Physics News from the AIP Term 1, No 4, 2014
The next meeting of the AIP Education Committee will be on Tuesday, 11th March at University High School. All teachers are welcome to attend this or any other meeting. You don't need to be a member of the AIP to get involved. If you would like to attend, please contact the chair, Sue Grant, at . This notice is normally below the Table of Contents and so is often missed.
Table of Contents
1. Luna Park: Fully Booked
2. Physics Teachers' Conference: Report, Contacts, Proceedings and Feedback
3. A Catalogue of Astronomy Apps for Phones and Tablets
4. Physics Manual for Lab Techs
5. Physics: A force for Future Security - an article in The Conversation - a SHE activity?
6. Pulse @ Parkes on line from VSSEC: 11am - 1pm, Thursday 20th February
7. Forthcoming events for Students and the General Public *
a) Physics Lectures for Students, 6pm, 20th Feb, University of Melbourne
b) How nature makes materials, 5:45pm, 5th March, University of Melbourne
c) From Astrophysics to Bioinformatics, 4:30pm, 6th March, University of Melbourne
d) The Science of Dr Who, 13th - 15th June, Malthouse Theatre
8. Forthcoming events for Teachers *
a) Beginning Physics Teachers In-Service - Monday, 7th April
b) Sound in Practice Workshop - Monday, 7th April
9. Physics News from the Web
a) Particle physics comes alive on a tablet
b) Doing maths on the fly, birds form V for efficiency
c) Planck telescope reveals 'almost perfect' universe
* Events listed for the first time are in bold with details below. The details of the other events can be found on our website at www.vicphysics.org/forthcomingevents.html or in previous newsletters at www.vicphysics.org/aipnews.html
This newsletter is compiled by the Australian Institute of Physics (Victorian Branch) Education Committee.
The next meeting of the AIP Education Committee will be on Tuesday, 11th March at University High School. All teachers are welcome to attend this or any other meeting. You don't need to be a member of the AIP to get involved. If you would like to attend, please contact the chair, Sue Grant, at .
1. Luna Park: Fully booked
The three VCE Physics Days at Luna Park are fully booked with 800 students on each day. Teachers who have made bookings can still request a datalogger. They can be booked through the AIP. Email the AIP at , specifying day, brand (either Pasco or Vernier) and AM or PM. Note: there is a limit of one datalogger per school.
2. Physics Teachers' Conference: Report, Proceedings and Feedback
Last Friday's Conference was a very rewarding experience. The Opening Address by Prof Brian Schmidt was an extraordinary presentation. He covered the developments in our understanding of cosmology over the last 100 years, up to his Nobel prize winning research and its implications and with a depth attuned to his audience. His talk finished with a moving tribute to the physics teaching profession.
The results of the small group discussion are being compiled and will be on the website in a week or two. These include:
· Suggested practical activities that could be part of an annotated folio or a summary report, for the main Areas of Study,
· Possible Data analysis activities, useful IT activities and Youtube videos, as well as
· The comments on the five questions on the assessment issues.
Contacts:
Two names were mentioned at the conference as useful sources of information. One was Colin Hopkins who distributes his teaching notes, course summaries and checkpoint solutions to primarily beginning physics teachers, but really to anyone who wants to use them. To get on his mailing list email him at . Colin also gives a series of revision lectures around the state at the end of the year.
The other was Dan O'Keeffe, who distributes this newsletter.
Proceedings:
The diverse range of workshops were well received, with many by first time presenters. Some material has already come in from presenters and is on the website at www.vicphysics.org/conf2014.html.
This includes the Chief Assessor's Report of the 2013 exam with the powerpoint looking at questions students did not do well on, an excel file of the grade points back to 1997 as well as some pre VCE data (The grade point is the raw score cut off for a particular grade. The cumulative percentage of candidates is also included alongside the raw score. The table also has the mean and standard deviation for each exam and the number of candidates obtaining 100% for most exams) as well as the guiding principles for marking.
