Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 12

Reflection paper - Essay Example The first week as an LPN was a little hazy having missed some of the induction programs due to some unavoidable engagements. However, on the reporting day I met the friendly and professional staff who took me to the units. The environment was challenging dealing with the middle-aged, the elderly and the dementia patients. A typical day while in shift, I was attending to an elderly man who had diabetes. We were just two nurses on the night shift. As I went round monitoring the patients and collecting data on the patients’ conditions, I noticed that a number of patients needed great attention but the elderly man was in a severe state. I became terrified and confused wondering where to start. I attended to the diabetic man and arrested the condition and decided to attend to the other patients. I didn’t even think of asking for help to save time but decided to try my best. Some of the patients could look at me with pleading eyes. I remember one patient who said that she had lost hope and felt neglected when she saw me pass her and attend to someone else. However, she admitted that I was not assuming her but had to attend to a serious case. Some of the patients also were not co-operating, and some could keep quiet completely when I question them so as to understand their health progress. Among the tasks, I was entitled to include personal hygiene duties such as brushing the teeth of the residents, bathing them, changing clothes, combing hair and shaving them. Toiletry duties such as assisting those who needed help going to the bathroom, changing bedpans and emptying catheters. In addition, I could do the monitoring of the respiration, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels and heart rates of the patients. Also inserting catheters, treating bedsores, giving injections, administering injections and changing bandages and developing care plans for the

Grief, death and the psychology of dying

Grief, death and the psychology of dying Different people of different religions, race, age and culture have different perceptions of death and the way to go about the loss. The following research tries to explain why people behave the way they do in their different manner. It defines death and grief, why, when and how they occur. It also explains about the misconceptions that people have about death and grief. It gives a more understanding of these phenomena and explores what people go through when they experience them. The paper also gives solutions on how a person should handle the situation once it has happened to him. Grief is the reaction to loss; it is mainly associated with a loss of something or someone to whom a person had formed a bond with. A person can respond to grief emotionally, socially, physically or even through the way they behave. Grief is caused by loss of a variety of things. It can be as a result of a divorce, an illness, loss of someones possessions, status, employment, pets and loved ones (OConnor, Irwin, Wellisch, 2009). Different people react differently when they go through a loss. The different reactions may be as a result of what one has lost. These reactions may be manifested from one person to another or within the same person. The different reactions emanate from peoples diversity cultures, personalities, age, religious and spiritual practices and beliefs (Kubler, 1991) Grief exacerbates both and physical and psychiatric morbidity. This is common especially after a loss of a spouse. During this period, the bereaved usually exhibits symptoms such as headaches, heart palpitations, dizziness and trembling. The bereaved also tends to suffer from depressive symptoms during the first year after the loss. Those who are bereaved young tend to take more symptom relief drugs as well as showing more physical distress than older people. For the older people, the number of visits to the physician as well as hospitalization increases during the time of physical distress. Grieving is an early and old phenomenon. During the olden days, people used to seek help with their grief from religious leaders, extended families, and close neighborhoods as well religious institutions. Today, because of secularization, lack of a sense of community and lack of belief in formal religion, has led to the bereaved seeking help from health workers (Worden, 2002). Children differ in mourning with adults. They tend to return to an earlier behavior like clinging to a toy, thumb sucking or even depicting an angry behavior. They are not mature to mourn like adults but they mourn intensely. A loss in childhood can result to emotional problems as well as physical illness. This poses a great risk as the child can contemplate suicide or become a delinquent. This is mostly common in adolescents (Kubler, 1991) Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross believed that grief has its own stages. These stages include emotional reactions like denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. She advises that understanding grief is an important part of the human experience as it is a necessary response that helps to heal from the overwhelming experience of loss (Kubler, 1991) Dr. Kubler suggests some of the things that a griever can engage in order to overcome grief. Some of these things may include participating in support groups which may either be faith based or secular. Those people going through a complicated grieving process are advised to attend a therapy session with a psychologist or any other qualified professional dealing with mental health. She also advises grievers to