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Latest Podcasts
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Particle Theory of Matter
Whilst Robin is off on a vigilante mission to rescue his partner, stranded by English Public transport, Rosie and Thomas have a jolly catch-up about supporting physics students with extra-curricular projects and finding work experience placements. They also explore ways to teach the Particle Theory of matter and its related topics such as density and the gas laws. Interestingly there seem to be many Space related stories linking to this topic, allowing teachers to link the curriculum to careers and real-life stories.
Links:
- UK Space Early Careers Internships
- Harwell Science Campus Early Careers and Work Experience
- Crest Science Awards
- Hovering Ship off the Cornish Coast Article
- Application – Using Mercury to Float Lighthouse Lenses
- Application – Michelson and Morley floating a block of stone on mercury to measure the speed of light
- Kicking a rugby ball on the moon thought experiment
- Marshmallow in a syringe demo (40 second YouTube overview)
- Water boiling in a syringe at low pressure
- BBC news – Exploding Tunnock’s Tea Cakes Story
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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All good things…
Tomorrow our last regular podcast, “Particle Theory of Matter” goes live. And we just recorded “The Last Episode”, which I’m afraid is going to be 140th and last episode of The Physics Teaching Podcast. It will be released on Thursday 19th June.
It has had a good run, 7 years and 140 regular episodes covering everything from balloons to buoyancy to black boxes and black holes and more besides. All good things come to an end, and this feels like the right time to place the final full stop.
It has been a blast and such a privilege to work with Robin and Rosie and the countless guests who have been so informative and generous with their time. Special thanks to Rosie who gave the podcast one last year, doing all the heavy lifting this year having started in September with no experience of making a podcast at all.
Thank you too to the many many teachers who emailed us with their thank you and support and ideas. Thank you for staying to the very end. You, dear listeners are, as ever, the real heroes.
Thomas
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Revising Physics with Key Stage 3 (ages 10-14)
Dear listener, the stars have aligned! Thomas, Robin, and Rosie—have managed to gather together as a trio to share their arsenal of revision techniques for Key Stage 3.
Brace yourself for a whirlwind tour through their best tools and techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a wide-eyed trainee, we hope there is something fresh to take away. Expect mind-maps, plasticine and mighty Tarsia puzzles that are guaranteed to spark joy and problem-solving prowess in equal measure.
Links:
- Doppler Buzzer Demo
- Mind Mapping Basics
- BBC Bitesize
- Seneca Learning
- CGP revision guides
- Tarsia Maker Programme – Make your own
- Kahoot – multiple choice quiz on phones
- Blooket – Phone quiz games against peers
- Quizlet – Flashcard based quizzes for self study and revision
- Plickers – Formative assessment quizzes with just a teacher phone
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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Modelling Electricity with Ben Rogers
With Thomas still away on his travels, Rosie and Robin take the opportunity to catch up on all that’s been happening. Robin spills the beans on some new tips and tricks he’s picked up at his new school. Think hands-on modelling for sixth form—it’s practical, fun, and downright genius!
We’ve also got a special treat for you—a guest appearance from none other than Ben Rogers, a brilliant friend of the podcast! Ben dives into his fascinating research on introducing primary school children to models for electricity, a topic that’s notoriously tricky but oh-so-important
Links:
Ben Rogers New Book – Primary Science in a Nutshell
Ben Rogers Book – The Big Ideas in Physics and How to teach them
The rope loop model – GCSE physics online
Sweets and cups model – Open University
Energy Ball – For circuits using students
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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Effective StoryTelling in Physics
Rosie and Robin finally get a chance to catch up—and let’s be honest, it’s long overdue! Meanwhile, Thomas has packed his bags for *another* holiday adventure, but not before sitting down with Richard Brock to discuss the art of storytelling in the classroom.
Richard shares his wisdom on how stories, when used judiciously, can both enrich learning and bring joy to teaching. They’re the luxury treats that brighten the classroom narrative, but there’s a delicate balance—stories should enhance, not distract from, the core content.
Tune in for insights, laughs, and a reminder of why storytelling is such an essential tool for education.
Links
- IOP Stories from Physics, by Richard Brock
- Isaac Newton’s BirthPlace – WoolsThorpe Manor
- The Cavendish – discovery of DNA by Watson and Crick
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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The Magic of Physics
As the final month of winter approaches in the UK, we all feel the need for a little something to keep our spirits lifted; so Rosie and Thomas explore the awe and wonder of magic, with a science spin.
It was therefore a great pleasure to welcome special guest to the podcast , Matt Pritchard, from Science Magic Shows. His fabulous science shows are exactly the thing to enliven the school year and give students, and teachers, some new ideas about the fun of science.
Alongside all this fun Rosie and Thomas also ruminate on the past fortnight with a focus on an alternative method to standing waves on a string and our own favourite teaching magic tricks.
