Friday, 19 November 2021

Conductors and insulators

 #Physics Much of the usual fun with conductors and insulators. Both are at the same temp but the metal feels colder. Interesting answers of why. #iteachphysics #Science #STEM



Thursday, 18 November 2021

Racing for the Future: Going Green #26

 


In this episode Philip and Paul look at SailGP and its Sustainability Impact League. As well as being Powered by Nature, the organisers have gone one stage further by introducing a Green aspect to the competition. There is an additional prize for the most green team.

A second leader board, which runs alongside the Season Championship, has been created to monitor the performance of the teams in the Impact League, with each team's score at each SailGP event being added to the overall Impact League leader board.At the end of the season it is proposed that there will be two podiums, with the winner of the Impact League crowned alongside the Season Champion and earning funding for its purpose partner, who supports and advises them throughout the season and is visible on the team’s livery. SailGP's Impact League has been set some sustainability criteria - social and environmental - to operate against with each team awarded points based on its fulfilment of these criteria. The criteria range from pioneering new technologies focusing on clean energy solutions and removing all single-use plastics, to diversity and inclusion and using the team's voice for good. Each team will be externally audited and an overall leader board created after each event. Philip and Paul look at this and look at whether this could be inserted into other sports to improve their sustainability and perhaps including all the spectators to earn extra points for their team. We have seen Formula One with formula-E coming along - but this would be so much better if all the factories also became eco-friendly. #podcast #climatechange #climatecrisis #climateemergency #raceforthefuture #sports #sustainability #cleanenergy



Investigating catalysts.


Investigating catalysts. Letting students do some experiments that they have not seen or done in school. Doing is so much better than watching or worse reading from a book. Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide using a Manganese dioxide catalyst. After the reaction filtering washing and drying the catalyst and recovering it. Only lost 0.14g and most of that was stuck to the filter paper.#iteachchemistry #Science #STEM


 

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Force x Distance Problems

 Looking at Force x Distance Problems with Year 12 #Physics. The @pascoscientific Meter Stick Torque Set is extreme sensitive. We were using 1g masses to balance 100g but I may need some .5 or .25g masses #iteachphysics #science @chatphysics





Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Crude oil and fractional distillation

 Teaching looking at crude oil and fractional distillation. I wonder whether this experiment will soon become a thing of the past and be the sort of thing you tell your grandchildren you did. #environment



Monday, 15 November 2021

Looking at Electrolysis.


 Looking at Electrolysis. Setting this up is always fun and the students are amazed that when turning the small test tube upside down the water doesn't come out and they have to explain that as well. The best science is not just the stuff they have to do. #iteachphysics #Science

Sunday, 14 November 2021

Making a Battery

 Whilst teaching electrolysis I found out the students knew nothing about what a battery was so we needed to make one. Using Copper and Zinc electrodes connected to a simple LCD clock to shown that it worked. The students found out it was nothing to do with the potato but the choice of metals and some metals made better batteries ( higher voltages) than others. #iteachphysics #Science #STEM



Doppler Rocket

Demonstrating the Doppler effect with the @pascoscientific Doppler Rocket: As the rocket moves away, students can hear the pitch drop (red s...