Physics News from the AIP No 2, Term 1 2005



VicPhys News: Term 3, No 2, 2015

Table of Contents

1. Networking Meeting: Sharing ideas on Teaching Thermodynamics, 6pm, Tuesday, 11th August

2. Course Planning Resources for Units 1 & 2 in 2016

3. Want to Present a Workshop at the next Physics Teachers' Conference?

4. Conceptual Understanding Procedures (CUPs) back on line

5. Uranium Documentary Series by Derek Muller on SBS starting 9th August

6. Tutor sought for a Year 12 student in East Coburg

7. Forthcoming events for Students and the General Public *

a) VCE Physics Lecture: Elementary Particles and the Universe, 6pm, Thursday, 6th August, University of Melbourne

b) Diamonds are a scientist's best friend, AIP Schools Talks, 5th - 7th August, various venues

c) An evening with Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson, 6:30pm, 7th August, Melbourne Convention Centre

d) State of the Universe V: The Spectrum Strikes Back, 6:30pm, Friday, 14th August, Swinburne University

e) Collision - Arts Meets Science Competition, entries due 23rd August

f) Medical Radiations Career Open Day, 10.00am to 2.00pm, Sunday 30 August, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

g) Frame Your Physics: Produce a 3 minute video, entries due 31st October

h) Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament - New Poster feature

8. Forthcoming events for Teachers *

a) July Lectures in Physics: 6:30pm, Fridays in July, University of Melbourne

Friday July 31: Light and Matter: Bending Light Waves for New Technology

b) Particle Fever, 6:30pm, Wednesday, 19th August, University of Melbourne

c) Mini PD on Thermodynamics and What is matter? at VYPT 1st, 2nd December, University High School

9. Physics News from the Web

a) Spectrometer made from quantum dots is compact and low cost

b) Bringing the human eye into focus

c) Could lasers guide and control the path of lightning?

* 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 forthcomingevents.html or in previous newsletters at news.html

This newsletter is compiled by the Vicphysics Teachers' Network Inc.

The next meeting of the Vicphysics Teachers' Network will be at 5pm on Tuesday, 11th August at University High School. All teachers are welcome to attend this or any other meeting. If you would like to attend, please contact Vicphysics at vicphys@

1. Network Meeting: Sharing ideas on Teaching Thermodynamics, 6pm, Tuesday, 11th August

The Vicphysics Teachers' Network would like to live up to its name by putting aside the second hour of its monthly meeting (see details above) for teachers to share ideas about teaching different aspects of next year's Year 11 course.

The next meeting on 11th August will consider Thermodynamics. The format will be informal with a focus on small group discussion with groups addressing different aspects of course planning and lesson preparation.

The discussions will start at 6pm and finish at 7pm.

If you wish to attend, please register by emailing Vicphysics at vicphys@ with subject 'Thermodynamics discussion', so that the event can be effectively planned, but also because the space will put a limit on the numbers.

The results of the discussion will be put on the Vicphysics website. It is also suggested that before coming, you check the resources currently on the website at and bring along a copy of the Study Design.

2. Course Planning Resources for Units 1 & 2 in 2016

Units 1 and 2 of the new study design contain many of the more significant changes. These changes will impact on not only how you design your course, but also on working out the words and supporting activities you will use to explain the many new concepts.

Three resources have been prepared. They are:

• A PowerPoint presentation on the issues to consider when planning a course for Units 1 & 2. It considers i) the new concepts and how one might explain them, ii) possible practical activities and iii) assessment tasks. It also looks at how to offer a few options at the one time and also how to manage the enhanced practical investigation.

• A Word file of the commentary that accompanied the presentation of this Powerpoint is also available. This is a necessary adjunct as some slides just highlight an issue which is spoken to, rather than elaborated in full on the screen.

• A sample Course Plan for 2016. The plan has grouped related dot points and placed these groups in a teaching order and then allocated an approximate teaching time to each, e.g. 0.5 weeks, 1.5 weeks. It also includes some activities for each group and possible assessment tasks for the Area of Study as a whole.

These can be found at

The vicphysics website already has webpages for the 'Thermodynamics' and 'What is Matter?' Areas of Study at and resp. Webpages on the options will follow during 2016. The current webpages for Electricity and Motion should suffice for the time being. The webpage, , has extensive material on practical investigations, including topic lists and poster templates.

3. Want to Present a Workshop at the next Physics Teachers' Conference?

The next Physics Teachers' Conference will be on Friday 19th February, 2016 at Monash University.

Workshops by teachers for teachers are a key element of these conferences, so if you would like to offer a workshop, please email events@ with subject 'Conference' and include a title for the workshop and a short description. Further details will be sought later in the year.

