Babette’s Feast and the Power of Art Essay Example for Free

Babette’s Feast and the Power of Art Essay When all deadlines are met and time is out in my favor, one can usually find me sitting comfortably on the couch with a bowl of popcorn on one hand and a remote control on the other. Watching movies has always been one of my favorite leisure. Although I try to see films from different parts of the world as much as I can, perhaps like the many others who belong in my generation, Hollywood movies are always top of the list. Seldom do I find fascination with other international productions especially European ones. They are slow-paced, often more serious and â€Å"less entertaining† than those produced in Hollywood. However, watching the Danish film â€Å"Babette’s Feast† made me reconsider and view European films with a different lens – one with a little more appreciation and interest. While the slow pacing is inherent to this kind of cinema, they also present a different style and meat altogether, leaving more room for its audience to think rather than just instant gratification offered by most American movies. This is very evident in Babette’s Feast. In its subtlety and simplicity, together with the use of brilliant metaphors and symbolisms, it was able to uncover the transforming power of art with beauty and sophistication. Babette’s Feast tells the story of two pious sisters whose lives were changed by their French servant, who was apparently an unspoken artist, Babette. One of the images that constantly reappear all throughout the movie, especially in the beginning, is the image of the dried fish. This symbolizes the life of Martina and Philippa and perhaps even those in the community who was devoted to the preaching of their father that to attain salvation, one must deprive himself all physical or worldly pleasures including food. They lived a life of unhealthy simplicity and unreasonable meagerness. Their simple and puritan way of living is so extreme that it has become dreary and ironically â€Å"lifeless†, like a dried fish in contrast to the delectable meal of Babette in the end. Another powerful symbolism is Babette’s washing of the window from the outside. It speaks to me as if Babette was trying to show the sisters what they have been missing for the longest time. Their world and their lives are similar to the dirty windows Babette were washing – dark and clouded by their austere beliefs. Because of the hyperbolic focus on spirituality, they were blinded from the beauty and joy of the outside world, from the other things that life has to offer including the love from men they rejected when they were young. Through Babette’s feast, which they initially refuted as they believed it was sinful, the sisters were opened to a new world from which they were hiding, to a reality where â€Å"righteousness and bliss [..] kiss†, where the spirit and the flesh are both nourished and nurtured without choosing or isolating one from the other. This reconciliation is symbolized by the candlelight snuffed out in the end. Aside from Babette’s art which is the sumptuous food she prepared very well, another integral element that played a significant role in the transformation of the sisters and the other members of the congregation is the character of General Loewenhielm, one of the sisters’ ex lover. If the sisters lived a deprived life, a deprivation not of accident but of choice, the general was at the other end of the spectrum. He symbolizes everything the sisters were not – luxurious and powerful. He enjoyed a life of abundance and glory. Because of this background, the general honestly and wholeheartedly enjoyed the feast while the others remained skeptical, refusing to surrender to their delight of the food. It was also the general who had this realization that there is joy both from bodily and spiritual nourishment, as he was dumfounded to partake in such kind of dinner in an unexpected place, considering it then as a grace and blessing from the heavens. All in all, Babette as an artist was successful. Like a masterpiece that brings joy to its audience, her feast was able to transform and bring love and happiness on the table, to the people who received her art. And this is what is meant by her statement, â€Å"an artist is never poor.† Her talent, which was able to transcend the material, and her ability to do her very best, is her wealth. Indeed, art has a very strong power to transform. Not only did Babette’s art transformed the characters in the story but the movie itself, as a form of art, was able to transform its viewers, me included. It may not be able to provide the â€Å"fun† from the thrilling and idealistic yet shallow plot of Hollywood movies but it was able to deliver something deeper and more delicate, something worthy of admiration and appreciation.