Links
- Science Magic Shows – Website by Matt Pritchard
- Sparking Wonder – A free resource of magic related demos for teachers to use in the classroom, created by Matt with the Ogden trust
- Other resources on awe and wonder – For further reading on the topic of awe and wonder, see Matt’s curated list of resources on his website.
- Core practical – standing waves – YouTube demo of the alternative method using AC, magnets and a wire.
- Table Cloth Trick
- Jumping soda can trick
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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New Year’s Resolutions
It’s January and hence what better time to talk about some teaching New Year Resolutions. Rosie talks about her three resolution areas:
1) Teaching A-level exam technique
2) Using AI
3) Admin time savers for physics teachers
To which Thomas W-P and our special guest to the podcast this week, Callum Farnsworth, provide some super ideas.
Plus if you enjoy hearing from Callum in this episode then watch-out because he’ll be back soon to share more with us and the dear listener about his Ogden Senior fellowship project, called the PHET effect.
Links
- Ogden Senior Teacher Fellows placed at PhET
- Isaac Physics
- Previous Episode on Isaac Physics
- Previous Episode on using A.I. in Physics Teaching
- Chat GPT
- Claude AI
- TeachMate AI
- Lab Logger
- Arbor School Management Software
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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Ogden Fellows and Seasonal Practicals
We chat with Jed Marshall and Simon Poliakoff about being and Ogden Senior Teaching Fellow which leads on to fun things to do with classes at Christmas which are solidly physicsy.
Thomas is a bit of a curmudgeon but grudgingly comes out with one he uses around fireworks night, but Jed and Rosie have some great ideas.
- Teabag Rockets
- Holograms using a phone
- Sparking Giant Capacitor
- Balloon vs Fluorescent Tube
- Science related Snow Flake decorations
- Making dry Ice from old carbon dioxide fire extinguishers
- Previous podcast episode on Christmas practicals
Links
- Ogden Senior Teacher Fellows placed at PhET
- Laser Blox Educational Laser Pointers
- Tea Bag rocket demo – YouTube
- Refraction with Jelly Lenses YouTube
- Science Snow Flake Templates
- Make a Hologram-Like Projector
- Light a bulb with a balloon
- Making dry ice with an old carbon dioxide fire extinguisher
Example Hologram film
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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Easy and Fun Physics for Science Week
We talk to Ogden Partnership Coordinator Natasha Peachey who inspires us to think about Science Week 2025. Simon Poliakoff then joins us to give us some beautiful ideas for Physics activities.
Links
- Bruce Yeany – Home Made Science Channel on YouTube
- Bruce Yeany – Balloon on glass
- based recipe for big bubbles
- Tri-String for bubbles
- Simon’s YouTube Channel – Physics with Simon Poliakoff
- Simon’s Centripetal Tray
- Thomas’ double-slit slide – download the original then print as many as you like at digitalslides.co.uk.
Thank you to Simon who sent these links
- Ray box projectors (idea originally from Keith Johnson’s Physics for You book)
- Young Double Slit with mobile phone:
- Bubble mixture: Mix1.5g of Guar Gum with a small amount of glycerol to make a slurry, then mix with 1 litre hot water, then add 40g original fairly liquid (optional 1 teaspoon of baking powder). Mix and leave to cool. Further recipes are available.Â
- Loudspeaker building
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
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A-Level Particles with Dr Ben Still
We catch up with teacher and author Dr Ben Still to get tips on how to address Particles at A-Level.
The podcast starts with the sad news that Robin is finding it impossible to make enough time for the podcast in his new job – he is stepping back for the time being and will contribute again when he feels he can. He actually joined to contribute to this episode in his 30 minutes of free time but then his internet died before he said a word. Sad times.
Dr Ben Still worked with neutrinos on the T2K experiment before writing the lego book on Particle Physics and then seeing the light and going in to teaching. Like Thomas, Rosie has no background in Particle Physics and had a few questions for Ben which he was kind enough to answer.
Links
- Dr Ben Still
- Quarkle Card Game (Pre-printed Deck)
- Quarkle Card Game (Printable version from resources shared by Matthew Benyohai)
- CERN’s Contribution to Society
- Dry Ice on-line – but don’t forget this is easily made for free (and bonus awe and wonder) on-site with protective guantlets, an expired CO2 fire extinguisher and a tote bag.
Join in!
Please share ideas or successes – or indeed questions by messaging us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/physicstp.bsky.social . You can also message us via our website contact form on every page of the web site at the.physicsteachingpodcast.com, or email using the address given in the podcast (if we remember). We are moving away from X but can be found there as @physicstp.
Music
- Season 7: Physics Is Our Business by Miracles of Modern Science.
- Seasons 5 and 6: Crescents by Ketsa.
- Seasons 3 and 4: Disco Sheik by Podington Bear.
- Seasons 1 and 2: One legged equilibrist polka by Circus Homunculus.
- Occasionally we also use Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith.
The music is used under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License