The Karaoke session will be on again, but this time with better access and fixed speaking times. If you would like to offer a short 15 minute presentation, please email the above address, but with subject 'Karaoke'.

4. Conceptual Understanding Procedures (CUPs) back on line

CUPs is a set of teaching procedures for physics developed by Monash University. They are designed to aid the development of understanding of concepts that students find difficult. There are 12 activities, 10 on Forces, Energy and Motion, and 2 on Electricity.

The link to the CUPs website has been broken for some months. The material can now be accessed at

A description on how to use them by Dr Pam Mulhall is on the vicphysics website, , along with many other resources on students' misconceptions.

5. Uranium Documentary Series by Derek Muller on SBS starting 9th August

Abstract: "Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail is a new three part documentary series exploring the incredible story of uranium, from its creation in an exploding star to its deployment in nuclear weapons, nuclear power and nuclear medicine. It’s a journey across nine countries and more than a century of stories, to discover the rock that made the modern world. It’s part science, part history and all epic adventure."

Teachers will know Derek Muller from his very useful Veritasium website of videos and also from being the opening speaker at our 2012 Physics Teachers' Conference.

This website, , has details about the program and relevant videos from Derek's website, such as The Most Radioactive Places on Earth, How to Launch a Nuclear Missile and A Walk Around Chernobyl.

Item supplied by Justin Vincent, Warrnambool College

6. Tutor sought for a Year 12 student in East Coburg

A parent is seeking a tutor for their Year 12 child. They live in East Coburg. If you are interested, please email Vicphysics at vicphys@ and contact details will be passed on.

7. Forthcoming events for Students and General Public *

a) VCE Physics Lecture: Elementary Particles and the Universe, 6pm, Thursday, 6th August, University of Melbourne

The next lecture for VCE Physics students, will be given by Prof. Ray Volkas, the head of the Physics school at the University of Melbourne. The lecture (Elementary Particles and the Universe) will, amongst other things, show the relevance of their VCE physics study to exciting current physics research.

Abstract: Prof Volkas will present the big picture of what we know about elementary particles, such as quarks, electrons, neutrinos and the Higgs boson and how this relates to the more familiar idea of atoms. He will also comment on the surprising connection between elementary particles and cosmology and the importance of both theoretical and experimental physics in clarifying our understanding of the real world.

The lecture will be in the Laby Theatre. As usual light refreshments are available.

The remaining lectures in the series are:

Aug 20 David Jamieson Relativity

Sep 3 Roger Rassool The Physics of Sound

Sep 17 Claire Kenyon How to pass the Physics exam

b) Diamonds are a scientist's best friend, AIP Schools Talks, 5th - 7th August, various venues

A/Prof Jodie Bradby from ANU will be speaking at these venues.

Abstract: “Diamond are formed deep in the earth where high pressures and high temperatures slowly work to turn carbon-containing minerals into the hardest material known to science. In this talk, the discovery of a range of exciting new and useful materials formed at similar pressures and temperatures will be discussed. Many of these new crystal structures form naturally as nano-materials and have various applications including potential new materials for solar applications

To attend please email the person named, indicating the number of students you plan to bring and their Year level. The talk will be of value to students from Years 10 to 12.

Weds, 5th Aug 11:00am, Churchill Campus of Federation University, Jennifer Canovan, jennifer.canovan@federation.edu.au

2:30pm, Nossal High School, Tracey MacKin, Tracey.MACKIN@nossalhs.vic.edu.au

Thurs, 6th Aug 9:10am, Richmond Girls' College, Chris Jurgens, 01531338@mgc.vic.edu.au

Thurs, 6th Aug 1pm, MacRobertson Girls' High School, Diana Sandulache, sandulache.diana.d@edumail..au

Friday, 7th Aug 1:10pm, Camberwell Girls' Grammar School, Giselle Lobo, lobog@camgirls.vic.edu.au

A/Prof Bradby is also giving a public lecture on the same topic at the Australian Synchrotron on Thursday, 6th August at 6:30pm.

c) An evening with Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson, 6:30pm, 7th August, Melbourne Convention Centre

“We are all connected – to each other, biologically; to the Earth, chemically; to the rest of the universe, atomically.”

Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson graduated Harvard University where he majored in physics, moving on to Columbia University where he earned Master of Philosophy and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees in astrophysics. In the more public spheres, Tyson is renowned as a science communicator and host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (the follow-up to Sagan’s own 1980 series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage).

The author of books such as The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist (2000), co-authored Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution (2004), and Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries (2006), Tyson serves as a reminder for the wonders of scientific discovery and the interest in the universe. He strives to make science and rational thought accessible to audiences of all ages, genders, nationalities, and professions, with equal parts relevance, reverence, and humour.

