Wave Machine
In this video, produced by the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, Alom Shaha describes a simple but effective wave machine. Aimed at teachers, this video explains how to make the wave machine using adhesive tape, jelly babies and wooden skewers. He explains how it can be used to illustrate transverse wave motion in…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Van de Graaff Generator
From the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, this video is aimed at teachers and shows how to get the best out of a Van de Graaff generator. In the video, Michael de Podesta explains how the generator works and gives some tips on getting consistently good results when using the apparatus. The video concludes with a…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Thermal Conductivity
These two short videos, produced by the National STEM Centre, illustrate the process of thermal conductivity. The first video shows a demonstration of thermal conductivity using ice, plastic and aluminium blocks. Alom Shaha explains the process involved. The second video simply shows the effect of the different blocks on the ice.…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Power Lines
Produced by the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, this video is aimed at teachers. Alom Shaha shows a demonstration that can be used to illustrate power transmission and why high voltages are used to minimise power loss.
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Monkey and Hunter
From the National STEM Centre, this short video illustrates the effect of gravity on a projectile's motion by using a classic physics demonstration called the Monkey and the Hunter. If a hunter fires horizontally at a monkey in a tree, and simultaneously the monkey releases their grip to fall off the tree, will the bullet hit…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Electric Sausage
In this video, produced by the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, Michael de Podesta has a unique twist to demonstrate static electricity and charge. Small pieces of paper are attracted to a statically-charged balloon. Amazingly, so is a sausage. This short video illustrates an engaging demonstration that can readily…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Diffraction of Laser Light
In this short video, from the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, Michael de Podesta explains how a laser can be used to show the diffraction and interference of light. Using a laser pen in the classroom, the wave nature of light is demonstrated as a thin wire is used to generate an easily-seen interference pattern.…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Revitalising Physics Education
This booklet, from the Institute of Physics, takes a broad view of physics as a subject and considers possible ways forward. It considers constraints, proposals, and the importance of partnerships to the process of curriculum development. Content includes: • histories of physics and of education, illuminating physics education •…
The Study of Matter
This booklet, from the Institute of Physics, considers what and how future scientists and engineers can be taught about different states of matter. Content includes: • advances in materials – past, present and future • motivating students • resources to support teaching and learning • virtual experiments…
Physics in Vocational Courses
Physics in Vocational Courses – the role of physics in ‘general vocational’ and ‘vocational’ learning pathways. This booklet, from the Institute of Physics, considers the vocational (applied) science curriculum and what physics can contribute to it. Content includes: • what is ‘vocational…
Physics in Mathematical Mood
Physics in Mathematical Mood – how physics can be taught in an appropriately mathematical way and how the beauty and power of mathematical reasoning can be conveyed to students. This booklet, from the Institute of Physics, considers many aspects of mathematics for physics students. Content includes: •the mathematics…
Making Physics Connect
The booklet, from the Institute of Physics, considers how physics can connect with learners and with other human activities and areas of knowledge. Content includes: •making explicit the coherence of the subject •portraying scientists as real people •introducing what it is like to work as a scientist •using…
Electron Diffraction Tube
In this video, produced by the National STEM Centre and the Institute of Physics, Alom Shaha explains the elements of an electron diffraction tube and how to use one to demonstrate a diffraction pattern. The video is aimed at teachers but it could also be used with older students to illustrate the working of an electron diffraction…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Episode 105: Sources of Electrical Energy
This activity from the Institute of Physics discusses energy transfer in electric circuits and links this, by analogy, to other more familiar examples. The activities include: • demonstrations of human and lemon-powered batteries to illustrate that that there is nothing special about the chemical substances that are needed…
Why Choose Physics and Chemistry?
This report, by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), examines the factors underlying the subject choices of ethnic-minority students. It reports research into the factors affecting the decisions of under-represented ethnic groups to study physics and/or chemistry at A-level and/or at university.
