The Ninja Star

The Ninja Star is actually called a Hamilton's mill but in physics it's called a Electrostatic pinwheel. The reason it gets spinning is because the spinner is positively charged, like the dome. Each point has a strong electric field around it. Air molecules close to the points lose electrons and become positively charged ions - their electrons were attracted to the points and used to neutralise some of the charge on the dome. Positively charged ions are repelled by the positive star's points and move away. The points move in the opposite direction (Newton's 3rd law) so the star Spins.

Thermoelectric Converter

Having some fun with the thermoelectric converter, Ice cold water on one side and near boiling water on the other and getting the fan to spin for quite a while, then repeating with different temperatures in both and timing the fan movement.

Sonometer

Using a sonometer to tune a string to a particular frequency using a paper hanger, looking at the relationships between length, tension and thickness on the pitch.

Covalent Bond Revision

 Using @snatoms to help with GCSE Chemistry Revision. The models are so quick to made and the students really enjoy these so much more than other s we have. We made dozens of models in a few minutes.

Faradays Laws

Investigating dropping a magnet into a coil. Changing the number of turns, changing the speed of the magnet and changing the polarity of the magnet to see what happens.

Total Internal Reflection

I find this one of Physics bits of magic how total internal reflection works. Creates lots of fun predicting what might happen and then trying it out and seeing that something else happens and then trying to come up with an explanation and a rule. Real Science

Accuracy

How thick is the book? The students got out their rulers with vastly different answers then they tried the callipers and micrometers to get a better value - looking at accuracy and significant figures that someone can read to and why you might need it. #iteachphysics