading and English tutors will have your kids reading and writing at a higher level. 1. Age appropriate Books and other texts should always be age-appropriate for a particular kid. If they happen to be a little bit behind their current grade level, they may need to read books that are at an easier level but still interesting for a child of their current age. If parents are struggling to find age-appropriate material they should talk to their kid’s classroom teacher or a librarian who can point them in the right direction. If a student is reading books they find to be too childish; they probably wont love reading; the age-appropriate material is a really important element of their improvement. 2. An enjoyable environment Sitting at a desk is not always the most comfortable environment to work on reading and writing skills. Kids might want to study in the kids section of the local library, on a comfy couch, or even outside under a tree in the shade. When kids are more comfortable, they tend to enjoy reading and writing and view it as something positive rather than an obligation theyll try to avoid. 3. Make reading social Reading and writing dont have to be solitary activities. In fact, many students learn better in a social environment where they are encouraged by their peers and can share exciting learning experiences and goals. Younger students might go to story time at a local library or bookstore whereas older students might work on their writing skills at a local coffee shop or café with a few motivated friends. Although its great for reading and writing activities to be social its still important for students to have a quiet enough environment to be able to concentrate on the more challenging aspects of these core subjects. 4. A topic of their choice Students avoid reading because theyre bored or disinterested in a particular topic. If students are going to read extensively over the summer they should be able to pick topics or subjects they are particularly interested in. Kids might be into dinosaurs and adventure books, or they might prefer to read about biographies or nonfiction. Its essential for kids to be able to actively participate in their learning by choosing what theyll read about, so they learn to love reading and education in general. 5. Combine reading and writing Although reading and writing are separate subjects theyre actually heavily intertwined. Kids can learn to love these two subjects by working on them together. Perhaps students can write a summary paragraph after each chapter they read or create a magazine publication about a character in a book they admired. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand and so its important for students to learn where they connect so they can improve both of these important academic skills. Our private Los Angeles reading and English tutors are here to help your kid succeed. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Orange County College Tutor 5 places to study on campus

Orange County College Tutor 5 places to study on campus Tips From an Orange County College Consultant:   5 places to study on campus Students who are settling into their college experience can find it difficult to locate a consistent study spot. It’s important for students to have multiple places they can go and complete homework assignments or study for exams. Additionally, students might want to have a daytime and evening study spot, so they dont have to walk all the way across campus at midnight after an all night, last minute cram session. Some students are on a small campus where they will already feel at home in their new environment while others will be on a huge campus that theyve only just started exploring. 1. The dorm room A dorm room can be an adequate place to study if roommates are out and about but its usually inconsistent. Many students struggle to get a good nights sleep in their bedroom if they also use it as a study space, and so they start venturing out to look for other options pretty quickly. However, studying in a dorm room is a decent option for students who need to pull an all-nighter because they are conveniently at home when its time to call it quits (READ: 5 Things to Avoid the First Month of College). 2. Common room Most dorms have a common room on the bottom floor where students can spread out and get all of their textbooks organized for long study sessions. There are usually plugs for laptops or tablets and couches to make students more comfortable as the hours go by. The common room in a dorm is also a great late-night study location because students only have to walk up the stairs when theyre finished working. Also, common rooms are often near the dining room, which makes it convenient to take a quick lunch or dinner break and then get straight back to studying. 3. The library The library is an ideal place to study when students need to limit distractions. Maybe theyre working on a final draft of an essay or need to study for midterms. Libraries are much quieter making it more difficult for a study group to work together but, at the same time, easier for a student to concentrate if theyre studying solo. Students should remember they can utilize any library on campus even if its not the one meant for their major field of study. If an English major lives right next to the medical library, they can still use the facility to study in peace and quiet. 4. The student center Universities have at least one student center on campus with food, entertainment, and conversation readily available. This is a great place for students to work in a group because they’ll be able to converse easily without disturbing others. Additionally, student centers are often located in the middle of campus so students coming from a variety of different classes can meet conveniently. The down side of a student center is that it’s pretty noisy and often has limited hours so students will need to find a secondary location to study in after hours or when they need to concentrate more. 5. Off-campus study spots Students living off campus find it more convenient to avoid the parking issues within the university environment. Additionally, sometimes students just need to get away and give their full focus to the task at hand. Nearly every college town will have several coffee shops and cafes that are across the street from campus and cater to the student population. Most of these are a reasonable walk or bike ride from the dorms thus students living on campus can get away easily. The downside of off-campus study options is that, if students forget a textbook in their dorm, they have quite a long walk back to retrieve it. Whether youre in college or applying to college, TutorNerds is here to help. Our Orange County private college consultants have a 97% success rate. Call us today for more information.