Economic freedom Essay Example for Free

Economic freedom Essay Does economic freedom help explain why the standard of living improves in some countries and declines in others? First of all we have to understand, what economic freedom is? Economic freedom according to William W. Beach and Tim Kane, PhD. â€Å" Economic freedom is that part of freedom that is concerned with the material autonomy of the individual in relation to the state and other organized groups. An individual is economically free who can fully control his or her labor and property. † (Taken from 2007 Index of economic freedom chapter no.3 by William W. Beach and Tim Kane, PhD). Or in simple words we can also say that everybody in his or her own country is said to be economically free, if their respective government protects their rights in every possible way and without any constraint. i.e. if an individual wants to learn anything, to do any kind of business or wants a job, then, he or she has a right to do that, while it is the responsibility of the government to make it convenient and possible for them. The first study of economic freedom was published in the year 1995, and it was improved over the years. There are about ten different types of economic freedoms, which are known as index of economic freedoms. The main purpose of defining these freedoms is to rank the countries in order to pave the way for foreign investment. Following is the list of ten economic freedoms: (taken from 2007 Index of economic freedom from chapter no.3 by William W Beach and Tim Kane, PhD). 1) Business freedom: To check the status of starting, operating and closing any business in how much time. 2) Trade freedom: To check the barriers and constraints in tariffs, import and export in the country. 3) Monetary freedom: To check the measure of price stability and how governments are controlling the prices, inflation etc. 4) Freedom from government: To check either state is providing public goods with minimum expenditure or not. 5) Fiscal freedom: To check the burden on the government with respect to revenue side. 6) Property rights: To check whether the public have keeping the private property rights, defined and secured by the laws, and are clearly defined by the government. 7) Investment freedom: To check whether the government deserves to have the foreign investment or not. 8) Financial freedom: To check the operation of financial institutions i.e. banking systems; are they out of government control or not. 9) Freedom from corruption: To check the status of corruption in the society, i.e. in the business system, judiciary, and administrative system in the country. 10) Labor freedom: To check the status of growth of labor and business either they are working without government interruption or not. (Taken from 2007 index of economic freedom from chapter no.3 by William W Beach and Tim Kane, PhD). Each one of the ten freedoms is measured on a 0-100 percent scale, 100 as the maximum freedom while 0 is the least or minimum freedom. The study of economic freedom was conducted on about 157 countries of the world. To show how it works, I choose two countries that are North Korea and South Korea. North Korea has a communist form of government and is ranked at no.157 in the index of 157 countries, its economy is 3% free. It has exports of $1.3 billion, it exports: minerals, metallurgical products, manufacturing (including armaments), textiles, fishery products etc. and imports of   $2.3 billion, it imports: petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textile grains etc. In communist form of government every asset in the country belongs to the state, therefore there is no business freedom i.e. 0 % (in 0-100 % scale) in N. Korea. Also government controls all the imports and exports so trade freedom i.e. 0 % is also nil. No data on income or corporate taxes is available so fiscal freedom i.e. 0 % is also zeroed. Also government owns all the property including businesses therefore freedom from government i.e. 0% is also nil. No publicly record of inflation data therefore monetary freedom i.e. 0% is also zero. Also no private financial sector, therefore financial freedom i.e. 0% is also nil. Wages and incentives are also controlled by government therefore labor freedom i.e. 0% is also nil, also corruption is heavily present in the country so corruption freedom i.e. 10% is also negligible, but there is some investment freedom i.e. 10%, after the opening of foreign investment zone in the far remote area of rajin sonberg where basic facilities are also not provided till date. The government does not cover property rights i.e. 10%, so they are also negligible.   (Taken from 2007 index of economic freedom from chapter no.5). While South Korea has democratic form of government and it is ranked at no.36 out of 157 in the index of economic freedom, and its economy is 68.6% free. S. Korea has export of $299.2 billion, it exports: semi conductors, wireless telecommunication, equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships and petrochemicals etc. It has imports of $269.8 billion, it imports: machinery, electronics, electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport, organic chemicals and plastics etc. As South Korea has democratic form of government, in that form, the government tries every possible effort to please its citizens, therefore starting, operating and closing the business in that country is relatively easy, there is a lot of business freedom i.e. 83.1% present in the country. S. Korea as compared to N. Korea has good trade freedom i.e. 64.2% present but there are some restrictions in its some activities like import, non-transparent regulations and standards etc. S. Korea has high income tax rate of about 38.5% and relatively low corporate tax of about 27.5%, so we can say that it has a good fiscal freedom i.e. 0-100 bracket it has about 81% free. After the foreign investment promotion act of Nov 1998 the government opens the doors to foreign investment in almost every sector except media, electric power and some agricultural sectors, and also residents and non residents can now holds foreign exchange accounts, so there is a lot of investment freedom i.e. about 70% free. The private property right i.e. 70% is secure by the government; corruption i.e. 50% is present at some extent in the country. The labor i.e. 57.7% market is working under restrictive employment regulations due to which employment and production growth rate is very low. Government interference in private sector is negligible, so freedom from government is 81.5%. The government regulates the prices in some sectors like agriculture, telecommunication and other utilities, which monetary freedom 79%, the government in retained some ownerships, second largest domestic bank is under them, which makes the financial freedom about 50% free. (Taken from 2007 index of economic freedom from chapter no.5).   In short economic freedom in South Korea is much superficial than North Korea, and it is mainly due to democratic and communism forms of governments, democratic people are enjoying the fruits of freedom while others do not.

