Physics News from the AIP Term 4, No 1, 2010
Table of Contents
1. Richard Feynman: BBC Interviews now online
2. Medical Physics In-Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Saturday 4th Dec
3. Honeywell Nobel Interactive Video: Physics Lectures on the Internet
4. Scale of the Universe Animation: A 'must show' to students
5. Teacher Vacancy: Another Short Term position in 2011
6. Entries for AIP Contests due today
7. Forthcoming events for: Students and the General Public *
a) Hi-Fi and Surround Sound, 6pm - 7pm, 7th Oct, University of Melbourne
b) Black Holes in Astronomy, Swinburne University, 6:30pm, 15th October
c) Sustainable energy... Really?, 6pm - 7pm, 21st Oct, University of Melbourne.
d) Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest, Applications close Wednesday 27th October, 2010
e) Water Rocket Event, 20th and 21st Nov at VSSEC, Strathmore
f) Poster Design Competition for Space Agency Forum at VSSEC, Strathmore
g) Free public talk by former NASA astronaut Dr Jan Davis, 9:30 - 10:30am, 26th Nov at VSSEC
8. Forthcoming events for Teachers *
a) Focus on The Physics Study Design: Friday, 12th Nov, University of Melbourne
b) STAVCON: Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th, November, La Trobe University Sessions of interest to Physics teachers
c) Medical Physics In-Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Saturday 4th Dec. See item 2
9. Physics News from the Web
a) Ancient star poses galactic puzzle. Did it come from another galaxy?
b) Relativity with a human touch. Optical clocks measure gravitational time dilation over 33 cm
c) Royal Society releases new guide to the Science of Climate Change (19 page pdf download)
* Events listed for the first time are in bold with details below. The details of the other events can be found on our website at www.vicphysics.org/forthcomingevents.html or in previous newsletters at www.vicphysics.org/AIPnews.html
This newsletter is compiled by the Australian Institute of Physics (Victorian Branch) Education Committee.
This year the AIP Education Committee will be meeting at Kew High School, normally on the second Tuesday of the month from 5pm – 7pm, the next meeting is on Tuesday, 12th October. All teachers are welcome to attend this or any other meeting, if you would like to attend, please contact the chair, Sue Grant, at .
1. Richard Feynman: BBC Interviews online
Program: Richard Feynman: Fun to Imagine Using physics to explain how the world works
In 1983 Richard Feynman recorded a series of 6 interviews. The series focuses on the joy of imagining. The interviews are very accessible and quite inspirational.
Richard Feynman (1918-88) was one of the most remarkable and gifted theoretical physicists of any generation. He was also known as the 'Great Explainer' because of his passion for helping non-scientists to imagine something of the beauty and order of the universe as he saw it. In this series, Feynman looks at the mysterious forces that make ordinary things happen and, in doing so, answers questions about why rubber bands are stretchy, why tennis balls can't bounce for ever and what you're really seeing when you look in the mirror.
The titles of the videos, each about 12 minutes long, are:
1. Jigging Atoms: I get a kick out of thinking about these things
2. Stretching, Pulling and Pushing: Why rubber bands stretch and why magnets are magnetic.
3. How to enjoy a trip to the dentist: The mystery of magnetic and electrical forces.
4. How mirrors turn you inside out: Richard Feynman discusses the 'psychology' of mirrors.
5. Big Numbers: Richard Feynman talks about the role of imagination in astronomy.
6. Ways of Thinking: Feynman ponders the process of thinking.
The video can be seen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/feynman/
Other Feynman resources on the internet include seven lectures at Cornell University in 1964. These were also recorded by the BBC, but subsequently purchased by Bill Gates and made freely available at http://research.microsoft.com/apps/tools/tuva/index.html# . Details about the lectures and support material can be found in entry D71 of the file of past news items from these newsletters, which can be downloaded from http://www.vicphysics.org/AIPnews.html
2. Medical Physics In-Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Saturday 4th Dec
Participants will hear from practitioners in the field as well as see the medical technology. The in-service will run from 10:30am until 12:30pm. There is no cost, but you must register as there is a limit of 20 participants.
The program will feature a one hour talk on:
· the physics aspects of the effect of radiation on the human body and of the medical technology at Peter Mac,
· how the technology is used in diagnosis and treatment, as well as
· information on the training and career paths associated with medical physics.
