'Newton's G-ball', marketed by Swedish company Mollic, is a simple electronic timing device which can be used to measure the freefall time from its point of release to impact on a surface below. It is available from a number of third party suppliers, including djb microtech, Better Equipped and TIMSTAR in the UK and Arbor Scientific in the US. The...
Teaching about Radioactivity without Sources
Radioactivity is an exciting, mysterious and scary part of physics for many students, often because their ideas about 'radiation' are closely associated with their ideas about superheroes. Frequently my class discussions with students to gauge their prior knowledge about radiation and radioactivity come round to Stan Lee's Marvel Comics creations - 'Spiderman' and 'The Incredible Hulk'. After explaining...
Newton's Rings
I've been trying to show my AH pupils all of the experimental work for Unit 3 during this week, as it's the last week of the course before their NAB next week. Having gone over much of the theory before Easter and encouraging them to cover the theory on Scholar, I set up a few...
Space Topic - Gas Sampling Apparatus
I'm currently planning a new Space topic for S1, as part of my department's CfE development. I'd like to do something on sustaining life in space, looking at providing space travelers with clean air, clean water, food and communications during various types of missions. I've yet to decide on a format for the unit, but...