Friday, March 20, 2020

How to Study for a Test in 5 Days

How to Study for a Test in 5 Days How do you study for a test if you have five days? Well, thats a great question! Thankfully, you arent asking, How do you study for a test if you only have one, two, three, or four days. You gave yourself plenty of time to prepare fully for your test and didnt even consider cramming. Heres your 5-day schedule. Ask and Read In school, ask your teacher what type of test it will be. Multiple choice? Essay? Thatll make a difference in how you prepare. Ask your teacher for a review sheet if he/she hasnt already given you one. Also, get a study partner set up for the night before the test if possible–even via phone/Facebook/Skype. Dont forget to take home your review sheet and textbook. When you are at home, eat some brain food. Read your review sheet, so you know whats going to be on the test. Re-read the chapters in the textbook that will be on the test. Thats it for day one! Organize and Make Flashcards Pay attention in class–your teacher may be going over things that will be on the test! Take home your handouts, assignments, and former quizzes along with your textbook and review sheet. At home, organize your notes. Rewrite or type them up so they are legible. Organize your handouts according to dates. Make note of anything youre missing. Go through your review sheet, finding the answers for every question on there from your notes, handouts, textbook, etc. Make flashcards with a question/term/vocabulary word on the front of the card, and the answer on the back. When youre finished, put your flashcards in your backpack so you can study throughout the day tomorrow. Dont forget to stay focused! Memorize Throughout the day in school, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions (when youre waiting for class to start, at lunch, during study hall, etc.) Clarify anything you didnt totally understand with your teacher. Ask for missing items and ask if there will be a review before the test later on in the week. At home, set a timer for 45 minutes, and memorize everything on the review sheet that you dont already know using  mnemonic devices  like acronyms or singing a song. Stop after 45 minutes and move on to other homework. You have two more days to study for this bad boy! Put your flashcards in your backpack for more review tomorrow. Memorize Some More Again, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions throughout the day. Confirm a study date for tomorrow night. Set a timer for 45 minutes again when you are home. Go back through your flashcards and review sheet, memorizing anything you dont have down pat. Take a 5-minute break. If necessary, set a timer for 45 minutes again and continue if youre still unsure of any material! Put your flashcards in your backpack for review again tomorrow. Study and Quiz Throughout the day, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions again. If your teacher is having an exam review today, pay close attention and write down anything you havent learned yet. If the teacher mentions it today–its on the test, guaranteed! Confirm the study date with a friend for this evening. Ten-to-twenty minutes before your study partner (or mom) shows up to quiz you for the exam, review your flashcards. Make sure you have everything down pat. When your study partner arrives, take turns asking possible exam questions to each other. Make sure each of you has a turn asking and answering because youll learn the material best doing both. Stop once youve been through the questions a few times and get a good nights sleep.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

How To Make Homemade Drain Cleaner

How To Make Homemade Drain Cleaner Why pay for expensive drain cleaners when you can apply chemistry to make the products yourself? Here is how to make homemade drain cleaner to unclog your drain cheaply and effectively. Homemade Drain Cleaner Method #1: Baking Soda and Vinegar The same chemical reaction that makes bubbles for the classic science fair chemical volcano can be used to loosen gunk from a slow drain. When baking soda and vinegar are mixed, carbon dioxide is produced. This agitates material in the clog, making it easier to flush away. Remove as much excess water as possible.Pour a liberal amount of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into the drain. You can use half a box, if you like.Pour vinegar (weak acetic acid) into the drain. The reaction between the chemicals will produce bubbles.If you have a plunger, try to loosen the clog.Rinse with hot water.Repeat if desired. Mixing baking soda and vinegar is safe and non-toxic. The products are also easy to find and inexpensive, so if your drain is just slow rather than seriously clogged, its a good option to try. If no water is draining at all, you may need to break out the big guns. Drain Cleaner Method #2: Sodium Hydroxide The active ingredient in serious drain cleaner is sodium hydroxide or lye. If youre a true do-it-yourself type, you can actually make sodium hydroxide from the electrolysis of sodium chloride (table salt) in water. Another way to make lye is from ashes. You can purchase sodium hydroxide (also called caustic soda) at any hardware supply store.  Some commercial products also contain small metal flakes, which react with sodium hydroxide to produce hydrogen gas and a lot of heat. The heat helps melt greasy clogs. Fill a plastic bucket most of the way full with cold water. Sodium hydroxide can react with metal, so a glass bowl is fine too, but  dont use a metal pot.Add 3 cups sodium hydroxide. You can stir it with a plastic or wooden spoon. The mixture will fizz and heat up.Pour this solution into the drain. Let it work its magic for 30 minutes,Rinse with boiling water. Safety Information The sodium hydroxide dissolves organic material, like hair and grease. This is a highly effective chemical, but as with commercial drain cleaner, you need to follow safety instructions. Sodium hydroxide can burn your skin and evolve caustic vapors. So, wear gloves and avoid handling sodium hydroxide or putting unprotected hands in the water after adding this product. Make sure air circulation in the room is good and avoid using more product than you need.  While you could simply pour sodium hydroxide in your drain, its much safer for you and your plumbing to mix it with water first to dilute it. Not that you would, but dont drink it or leave it where children or pets might get into it. Avoid inhaling the fumes. Basically, follow the safety precautions listed on the container. Additional Tips A common problem with bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs is hair caught in the drain. Remove the drain and pull away any hair or other matter that has become trapped. If you havent tried it already, clear the U-shaped trap below the drain, Put a bucket under the drain and use a wrench to unscrew the trap from the plumbing. Shake it out or use an old toothbrush to push debris through the joint. Rinse it with water before screwing it back into place.