An Analysis Of Woman Hollering Creek English Literature Essay

An Analysis Of Woman Hollering Creek English Literature Essay Thesis: Sandra Cisneross Woman Hollering Creek is an excellent example of a conflict with a family that has to endure a family member is abuse. This short story begins with vision of Cleofilas Father want his only daughter to marry and be happy for the rest of her life. Although she is apprehensive to begin what she thinks will be a happy, successful life, her father is far more reasonable about his daughters husband. He reminds Cleofilas that he is her father and that he will never throw away her. This is his way of letting her know that she will always be able to come home. Woman Hollering Creek An analysis of Sandra Cisneross Woman Hollering Creek is not often that a person is given an assignment that reflects many similar inadequacies of their own families. After reading Woman Hollering Creek it was instantly clear that this would be an interesting story to write about. Therefore, without knowing which way this story would go or even what direction it would even head in or even to understand how it would affect your relationship with your family members. In the story Woman Hollering Creek Sandra Cisneros discusses the issues of living life as a married woman through her character Cleofilas; this character married a man who was very physically and mentally abusive. Cisneross will reveal within her writing how men are more dominate then women within the Hispanic culture. In most of Cisneross writing she has been well known for her writings about the Hispanic culture and how they treat there women; she explain what the women have to go through during there childhood, teen and even when they get married; the women are always dominated by men because of the way the culture is they has to just to that take of life. Woman Hollering Creek is one of the most excellent examples, to where a character has to live without a mother that cant give any direct or advice about everyday life or even how to be a wife and mother. This is a great story; it will give provide you with vivid detail of the life of a Mexican immigrants its not just about their struggle to make a better life for themselves but also about there culture in how it make it possible for this type of dreadful life. In reading Women Hollering Creek there is no way for the reading not to understand and feel for Cleofilas and empathize with her situation, praying she would find a way to escape from her bad marriage. The character Cleofilas is base on a family of a six brothers and a dad and without a mom, to share her most intimacy secrets. Although, there is discrimination and conflict in this story rather than love and it is there way of living. However, within her character as Cleofilas she found a way to gain knowledge of her feminine attributes, through watching television, and dreaming of a life as she in vision on television, which she watched religiously. In this story there can be many way to see how you can develop compassion with the victim of domestic violence. We can see how the life of Cleofilas has unfolds, the readers will learn about the isolation, hopeless and denial of someone who is in an abusive relationship. The reader will appreciated the educational factors of immigrate will include depth to the readers approval of the obstacle of this disparaging life style. In the Hispanic cultural it is know that young girl marry at an early age and Cleofilas situation is no difference. However, for Cleofilas to leave and marry a man she hardly know as well as she thinks she dose, sooner or later she will find out that her life is nothing like television. In the mean time the man she will marry will be began to hit her and become even more abusive and as time goes on. The reader in this story will discover how Cleofilas, will leave her surrounding that she has know for many years to marry a complete stranger. Cleofilas imaged her li fe to be like the soap operas she watches, and she then realize she would has to face a life of poverty, abuse, and an alcoholism husband. The storys main character, Cleofilas, is usually an illustration of Latina women, and how non-Latinos recognize them. They are raised and groomed, in households mainly controlled by men their fathers and brothers, with the anticipation that they may someday find the right men who would decide to take them as a wives. In the Latina world women are always consideration to be just someones wife and with hardly a chance to say no. However, she discovered that life in the new world with her new husband was unlike the romantic plot of fiction truth set in immediately when she had to care for her son, their home that always seemed to be in need of repair, and her husband, who wants to be served on hand and foot . However, within the story there is a lot of abuse that plays a major role on the familys relationship and how it has affected on her life. It is often that you find this type of behavior within this Spanish cultural most women in this type of situation really have no way out other then to run away. Cleofilas had to deal with the pain and suffering in a patriarchal world and a male dominated, society. The issues of gender and prejudice are present in the story, from the beginning, as Cleofilas decides to leave her town to accomplish her dreams of a better lifestyle. Her understanding of images on TV gave her the impression that here, life is much better and would perhaps untie her from the conventions of the world she grew up in. The final resolution in this story is left to the readers imagination. It does not state what happened to Cleofilas and her husband after she attempted to leave her husband. The life that Cleofilas had was faced with many experienced and all types of hardships, Cleofilas thought her life would be like that, of the telenovela, only now the episode got sadder and sadder to believe that she could stay no matter what happens she started to realize what the most important thing in life. Work Cited Cisneros, Sandra. Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. New York: Random House, 1991. SHEET 1-PLOT 1. THE ROLE-PLAYED BY EACH OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS. The story is been narrator in the three person. Cleofilas is the main reason for the story. Her father wants her to marry Juan Pedro Martinez Sanchez. The protagonist in this situation would be Cleofilas. The antagonists would be her Father and her Husband. 2. THE NATURE OF THE CONFLICT. The story is about a father wanting his daughter to get married and the conflict of the story is the abuse that she went through and trying to find a way out. Cleofilas vs. Father Cleofilas vs. Husband Cleofilas vs. Family Cleofilas vs. Friends 3. IDENTIFY ONE OF MORE OBSTACLES PLACED IN THE WAY OF CLEOFILAS. Cleofilas biggest obstacle in this story is the abuse she went through with her husband and she try to find a way out this marriage in wish she thought it would be the marriage of her life. 2- PLOT STRUCTURE The early part of the story provides setting and introduction about the characters, and it creates an atmosphere and describes the setting. In this story it Cleofilas believes she is about to marriage the man of her dream with her father consent to marriage Juan Pedro. The time has come for her to leave her father and her six brothers in Mexico to go to El otro lado with Juan Pedro and, begin a new life as his wife in a small shackle. Cleofilas would soon find out that the life she knew with her and her brothers would be over as she knew it. The new life she was to supposed to have that was to be filled with passion as she seen on TV, as she watches the soap operas. While been married to Juan Pedro, she had two children and was trying to hide her bruises from her abusive marriage. She was looking for away out. She didnt even speak English and she was cut off from her family. The final part of this story is to fill the reader imagination. SHEET 3-CHARACTERIZATION The storys main character is Cleofilas and she is a representation of Latino women and how non-Latinos, perceive them, more Latino women are raised in predominantly controlled by men. Sheet 4- Setting Place- The place in this story was very important. It was the direction of the story to reach it to Cleofilas. It was a long road there and everything that happened along the way had meaning. Time- Woman Hollering Creek is the center of the borderland in which the story unfolds. Cleofilas Mexican town of gossips . . . of dust and despair on the one side is not so different from Seguin, Texas, another town of gossips on the other side, except that in her fathers town she is safe from physical harm. Mood- was kind of emotional. The majority of the time Cleofilas was sad. She was abuse and tired and she was looking for some she could trust. Sheet 5 Symbolism Cisneros employs much symbolism in the characters she chooses. Especially, Cleofilas the neighbors on both side of her are widowed women named Dolores and Soledad. Cleofilass name is clarified by a friend of hers, who tries to explain it to Felice over the phone: The Mexican culture reveres women who suffer, as Cleofilas admires the tortured souls on the telenovelas. Sheet 6-Theme It seen as if it is clearly an issue of gender and abuse in this story, Cleofilas decides to leave her home town and get marriage to fulfill her dreams of a more wonder life style in the United States. Cleofilas had this images of what her life would be like from watching the soap operas on TV, and it gave her this impression of life. The man she would marriage would be the ticket out of a bad situation or to a new life. While living in Mexico she had family and friend she could turn to once she move she would not have that anymore. Sheet 7 I found the most interesting aspect of the story to be the behavior of how Hispanics women are treated. 1. I am your father, I will never abandon you. Cisneros-43 2. And without even a mama to advise her on things like her wedding night. 45 3. How could Cleofilas explain to a woman like this why the Woman Hollering Creek fascinated her? 46 4. But how could she go back there? 50 5. And her family all in Mexico. 54 6. Cleofilas thought her life would have to be like that, like a telenovela, only now the episodes of sadder and sadder. QUOTATIONS Cisneros states You or No One Has experienced all types of hardships, but believes that staying kind and loving no matter what happens is the most important thing in life. (Cisneros 45) Note: You are no one and you will never be anyone. Cisneros states What do you want to know for? (Cisneros 46) Note: Why should I tell you anything, you dont want to know anyway? Cisneros suggested Did you ever notice how nothing around here is named after a woman? Really. Unless shes virgin. I guess youre only famous if youre virgin (Cisneros 55) Cisneros states the moment came, and he slapped her once, and then again, again, until the lip split and bled an orchid of blood (Cisneros 50) Cisneros offers her reader this idea Sometimes she thinks of her fathers house. But how could she go back there? (Cisneros 50) Work Cited Cisneros, Sandra (1991), Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories, New York: Random House.

