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O-Level Singapore/O-Level/Physics and Chemistry Tuition/Physics Tutor

Measurement – Key Points

1. Micrometer screw gauge has better precision than the vernier calipers. Its maximum reading is smaller than the vernier calipers, thus, if is only suitable for measuring small objects like diameter of wire.

For more key points, please contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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O Level E Maths Tuition Singapore/Tuition O Level E Maths/Tutor

S3 – Teaching Graphs of y = ax^n

S4 – Revising Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Pictogram and practice P1 prelim question

From O-Level Elementary Mathematics Singapore Tutor

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O Level E Maths Tuition Singapore/Tuition O Level E Maths/Tutor

S3 – Teaching Graphs of y = ax^n

S4 – Revising Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Pictogram and practice P1 prelim question

From O-Level Elementary Mathematics Singapore Tutor

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O-Level Singapore/O-Level/Pure Physics Tuition/Physics Tutor

Measurement – Key Points

1. Micrometer screw gauge has better precision than the vernier calipers. Its maximum reading is smaller than the vernier calipers, thus, if is only suitable for measuring small objects like diameter of wire.

For more key points, please contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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O Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/Chemistry O Level Tuition/Tutor

Experimental Techniques – Common Error

Wrong Concept
The accuracy of burette is +- 0.01

Correct Concepts
The accuracy of bureete is +-0.05.
Thus the burette reading can be 23.80 or 23.85 cm^3 but not 23.84cm^3

Wrong Concept
Lemon juice is a pure substance

Correct Concepts
It is a mixture of different substance such citric acid and water

For more common errors please contact Mr Ong @98639833

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A-Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/H2 Chemistry Tuition/JC Chemistry Tutor

Gases

Basic Assumptions of kinetic theory of gases

• Gases consist of small particles of negligible size/volume as compared to the size of the container.
• Gas particles have negligible intermolecular forces of attraction between each other.
• Collisions between gas particles are perfectly elastic. I.e. there is no loss of kinetic energy upon collision.

Ideal Gas equation PV = nRT
Use Pa for Pressure, m3 for volume and K for temperature

Pressure 1 atm = 1.01 x 105 Pa
1 bar = 1 x 105 Pa
760 mmHg = 1.01 x 105 Pa

Volume 1 dm3 = 10-3 m3
1 cm3 = 10-6 m3

Temperature T(K) = T(C) + 273

At s.t.p Temperature = 273 K (0C)
Pressure = 1.01 X 105 Pa (1 atm)
Molar volume = 0.0224 m3

At r.t.p (standard conditions)
Temperature = 298 K (25C)
Pressure = 1.01 x 105 Pa (1 atm)
Molar volume = 0.024 m3

For exam based questions with solutions please contact @9863 9633

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A-Level Economics Tuition Singapore/H2/H1 Economics Tuition

Hi J1 H1/H2 Economics Tuition Students

Microeconomics Topic 1.3 : Firms and How They Operate 1 – Oligopoly

H2 Syllabus :
• Spectrum of market competition
o Features of the different market structures
o Comparison on the basis of productive and allocative efficiency, equity, innovation and consumer choice

H2 Learning Outcome :
• Explain the key features of each of the market structures.
• Apply these models in analyzing and comparing markets and evaluate their usefulness as explanations of real world competitive behavior.

1. Firm Behaviour of an Oligopolist

How an oligopoly will behave depends on (i) the payoffs between cooperation with its rivals and cheating its rivals; and (ii) the actions and reactions of its rivals. As a result, how firms behave in an oligopoly market may be classified into 2 broad categories, namely :

• Collusive or Cooperative Oligopoly
• Non-collusive or Competitive Oligopoly

Collusive or Cooperative Oligopoly may be outright or tacit.

To illustrate the above 2 behaviours, we use the following example :

We will take the simplest Oligopoly market structure i.e. a duopoly which is a market of two sellers, Seller A and Seller B.

Suppose the following is the market demand and price of petrol.

