Despite 2025 being designated the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) we still know surprisingly little about how quantum effects “work”. According to this year’s anniversary, the quantum story started in 1925 when Werner Heisenberg formulated his matrix mechanics while spending time on the German island of Helgoland. But Heisenberg was not the … Continue reading Particle Physics (IYQ 2025)
What is Spin?
Spin, when applied to fundamental particles, is a property rather than a description. The basic components of matter are not tiny spinning tops, like coins that are stood on edge then flicked on opposite sides to make them rotate. Instead, spin is a physical property that can be demonstrated and also a numerical value that … Continue reading What is Spin?
Discharge and Fluorescent lighting
The earliest ways of generating light all involved heat, whether that meant setting a fire, burning a pitch torch, lighting a wax candle or heating a mantle using a gas flame. When electricity arrived, thoughts turned from creating light by chemical means to the possibility of using an electric current. Initial approaches still involved the … Continue reading Discharge and Fluorescent lighting
Standard Form
Every GCSE physics paper normally has at least one question with a mark for the correct interpretation or expression of numbers in standard form. This is a basic skill that is taught as part of GCSE mathematics courses but it holds a great deal of power for scientific calculations that is rarely mentioned at this … Continue reading Standard Form
Mr Tarrant's physbang 'blog 