Three years ago I explained how to use photographs to estimate the speed of a passing car. You can read that article at https://physbang.com/2020/08/02/keep-the-cogs-turning/. Now it is time to use a similar technique to answer a more challenging question: what is the take-off velocity of a passenger jet? Of course, the answer could be found … Continue reading Aircraft take-off velocity
Shapes of Shadows
First a correction: this post is really about the shapes of the bright patches between shadows but "shapes of shadows" sounds much better so please excuse my decision to go for artistic alliteration! If you have ever walked under some leafy trees on a bright summer's day, with the sun high in the sky, you … Continue reading Shapes of Shadows
About physbang
physbang.com started life in 2018 to support students studying GCSE Physics, whether as a separate subject (Edexcel syllabus) or as part of a combined-sciences, double-award course (AQA Trilogy syllabus). A few items have also been posted for the benefit of keen Y9 students and others have been published "just for fun". With effect from Summer … Continue reading About physbang
Balloon on the Moon
Imagine that you could take a helium-filled balloon to the moon. If you stood on the lunar surface, holding the ribbon tied to the bottom of the balloon, what would you expect to happen when it was released? We'll assume that the balloon doesn't burst and I'll give you four possible outcomes; The balloon rises … Continue reading Balloon on the Moon
Star Count 2023
Looking up at the stars is awe-inspiring experience but light pollution from the ground greatly reduces the number of stars that can be seen. Even a single neighbouring security light that is either permanently on or frequently activated by people or animals can ruin the night sky for others. There is an annual event that … Continue reading Star Count 2023
Congratulations
The results are in and, overall, the AQA Trilogy course has been very successful. I have heard of some great individual results and I've been delighted to shake hands with some of you. I also know there have been some slight disappointments but that is the way things are: we live and learn (please never … Continue reading Congratulations
Summer challenge
While we wait for the GCSE results, what better to do than conduct an experiment, just for the fun of it? The project I am suggesting is the JMP Summer DOE Challenge, which runs from 11th July until the start of September and involves nothing more complicated than growing some cress seeds. Often in school … Continue reading Summer challenge
Thank You
That's it. This year's GCSE exams are now over. All that remains is for the papers to be marked and the grades announced. And for me to say thank you to my (final) Y11 class, who got together and bought me a farewell gift, as shown below. Hofmann's apparatus. A hugely appreciated gift to me … Continue reading Thank You
Web of Confusion
A bit of light reading today, given that some of you sat a GCSE Chemistry paper this morning... I'm very proud to report that a short article I wrote for Physics World has been moved outside the magazine's pay-wall so it is now available for everyone to read. It concerns confusing information on the Internet … Continue reading Web of Confusion
Determination of ‘little-g’
One of my favourite experiments in GCSE physics is a practical that seems to have fallen from favour in recent years – but it’s still worth exploring. The experiment involves using a ticker-timer to make dots at regular time intervals (0.02 s apart) on a strip of tape that is attached to a moving object. … Continue reading Determination of ‘little-g’
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