-
Density Required Practical, Accuracy and Precision (Two Dense Objects)
Summary Thomas and Robin chat about another required practical in UK GCSEs, measuring the density of regular and irregular objects. They run down the rabbit hole of accuracy vs precision before chatting about crazy ways of measuring everyday values. Physics in the news this week is the recent close up photograph of the surface of […]
-
Meeting the AAPT
Thomas and Robin meet Mark Hannum from the AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers). Summary Robin is fascinated to meet Mark Hannum from AAPT. AAPT support teachers in the USA, much the same role that Robin played when he was leading Teacher Support for the IoP. Mark tells us how the AAPT works and also […]
-
Mocks
Thomas and Robin chat about mocks and how they use them. The podcast ends on a sad note as Thomas talks about a recent family bereavement and asks for donations to Brain research. Summary For reasons that are explained late in the podcast, Thomas has been feeling very low, and travels to Robin’s house (aka […]
-
Waves for 11 Year Olds and GCSE Required Practical
Robin and Thomas busk through teaching Sound and Waves to 11-year-olds and the Ripple Tank GCSE Required Practical. Summary “Physics in the News” this week looked at a story that casts doubt on the idea of dark energy. It’s a good illustration of how the scientific method and peer review is used to challenge ideas […]
-
Taking a Trip to CERN
Robin and Thomas talk to David Cotton and Aris Dacanalis about taking a trip to CERN. Timestamps Aris @ 01:40 Chatting with David @ 08:20 David’s Practical in Memoriam @ 30:30 Summary David’s CERN page on TalkPhysics.org Salad Bowl Accelerator Our original tweet and the replies Join in! Please share ideas or successes – or […]
-
Uses for a Vacuum Cannon and Deconstruction of Energy
Happy New Year! Thomas and Robin reflect on some questions from the Dulwich IoP Physics Conference and are joined by Patrick Kaplo to talk about uses for the Vacuum Cannon and whether teaching just two energy stores is the way forward. Timestamps New Year Resolutions @ 00:35 We’re going on tour! @ 03:51 Uses for […]
-
Specific Heat Capacity (GCSE Required Practical)
Happy Christmas! In the last full podcast of 2019, Thomas and Robin chat about one of the core GCSE Practicals: Measuring Specific Heat Capacity. Also, stealth physics in “fun” Christmas lessons. Timestamps Bikes follow up @ 00:54 Stealth Physics “fun” lessons @ 02:10 Chatting about measuring Specific Heat Capacity @ 15:50 Summary Thomas doesn’t like […]
-
Bikes – An Accessible and Versatile Context
James de Winter and Alan Denton join us to tell us the many ways in which a simple bicycle can be used to provide an accessible context for Physics. Moment, pressure, forces, sound, power and more can all be looked at through the lens of a bike. Timestamps A Fifth Fundamental Force? @ 00:47 Bikes […]
-
Underrepresentation (the elephant in the room)
Moses Rifkin came to the attention of Fox news for his short course on underrepresentation in Physics and Science and this led to the The Underrepresentation Curriculum Project. He tells us his story. Timestamps The Underrepresentation Curriculum with Moses Rifkin @ 00:53 Moses’ Practical in Memoriam – eggs from the sky! @ 31:50 Summary Moses […]
-
Birdsong – Connecting Physics with the Real World
Friend (now Hero, surely?) of the Podcast James de Winter talks birdsong and uses it as an example of how to connect physics with the real world in more imaginative ways. We all know how it goes, you teach newton 3, you talk about a rocket, you teach momentum you talk about trucks and cars […]