The second hour will be an extensive tour of the facilities at Peter Mac.
Teachers can register by sending their name, school and phone/fax/email details to the Australian Institute of Physics (Victorian Branch) Education Committee at or PO Box 304, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150. If you are registering by email the subject of your email should read “Booking: Peter Mac In-Service”.
In recent years at the end of the in-service, some participants have adjourned to the restaurant in the Fitzroy Gardens opposite Peter Mac for a light lunch. If you are interested in coming to lunch, please include this in your registration.
3. Honeywell Nobel Interactive Video: Physics Lectures on the Internet
The Honeywell company organises a series of public lectures around the world by Nobel Laureates and makes the videos available on the internet, http://www.honeywellscience.com/lecture-series. The physics related ones are:
· Electricity in Biology by Rodney McKinnon (Chem 2003): He starts with a history of static electricity then moves on to electricity in nerves. He traces how scientists progressed from understanding electricity in physics to understanding this “animal electricity”, and in the process he reveals the strange and unexpected manner in which scientific ideas evolve. Select the Year: 2007
· The Science and Politics of Climate Change by Mario Molina (Chem 1995) He discusses climate change, and explores how global emissions of carbon dioxide and other man-made greenhouse gases can be significantly reduced through an international agreement —and at a lower cost than that amounting from damages caused by climate change. Select the Year: 2008.
· The History and Fate of the Universe by George Smoot (Physics 2006) He discusses the Universe's transition from its dark beginnings to its modern galaxies. He then summarises the results recorded by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) Satellite, which detected the echoes of the Big Bang, and questions why there are 100 billion galaxies. Select the Year 2008.
· Quantum Physics: from Basic Concepts to Applications by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji (Physics 1997) He describes quantum mechanics as an essential means of understanding the microscopic world. He charts the amazing advances made in the last four decades which have enabled us to control and manipulate quantum systems. Select the Year 2008. Note: His English is not that clear.
· Light and Matter by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji (Physics 1997) He discusses new mechanisms for generating light, and the discovery of new light sources with remarkable properties. He reviews important applications that have emerged from these discoveries, including atomic clocks, matter waves and atom laser. Select the Year 2009. Note: His English is not that clear.
· The Future of Physics by David Gross (Physics 2004) He discusses 25 questions that define the frontiers of physics and that might guide physics over the next 25 years. These questions address physics in the broadest sense from cosmology, to elementary particle physics, to the physics of quantum matter, to biophysics and the understanding of the mind. Select the Year 2009
Each of the videos is divided into chapters of several minutes with a short statement on what each chapter is about.
4. Scale of the Universe Animation: A 'must show' to students
This animation, http://primaxstudio.com/stuff/scale_of_universe.swf , by Primax Studio uses a slide control to zoom in and out from a distance of a Planck length (10-35 m) out to the size of whole universe (1027 m). Along the way there are diagrams of the numerous objects to give you a sense of the scale, e.g. quarks, carbon atom, DNA strand, ant, bus, Venus, Kuiper belt, Crab Nebula, our galactic supercluster, observable universe. There is much to engage the user, and it uses metres!. The animation is not another 'Power of Ten', rather, it shows the relative size of objects, so a human and a car appear together as do the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy.
5. Teacher Vacancy: Another Short Term position in 2011
Loyola College, Watsonia: Part-time load, about 0.5, usually Physics Year 11 and Year 12 and a Year 10 science, for three weeks from Monday, 28th March until Monday 2nd May. If interested contact John Beaumont at school on (03) 9433 0232.
6. Entries for AIP Contests due today
Entries for the Physics Photo Contest, Physics Video Contest and the Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament are due today, the first day of Term 4. Entries can be sent by email to the AIP at . For more details go to www.vicphysics.org and selectr 'Events'.
7. Forthcoming events for Students and General Public
a) Hi-Fi and Surround Sound, 6pm - 7pm, 7th Oct, University of Melbourne
Presented by Andrew Bower and Dr Roger Rassool, University of Melbourne
Venue: Laby Theatre
Some light refreshments will be available before the lecture.
Check http://outreach.physics.unimelb.edu.au/VCE/Lecture-Series/Program for further details
b) Black Holes in Astronomy, Swinburne University, 6:30pm, 15th October
Presented by Yuri Levin, Monash University.