Assumptions :

• 2 sellers with unequal market share
• Total cost of a seller with a bigger market share = (Market Share X Total Cost) -1
• Total cost of a seller with a smaller market share = (Market Share X Total Cost) + 1

Note 1 : Total Cost is Column 5 below.
Note 2 : Market Share of Seller = Production of Seller / Total Production

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From A Level Economic Tutor

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A Level GP/General Paper Tuition Singapore

Cults

Intro-The term “cult” is generally used as a hateful snarl word that is intended to intentionally devalue people and the new faith groups that they have chosen to follow. This term often creates dear and loathing among the public. In reality, the only bad deeds of most cults is that they hold different beliefs from the mainstream religions. One example is The church of jesus Christ of latter day saints ( aka Mormon church ). They abonded most of the teachings of jesus and the apostles. They regard themselves as the true Christian church ( which is obviously WRONG lol )

Concern-One of the concerns is that Doomsday/destructive/apocalyptic cults causes the loss of lives. Some in the Anti-cult movemet claim that much of this loss of lives among cult members was the result of a mass suicides orderd by the group leader. This madness is made possible by Cults doing brain-washing techniques. One example would be Heavens Gate. The members were convinced that they would be transported, at death, to a space ship where they would evolve to a higher level of existence.

Concern-have often been targeted by the CCM ( counter cult movement ) and others as mind control cults. Many Child Protection Service workers have raided intentional communities, assuming that child abuse is rampant. These are “live-in” communes, primarily located in rural areas. Their purpose is to promote a specific religious or philosophical belief system. They often isolate themselves from mainstream society. Many of their members enter as young adults. Member’s parents, relatives and friends may become alarmed at their participation in the group. Their concerns are aggravated by lack of information about the group’s beliefs, breakdown of communication between the member and family, misinterpretation of the member’s devotion to the group, alarming information in the media about other unrelated groups which use dangerous mind control techniques.

Governments in U.S vs cults- The most sustained religious oppression was directed at native American spirituality. This can hardly be considered a new religious movement, since its roots go back tens of millennia. However, in terms of loss of life through systematic extermination and direct banning of religious practices, government attacks on Native Americans have been by far the most serious. The guarantees of freedom of religious speech, belief and assembly in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the principle of separation of church and state have otherwise preserved a state of relative religious peace in the U.S. However, there have been conflicts between religious minorities and governments at the federal, state and local level. Examples are, Jehovah Witnesses, Followers of Santeria, Amish and Chrisatian Scientist
Mind control- All religious groups require their members to conform to specific beliefs; they attempt to restrict members’ behaviours to certain norms. But faith groups vary greatly in the level of demands and the degree of control that they maintain over their membership. At the “low control” end might be a congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association where members are not required to believe in and follow a specific creed. They are encouraged to critically investigate all sources of spirituality for themselves. The role of the congregation is to help each member to develop his or her own ethical and belief systems. The vast majority of the 1,200 or so religious organizations in North America place greater demands on their members than the Unitarian Universalist Association, but in no way can be considered high-demand, mind-control or brainwashing groups. In the more conservative denomination, pressure for the individual to belief is a natural outgrowth of some of their theological beliefs; they often teach that only a select few who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved the vast majority of humans will spend eternity in Hell This teaching places considerable pressure on the member to believe. Some denominations use the threat of excommunicating or disfellowshipping members in order to enforce conformity. Those members who obtain their entire spiritual, religious, and social support from the faith group frequently find exile to be very disruptive. At the higher end of the spectrum might be a Roman Catholic convent or monastery that requires its members to adhere to a strict schedule of sleep, work and prayer, a limited diet, poverty, celibacy, total acceptance of decisions by those in authority, etc. Next would be actual mind-control groups. These are often small, local, new, Christian groups who make extremely high demands on their members, and are often led by a single charismatic individual. Their total membership is quite small. At the “high demand/control” end would be the destructive doomsday cults which so completely control their members that they have occasionally led many to their deaths through suicide and murder.

Conclusion- Those that should be blamed are the people who wants to join a cult. I feel this way is because we as human beings have the will to judge whether the things we do are right for us. If they refuse to join cults. Cult recruiters cant do much to gain their trust. Also, one other factor that should be blamed is the society we live in. Cults target those that are vunerable in their mind. As a socity that lives together, we sjould help one another to prevent any such things from occurring.

