How long do you think it takes to get to cruising altitude on a long-haul flight? Aircraft travel has become so smooth that you could be forgiven for thinking that within 20 minutes, at the most, you're in level flight. And you would probably also think that the aircraft's speed is fairly constant from about … Continue reading Flight facts
physbang is back!
After a two-month break, I've decided to revive physbang - and with a refreshed design. There will still be posts of general interest but the focus for GCSE content will now be on AQA's Trilogy syllabus as that's the course I'm now teaching. My first new post is in hand and will appear very shortly...
What next?
Those of you who were in my last Y11 classes have now finished your GCSE Physics course but I hope this won't be the end of your physics learning. I've previously given some ideas about ways to extend your physics knowledge (see the Just for Fun category) and I'm going to give a few more … Continue reading What next?
Cool calculations
It's a hot day and you want a cold drink: how long will it take for your chosen beverage to be chilled to its ideal temperature? Fortunately, there's a neat little online calculator that will give you the answer and save you the effort of constantly checking to see whether the drink is ready to … Continue reading Cool calculations
Summer Challenge
You may have better things to do during the summer vacation but, in case you find yourself getting bored, I have an investigation that you might like to tackle. The work is open to all of my students, both those of you who are still studying the GCSE course and those who have just finished … Continue reading Summer Challenge
Star Count 2021 – Results
Back in February I mentioned the CPRE's 2021 Star Count - and I hoped that we might get more than last year's three entries from Jersey. It's a small increase but this year there were five submissions, most reporting good viewing conditions. A map of this year's results for Jersey is shown below. The full … Continue reading Star Count 2021 – Results
The Sand and the Swimming Pool
Here’s an interesting problem that is directly applicable to the behaviour of light. Suppose that you want to get from point A to point B, what is the fastest route? The most common answer is “in a straight line” but this isn’t always true. Let’s put our points A and B on a sandy beach … Continue reading The Sand and the Swimming Pool
Take part in Star Count 2021
Every year, in mid-February, people in the UK (including the Channel Islands) are invited to take part in the CPRE's annual Star Count. The purpose is to create a map that shows how dark are our skies, based on how many stars can be seen within the constellation of Orion. This year's event is live … Continue reading Take part in Star Count 2021
Happy Holidays!
It's tempting to think that happiness comes from not being in school over the Christmas break but I want you to think further ahead than the next two weeks. I want you to think about next summer and how happy you will be with a good grade in your GCSE Physics examination! Thinking ahead is … Continue reading Happy Holidays!
Quantum Game
If you want to play a fun game and (optionally) learn about the curious behaviour of light, then Quantum Game is for you! The nature of light has divided opinion in physics for literally thousands of years, from the time of Pythagoras and Aristotle in ancient Greece to the current day. In the seventeenth century, … Continue reading Quantum Game
