shhs magazine - South Hampstead High School

SHHS Interiors:Layout 1 12/06/2011 22:04 Page 35good second best. 3D glasses were distributed aswe entered the room, and we watched as the greenand red images became one 3D sun, slowly rotating.This lecture focused mainly upon solar flares, theability to predict them and their potential effect onthe Earth. Slightly worryingly, we discovered that alarge amount of solar activity is predicted for thesummer of 2012 and could possibly knock out theworld’s power network for the duration of theOlympics.Our fourth lecture was fascinating and beautiful,a laser show provided by the University ofSouthampton. This lecture taught us about reflection,refraction and diffraction. We were shown howlasers could be made to dance in pairs (to the tuneof Jingle Bells, rather appropriately as it wasDecember), gliding effortlessly across the ceiling.We were also shown how an electric guitar couldcontrol the lasers and saw beautiful patterns createdby lasers in a water tank.We were slightly apprehensive about thefinal lecture of the day, programmed to be aboutmaking a cup of tea but actually, it turned out to beinteresting once again. The lecture was not in factabout insulation and conduction as one might predictbut focused on diffraction patterns (in tea bags)and whether one should add milk before or afterthe tea. We all sat, attentive and content, while thelecturer jumped about all over the stage holding alarge outdoor bin and producing giant smoke rings.Overall, the day turned out far more enjoyably thanpossibly first expected.Ellie H, Year12mathsMaths Lectures at the Institute ofEducationImagine you see a point appear in the sky whichbecomes larger, becomes a cube and then narrowsdown to a point again. This is what we would see ifa 4D object fell into our 3D world. The 4th dimensionwas one of the subjects of the four lecturesthat Year12 Maths and Further Maths studentsattended at the Institute of Education at the end ofthe Autumn Term. The best moment of all of thelectures has to be being shown the completelybewildering images of 4 dimensional objects. Wealso had a lecture about the importance of primenumbers: by multiplying prime numbers togetherwe can develop codes which are as yet unbreakable.This is very important for spying and also letsus carry out secure internet transactions. We thenhad lectures on irrational numbers and a lecture onMaths and Psychology demonstrating how gametheory and statistics can predict human behaviour. Itwas a thoroughly enjoyable day and allowed us toexplore different areas of Maths.Mariana C, Year 122009-2011 School Magazine 35