Tips to Help You Relieve Stress College Edition

Tips to Help You Relieve Stress College Edition Image via. https://pixabay.com/en/runners-silhouettes-athletes-635906/ Go for a Walk/Jog/Run Even if you don’t love to exercise, I highly recommend you start incorporating cardio into your routine. Walking/jogging/running are great ways to clear your head… it helps your health both mentally and physically (talk about killing two birds with one stone). Even if you just do the cardio for 15 minutes each day, I promise you that it will make a difference and that you will end up increasing your cardio time because you will start to see the amazing benefits. If you go to a school where it’s warm enough to be outside, run outside, if not, go on the treadmill. While doing your cardio, either revel in the silence and enjoy the mindlessness of the activity, or listen to an awesome playlist that puts a smile on your face and/or calms you down. Remember to take whatever cardio you decide to do at your own pace and go about it in a way that fits your schedule (don’t work around anyone else’s workout schedules other than your own). Working out with other people can be great, but sometimes working out alone is less stressful and more calming. Image via. https://pixabay.com/en/people-woman-yoga-meditation-2573216/ Go to a Yoga Class People swear by yoga (including many of my close friends). Yoga is a great activity to do early in the morning or at night right before you go to bed because it calms you down and it combines fitness, focus, and an overall sense of self and healthy well-being. Yoga is definitely hard to get into and stay committed to, but it should definitely be a part of your weekly routine. The great thing about yoga is that it is often offered for free at your university’s gym, or local yoga studios will offer you fantastic and financially manageable class packages so that you don’t have to worry about sacrificing your bank account for the benefit of your mental health. Similar to walking/jogging/running, yoga is great for both your mental and physical health and yoga is offered in a variety of difficulty levels so that you know what you’re doing and you don’t hurt yourself. Plus, even though all classes focus on being present in the moment, some classes will be more introspection heavy while others will be more physically straining. Pick which class is best for you! Do Some Meditation Meditating is easier said than done, and I really should practice what I preach because meditation has unreal de-stressing benefits and it doesn’t take much time out of your day. The art of meditating is simple. You sit straight up either on the floor or in the chair, you close your eyes, and you take deep and purposeful breaths. The recommended time for meditation is around ten minutes, but even five minutes of meditation will do wonders for your overall mental well-being. However, if you are like me and have a hard time meditating on your own, there are apps that you can download on your phone that can help guide you through the meditation process: Headspace, The Mindfulness App, Calm, MINDBODY, buddhify, Insight Timer, Smiling Mind, and many more. Most of the apps are free, and you can find out more ample information on them on Healthline. Image via. https://pixabay.com/en/peppers-papria-prepare-red-filled-2990832/ Cook an “Elaborate” and/or Healthy Meal In the past, when I was stressed, I thought that ordering lunch and dinner for delivery would help because it would give me more time to attend to other things (like homework) that I needed to do. However, I found that when I took the time to cook dinner for myself, I felt a lot better and healthier, physically and mentally. The dinner doesn’t have to be the typical elaborate dinner people usually think of, but go on Tasty and find some exciting new and quick recipes. Cooking is extremely therapeutic and there is nothing more satisfying than eating a home-cooked meal. Easy go-to meals that take 30 minutes or less are baked salmon, cut up some rotisserie chicken with rice and veggies, pasta and salad, veggie burgers (you can buy these frozen) with frozen sweet potato fries, and more. Cooking will eventually become a part of your routine and studies show that healthier foods that are cooked at home actually help to create stronger mental health. I hope these tips were helpful. However, if the stress seems to become too much and you are worried about your mental/psychological well-being, either go to your local emergency room or your local university counseling/mental health services or call one of these numbers: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Suicide Crisis Hotline: 1-800-999-9999 Help Finding a Therapist: 1-800-843-7274 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264 You can de-stress and if the stress has driven you to the point of mental illness, I promise that you have a support system… whether that be family, friends, professors, advisors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc. You aren’t alone and you will get through this. Just be sure to take advantage of the suggestions above and the resources I’ve listed if the stress gets to be too much. You aren’t alone and you got this!