Walt Whitman :: essays research papers

Walt Whitman Walt Whitman was born in a rural village on Long Island N.Y. on May, 31 1819. He went to school to five to six years, although he received most of his education from the literature he read. His first jobs consisted of being a printer and a school teacher. At the age of 27 he became editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, dismissed two years later because he had radically liberal views. In the early 1850’s he went back home to build houses with his father. Emerson believed Whitman wrote for the complete person, one that is willing to listen to one self. Whittier, however, judged Whitman’s work as â€Å"loose, lurid, and impious†. In 1855 the First edition of â€Å"Leaves of Grass†, this was classified as â€Å"poetry of barbarism† because it was radical, talking about things like sexuality, and it used exotic and vulgar language. His songs were songs not only of occupations but of sex and the body. He sand of masturbation, the sexual organism and the sexual act; he was one of the first poets to write of the â€Å"body electric,† of female eroticism, homosexuality love, and the anguish of repressed desire.(text book page 2846) He continued to revise this piece in the years 1856 and 1860. By the completion of â€Å"Leaves of Grass† it had 9 editions with more than 400 poems. In 1865 after working as a nurse in the Civil War he wrote â€Å"Drum-Taps†, he gathered in this into the fourth edition of â€Å"Leaves of Grass†. At 54 he suffered paralytic stroke and 19 years later he Died 19 years later in New Jersey. Whitman Became known in America as â€Å"Great Gray Poet†. Whitman gained more influence on America after his death. He was a modern man because he created his own rhythms using free verse. Leaves of grass was probably his most instrumental writing consisting of over 400 poems and would eventually become the most popular book of poetry ever written. Whitman's style was romantic and sensitive at a time when the US Civil War raged across the land with all its brutality and suffering. He greatly loved America, nonetheless, volunteering to tend the wounded in Washington, D.C., and writing a popular tribute to Abraham Lincoln, "O. Captain! My Captain!" A favorite of presidents ever since, Whitman wrote poetry praising America and touting the virtues of democracy. He made a trip to Camden New Jersey a few days before his mother’s death and stayed there for the remainder of his own life.

The Guidance Counselor Essay -- essays papers

The Guidance Counselor INTRODUCTION According to the U. S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, Counselors are defined as persons who â€Å"assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health and career decisions and problems. Their duties depend on the individuals they serve and the settings in which they work† (169). Examples include Mental health counselors who help people cope with daily life issues such as marital, family, stress management, or addiction problems. These counselors primarily work in private office settings. Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with different aspects of their physical disabilities, these counselors generally work in medical facilities. Employment counselors assist individuals in making wise career choices and most of these counselors work in community agencies. Thus counseling is a diverse field that encompasses an array of situations and settings. This report will center on High School Guidance Counselors. The primary focus will be to discuss the educational requirements necessary to apply for jobs in the field, the needed skills and abilities desired from employers, and the main duties of the job. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Requirements vary by state for specific types of degrees and or licenses and certifications that must be held by guidance counselors. Missouri Law requires that all High School Guidance Counselors have secondary counselor certification. Criteria for certification is listed below and was obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Individuals desiring to become guidance counselors must understand that acquiring certification requires an enormous amount of time, dedication, and education. Initial Certification The professional certificate is valid for five years from the effective date on the certificate and is issued to persons meeting the following criteria:  · A valid Missouri teaching certificate  · A minimum of two years classroom teaching experience  · A minimum of one year experience working in a field other than teaching or counseling  · Completion of a course in Education and/or Psychology of the exceptional child worth two or more semester hours  · Completion of a master’s degree with a major in guidance and counseling from a college or university meeting approval of the Missouri Department of Elementa... ...ctices. Bibliography: Works Cited â€Å"Certification Requirements for Secondary Counselor (Grades 9-12)†. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. March 06, 1998 . (November 02, 1998). Chiles, Donna. School Guidance and Counseling. Pupil Personnel Services Recommended Practices and Procedures Manual. Springfield: Illinois State Board of Education, 1983. Ellis, Thomas I. The Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Model. Ann Arbor: ERIC Clearinghouse, 1990. Feller, Richard, & Daly, J. Counselor Role and Educational Change: Planning, Integration, and Basic Skills: Book 5 - Comprehensive School Counseling and Guidance Programs. Fort Collins: Colorado State University, 1992. King, Gloria. Personnel Director, St. Louis Public Schools. Telephone Interview. 27 October 1998. Thomas, Preston. Director of Student Services, Cardinal Ritter College Prepatory High School. Personal Interview. 4 November 1998. Thompson, Rosemary. School Counseling Renewal: Strategies for the Twenty-first Century. Muncie: Accelerated Development Inc., 1992. U. S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998-99 Edition. Indianapolis: JIST Works, Inc., 1998.