A Level General Paper Admin

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A-Level Mathematics Tuition Singapore/JC Maths/H2 Math Tuition and Tutor

Hi A-Level/H2 Math Students

J1 – Teaching Differentiation

J2 – Teaching Hypothesis Testing

From A Level Math Tutors

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A-Level Physics Tuition Singapore/H2 Physics Tuition/JC Physics Tutor

Hi A-level/H2/JC Physics Tuition students

Definitions – Work Done, Energy & Power

1.Work Done
Work is done when a force moves the point at which it acts (the point of application) in the direction of the force.

2.Potential energy
Potential energy is the ability of a body to do work due to its arrangement or position

3.Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is the energy a body possesses due to its motion

4.Elastic Potential energy
Elastic potential energy is [the energy] stored in objects which have had their shape changed elastically.

5.Power
Power is the rate of doing work

6.1 Joule
1 joule is the amount of work done when a force of 1N moves its point of application through a distance of 1 m

7. Principle of Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another.

For exam based questions with solutions, please contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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O Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/Chemistry O Level Tuition/Tutor

Kinetic Particle Theory – Common Error

Wrong Concept
During melting, the temperature rises because heat is absorbed

Correct Concept
During melting, the temperature remains constant at the melting point because the heat absorbed is used to overcome the attractive forces between the particles.

Wrong Concept
Diffusion does not occur in solid

Correct Concept
Diffusion does take place in solids, it occurs extremely slowly in solids because the solid particles are less energetic and move with less speed

For more common errors please contact Mr Ong @98639833

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A-Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/H2 Chemistry Tuition/JC Chemistry Tutor

Definitions – Chemical Bonding

1. Valence-shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory is a model used to predict the shape of individual molecules based upon the extent of electron-pair electrostatic repulsion.

Lone pair – lone pair repulsion > Lone pair – bond pair repulsion > Bond pair – bond pair repulsion

2. Metallic bond is the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and the ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.

3. Electrovalent (Ionic) bond is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions which have been formed by the transfer of one or more electrons to achieve the stable electronic configuration of a noble gas.

Coordination number of an ion in an ionic compound refers to the number of neighboring oppositely charged ions.

4. Covalent bond is the electrostatic force of attraction of the nuclei of the 2 atoms for the shared pair(s) of electrons between them.

5. Dative / Co-ordinate Covalent bond is a covalent bond in which a pair of electrons is shared between 2 atoms but ONLY ONE of them provides both electrons that make up the bond.

6. Electronegativity refers to the ability/tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a bond towards itself. Electronegativity increases across the period and decreases down a group.

7. Permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions are a type of intermolecular forces between polar molecules (molecules with a net dipole moment) which have a simple covalent structure.

8. Instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interactions are a type of intermolecular forces between non-polar molecules (molecules with NO NET dipole moment) which have a simple covalent structure.

9. Hydrogen bonds are a special case of permanent dipole-permanent dipole interactions, whereby there is an attractive interaction of a hydrogen atom with an electronegative atom, such as nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine (typically from another molecule). Do not confuse this with a covalent bond between H and N, O or F.

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A-Level Physics Tuition Singapore/H2 Physics Tuition/JC Physics Tutor

Hi A-level/H2/JC Physics Tuition students

Definitions – Circular Motion

1. Radian
One radian is defined as the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius.

2. Angular velocity
The angular velocity is the angular speed in a given direction. Angular speed is defined as the angle swept out by the radius per second.

For exam based questions with solutions, please contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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A-Level Economics Tuition Singapore/H2/H1 Economics Tuition

Hi J1 H1/H2 Economics Tuition Students

Microeconomics Topic 1.3 : Firms and How They Operate 1 – Monopoly

H2 Syllabus :
• Spectrum of market competition
o Features of the different market structures
o Barriers to entry
o Comparison on the basis of productive and allocative efficiency, equity, innovation and consumer choice

H2 Learning Outcome :
• Explain the key features of each of the market structures.
• Explain how firms compete in the respective market structures based on their features.
• Understand the relevance of barriers to entry in explaining differences between market structures
• Apply these models in analyzing and comparing markets and evaluate their usefulness as explanations of real world competitive behavior.
• Use the concept of profits to illustrate real world competitive behavior of firms in protecting their profits.