Metal Spatula Chemistry - Learn More About Metal

Metal Spatula Chemistry - Learn More About MetalWhen I started studying metal spatulas, I was thinking of improving my ability to grasp the concepts taught by Chemistry. This also enhanced my own Metal Spatula Skills. Through the course of teaching and lab work, I am now very familiar with the basic structure and composition of metal. Not only that, I know more about these metals and their properties, so now it is just a matter of identifying my needs and using my Metal Spatula Skill to fulfill them.For now, you needn't worry if you are not really familiar with Metal. There are many resources that you can find in the Internet for this. The first thing you need to do is to use your imagination and discover the structure and composition of these metals. Based on your results, you can either convert the contents into a mixture or physical forms of the metals, while studying the metal spatulas in the form of its physical form. It is advised that you get involved in the projects so that y ou will be able to master them more effectively.In addition, when you are studying Metal Spatulas, the topic may not give you too much trouble, but it could give you some nightmares as well. For example, when it comes to the metal composition, you need to learn what can it do for you and what it should be used for. This is usually known as Metal Chemistry.How to understand it? When you study this subject, you need to first understand how an element can combine with another element. You have to know how metals are stable and non-stability depending on their chemical composition. You have to know the atoms used in metals. If you are not an expert, you need to brush up your Metal Spatula Chemistry, so that you can use your knowledge to your advantage.On another point, when it comes to the working of metal, you must remember that metals are also elements and the chemical composition of these metals is like that of element. One must be an expert in this field to become successful in this subject. If you are looking for guidance in this field, you may look for resources online. The Internet has a lot of resources that you can use to help you learn metal chemistry. The advantage of the Internet is that you can get advice from experts as well as experts' students.So if you wish to learn Metal Chemistry, you must be aware of the elements used and the characteristics of each element in metal. Through studying your Metal Spatula, you must be sure that you have done all the details. A question comes in when you wish to mix the metals together to make one metal or the other, do you know which type of metal is more stable?Remember that metals are naturally stable. They are highly reactive. If you have mixed together two metals and will try to measure their reactions, then you must be sure that both metals are highly reactive. If one of them is a type of metal, it is referred to as a reactive metal. When one metal reacts with the other, the resultant metal can act more diffi cult than the two metals.