Who is to blame Essay -- essays research papers

Who Is To Blame? â€Å"Frankenstein†, one of the key texts in modern literature, was written by Mary Shelley in 1818 when she was only 21. The novel was first published anonymously, and the author was only later revealed to be Shelley. When she republished the book in 1831, with changes to the story, Shelley had finally answered the question she had been asked several times: how could such a young girl write about such horrible things? Her answer describes her literary sources, as well as a disturbing dream that was the kernel of inspiration for the story. â€Å"Frankenstein† is a tale about a man named Victor Frankenstein who creates life out of ‘raw materials’. As the story unfolds, the creature comes to life and ends up, out of revenge, killing several members of Frankenstein’s family. Although ...

Research question †How many molecules are there in a liquid drop? Essay

Variables – Independent variable – The nature of the liquid drop. Dependent variable – Mass of liquid drop. Constants – * Concentration of the liquids * The volume of a drop * Temperature of the liquids Hypotheses and prediction – The heavier the liquid used i.e. a liquid with a high relative molar mass, the more the number of molecules per drop. I predict this as the RMM (relative molar mass) is the measure of the mass of molecules that make up a mole of a substance, and hence the higher the mass is, the more the number of molecules there have to be. Thus, the liquid would have more number of molecules per unit volume as compared to one with a lower RMM, keeping in mind the same concentration is taken. Apparatus – 1. Measuring scale, in grams (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.01 g) 2. Dropper 3. Beaker, 50 ml 4. Distilled water 5. Glycerine 6. Ethanol 7. Ethylene glycol 8. Tissue paper Methodology – 1. We collected the apparatus needed and measured the mass of the 50 ml beaker. We called it m1. 2. Using a dropper, we put 20 drops of water in the beaker. We measured the mass of the beaker + water, and called it m2. The mass of the 20 drops of water was found by subtracting m1 from m2. The answer was divided by 20 to find out the mass of one drop of water. 3. We repeated step 2, with water, using 40, 60, 80 and 100 drops. This made the experiment more accurate i.e. gave a more precise mass of the water drop. 4. then, we repeated steps 3 and 4 with the three other liquids – ethanol, glycerine and ethylene glycol. 5. Values were noted down. Further calculations were made using the mole equation – Number of moles = And, also using Avogadro’s constant, where the number of molecules in one mole of a substance is 6.023 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Controlling, varying and monitoring the variables – > The independent variable was varied by using not one, but four different types of liquid. These were – distilled water, glycerine, ethanol and ethylene glycol. These liquids have different relative molecular masses. > The change of the dependent variable were monitored by using a measuring scale to observe the change in the masses of the same number of drops when different liquids were tried. > The controlled variables were kept constant:- (a) All the four liquids had the same concentration of 1 mol/dmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. This was necessary as a change in the concentration produces a change in the number of moles of the liquid in the drop. (b) The drops were all of the same sizes, and hence of the same volume. the volume was kept constant by using the same dropper for each trial, and furthermore, by applying the same pressure (from the fingers) to the bulb of the dropper. (c) The temperature of the liquid was necessary to keep constant as even trivial changes in temperatures can make a liquid expand or contract, changing its volume. The experiment was carried out at room temperature, for all trials. The temperature of the surroundings was unchanged throughout the experiment i.e. the temperature of the air conditioner was not altered. Collecting relevant and sufficient data – Before the experiment, several trials were executed in order to get a gist of the experiment and recognize and amend any errors. Examples of errors include applying different amounts of pressure on the dropper bulb, giving us drops of different volumes. We also noticed that sometimes, more or less drops were added than needed, due to not observing well or counting the number of drops being put into the beaker carefully. We corrected this by paying more attention to the number of drops being put into the beaker. These errors were made right and taking trials before the experiment ensured we had a more precise, accurate and relevant experiment. We also decided to take the mass as the dependent variable, instead of volume, as we were provided with a measuring scale which was much more accurate (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.01 g) as compared to even the most accurate measuring cylinder (10 ml, à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.1 ml). This reduced the overall uncertainty of the equipment used and hence the general error of the experiment, and made the data more relevant and certain. On the other hand, it was made sure sufficient data was collected as we took five different trials (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 drops) for each of the four liquids, just to average it down and get the mass of one drop (for each liquid). Furthermore, we measured the masses of high numbers of drops ex:- 