The Primary School Leaving Examination is a milestone exam all children in Singapore take when they are 12 years old. In achievements-preoccupied Singapore, it’s an important exam as it determines which children can gain entry to the top secondary schools upon graduation.
For Science, the concept of exposed surface area permeates many topics. For instance,
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Fruits dispersed by wind have feathery stigmas, which increase the exposed surface area for them to catch pollen grains in the air easier.
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Our mouth chews food into smaller pieces, which increases the exposed surface area of the food particles that come into contact with digestive juices.
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The small intestine has numerous folds, which increase the exposed surface area for the digested food to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
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the greater the exposed surface area, the faster the rate of evaporation of water. Water gains heat from the surrounding air faster. (useful for hanging laundry to dry, watching puddles of water)
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The fennec fox has big ears, which increase the exposed surface area for it to dissipate excess body heat in the desert.
I’m sure I can draw a life lesson somewhere from the above examples. Live big. Walk upright. Prime yourself for the abundance of the Universe.
Is exposed surface area something uniquely concocted by the Singaporean mind to draw similarities across disparate topics or is it a common thing in your part of the world? Let me know.