Why its Important to Consider A Fifth Grade Tutoring Service

Why it's Important to Consider A Fifth Grade Tutoring ServiceIf you are looking for a way to improve your reading and writing skills, you may consider a Fifth Grade Tutoring Program. Even if you are in the fifth grade, your teacher may not be the only person that can help you. Reading and writing skills can be learned in the home, with family members, or in private tutoring. Make sure you consider a service before making a decision about tutoring.Reading and writing lessons are important for anyone's education, and those in the fifth grade are especially encouraged to learn these skills. A Fifth Grade Tutoring Service is the best way to meet all your child's needs. It can help to maximize any available social activities, or even combine tutoring with home study time.Some people want to do their reading and writing lessons at home, while others want to learn them in class, but anyone who wants to learn how to improve their reading and writing skills in this age should consider seeking out a tutoring service. Not only can a fifth grade service offer up-to-date reading and writing skills, they can also teach topics that are not covered in regular classes.Students in the fifth grade are often able to focus their attention on their writing ability, but not their reading ability. This can hinder their progress and make it difficult to go on to other subjects. These services can help teach young readers and writers on the basics of reading and writing, as well as practice short stories and dialogue that are used in public speaking.Fourth graders are often interested in making friends and getting along with others, but they are still learning how to think critically. They should also take the time to work on group projects, since this helps them to learn more than just reading and writing skills. Group tutoring can help make it easier for students to learn to read other people's feelings and thoughts, which can be very helpful when it comes to interacting with others. Since so many kids are learning to care for their bodies, exercise and nutrition is another way that they can learn to make changes in their student's life. By introducing them to health in five grades, a good third grade tutoring service can teach them what to do when they are getting a tummy ache, or how to manage their diet. They can learn about how to avoid extra pounds and enjoy new healthy habits.Fifth grade can be a challenging period for young students, but with proper tutoring, students in the fifth grade can have some great memories to look back on. Once they are done with their grades, they can begin planning their college applications, and other adult-related careers.

The Best Tip for Traveling to Spain Isnt What Youd Expect

The Best Tip for Traveling to Spain Isnt What Youd Expect Suzy S. Planning a trip to Spain? Theres so much to explore and see! And if youre on a budget, you can still have an amazing experience. Learn more in this guest post by Carmichael, CA Spanish tutor  Joan B... Are you planning a trip to Spain? Whether you want to cross the must-see destinations off your bucket list, or get off the beaten path and check out some of the hidden gems in Spain, there is so much to explore. Moreover, there are tons of websites out there devoted to offering tips, hacks, and recommendations for making the most of your trip and sticking to your budget. But outside of doing your due diligence to find the cheapest (yet still reputable) hotels, do you know the simplest travel hack of all? This one thing can help you save money in Spain, while helping you have the best experience possible. That trick? Actually learning Spanish!  While you can certainly get by finding tour guides and translators who speak English, a lot can be said for learning the language of the locals. Keep reading to learn all the ways that Spanish will enhance your experience and help you save money in Spain. 