Port Arthur High School - Sea Gull Yearbook (Port Arthur, TX)

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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY Science is the art of thinking accurately and systematically, says Hux- ley. It is the aim of chemistry course to teach the students to associate their ideas correctly. Of course, chemistry like all of the other necessary evils of a high school career, is overburdened with its own characteristic crown of thorns. There is the elusive election and the intangible atom. But there is also the hope that we may learn to understand how these and various other chemical magicians enter our commonplace environment to produce the necessary as well as luxurious commodities of every day life. Besides our ithum-drum class room work, wherein we study the iiwhere- fore of whichii and the loud but interesting CD laboratory practice of the whyness of what there are the inspection trips through the refineries, filtration plants and other industrial plants to ascertain just how our theories are adapted to actual commercial processes. And yet we have our funejust look into a few memory books, and think too, how good one feels after the dentist has pulled a tooth. The pain is gone and we eat again. Graduation, Chemistry behind, hand we live again. The course includes a study of the fundamentals of chemistry, val- ence, ionization, chemical laws and so forth. These fundamentals are then associated with the various elements pertaining to our life with re- gard to the preparations metallurgy of the pure element and to the manu- facture of the many compounds of these elements. The characteristics of the compounds are studied along with the uses based on these character- istics. The practical side of the work is carried on as far as possible in the laboratory. A short course in food chemistryebaking powders, fats, protein, carbohydrates, and milk tests. Also a brief study of qualitative analysis is given.

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0.1.. Lner,MN

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PHYSICS DEPARTMENT The Physics Department has grown very much in the last few years due to the new laboratory and added equipment. Under the supervision of Mr. Kelly DeBusk the students receive instruction in practical problems of elementary physics. The work in electricity, sound, color, pendulums, simple machines and other things is illustrated in class by experiments using the equipment offered. Interest is especially keen in the work done with electricity in the laboratory. Machines for generating electricity, a Leyden Jar, Crooks tubes, electric motors, and other such devises are used by the students. Study in light is another part of the work which is marked with with the interest of the students. Prisms and whirling machines are used to illustrate the composition of white light and the uses of mixed colors. Mr. DeBusk, although a newcomer to our school, has won the coopera- tion and good will of all the Physics students. Well versed in his subject. he is always ready to help anyone with an unusually stubborn problem. In his work this year Mr. DeBusk has made himself a place in the affection of the students who have come in contact with him in the classroom and on the campus. It is hoped that he will return next year.