take food supplements as well as eating healthy foods (Kubler, 1991) Exercise and work outs like jogging and aerobics are also recommended during this period of grieving. Grieving is also an emotional drainer process thus she recommends enough rest for the person grieving. Places of worship are also known to be very helpful in providing solace and comfort to those grieving. Dr. Kubler recommends that grievers show emotions whenever possible like letting the tears to flow as this facilitates the healing process (Kubler, 1991) At this point of grieving, the griever requires a lot of acceptance and support from friends, family or the people around. The griever may depict a wide range of emotions that may require a lot of understanding from people around (OConnor, Irwin, Wellisch, 2009). To grieve is more than just to show sadness. It involves positive experiences when it deepens interpersonal connections. Grief can cause great wear and tear to both the psyche and the physical body. It is experienced in a very personal way although there are some commonalities to grief. Different people may go through similar reactions to grief such as nightmares, hallucinations and problems with appetite. Other people may experience sleeping disorders while others may go short of breath. Intense or complicated grief can result to complicated responses. These responses may include suicide attempts, murders, shock and even mental disorders. Grief which is complicated can be debilitating, it involves pangs of painful emotions which are recurrent. It may also involve intense longing and yearning for the lost person or thing and also thoughts which are preoccupied with the lost person or thing. Death It is the cessation or termination of biological functions that make up a living organism. Death refers to both a particular event and the condition that result thereby. Many religious beliefs tend to be concerned more with the condition than a particular event. People have different perceptions of dying and death. Many wonder how it occurs or whether the dying just accepts death quietly. Many questions also linger in our minds whether the dying think of their possible decomposition, being consumed by maggots or rotting in hell (Piven, 2004). The process of dying is a process that is known because it is witnessed and described by those involved in it. Certain factors influence the dying experience. These are interpersonal relationships, gender, nature of a disease and the treatment environment, and age. A young child may not understand the nature of death as a mature adult with diverse life experiences would. The dying process is also influenced by gender as a result of different roles played by women and men. A dying man is more likely to think of financial provisions for his family while a dying woman is more concerned with family integrity. Individuals who have experienced a poor interpersonal relationship experience a greater distress while dying than one who had a good relationship (Wass Neimeyer, 1995). Death is seen to be an event as it occurs in a particular time, at a particular place and in a particular way. Death is also seen to be a condition as one is seen to be incapable of carrying the important functions of life. It is a condition that is not reversible. It is also a universal certainty. It forms the centre of many organizations and traditions. Death can be accidental, intentional or natural. Many species die from predation. Intentional activities causing death may involve death by ones self i.e. suicide, death by others i.e. homicide and calamities like war. Death by natural causes is mostly caused indirectly by human activities (Appel, 2005). To determine whether a person is dead or not, there are signs that one can look for. Some of these signs may include; respiration cessation. Breathing stoppage is a good sign that a person is dead. Lack of body metabolism can also suggest that a person is no longer alive. Other signs are a lack of a pulse, body becoming pale a few minutes after the person dies, body temperature reducing and stiffness of the corpse limbs (Appel, 2005). Death can be clinical or legal. When a person ceases to breathe and to circulate blood, the person is declared to be clinically dead. This happens when a person gets a cardiac arrest or the heart simply stops to beat. During this time, the person losses consciousness and the brain activities stop. Procedures to resuscitate the patient are initiated. These include putting the patient under cardiac life support machine which attempts to restart a heartbeat. The resuscitation continues until the recovery of a heartbeat or when a physician determines that the recovery is impossible and the patient is declared legally dead. A brain dead patient with heart and lungs that are functioning can be pronounced to be legally dead (Safar, 1988). Legally, the state brain dead defines death. This occurs when the brain activities both voluntary and involuntary are irreversible and hence cannot sustain life. Irreversible loss of brain functions is caused by direct trauma to the head as a result of a gunshot wound or an accident caused by a motor vehicle. Loss of brain functions can also be caused by massive hemorrhage as result of high blood pressure complications (Murray, 1990). Legal death is when a qualified personnel declares that a patient does not require further medical care and the patient be pronounced dead under the law. Some of the circumstances favorable for a person to be pronounced legally dead is when brain dead. This is when the brain activity is not detected. Psychology of dying According to psychologists, when