In the last 30 days

• Open/close How do wings work?

  Holger Babinsky 2003 Phys. Educ. 38 497 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (364 KB)

  The popular explanation of lift is common, quick, sounds logical and gives the correct answer, yet also introduces misconceptions, uses a nonsensical physical argument and misleadingly invokes Bernoulli's equation. A simple analysis of pressure gradients and the curvature of streamlines is presented here to give a more correct explanation of lift.

• Open/close How does a Mach-Zehnder interferometer work?

  K P Zetie et al 2000 Phys. Educ. 35 46 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (48 KB)

  The Mach-Zehnder interferometer is a particularly simple device for demonstrating interference by division of amplitude. A light beam is first split into two parts by a beamsplitter and then recombined by a second beamsplitter. Depending on the relative phase acquired by the beam along the two paths the second beamsplitter will reflect the beam with efficiency between 0 and 100%. The operation of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is often used as an example in quantum mechanics because it shows a clear path-choice problem. However, it is not at all obvious at first glance that it works as claimed, until reflection phase shifts are considered in detail.

• Open/close CD: Physics A-Level Presentations CD: Advancing Physics CD Quick Tour CD: From Silicon to Computer DVD: Powers of Ten DVD: The Way Things Go DVD: The Video Encyclopaedia of Physics Demonstrations CD: Multimedia Waves Equipment: Go!Link and Go!Temp Equipment: Infrared thermometer Equipment: Cracker snaps Book: Magic Universe, The Oxford Guide to Modern Science Book: Fermi Remembered Lecture/Book: Big Bang (lecture and book) Software: VPython Web Watch: Free online resource connects real-life phenomena with science Web Watch: Mining the Internet Places to Visit: London Planetarium and Madame Tussaud's

   2005 Phys. Educ. 40 81 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.37 MB)

  WE RECOMMEND

  Advancing Physics CD Quick Tour
  This software makes the Advancing Physics CD easier to use.

  From Silicon to Computer
  This CD on computer technology operates like an electronic textbook.

  Powers of Ten
  This documentary film gives pupils a feel for the scale of our universe.

  Multimedia Waves
  The material on this CD demonstrates various wave phenomena.

  Infrared thermometer
  This instant response, remote sensor has numerous lab applications.

  Magic Universe, The Oxford Guide to Modern Science
  Acollection of short essays, this book is aimed at A-level students.

  Fermi Remembered
  Ajoy to read, this piece of non-fiction leaves you eager for more.

  Big Bang (lecture and book)
  Both the book and the lecture are engaging and hugely entertaining.

  WORTH A LOOK

  The Way Things Go
  Lasting just 30 minutes, this film will liven up any mechanics lesson.

  The Video Encyclopaedia of Physics Demonstrations
  It may blow your budget, but this DVD is a superb physics resource.

  Go!Link and Go!Temp
  Go!Link is a useful, cheap datalogger. Go!Temp seems superfluous.

  Cracker snaps
  Cheap and cheerful, cracker snaps can be used to demonstrate force.

  VPython
  This 3D animation freeware can be adapted to fit your needs.

  HANDLE WITH CARE

  Physics A-Level Presentations
  It might be better to generate slides yourself rather than modify these.

  London Planetarium and Madame Tussaud's
  A day out here is definitely not a worthwhile science excursion.

• Open/close Physics of the microwave oven

  Michael Vollmer 2004 Phys. Educ. 39 74 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (211 KB)

  This is the first of two articles about the physics of microwave ovens. This article deals with the generation of microwaves in the oven and includes the operation of the magnetrons, waveguides and standing waves in resonant cavities. It then considers the absorption of microwaves by foods, discussing the dielectric relaxation of water, penetration depths of electromagnetic waves in matter and, in considering the possible chemical changes during the microwave heating, multi-photon ionization or dissociation.

• Open/close Excitons

  W Y Liang 1970 Phys. Educ. 5 226 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (301 KB)

  An exciton is a quantum of electronic excitation energy travelling in the periodic structure of a crystal; it is electrically neutral and hence its movement through the crystal gives rise to the transportation of energy but not charge. This is a concise description of the ideal exciton. The authors give a more physical picture, show some of the interesting properties, their observation and the importance of the concept of excitons in relation to metals and insulators.

• Open/close A practical example of a siphon at work

  Stephen W Hughes 2010 Phys. Educ. 45 162 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (644 KB)

  In this article, some classroom experiments are described for correcting the common misconception that the operation of a siphon depends on atmospheric pressure. One experiment makes use of a chain model of a siphon and another demonstrates that flow rate is dependent on the height difference between the inflow and outflow of a siphon and not atmospheric pressure. A real-life example of the use of a siphon to refill a lake in South Australia is described, demonstrating that the siphon is not only of academic interest but has practical applications.

• Open/close Dare we teach tops?

  David Featonby 2010 Phys. Educ. 45 409 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (3.39 MB)

  Tops are mentioned in classical literature and references are even found in the ancient world. For many children a top is one of the first mechanical toys that they play with by themselves, yet a full appreciation of their motion is rare. My hope is that this article will stimulate the reader's interest in tops, will help with the first stages of understanding, and will provide inspiration for looking into the subject further. As a result of this, teachers will be happy and have the confidence to discuss these wonderful toys with their pupils.

  The article discusses tops and spinning objects of various types, and relates them to some of the physical principles that they demonstrate.

• Open/close Measuring inductance and capacitance Physics education and the environment Charging the Earth A problem in SHM All nations need to require science literacy courses for all university students 'Ah-ha' moments

   2003 Phys. Educ. 38 176 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (42 KB)

  Measuring inductance and capacitance
  Physics education and the environment
  Charging the Earth
  A problem in SHM
  All nations need to require science literacy courses for all university students
  'Ah-ha' moments
• Open/close Web Watch: Exercising your mind: discover the physics of sport on the Web Equipment: Spectrometer suits classroom use Equipment: Igniting interest in the gas laws Resource Review: Spectrum delivers customizable science course for Key Stage 3 Book Review: Revealing the buried past Resource Review: Catalyst: A framework for success

   2004 Phys. Educ. 39 356 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.12 MB)

  WEB WATCH (356)
  Exercising your mind: discover the physics of sport on the Web

  EQUIPMENT (361)
  Spectrometer suits classroom use
  Igniting interest in the gas laws

  RESOURCE REVIEWS (362)
  Spectrum delivers customizable science course for Key Stage 3
  Catalyst: A framework for success

  BOOK REVIEW (363)
  Revealing the buried past

• Open/close CD-ROM Review: Essential Physics Book Review: Collins Advanced Science: Physics, 2nd edition Book Review: Quarks, Leptons and the Big Bang, 2nd edition Book Review: Do Brilliantly: A2 Physics Book Review: IGCSE Physics Book Review: Geophysics in the UK Book Review: Synoptic Skills in Advanced Physics Book Review: Flash! The hunt for the biggest explosions in the universe Book Review: Materials Book Review: Maths for Advanced Physics

   2002 Phys. Educ. 37 551 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (287 KB)

  CD-ROM REVIEW (551)
  Essential Physics

  BOOK REVIEWS (551)
  Collins Advanced Science: Physics, 2nd edition
  Quarks, Leptons and the Big Bang, 2nd edition
  Do Brilliantly: A2 Physics
  IGCSE Physics
  Geophysics in the UK
  Synoptic Skills in Advanced Physics
  Flash! The hunt for the biggest explosions in the universe
  Materials
  Maths for Advanced Physics