60, 80, 100 drops etc. as the higher the number of drops, the lesser the error uncertainty. The standard deviations of the averages of each set of drops has not been calculated, as it isn’t the final value needed (i.e. the average mass of one drop is the final value needed). I have rounded off those averages to three decimal places (instead of one) as the values are very small. The average mass of one drop has been rounded off to the same number of places as the standard deviation, that is two significant figures. The calculations are shown on the following page. Calculations – * The averages have been calculated the following way:- For example, taking the values for water = = = = 0.0634 = 6.3 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ (to one dp) * The standard deviation for the averages have been found out in the following way:- 1. First the average of the values have been found. Taking the example of the values of water the average is 6.3 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ g (0.0634 g). 2. Then, the difference between each reading and the average was found. That is: 0.058 – 0.0634 = -0.0054 0.059 – 0.0634 = -0.0044 0.065 – 0.0634 = 0.0016 0.067 – 0.0634 = 0.0036 0.068 – 0.0634 = 0.0046 3. Next, these differences were squared (in order to remove any negative signs): (-0.0054)à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ = 2.916 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 (-0.0044)à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ = 1.936 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 (0.0016)à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ = 2.56 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½6 (0.0036)à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ = 1.296 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 (0.0046)à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ = 2.116 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 4. These squares were then added, and the sum was divided by (n – 1), where â€Å"n† is the number of values. = 2.13 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 5. Finally, the square root of this number gives the standard deviation of the average: = à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 4.615 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ However, this value is always rounded off to one significant figure (hence, so is the average value) giving – à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.2 s. 6. This method was used to get the standard deviation of the rest of the four averages as well. * The number of moles of the liquid contained in the drop was calculated by the formula = Number of moles = . The relative molar masses of the four liquids were taken from literature values – Water – 18 ; Glycerine – 92 ; Ethanol – 46 and Ethylene Glycol – 62. (www.wikipedia.com) * The number of molecules present in the drop was found out by using Avogadro’s formula which states – Number of molecules = Number of moles of the substance à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ (6.023 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½) Data processing – Graph 1 – This graph shows us two things – the mass of the liquid drop as well as the number of molecules each drop contains – of four different liquids, which are placed on the X axis. Comparing this graph, and literature values, we can see there is an indirect relationship between the mass of the drop and the number of molecules. This relationship is most importantly affected by the relative molar mass (RMM) of the liquid. A higher RMM means a lesser number of moles in a given volume, as is seen in the case of glycerine, where the number of molecules is seen to be relatively lesser when compared to its mass; and other values. This means that glycerine’s molecules are heavy, large or more dense. Whereas in the case of water, the number of molecules is seen to be much higher as compared its mass – which suggests that water has a lower RMM, relatively, and hence is â€Å"lighter†, or smaller, on the whole. This graph also shows us anomalous results regarding the mass of the ethylene glycol drop. Technically, the ethylene glycol drop should have a greater mass as when compared to ethanol, as it has a greater RMM (value got from literature data) and a lesser number of molecules. This could have been due to errors in the volume of the liquid drop (for example), which have been explained in the evaluation. Conclusion – Thus, we can conclude by stating that the hypothesis has been proved wrong i.e. as the relative molecular mass of a liquid increases, or the mass of the liquid drop increases, the number of molecules it contains decreases. This is because the relative molar mass is a measure of the mass of one mole of a substance (relative to 1/12 of the mass of carbon 12), and one mole of any substance consists of the same number of molecules – 6.023 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ãƒ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. However, one mole of a substance may differ in mass from one mole of another substance. This is solely because of the mass of the particles contained in that one mole of the substance. A compound which has i) many atoms ii) heavy atoms (in one molecule), will have a higher relative molar mass than a molecule of a compound which has lesser atoms or lighter ones (or both). In this experiment, we are not measuring the number of molecules in one mole of these for substances, but in one drop. hence, the volume remains constant here. Thus, the only way a