So our machine is up and running this past week.
We are using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to measure the Tg or the glass transition temperature and Tni (Transition temperature from nematic to isotropic).
Luckily, most of my samples were already made so I just put them in the machine and every 76 minutes I would put a sample in.
I’ve also had to input all my data into excel and make graphs, which I’m still working on. This reminds me of the ExxonMobile trip we had and how the engineers there said to make sure students know how to use excel if they want to be engineers. In the future, I would like to incorporate use of excel to plot data in chemistry. It makes students analyze the relationship between two variables rather than just passively doing an experiment.
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The field trip was fun even though we didn’t get to tour. It was informational. I attached all the pictures I took. Somehow the pictures are always flipped so you might have to download it to see it correctly and not all pics came out with good quality.
Great pictures! I wish we could have toured the facility, but I look forward to setting up a field trip for my students for spring semester next year.
100% agree that excel is so important! Unfortunately, none of our school computers have excel installed, but I have been trying to teach my kids to use google sheets, which is pretty similar for the most part. My students were so amazed by what google sheets can help them do. I’m planning on creating a cheat sheet of sorts for the most common functions. I’ll be sure to pass it along to you!
You took great pictures! And I agree about excel. I’m learning to use it to compare data and make graphs. Who knew the filter button was so exciting! EEEK! :)-