1. Impress the Locals Spaniards are fiercely proud of their language, and showing them that you have an appreciation for the Spanish language and have worked to communicate with them in their mother tongue can make a huge difference. Whether its the local shopkeeper who throws in some extra goodies, the owner of a bed and breakfast who gives you a discount, or any other local merchant, you will find that simply by speaking Spanish, others are more likely to be helpful and give you a better deal. 2. Make New Friends When you can converse socially and make someone feel comfortable speaking to you in their language, you can develop long-lasting and meaningful friendships.  Building friendships with locals is one of the best travel tips for Spain, because it will allow you to experience a side of the country you might not otherwise see. They can recommend local places, set you up to stay with friends, and more. With this unparalleled cultural experience, you can save money at the same time! 3. Avoid Confusion at the Register When youre traveling, lots of transactions are made, big and small. Speaking Spanish is very useful in this case because not every clerk and merchant you encounter will speak English. And even if they do, confusion can still occur. Speaking Spanish will save you money because in addition to giving you the ability to read sign descriptions and prices, it will allow you to clear up potential confusion and make sure youre paying the actual price instead of an inflated one for tourists. A common place where this is useful is at the train station. Not every clerk speaks English, so speaking Spanish will ensure that you buy a ticket at the correct price, with the correct departure time and destination. An incorrect ticket can result in lost time and additional fees. SEE ALSO: The Most Common Spanish Phrases for Tourists 4. Stay on the Right Path Another thing that happens often when traveling is that you may rely on the advice and suggestions of people in the street, whether its asking for directions or a suggestion for a cafe or restaurant. Whom you meet often determines where you go, and subsequently, how much you pay. Speaking Spanish ensures that locals can lead you away from overpriced tourist traps, and instead point you in the direction of cafes and restaurants that are frequented by locals. In addition, the act of conversing in Spanish instead of English means that the locals you encounter might be less likely to think of you as a typical tourist and recommend more authentic (and probably better-priced) options. 5. Bargain for a Great Price Bargaining is another area where speaking the native language will come in handy if youre visiting Spain on a budget. If you want to go to places like El Rastro in Madrid (a giant flea market) to pick up souvenirs and gifts, speaking Spanish will allow you to be a more compelling and effective bargainer. You will be taken more seriously and the merchants are  more likely to give you the price you want! Lodging is another point in traveling where cost matters. A common choice in Spain is a pension, a type of local and independent bed and breakfast. Because these are often run by a single person or a couple, you have a chance to interact with the owner. Speaking Spanish will quite possibly net you a lower price in addition to creating a stronger relationship with the person, which could lead to more individualized and customized recommendations for things to do and places to go. Additional Travel Tips for Spain Looking for more travel tips? We recommend checking out these guides: Nomadic Matts Spain Travel Guide Rick Steves Guide to Spain Travel + Leisures Spain Travel Guide Its clear that there are endless ways to save money in Spain by learning Spanish. Many of the problems that come along with being a tourist, such as price inflation, occur because of a lack of savviness. Speaking Spanish will make you a more informed and capable traveler, and it will be obvious to those with whom you interact, as well. So get started today! As you plan your trip to Spain, incorporate some Spanish lessons to make sure youve covered all the basics! Ready to brush up your Spanish? Find a tutor near you! Joan B. lives in  Carmichael, CA  and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. A lover of language, she’s studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.  Learn more about Joan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Clark Kim Kays