drop of a substance (of the same volume as the other three drops) will have more number of molecules than any other will be by the liquid having a lower RMM, so that more number of particles would fit in that drop. Taking the example of water, its mass is relatively lower as compared to the number of molecules it contains. This simply suggests that a water molecule will either have lesser atoms, or lighter atoms, or both. On the other hand, the molecule of glycerine is fairly heavy, with an RMM of 92 (whereas the RMM of water is 18) and we can see by the graph that the number of molecules it has is relatively lower than that of water’s however the mass of the drop is higher than that of water’s. This shows that glycerine molecules are heavier than water molecules. Thus, as the mass of the drop increases, the number of molecules it contains decreases. Errors and observations – > Glycerine doesn’t dissolve in water, hence it was difficult to clean the dropper and the measuring cylinder containing it. > Ethanol, being an alcohol, was volatile. Thus, it easily evaporated. This could have been the reason why the mass of the ethanol drop was lower than expected. > Any slight changes in the room temperature would have caused an error to the volume of the drop, since it is so small in volume, ex:- opening of the laboratory door, changing of the temperature of the air conditioner, opening of the windows. However, it was made sure as far as it could to avoid these changes. > The same dropper was used for each liquid, in order to try to maintain the volume of the drops. This could have resulted in the liquids mixing up, hence altering the mass values. > Minute air particles like dust and dirt could have affected the experiment by changing the mass of the drops. > The readings taken towards the end of the laboratory session were slightly heavier (due to some liquid still remaining in the instrument). > The angle with which the dropper was held made a difference to the size of the drop i.e. if the drop was held vertically, the drops flowed faster and were heavier. Whereas if the dropper was held more horizontally, the speed of the flow of the drops was slower and the size was smaller. > After filling the dropper, the first drops were slightly heavier as compared to the last ones due to the extra pressure being applied to them from the liquid above. > Air bubbles were trapped in the liquids. > Glycerine had the largest and most viscous drops whereas water had the smallest and least viscous drops. > Sometimes, drops were added to a measuring cylinder which already contained drops, intentionally. For example, if a measuring cylinder had 20 drops of water, 20 more drops were added and then the mass for 40 drops of water was measured. In case there were any errors for the first 20 drops, they could have carried on for the next 20 drops. > The liquids could have been slightly impure, as they were all being used for the same experiment (some could have mixed). This would have made a difference to the mass. Evaluation – 1. In order to clean the glycerine left from the sides of the dropper etc, a substance which dissolves glycerine could have been used, for example alcohol. 2. Since ethanol was volatile, the experiment could have been carried out in an area where there was no straight wind. The ethanol bottle could have been kept shut for most of the time, and the masses could have been taken down quickly. 3. The room temperature could have been well monitored by maintaining a constant temperature (of the air conditioner) and strictly ensuring that the windows or the door weren’t opened. 4. Extra care and hygiene could be taken to ensure that the liquids didn’t mix up. This could be done by making sure that attention is paid to the lab while performing it and the volunteers aren’t distracted. To make sure the dropper was well cleaned for each trial, liquids which dissolved the liquids being used could have been applied. Another way could be to find another dropper with the exactly same diameter as the one being used. This would decrease the errors by a great deal. 5. To ensure dust particles didn’t fall into the liquids, a conical flask could be used. 6. After each trial, it should be made sure that the beaker is cleaned well and wiped well too, by tissue paper. In order to ensure that there is no extra liquid remaining, the mass of the beaker could be checked before adding the drops. 7. One set angle (of the dropper) should be used, for example the dropper could held at approximately 45à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ to the laboratory surface table for all trials. The pressure applied to the bulb should also be monitored. 8. When the dropper is full, the experiment could be carried out more slowly and the number of drops be carefully monitored. This would make sure that the size of the drops was not too large, and that the number of drops being added to the beaker were carefully monitored. 9. To decrease the number of air bubbles, the bottles which contained the four liquids could be shut for most of the time and not moved around much. It should also be made sure that the dropper was full with sufficient liquid so that there would be very less air bubbles, or none at all. 10. To avoid carry-on errors, each trial could be performed after cleaning the beaker with water and wiping it well with tissue, each time. These would be the improvements I would add to my experiment in case I perform it again. I would also like to use more, different liquids, in order to get a broader idea of the experiment.