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Refutation Text for the Jelly Chair
I said in Episode 6 I would share what I came up with for the Jelly Chair lesson and refutation texts. I did put some thought in to this but think that there is room for improvement. I ended up writing a few sentences for the kids to do: The ancient Greeks thought that arrows […]
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Kicking a Rock on the Moon
In Episode 6 I mentioned a thought experiment with a concrete-filled rugby ball. I have used this model for years and knew it came from a text book long ago and I have since been searching for it. I was convinced it came from Peter Warren, the head of department where I did my teacher […]
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7. Ben, Big Ideas and beginnings
Thomas and Robin talk about the podcast’s roots and where it all started, to help all teachers of physics to feel a sense of professional community. You can help by sharing it with your friends, and if you do that you have a chance to win a podcast T-Shirt! The competition lasts until 30th November […]
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Entries! and Momentum Round-Up
We put out the competition not really knowing quite what to expect. Four entries before 8:15am was an exciting start to the day though as I write at 4:30pm it is still four, which has brought me down to Earth somewhat! Momentum Day Today was “Momentum” day. After talking with Ben Rogers about cognitive Science […]
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6. What happens when your jelly won’t hold your weight? Is it time to lose some mass?
Thomas and Robin got together in the same room for a chat this week. Don’t worry, as a good physicist and a good engineer they avoided eye contact*. The big news last week was the redefinition of the kilogram which was originally based on the mass of Napoleon’s leg**, but latterly on a lump of […]
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Interact and Win a T-Shirt!
Now we have listeners, and an Instagram page (@physics_teaching_podcast) we thought we would encourage you to share the podcast by having our first competition. Join us at the bottom of an exponential by winning a beautiful podcast T-shirt (in the colour of your choice) by interacting! To win, tell us why you like listening. There are many ways […]
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Face to Face + Progress on Momentum
I had found an excellent purveyor of T-shirts and as a joke got a couple made up with “I’m at the bottom of the exponential” for Robin and I to wear. This necessitated a visit to his house so we decided to have a face to face chat (so far we have done them virtually […]
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Squeezing it all in + pondering momentum ?
This week’s episode was a bumper edition, and we had to work hard to keep it down to just under 27 minutes. I really wanted to put in the Practicals In Memoriam (PIM) section and this led to cutting down the interview. Robin and I have talked a few times about the ideal length for […]
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5. Models, marbles and marvels…
In a bumper 5th episode, we chat to Stuart Farmer, self-proclaimed “Listener Number 2” about a brilliant visualisation of uncertainty. In keeping with parsimonious podcast principles, Stuart’s practical involves nothing more elaborate than a variety of marbles and some paper cups. You’ll love it! Stuart introduced Thomas to the Perimeter Institute and their free resources […]
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4. Why Don’t More Girls Choose Physics?
Thomas and Robin try to find A New Hope in Episode 4 by addressing the perennial problem of the small proportion of girls choosing A Level Physics. In this Episode: World Dark Matter Day, 31st October: How did you celebrate it? The Perimeter Institute and their Free Resources. Where are all the girls? Jessica Rowson, […]