The cheapest tickets are $59, but they all seem to be taken or reserved. The next cheapest tickets are at $119.

For more details and to book tickets go to:



d) State of the Universe V: The Spectrum Strikes Back, 6:30pm, Friday, 14th August, Swinburne University

Abstract: Celebrate the International Year of Light and National Science Week 2015 with Assoc. Prof. Chris Fluke, as he hosts his fifth annual review of the State of the Universe. This year, the focus is on the visual Universe. No supercomputers. No radiotelescopes. Just good old fashioned astronomy with pictures for looking at. Taken from spacecraft. Which needed radiotelescopes to collect the images on Earth. And computers to process them.

Details

Presenter: Assoc. Prof. Chris Fluke, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University Date: Friday 14 August 2015 Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm

Venue: Swinburne University, Hawthorn Campus, Room ATC101 Map:

Click here to register

e) Collision - Arts Meets Science Competition, entries due 23rd August

'Collision' is an art-meets-science outreach initiative that asks people to create artworks that respond to the theme of particle physics. It is now open for submissions; entries close Sunday 23 August.

2 categories: School Student and Open

Prizes: The winner in the school student category will receive a $500 cash prize and $1,000 for their school’s science program. The winner of the Open category will receive a $1,500 cash prize. International entries are welcome in the Open category.

Submissions are invited for work that deals with particle physics concepts and/or responds to the competition theme: “The Large Hadron Collider has restarted… what will we find this time?”

Further details: Competition site: Entries from the two previous competitions are on the website as well as stimulus material for this year's competition.

Background: 'Collision' is a competition that invites artists, scientists and students to respond to the theme of particle physics. Run as an outreach initiative by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale (CoEPP) in partnership with CSIRO Double Helix magazine and RiAus – Australia’s national science channel. CoEPP brings together particle physics experimentalists and theorists to focus on the expected era of discovery that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will provide.

f) Medical radiations career open day, 10.00am to 2.00pm, Sunday 30 August 2015, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Venue: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre St Andrews Place, East Melbourne

This open day is for students interested in careers in the medical radiations professions. Staff will conduct tours of these departments and provide important career and professional information. University course providers will also be in attendance. Make the most of this great opportunity to see the latest in high-tech modern medicine. Parents and teachers are most welcome.

Phone 03 9656 1375 | Email RTEducation@ |

Web: events

g) Frame Your Physics: Produce a 3 minute video, entries due 31st October

Students can make a video of up to 3 minutes presenting any topic in physics in an entertaining and informative way and you could win prizes for them and their school. This national competition organised by the Australian Institute of Physics is open to students, or team of students, enrolled in any school in Australia.

Entries are now open and must be submitted before October 31

Students can enter as individuals of teams of up to 10 members.

Prizes: 1st $500, 2nd $250, 3rd $100, School with the most entries: $1000

Check for more details and previous winners.

h) Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament - New Poster feature

The Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament (VYPT) will be held on Tuesday, 1st and Wednesday, 2nd December in the Elizabeth Blackburn Science Centre at University High School in Parkville. On the Tuesday, Year 10 teams will compete and on Wednesday, Year 11 teams will compete.

VYPT is an event for Year 11 and Year 10 students with an emphasis on team based experimental investigations and oral reporting in competition. In the course of the year students, in teams of three, investigate three topics. Then in December, they present their findings in scientific discussions, defend them and in turn, challenge the findings of other teams.

See for this year's topics.

New feature in 2015: Poster Session

Teams can also enter a poster competition. If they wish to enter, they present the report of one of the three investigations in the form of an electronic poster, that is, a single powerpoint slide. Entries will need to be submitted by an email at the same time as the registration form, see details below. For suggestions on poster design and powerpoint templates, go to

Prizes will be $200 for first, $150 for second and $100 for third for each Year level, with the prize money going to the whole team. The Committee will judge the posters prior to the Tournament Day and print them for display on the day.

Cost: None

Registration: Teams must be registered by the 13th November with full and complete details. Late applications will not be accepted. Schools can enter more than one team, but conditions apply. See for the registration form and further details.

Dates: Tuesday, 1st and Wednesday, 2nd December

Venue: Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences at University High School

Prizes: There is a trophy for the winning school in each Year level. All competitors get a cash prize, with students in top three teams in each Year level also receiving a book prize.

Further Information: Check vypt.html for regulations, registration, competition details, etc.