1. Definition of a Monopoly

A firm is a monopoly if it is the sole seller of its product and if its product does not have close substitutes. The fundamental cause of monopoly is barriers to entry : A monopoly remains the only seller in its market because other firms cannot enter the market and compete with it. Other reasons that a firm is a monopoly include imperfect knowledge.

2. Why Monopolies arise?

(a) A key resource is owned by a single firm

The simplest way for a monopoly to arise is for a single firm to own a key resource. For example, if there is only one well in town and it is impossible to get water from anywhere else, then the owner of the well has a monopoly on water.

Note however, that there are few examples of firms in the world that own a resource for which there are no close substitutes.

For complete comments please contact @9863 9633

From A Level Economic Tutor

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A-Level Economics Tuition Singapore/H2/H1 Economics Tuition

Hi J2 H1/H2 Economics Tuition Students

Common Mistakes/Important Comments of the Week

1. CSQ Question:
Discuss whether the government should intervene given Apple’s “ever-more
dominant position”

2. Interpretation of „ever-more dominant position” was generally well done and supported by case materials. Students should take note of the following comments:

a) Ever-more dominant position does not mean earning more supernormal profits.
One of you made quite a lot of effort to quote the profits from extract 4 as an evidence of this.

b) Ever-more dominant position means an increasing market share, and
increasing ability to control market share by raising barriers to entry. I don‟t think anyone did link this to BTE.

3. Merits and demerits of monopoly were generally well done and supported by case materials. Students should take note of the following comments:

a) A large firm such as Apple can achieve dynamic efficiency because of their ability to retain supernormal profits, contestable markets, imperfect knowledge and high barriers to entry due to patented technology.

Students who wrote on dynamic efficiency failed in one or more of the following aspects:
(i) Students can only link dynamic efficiency to supernormal profits and
contestable market, but failed to see the link with imperfect knowledge
and high barriers to entry.
(ii) Some link dynamic efficiency to more variety of goods, but failed to point
out that dynamic efficiency also involve process innovation where LRAC
shifted downwards, thus translating into lower prices for consumers.

b) A large firm such as Apple can achieve internal economies of scale through construction of large plants overseas, as mentioned in Extract 4, thus reaping the technical economies of scale via the indivisibility of large capital equipment. I find that some students has failed this thesis in one or more ways:
i) Wrote “economies of scale”. Should have written “internal
economies of scale”
ii) Wrote internal economies of scale but never mention what type.
iii) Wrote all sorts of economies of scale such as risk bearing, financial,managerial which are not case supported.

c) A large firm such as Apple will attempt to restrict output and raise prices to maximize its profits. It will result in a pricing behavior where P > MC, leading to allocative efficiency. Students who discussed the allocative inefficiency issues has failed in one or more of the following ways:
(i) No explanation as to why P > MC is allocative inefficiency
(ii) Only one of you bothered to compare with PC, using diagram.
(iii) No mention of deadweight loss, but too many of you use vague
terms such as “exploited”, “suffer” etc.

4. The case against government intervention was generally well done and correct quotes from the csq were given. However, it was not perfectly done due to a lack of rigor:

a) From extract 3 paragraph 4, “should authorities play around” … “it could be dangerous”. This can linked to an important economic concept known as imperfect knowledge.

5. Other miscellaneous remarks:
a) One of you mentioned that Apple might grow complacent and thus have no
incentive to cut costs, leading to productive inefficiency. No case materials to support such claims. In fact, I argue that Apple has been trying their best to employ workers overseas, which shows that it is putting in every effort to lower unit costs.
b) Some of you drew the Monopoly diagrams wrongly by indicating normal or
subnormal profits.
c) One of you did not know the concept of AE.

For complete comments please contact @9863 9633

From A Level Economic Tutor

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