Transformers The Practical Science of Electromagnetism.

Transformers The Practical Science of Electromagnetism. Why Transformers are Some of the Most Important Technology We Have. ChaptersWhat is a Transformer?How Do Transformers Work?These days, everything depends on electricity â€" from the tools on which we work to the places where we get our entertainment. Everything seems to be powered and charged, plugged in, connected to the mains.We use electricity literally all the time. And so we take for granted the fact that it comes straight into our house, until it is right there in the wall next to our bed, sofa, or desk.And whilst we no longer appreciate quite how amazing this is as an infrastructure, many of us probably don’t know much about the technology that all this is dependent upon. This is the transformer, a piece of electromagnetic equipment that facilitates electricity’s journey from power station to plug socket.Without it, we’d have none of the things that are so normal in our daily lives. In fact, we’d have nothing electrical in our homes at all.That’s why we need to take the time to learn about these simple little things, these ubiquitous little contraptions. Because without them, we’d still be living in the conditions of the 1820s â€" or thereabouts.This article is part of our series on magnetism and electromagnetism. Because this is the fundamental phenomenon on which power transformers are based. Do you remember what electromagnetism is all about? If not, before you read on, check out our article on the science of electromagnetism.If yes, then let’s crack on. Let’s talk about the power transformer â€" one of the most underrated objects we have.You can find a physics and maths tutor s1 now. We wouldn't be able to transfer electricity without electromagnetism.connections between different circuits are crucial.And this is particularly true when we are talking about circuits that require different voltages. And this is the second major thing that transformers do: they allow the transfer of power from a circuit of high voltage to one of low voltage or medium voltage.This particular fact is really important â€" as you will see.Power Distribution and Power Transfer.But let’s take the role of transformers in power distribution first.Pretty much all electrical power in the world passes through a transformer at at least one point in its life cycle. It is incredibly likely, in fact, that it passes through several. Only the smallest fraction of electrical energy is produced by on-site generators â€" and so doesn’t need to be transferred.And so, transformers play a role in all the energy that comes into the conventional home.Electricity distribution happens on an absolutely mas sive scale â€" crossing countries if not entire continents. Considering that the electrical current has such a long way to travel from the producer to the consumer, transformers are often used to break up the circuit into smaller parts. This allows greater stability in the line â€" and makes it easier to isolate issues.Step Up and Step Down Transformers.The most common use of transformers is in their particular roles as a step-down or step-up transformer. These underpin the functioning of the whole electrical grid â€" and permit the arrival of any electrical energy into your home.Voltage vs Current.This is because the electrical grid works through transmitting electrical currents of extremely high voltages.Things like the National Grid, the electrical transmission network in the UK, can’t really use high currents. Generally speaking, the higher the current, the less efficient the transmission is. With higher currents, more heat is produced â€" and more energy is lost as it is rele ased through the wire.Current is the rate of flow of electrical charge. So, the higher the current, the quicker the electricity passes through the wire. And whilst this is all well and good, so much of the electrical energy is wasted if you transfer it over long distances.Voltage, on the other hand â€" or EMF as it is sometimes known, electromotive force â€" is the potential difference between two different points in a wire. This is the electric pressure that allows the current to flow. In other words, it is the amount of energy that is required to transfer current along a wire. These things are all using magnetic fields.Transforming Voltages.So, electrical grids use incredibly high voltages â€" rather than high currents. But there is an obvious problem with this. Whilst high voltage electricity is much easier and more efficient to be transferred, it is much more dangerous to actually use. Having incredibly high voltages in all our plugs would not be very clever.And so, the grid uses transformers to ‘step-up’ the voltage of the electricity before it is to be transmitted and to ‘step it down’ again afterwards. Before it can be distributed on a local level â€" and before it reaches anyone’s home â€" the voltages need to be hugely reduced, as the voltages in national wires are thousands of times higher than those that your laptop or your kettle could handle.This is happening with all of our electrical energy. So, you can see how important these transformers are for our lives.How Do Transformers Work?Now you know what transformers do. But how do they d o what they do? This is the question to which we need to give an answer now. And you’ll find that that answer is linked entirely to the force known as electromagnetism.Electromagnetism is the interface or combination of electric current and magnetism; these two things are two sides of the same coin. And transformers work by exploiting this relationship.Transformers are really quite simple devices. In their simplest forms, they are two coils of wire around a ferromagnetic core. Imagine this to be a ring of iron, on the opposite sides of which are two windings of copper wire.A current passes through one, and into what we’ll call the primary winding. As the result of the electric charge’s magnetic field, changes in the magnetic flux of the iron core will electrify the secondary winding on the other side. This, quite simply, is the basis of how the ideal transformer would work â€" through this process of what we would call electromagnetic induction.Faraday’s law â€" named after the man who discovered electromagnetic induction, as you’ll see below â€" states that you only need to change the number of coils on the secondary coil and you change the voltage that appears in the second circuit.Faraday and Magnetic Flux.It was Michael Faraday that discovered these principles of electromagnetic induction that have become central to the technology of the transformer.He built himself a little transformer exactly as we just described it above. And, linking one side up to a battery and the other side up to a galvanometer, he noticed that the electrical charge was only present in the secondary wire when â€" and only when â€" he connected and then disconnected the battery.This was the essential part of his discovery. When the electrical current was stable in the first wire, no electricity was observed in the second. What was required was the change in the electrical charge. It was this change that effected the change in magnetic flux in the iron core â€" which permitt ed the transmission of electricity.The Importance of Alternating Current.This discovery informs the way that transformers work today. As they only work with alternating current â€" as opposed to direct current.Whereas direct current is a stable current that only travels in one direction, alternating current â€" or AC â€" continually changes direction. This produces the change to the magnetic flux that permits the transfer of electrical current across the transformer â€" or, in other words, that permits the induction of electricity in the secondary wire.Without this variability of the magnetic field in the transformer, there could not be any transfer of electricity at all. Compasses use the same physical principle as transformers.The Importance of Electromagnetism.Michael Faraday made this discovery back in the 1830s. And, although there have been attempts to make the process simply more efficient, the fundamental principles of the transformer have not changed one bit â€" and nor will they ever.This is why the transformer testifies to the fact that electromagnetism is one of the most important discoveries in the history of our world.So, you better make sure you learn it.