going through the process of dying one goes through the experience of pain, regret, and fear of the unknown. Our social systems also break down death into distinctive dreads. Example, as a means to obtain moral obedience, religions mold death anxiety into fear of agonizing hell (Wass Neimeyer, 1995). The fears and ideas that people have about death are not innate; they are learnt from their cultural and social environments. A particular cultures system of death conditions the behaviors of the living. For instance, their willingness to receive an organ transplant, suicide contemplation, their will to take risks, to purchase a life insurance, preference for cremation or burial, their attitude towards abortion or capital punishment and their hope for resurrection Religion is also known to shape peoples attitudes toward death. This could be positive or negative. The more religious members display a more consistent attitude of death as measured by the level of fear of death. Those who believe in afterlife have a coherent understanding of situations related to death. Death anxiety, threat and fear result into other forms of psychological distress. Health status is unrelated to the level of fear and anxiety of death (Wass Neimeyer, 1995). Pursuing a death-exposure profession like medicine or attending the morgue does not necessarily increase the fear of death or anxiety. Those professionals or volunteers who work closely with the dying show reduced fear of death and much death competency. Physicians usually have a difficult time with their patients whom they know have no chance of recovery. Telling a patient about his dying is never justified. On the same note, to withhold a patients dying information is not warranted. According to Dr. Kubler (1991), people regardless of their age, religious orientation, race or cultures recognize when they are about to die. Some may start bidding farewell even if death is not expected. Dr. Kubler equates death to being born into a different existence. To die is like to move from one house to another only a more beautiful house this time. It does not matter how death may have occurred because the experience is the same (Kubler, 1991). When one dies, i.e. when the soul leaves the body, it is still possible to perceive what is happening around the dying place i.e. where the body was left. One is able to register everything with a new awareness different from the earthly consciousness. This happens the same way as when one is lying unconscious having a surgery. During surgery, many patients have an out of body experience where they watch surgeons work on them and can actually hear them talk. The same thing happens when a dying patient is in a deep coma. The patient can neither move nor talk but can hear and understand everything being said to him (Kubler, 1991). Nobody dies alone. When one leaves the physical existence, one joins another existence where time, space or distance does not exist. The power of thought is able to bridge long distances in a split of a second. Many people have experienced this when someone who lived many thousands of miles away suddenly appears to them and then later come to realize that they just passed away a few hours or days ago. When patients are on their deathbeds, they report to see people whom they used to see and play with when they were little, only to have forgotten their existence when they grew up. These people die peacefully and happy knowing that someone who loves them will be waiting for them. Generally, people waiting for us on the other side are those who loved us the most (Kubler, 1991). People die at different times; as little children, as young people or very old people. According to Dr. Kubler, the young have already learnt what they were supposed to learn and the old have accomplished what they were supposed to do at the time of their death. If we live well, we will not worry about dying (Kubler, 1991). Conclusion Different people of different religions, race, age and culture have different perceptions of death and the way to go about the loss. The study has identified grief as a reaction to loss, where the victim responds in an emotional, social and physical manner to portray his/her state. In this case, the study has identified that the different reactions exhibited by people as a result of death varies with their diversity cultures, personalities, age, religion and spiritual practices and beliefs. The study has identified several stages taken in a grief process. These include emotional reactions like denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. There are, however different ways of overcoming grief, the study has identified a simple method as group participation in a faith based or secular to be an effective approach. On the other hand, individuals undergoing through a complicated grieving process are advised to attend a therapy session with a psychologist or any other qualified professional dealing with mental health. Eating food supplements and healthy eating habits also helps to overcome grief. Death is seen to be an event as it occurs in a specified time, place, and in a certain way. Death is also seen to be a condition as one is seen to be incapable of carrying the important functions of life. It is a condition that is not reversible. Dr. Kubler has argued that people, regardless of their age, religious orientation, race or cultures recognize when they are about to die. People die at different times; as little children, as young people or very old people. When one dies, i.e. when the soul leaves the body, it is still po ssible to perceive what is happening around the dying place.