Date: Friday 15th October. Time: 6.20 pm for a 6.30 pm start
Venue: Swinburne University, Hawthorn campus, EN building, EN313
Abstract
Astronomers are interested in black holes for a multitude of reasons: 1) They are intrinsically fascinating, due to their unusual physical properties predicted by general relativity, 2) They spectacularly light up the astronomical sky in a variety of wavebands, 3) They affect their host galaxies in important and dramatic ways, and 4) They are expected to be strong sources of gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of spacetime. This lecture will present a brief excursion into these topics.
Bookings are essential, and can be made by contacting Elizabeth Thackray on , T: (03) 9214 5569 or on line, see below.
Seating in the lecture theatre is limited, so be sure to book early if you do not want to miss out. Please let them know as early as possible if you want to cancel your booking, as there will be other people on their waiting list eager to attend.
For maps go to http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/outreach/?topic=freelectures
For online booking please click on this link https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dC1VMWVRLWxPRWVzTzNqU1NZM2lSQVE6MQ This will automatically add your name and required number of seats to the list.
b) Sustainable energy... Really?, 6pm - 7pm, 21st Oct, University of Melbourne.
Presented by Dr Michele Livett, University of Melbourne.
Venue: Laby Theatre
Some light refreshments will be available before the lecture.
Check http://outreach.physics.unimelb.edu.au/VCE/Lecture-Series/Program for further details
c) Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest
For more details visit http://www.vssec.vic.edu.au/events/competitions/cassini-scientist-for-a-day/ Open to students in Grades 5 – 12. Applications close Wednesday 27th October, 2010
d) Water Rocket Event, 20th and 21st Nov at VSSEC, Strathmore
More details at www.vssec.vic.edu.au .
e) Poster Design Competition for Space Agency Forum at VSSEC, Strathmore
More details go to www.vssec.vic.edu.au
f) Free public talk by former NASA astronaut Dr Jan Davis, 9:30 - 10:30am, 26th Nov at VSSEC
The Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) would like to invite you to attend a free public talk by former NASA astronaut Dr Jan Davis
The talk will be held at VSSEC on Friday 26 November, 9:30am-10:30am. Seats are limited. Email to reserve a seat. Seats are limited and bookings are essential. Check http://www.vssec.vic.edu.au/ for more details.
Background: Dr. Davis has bachelor of science degrees in applied biology and mechanical engineering, a master of science and a doctorate in mechanical engineering. She became an astronaut in June 1987. Her initial technical assignment was in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch, where she provided technical support for Shuttle payloads. She then served as CAPCOM in Mission Control communicating with Shuttle crews for seven missions.
A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Davis has logged over 673 hours in space. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-47 in 1992 and STS-60 in 1994, and was the payload commander on STS-85 in 1997.
After her flight on STS-85, Dr. Davis was assigned to NASA Headquarters as the Director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS), Independent Assurance Office for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance. In July 1999, she transferred to Marshall Space Flight Center as Director of the Flight Projects Directorate with responsibility for the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Operations Center, ISS Nodes 2 and 3, ISS Multi-purpose Logistics Modules, ISS Regenerative Environment Control and Life Support System, and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Program. In August 2003, she was named Director of Safety and Mission Assurance, with responsibility for the safety, reliability, and quality activities of all MSFC projects and personnel. In October 2005, Dr. Davis retired from NASA and is currently Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Jacobs’ Engineering, Science, and Technical Services Group at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
8. Forthcoming Events for Teachers
a) Focus on The Physics Study Design, Friday, 12th November, University of Melbourne
Venue: Laby Theatre
Cost: $99 inc lunch, materials and notes
For details of the program and registration form go to http://physics.unimelb.edu.au/Community/Physics-Outreach
b) STAVCON: Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th November. La Trobe University Sessions of interest to Physics teachers
Keynote addresses: Tuesday:
· The square kilometre array by Prof Brian Boyle - CSIRO Square Kilometre Array, Director
· Nanotechnology and the changing face of science, Assoc Prof Paul Pigram - La Trobe University
Workshops:
A11, C10 Video Analysis using Tracker: Michael Pekin, Northcote High School
A23 USA/NASA Space Camp: The Science Excursion of a Lifetime: Ken Cohen, Aussiespacetours