Other workshops with material on the website are:
A3 Australian Senior Physics Curriculum: Overview and Opportunities by Neil Champion, Buckley Park Secondary College
A4 Teaching Further Electronics by Dr Murray Anderson, Camberwell Grammar School
A10 Glowing Graveyards by Dr David Hoxley, LaTrobe University
B3 Astronomy Club - Activities for starting one in your school by Paul Fitz-Gerald, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School
C9 Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament by Dan O'Keeffe, AIP Ed Comm
C10 Delivering VCE Physics 100% Online and Interactive by Bruce Carpenter, Bendigo Senior Secondary College
C17 Compton Scattering - The Birth of the Photon by Theo Hughes, Monash University
D1, E1 Physics in General Science - Electronics, Electricity and Magnetism by Helen Lye, ACER and Dan O'Keeffe, AIP Ed Comm
D3 Language modelling in developing a conceptual understanding in Physics by Dr Murray Anderson, Camberwell Grammar School
D13 Kids can create computer models for Physics! by Matthew McGovern, Mill Park Secondary College
E5 Teaching Astronomy to Year 10 with lab based practical work by Russell Downie, PLC (uploaded on Weds 19th Feb)
Feedback of Conference Program
There were several different aspects to this year's program. Let us know what you think of them by email to the AIP at :
a. Registration and the Opening Address were both in the Campus Centre, so participants were in the one space until 11:50am. This was due to the South One Theatre undergoing an upgrade. So there is less walking, but the AV is not as good. Which location do you prefer?
b. The last two sessions were earlier than previous years to accommodate the afternoon 'Physics in General Science' PIGS Conference for Year 7 - 10 Science teachers. Did you attend more workshops or was it harder for you to get from school if you were coming for just the last two sessions?
c. Because of the PIGS conference there were more workshops on offer, so participants were spread more thinly. Is this a concern?
You can still return your Evaluation slips by post to: AIP (Vic Branch) Ed Comm, PO Box 3054, Richmond, VIC 3121.
3. A Catalogue of Astronomy Apps for Phones and Tablets
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aas/journal/aer/10/1/10.3847/AER2011036
Click on download and the 9 page pdf document from the journal, Astronomy Education Review, should appear. Over 90 apps with links and a short description of each. At the bottom of the list is a collection of links to review articles of some of the apps.
4. Physics Manual for Lab Techs
The Laboratory Technicians' Association of Victoria (LTAV) has produced an upgraded 4th edition of their manual. The manual has been produced to assist lab techs and teachers to prepare equipment for physics demonstrations and practical classes in secondary schools. Its purpose is to have, in one book, information on safety, equipment maintenance and laboratory skills. It was prepared by Svetlana Marchouba from Camberwell Grammar School.
The 75 page book has chapters on a tool kit, electrical safety, radiation of all types, soldering, measuring instruments, power supplies, timers, meters, air tables, air tracks, ripple tanks, Van de Graaff generator, lenses and mirrors and solar panels. There is also a glossary and an index.
The publication can be ordered from the LTAV website, Check out http://www.ltav.org.au/ , for $23 which includes a black and white copy and a CD version in colour.
5. Physics: A Force for Future Security - an article in The Conversation - a SHE activity?
A recent edition of The Conversation, featured an article by Professors Michelle Simmons, David Jamieson and Chennupati Jagadish, titled 'Physics: a fundamental force for futuresecurity'. It is at: http://theconversation.com/physics-a-fundamental-force-for-future-security-22121
The article outlines the value of physics to the development of technology and Australia's economic future. There are 31 comments so far.
The article and more particularly the comments could form the basis of a SHE activity in which the students not only summarise the article, but more importantly categorise, critique and evaluate the subsequent comments. Any worksheets that are developed will be gratefully received and acknowledged.
6. Pulse @ Parkes on line from VSSEC 11am - 1pm, Thursday 20th February
PULSE@Parkes is a project that provides high school students with the opportunity to control the famous Parkes radio telescope. Students observe pulsars under the guidance of professional astronomers. This Thursday the program will run at VSSEC in Strathmore. The program is fully booked, but teachers can get an idea of the program by viewing the data being observed live on line at: http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/online/psrmon/
The process can also be followed on twitter @PULSEatParkes. Details the program can be found at the project's homepage http://pulseatparkes.atnf.csiro.au/ . The program is mainly offered at Parkes and also in Sydney and occasionally at VSSEC in Melbourne.
