Contents - Milton Academy

In my Physics class we have such a fun, hands-on approachto the topic we’re learning about. Mr. Sando will have usthrow things against a wall to learn about velocity. He’ll say,“Let’s take some clappers and learn how echoes are made.”It’s much more practical, more real-life, and more excitingthan just the standard read-lab-test tubes-write sort ofmethod.— Kasey Caine, Dedham, MassachusettsClass IIa sampling of courses includesScience in the Modern AgeGeologyHuman Anatomy and PhysiologyMarine ScienceObservational AstronomyEngineering the FutureCosmology and Modern PhysicsGeneticsScience ResearchNuclear PhysicsIssues in Environmental Sciencefrom the milton classroomResources• Inquiry laboratories available tostudents during and after normalschool hours for independent orlong-term projects• Milton Academy’s Ayer Observatory,used by the Astronomy andCosmology electives, the AstronomyClub and the community at large• Boston Museum of Science• New England Aquarium• Blue Hills Reservation, focal pointof the Advanced EnvironmentalScience elective• Harvard Museum of Natural History• Neponset River and Atlanticcoastline• Local university laboratories andscience facilities• Northeastern University MarineCenter, Nahant• Lake O’Hare and wetland,on campusLab Experiments, examples:• Design an experimental protocol tomeasure the rate of production ofoxygen by the enzyme catalase measuredin moles of oxygen per secondusing a Vernier pressure probe.• Using “micro-lakes” analyze thetoxic effect of acid rain.• Pick a variable to measure its effecton the development of sea urchinembryos using a dependent variableof your design.• Using gel electrophoresis and variousrestriction digestions of DNAput together a restriction map of anunknown DNA source.• Isolate and amplify mitochondrialDNA, using PCR, for sequencing.Compare your DNA to the DNA ofother students, other ethnic groups,and other organisms.• Evaluate the percent of baking sodain an Alka-Seltzer tablet, using amethod of the student’s design, torecord carbon dioxide emissions.• Design an experiment to test theeffect of an independent variableof your choice on the period of anobject in uniform circular motion.• Determine the relationship betweenthe intensity of a light source andthe distance the detector is from it.Competitions and Projects• Physics Olympiad• University of New Hampshire ForestWatch• Marine Remotely Operated Vehicle(M.R.O.V.)• Team America Rocketry Challenge• Annual National Oceans ScienceBowl (NOSB)27