Episode 604: Preparation for Thermodynamics Topic
Following on from the kinetic theory of gases, this topic from the Institute of Physics, examine the same phenomena in macroscopic terms (energy supplied to materials) and microscopic terms (how the particles are behaving). The learning episodes include: Episode 605: the First Law of Thermodynamics Episode 606: heat engines…
Episode 605: The First Law of Thermodynamics
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode includes discussions, demonstrations and questions which introduce students to thermodynamics. These include compressing and expanding gases, adiabatic and isothermal changes. The activities look at: • the first law of thermodynamics and energy conservation •…
Episode 606: Heat Engines and Thermal Efficiency
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students look at heat engines to find out about their efficiency and this leads into a discussion of the second law of thermodynamics. The activities include: • demonstrating steam engines • investigating thermal efficiencies • the Second Law of thermodynamics…
Episode 607: Specific Heat Capacity
This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, guide students to measure specific heat capacities experimentally and then see how energy must be supplied (or rejected) to increase (or decrease) the temperature of a material. Calculations are used to quantify the processes. The activities look at: • energy and change…
Episode 608: Latent Heat
In this learning episode, produced by the Institute of Physics, students investigate how energy is involved in changes of phase, even though there is no change of temperature. Using discussion, examples and experiments, students look at: • defining specific latent heat • examining the changes as water boils •…
Episode 600: Preparation for Kinetic Theory Topic
This topic, from the Institute of Physics, encourage students to learn more about how the microscopic behaviour of particles gives rise to the macroscopic behaviour of materials. They can also see how this gives rise to a mathematical model for an ideal gas. The learning episodes in this topic include: Episode 601: Brownian…
Episode 601: Brownian Motion and Ideal Gases
From the Institute of Physics, these demonstrations, computer model and associated discussions help students to look at Brownian motion as evidence for the particulate nature of matter, and the macroscopic gas laws. The learning episode looks at: • Brownian motion and what it tells us about gases • investigating…
Episode 602: Ideal Gases and Absolute Zero
This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, establishes the ideal gas law and how to use it. Worked examples and questions allow students to look at the behaviour of an ideal gas and see that an ideal gas is one that obeys Boyle’s law with complete precision. The activities include: • a discussion of an…
Episode 603: Kinetic Model of an Ideal Gas
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode allows students to relate the gas laws to the behaviour of the particles of a gas. The activities look at: • explaining pressure in terms of particles • deriving an equation for the pressure of a gas • the link between kinetic energy and pressure…
Episode 535: Particle Reactions
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students consider both hadrons and leptons in particle reactions. They must take account of both conservation of lepton number and conservation of baryon number. The activities include: • applying conservation rules • considering the conservation of electric…
Episode 536: Vector Bosons and Feynman Diagrams
Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode considers exchange particles and different types of interactions. Feynman diagrams are used, although these may not be required by all specifications. The activities in this learning episode examine: • exchange particles • interactions of different types…
Episode 537: Preparation for the Deep Scattering and Quarks Topics
From the Institute of Physics, this topic gives clear evidence for the size of the nucleus and for the fact that nucleons are not fundamental particles but contain different parts. This leads onto Gell-Mann and Zweig’s quark model. The learning episodes in this topic are: Episode 538: Electron scattering Episode…
Episode 538: Electron Scattering
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students follow work on Rutherford scattering to look at diffraction graphs and calculate nuclear diameters. The activities include: • student experiment using an optical analogue to show diffraction around spherical objects • diffraction graphs • calculating…
Episode 539: Deep Inelastic Scattering
In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students use an analogue experiment to illustrate electron scattering by quarks. In the model, magnets are concealed in a box. Their poles represent ‘charges’ which are probed using a freely-suspended magnet. This helps to demonstrate that each of the scattered…
Episode 540: Quarks and the Standard Model
From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode encourages students to investigate the quark model, which creates relative order out of the chaos of particle classification. Quarks have three ‘colour’ charges, and the rule for stability is that combinations must be colourless. The activities look at: •…
Episode 508: Preparation for the Radioactivity Topic
This topic from the Institute of Physics, allow students to explore the topic of radiation. There are a series of learning episodes, each being a self-contained unit of learning that takes typically one or two lessons. The learning episodes in this topic are: Episode 509: Radioactive Background and Detectors Episode 510:…
Episode 509: Radioactive Background and Detectors
From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduces the ubiquitous nature of radioactivity and considers its detection. It draws on students’ previous knowledge, and emphasizes the importance of technical terminology. The activities include: • demonstrating the detection of background radiation • sources…