8. Forthcoming events for Teachers *

a) July Lectures in Physics: 6:30pm, Fridays in July, Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre, University of Melbourne

Theme 2015: "The International Year of Light 2015: Near and Distant Light"

Friday July 31: Light and Matter: Bending Light Waves for New Technology

Prof Ann Roberts (School of Physics, University of Melbourne)

Abstract: Strange things happen when light interacts with nano-scale metallic objects. The wave-like nature of light can be manipulated to make objects invisible or to permit imaging with unprecedented resolution or produce striking visual effects. The secrets of artworks and how they were made can be uncovered with laser probes. This lecture looks at how our mastery of the interaction of light and matter light gives us new ways of seeing (or not seeing) the world.

b) Particle Fever, 6:30pm, Wednesday, 19th August, University of Melbourne

The film, Particle Fever, well be screened at the Melbourne School of Design (MSD), Lecture Theatre 1, Masson Rd, The University of Melbourne.

The screening will include a special introduction by Professor Ray Volkas, and be held as part of National Science Week and Science Festival. Ray has written many influential works on possibilities for new physics, Higgs physics and dark matter. He is Head of the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Melbourne node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale (CoEPP)

You will need to register, but there is no cost. Details, including a trailer, and registration are at:

The film will be useful background for Unit 1 next year as will the other talk by Prof Volkas mentioned in 7a above.

Item supplied by Tim Beale, Lilydale High School.

c) Mini PD on Thermodynamics and What is matter? at VYPT, 1st, 2nd December, University High School

The number of teams participating in VYPT have been increasing each year. The greater numbers puts pressure on providing enough judges. As an incentive to encourage teachers to come along to check out the event and to assist with the judging, as part of the day there will be two presentations for such teachers on course planning for the two new Areas of Study in Unit 1: 'Thermodynamics' and 'What is Matter? The presentations will cover: new concepts, practical activities, resources and assessment ideas.

Judging is done by a team of three, with at least one experienced judge. The preparation for judging involves about 45 minutes pre-reading and the task involves assessing students. The same mini PD will be offered on each day.

Dates: Tuesday, 1st and Wednesday, 2nd December

Venue: Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences at University High School

To register for the mini-PD and judging VYPT, please email Vicphysics events@ with subject: Registration: Mini PD giving name, school and on which date you wish to attend.

9. Physics News from the Web

Items selected from the bulletins of the Institute of Physics (UK) and the American Institute of Physics.

Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.

a) Spectrometer made from quantum dots is compact and low cost

b) Bringing the human eye into focus

c) Could lasers guide and control the path of lightning?

a) Spectrometer made from quantum dots is compact and low cost



The first-ever spectrometer made from quantum dots has been unveiled by Jie Bao of Tsinghua University in China and Moungi Bawendi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. According to its inventors, the instrument could be produced commercially to be as small, inexpensive and simple as a mobile-phone camera. Such compact spectrometers could find a wide range of applications, from gathering scientific data on space missions to sensors integrated within household appliances.

Spectrometry measures the intensity of light as a function of wavelength and is used to study various properties of light-emitting and light-absorbing substances. This makes it an invaluable analytical technique that is used in a broad range of scientific and technological disciplines. Most spectroscopic techniques involve dispersing light in terms of its wavelength. A prism, for example, can be used to bend light into its constituent wavelengths (colours) and a spectrum can then be acquired using a position-sensitive light detector. Bao and Bawendi have taken a different approach, using quantum dots to create an array of band-pass filters for the light to pass through before it reaches a position-sensitive detector.

b) Bringing the human eye into focus



A new computer algorithm, to correct optical aberrations that appear while imaging the back of the eye, has been demonstrated by researchers in the US. The team's method should allow the benefits of adaptive optics, more commonly used in astronomy, to be brought more readily into clinics. It does not need expensive optical hardware and, according to the researchers, could help diagnose degenerative eye and neurological diseases earlier, making their treatment more successful.

Optical coherence tomography is an interferometry-based medical imaging technique analogous to ultrasound imaging, but using light instead of sound. It is the standard of care for diagnosing and monitoring a number of medical conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, in which the tissue underneath the retina begins to thicken, leading to nutrient starvation and eventual death of photoreceptors.

c) Could lasers guide and control the path of lightning?



Electrical discharges could be controlled and guided along complex paths and even around obstacles, by using a variety of lasers, according to the latest work done by an international team of researchers. Forks of lightning, and on a much smaller scale, the tiny arcs of electricity used in everything from lighting to combustion engines, all follow highly unpredictable paths. The novel method has shown that lasers cannot only be used to guide discharges along straight lines, but also arcs and s-shapes. Greater control over discharge paths could open up a variety of potential applications, including in industrial-machining devices and lightning-protection systems.

While one might be more familiar with lightning, electrical discharges are used in many different technologies, in everything from gas-discharge lamps, arc welders, in spark machining and even to ignite fuel in combustion engines. Despite these many uses, however, our ability to control the exact path these currents take is limited – between the fixed points of the two electrodes the arcs are unpredictable, affected by various factors from air temperature to the presence of pre-ionized matter.

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