7. Forthcoming events for Students and General Public *
a) Physics Lectures for Students, 6pm, 20th Feb, University of Melbourne
This series of popular lectures, specifically designed to cover the year 11 and 12 VCE Study Design, is back again for 2014. The lectures, of about 1 hour duration, are given by outstanding research physicists from various research institutions, and are held on Thursdays at 6 pm in the Laby Theatre of the School of Physics. They are designed to clarify selected topics in the VCE-physics study design, and to broaden the understanding of the associated physics concepts.
a) What really causes the Tides. VCE Study: “Motion”, 6pm 20th Feb. Dr Roger Rassool
He will discuss his recent article in “Cosmos” on this topic, and cover the historical explanations of the tides, by Galileo, Kepler, and of course Newton.
b) Astronomy in Australia: Our part in the Big Picture. VCE Study: “Astronomy”, 6th March, Prof Rachel Webster.
c) When I was very young: Misconceptions in Physics. VCE Study: “Motion in 1 & 2D , 20th March, Dr Max Thompson
Dr. Max Thompson will discuss a few of the enduring misconceptions that some students studying physics at VCE level, bring to the classroom. The way in which these misconceptions tend to confuse their understanding of physics will be discussed, and how teachers might best rectify them will be mentioned.
For more details and a copy of the pdf flyer go to http://outreach.physics.unimelb.edu.au/VCE/Lecture-Series
b) How nature makes materials, 5:45pm, 5th March, University of Melbourne
A free public lecture by Prof Ulrich Steiner, Professor of Physics of Materials, Cambridge University
Venue: Masson Theatre, Chemistry Building
Booking required: http://events.unimelb.edu.au/events/3743-how-nature-makes-materials?utm_campaign=digest&utm_medium=email&utm_source=subscription
Abstract: Biological organisms have limited resources to build the materials they are made of. Given these limitations the range of properties of natural materials is mind-boggling and in many instances not easily surpassed by man-made substitutes. One important aspect of many natural materials is their intricate structure, extending from a few nanometers to macroscopic dimensions. Professor Steiner will discuss recent work that illustrates how we can learn from nature how to make structured materials and how to copy their properties.
Structure Animal skeletons and sea shells are made from calcium containing minerals that are brittle and cannot normally be used to create a strong structures. Studying the way molluscs “build” mother of pearl not only explains why mussel-shells are strong and robust but enables scientists to copy the synthesis steps to create equally strong nacre in a non-biological fashion.
Colour Some of the colour in nature arises from the way transparent materials are arranged microscopically. This “structural colour” found in butterflies, beetles, and bird feathers is more brilliant than the more common colours created by pigments. Professor Steiner will discuss how animals and plants use structural colour to communicate and how these concepts can be copied to create materials that exhibit unusual optical effects.
Adhesion Insects, spiders and some lizards are able to walk on nearly any surface without falling off. This is often achieved by fine hairs that closely hug the surface providing good adhesion. While we are unable to replicate the delicate structures that are used in nature, we can approximate them with artificial materials, such as carbon nanotubes and plastics, to create adhesive surfaces that share the fascinating properties of Gecko-feet.
Self-cleaning surfaces Many natural surfaces very strongly repel dirt are cleaned by water drops that roll across them. The creation of such super non-stick surfaces that require only water for cleaning are desirable for numerous applications. This part of the lecture explains how they work, how they can be made and what is required for their implementation in applications.
c) From Astrophysics to Bioinformatics, 4:30pm, 6th March, University of Melbourne
You are invited to the Free Public Lecture 2014 Laby Women in Physics Lecture proudly presented by The University of Melbourne School of Physics and Laby Foundation.
The guest speaker is Dr Alicia Oshlack who began her career studying Astrophysics at the School of Physics
and is currently the Head of Bioinformatics in the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Come and share Dr Oshlack’s story of a Physicist becoming a leader in the burgeoning field of Bioinformatics while balancing parenthood and life in general.
Take the opportunity to speak to the female Physics researchers beforehand over light refreshments and take a tour of some of the labs.
4:30pm Laby Ideas Centre for Lab tours.
5:15pm Hercus Theatre for Lecture, David Caro Building, Cnr Swanston St and Tin Alley
RSVP: Jacinta den Besten :
d) The Science of Dr Who, 13th - 15th June, Malthouse Theatre
A BBC stage production is touring Australia later this year. The promo says 'Exploring the science behind the fiction – Live on stage Join us on this amazing journey through space and time as comedian Rob Lloyd, and his crew of scientists, explore the scientific mysteries of Doctor Who. Featuring original scenes from the iconic BBC television series, join in the fun with your smartphone as we investigate the science of time travel and teleportation, ask if regeneration is possible, and explain how the TARDIS can be bigger on the inside. You will even get an opportunity to decide which Doctor Who alien will take over the universe. There are no limits to this adventure as we travel the cosmos to reveal The Science of Doctor Who.'