Faith, Friends and Wordsmithery: A Discussion of Vocation :: Essays Papers

Faith, Friends and Wordsmithery: A Discussion of Vocation In professing English literature, pastoring a congregation, and writing poetry, C.S. Lewis, Heidi Neumark, and Kathleen Norris are linked in their search to more fully perceive the face of God in their living and writing. Their spiritual autobiographies account for an evolution in their understandings of vocation and faith, each beholding something akin to what Lewis calls â€Å"Joy,† a fleeting desire for something beyond us and this world, often awakened in the written word. Be it writing of the diversity of a South Bronx church in Breathing Space, discerning the meaning of astonishing beauty in English literature detailed in Surprised by Joy, or in poetic reflections of ascetic landscape in Dakota, these authors share how their vocations as wordsmiths link with their identity as Christians. From early childhood, Lewis was drawn to imaginary worlds of â€Å"dressed animals† and â€Å"knights in armor† (Surprised by Joy 13). His literary fascination with that beyond what sight alone conceives, to that which stimulates the soul, followed him throughout his life. It is no surprise that he accepted a fellowship at Magdalen in 1925, and went on to teach English literature, Philosophy (â€Å"very badly†) and the Greats, given his extensive liaison with the tangible and abstract in literature, as well as his brilliant expertise in several literary canons (215). Within such a world, Lewis embraced an enduring source of â€Å"Joy,† elusive and yet persistent, throughout the political chaos of his own life and his dogged rejection of anything resembling the â€Å"Christian myth† (215). Through the written word, Lewis found an understanding of a higher source of living more readily than he’d ever experienced in church or in conversation with various religious spokespeople. Throughout his wretched and then blessed years of schooling, Lewis was haunted by â€Å"the Idea of Autumn,† enfleshed through fleeting experiences with â€Å"Joy† in poetry. Finding â€Å"an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction† reading great Nordic works, Lewis was â€Å"uplifted into huge regions of northern sky† desiring â€Å"something never to be described† and then finding himself â€Å"at the very same moment already falling out of that desire and wishing† he was back in it (17). This â€Å"central story† of his life, this passion for Joy, came to take on many forms as Lewis the boy grew into Lewis the English scholar, and then into Lewis, a Christian. Even after his ultimate conversion to Chri stianity, the â€Å"old stab† of Joy came â€Å"as often and as sharply† as â€Å"at any time† in his life while reading and writing (238).

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.

