The TOPS Program, located at Marc Garneau C.I. (Toronto, ON), is a special high school program for students interested in enrichment in the maths, sciences, and language arts. TOPS offers a strong leadership program and encourages students to reach their utmost ability.
What happens when two vehicles collide? The Grade 11 Physics class answered this question in their latest lab. Using motion sensors, carts, and a rail, the students were able to simulate elastic and inelastic collisions; and explosions. It was definitely a striking conclusion to their unit on impulse and momentum.
The TOPS grade 10 science class inhaled deeply as they dove into the breathtaking world of respiratory, digestive, and other body systems, much of it in preparation for a frog dissection later in the semester. This week, they finished examining the enzymes, processes, and organs involved in digestion and respiration, including connections between the two systems.
Have you ever wanted to find the rate of change for a raindrop which has fallen into a puddle? Well, neither did we, but this week Ms. Chan’s AP Calculus class looked into the wonderful world of related rates! Related rates are math problems which involve at least two variables that change at the same time. Students solved various world …
This week, the Grade 12 TOPS Chemistry class tackled titrations: learning about acid-base equilibrium, salt hydrolysis, buffer solutions, and more. Students performed multiple experimental trials using all sorts of indicators and substances such as THAM, otherwise known as C4H9O3NH2. Doing the labs definitely lifted everyone’s spirits: it was clear (like some titrated solutions) that no one was left feeling (bromothymol) …
The grade 9 TOPS science class is back with another laboratory experiment. This time, they’re super sleuths testing for the presence of chloride, sulfate, and iron (III) ions. By combining unknown solutions with known ones, students can determine the identity of the mystery ion based on its reaction, or lack thereof. Will this solution stay clear, turn white, or turn …
Can we see DNA with the naked eye? This week Ms. Hermanovsky’s Biology class conducted their genetics lab! Students were given strawberries to extract DNA from. They pulverized the strawberries, added a salt + dish soap solution to break down the cell wall and cell membrane, and added ice-cold alcohol to form a precipitate to make the DNA visible. There …
