Science

In March 2009, St. Martin's Girls participated in the Kenya Science Congress. The Girls were in groups of 11 students and they made presentations. Three groups won in this at Zonal Level and will represent the school at the Provincial Level take place end of May 2009.
The following Projects were presented:
1. Physics Talk 2. Technical Talk 3. Agriculture Exhibit

1. PHYSICS TALK - From this year's (2009) Science Congess Theme "Science and Technology for Environmental Improvement." We, SylviaMary Mwangi and Beatrice Kioma, both in Form Four, came up with a unique Project that would help reduce air pollution mostly from the Industries that produce harmful gases; an example is KEL Chemicals in Thika.

The Tile of our Project was "Modern Improved Chimney." The chimney uses an electrostatic precipitator which would be charged (5000V). The principles involved are electrostatic law of charges and Bernoulls principle at the bottom where there is high concentration of burnt gases, the chimney has a narrow diameter of 1 metre to ensure that Velocity is increased and pressure reduced.

After 2m height, the diameter is increased by 1 to ensure that pressure is increased and velocity decreased (Bernoulls principle) . As the gas gets into the chimney, it is ionised thus attracted to the copper plate which is negatively charged and the zinc plate which is positively charged (this is what makes the electrostatic precipitator). The negatively charged particles will be attracted to the negatively charged plate and positively charged particles to the negatively charged plate (electrostatic law of charges).

This ensures that no gas gets into the atmosphere and if any, there is an inlet created at the top of the chimney to allow Ca(OH)(aq) to be pumped in to scrab the escaping gases. For the chimney to work efficiently, it is cleared oftenly and also charged. This projects improves the environment conditions and saves the country a great deal of expenditure.