Advantages That Multinations Have Over Domestically Focused Companies

In this age of globalization, companies are seeking to expand businesses across borders and consequently there are more and more multinational companies. A multinational corporation is one that is based in one country while maintaining manufacturing facilities or operations offices in other countries and markets its products or services on an international basis. A multinational corporation is able to take advantage of special economically advantageous opportunities that exist in the countries where it operates, such as a low labor cost or favorable rate of currency exchange.They also enjoy access to a diversified workforce that gives them greater creative competitive edge. The reasons why companies seek to expand across borders are: to open new markets or to hold onto existing ones; to avoid tariffs or other trade restrictions; to tap new sources of raw materials and agricultural production; and to take advantage of cheap foreign labor. The most significant aspect of multinational c orporations is that they enjoy major tax and investment advantages. Tax Advantages: Business taxation varies from country to country.While there are high tax countries like the United States, Great Britain and the People's Republic of China (PRC), there are low tax countries like Belize, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. A multinational corporation can pick its tax jurisdiction and thus limit its tax obligations. Doing so translates instantly into greater profits. On the contrary, any domestic company will be subject to taxation on its profits in that country and there is no question of choice (Kate, 2006). Lowering Taxes:Most multinational corporations look for tax holidays when seeking a foreign base for their manufacturing plant. However the tax holiday offer is meaningless in the US and Singapore as companies in these places companies are taxed on their global income. Multinational companies enjoy the advantage of having the choice to get the best combination of location, labo r market, and government corporate benefits. Funding opportunities: Multinational corporations have regular access to funding opportunities unavailable to domestic companies.The money provided by the government in return for creating jobs reduces the multinational corporation's overhead, diminishes business risk and increases profits. It has been found that any company with an established export market outside of the manufacturing country's domestic market can recover most – almost 50-75% – of the expenditure in setting up a new plant. This is mainly because of the support of the government (Kate, 2006). Tariffs Can Be Circumvented: Multinational corporations can dodge tariffs by proper planning.If a MNC wants instant free trade access to both the EU and the USA, it will start manufacturing in Israel. If there is a low-tech product that needs free trade access to the EU, it is best to make it in Senegal, since they have a free trade agreement with France. The list of b ypasses around tariffs is long and grows as NAFTA and the EU expand (Kate, 2006). Accounting advantages: Multinational pooling arrangement is an agreement between the head office of a multinational company and an insurance network, which allows – at an accounting stage – the consolidation of the worldwide experience.This network allows: better management of the worldwide risk and improved reporting; up-front local savings due to economies of scale and potential international dividends; improved local terms & conditions due to network leverage; easier transfer of employees within the entity and reinsurance protection against individual peaks or catastrophic events (DF, 2006). Advantage of Transfer Pricing: When one part of a multinational organization in one country transfers goods, services or know-how to another part in another country, the price charged for these goods or services is called ‘transfer price'.This may be a purely arbitrary figure, meaning by this that it may be unrelated to costs incurred, may be unrelated to operations carried out or to added value. The transfer price can be set at a level which reduces or even cancels out the total tax which has to be paid by the multinational. In other words it is possible for a multinational company to minimize its liability for corporation tax by transfer pricing (Davidmann, 2006). According to the US law, multinational corporations, whether American- or foreign-owned, are supposed to pay taxes on the profits they earn in the United States.However, in reality, foreign-owned corporations doing business in the United States, typically pay far less in U. S. income taxes than domestic companies. Even U. S. -owned multinationals utilize such tax evasion loopholes. Companies try to set their â€Å"transfer prices† to shift income away from the United States and shift deductible expenses into the United States (CTJ, 2006). Asset Protection: Multinational companies often use offshore ce nters to restructure their ownership of assets. Through trusts, foundations or through an existing corporation company wealth ownership can be transferred from people to other legal entities.Many companies which are concerned about lawsuits or lenders foreclosing on outstanding debts choose to transfer a portion of their assets to an entity that holds it outside of their home country. By making these ownership transfers, these companies can escape seizure or other domestic troubles (Investopedia, 2006) . Confidentiality: Many offshore jurisdictions offer multinational companies the added advantage of secrecy legislation. These countries have enacted laws establishing strict corporate and banking confidentiality.If this confidentiality is breached, there are serious consequences for the offending party. An example of a breach of banking confidentiality is divulging customer identities; disclosing shareholders is a breach of corporate confidentiality in some jurisdictions. To a multin ational company, this secrecy of personal information can offer significant financial and legal advantage. Because nations are not required to accept the laws of a foreign government, offshore jurisdictions are, in most cases, immune to the laws that may apply where the investing company resides (Investopedia, 2006).Diversification of Businesses: Domestic companies have to follow local government regulations that restrict its international investment opportunities. Multinational companies have unlimited access to international markets and to all major exchanges. There are also many opportunities in developing nations, especially in those that are beginning to privatize sectors that were formerly under government control. Conclusion: Thus we find that multinational companies enjoy many advantages compared to local domestic companies.