Physics News from the AIP No 2, Term 1 2005



VicPhysics News: Term 3, No 2 2016

Dear ,

2017 is fast approaching, with the new Year 12 curriculum about to be implemented. Vicphysics is running two Unit 3 Course Planning Days in November. The 2017 Physics Teachers' Conference is likely to focus on Unit 4. This newsletter has the program for the Course Planning Days and how to register and also invites teachers to submit workshops for next year's conference.

Table of Contents

1. VCE Physics Unit 3 Course Planning Days - November 2016

2. Call for Presenters for 2017 Physics Teachers' Conference

3. 'Girls in Physics' Breakfast - An Update

4. Other speaking engagements by the AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2016

5. VCE Physics Days at Luna Park in 2017 and Topic Sequence for Unit 3

6. Forthcoming events for Students and the General Public

a) The Acoustics of the Didgeridu, 6pm, Thursday, 4th August, University of Melbourne

b) Science Fact or Fiction 2.0, 12pm, 16th August, Australian Synchrotron

c) Relativity: The Where and When, 6pm, Thursday, 18th August, University of Melbourne

d) State of the Universe VI: The Olympic Edition, 6:30pm, Friday, 19th August, Swinburne University

e) Videoconferences: Meet an ANSTO Expert, various dates, ANSTO

f) A quiz on the VCE Study with Prizes, 6pm, Thursday, 1st September, University of Melbourne

g) How to pass the exam, 6pm, Thursday, 15th September, University of Melbourne

7. Forthcoming events for Teachers

a) ASELL Workshop on Laboratory Learning, 9am - 3pm, Thursday, 1st September, Maribyrnong

8. Physics News from the Web

a) Chiral molecules spotted in interstellar cloud

b) Lasers transform infrared into broadband white light

c) Gravity and Levity: A blog about the big ideas in physics, plus a few other things!

The next meeting of the Vicphysics Teachers' Network will be at 5pm on Tuesday, 9th August at the University of Melbourne. All teachers are welcome to attend this or any other meeting. If you would like to attend, please contact Vicphysics at vicphys@

Regards,

Frances Sidari, Jane Coyle, Barbara McKinnon and Dan O'Keeffe.

The executive of the VicPhysics Teachers' Network

1. Unit 3 Course Planning Days - November 2016

Units 3 and 4 of the new study design are to be implemented next year. The next Physics Teachers' Conference will be held in February after the school year has already started. So the Vicphysics Teachers' Network has decided to run two Course Planning Days in late November this year focussing on the changes in Unit 3, that is, mainly the Fields Area of Study.

The programs for each day will be the same and will include:

• Prof Dick Gunstone from Monash University speaking on 'Fields, Force, Energy and Potential: Students' misconceptions and the use of analogies'

• Prof Richard Morrow from University of Sydney speaking on 'The Physics of Lightning: A context for Electric Fields'

• Small Group Discussions on sample Assessment Tasks for Unit 3. A set of tasks will be prepared and used as a basis for discussion and refinement.

• Examples of Practical Activities related to the new content.

Dates: Tuesday, 29th November and repeated on Wednesday, 30th November *

Venue: Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences, University High School *

Cost: $80 to teachers, $25 to student teachers **

Lunch is provided.

To Register: Go to . Note: Trybooking requires payment by credit card.

Public Transport: University High School is well served by public transport, so teachers in the metropolitan area are encouraged to use it.

Parking: There is some parking in the streets around University High School, but spots are quickly taken and are mostly only for two hours. There is a commercial car park adjacent to the school at the Royal Melbourne Hospital car park.

Country participants: A subsidy for using a commercial car park as well as petrol costs will be available to teachers coming from outside the metropolitan area.

* At that time of the year, University High School is largely student free for a few days each year. Last year Vicphysics ran its Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament (VYPT) for Year 10 and Year 11 students over two days and has booked the same two days for this year's event.

The Unit 3 Course Planning Day program will run along side the VYPT program. Teachers coming to the Course Planning Day will have a chance to see VYPT in action and teachers bringing teams to VYPT on one of the two days will be able to attend the Course Planning Day on the other day.

** The fee for student teachers is basically for the catering component. It is hoped, that the student teachers attending a Course Planning Day will also contribute to the judging of the VYPT contests on the other day. Information about the event is at and information about judging will be supplied early in Term 4.

For more details about the Course Planning Days go to .

2. Call for Workshop Presenters for 2017 Physics Teachers' Conference

A distinctive feature of the Physics Teachers' Conference has been the large number of teachers who offer workshops about what they do. These workshops are not only beneficial for other teachers, but they also significantly enhance the curriculum vitae of the presenters and their own personal skills.

If you would like to offer a workshop, please register the workshop on the STAV website , select Conferences/PD and go down to 'Presenters' and complete the online submission

Presenters receive a full discount on the conference fee, for additional co-presenters the fee is $75.

The Conference will be on Thursday 16th February at LaTrobe University. The closing date for loging workshops is 16th September.

3. 'Girls in Physics' Breakfast - An Update

Girls in Physics Breakfast, 7:00 am - 8:45am, Thursday 25th August, Hawthorn Arts Centre

There has been a strong interest in this event. The 3D Astro Tour held after the Breakfast is now fully booked, and the remaining spaces for the Breakfast itself are likely to be filled this week.

The event is a Science breakfast for girls in Years 10 to 12 at which they will hear an international speaker, Dr Catalina Curceanu, from Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, which is part of Italy's National Institute of Nuclear Physics. Dr Curceanu is the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) 2016 Women in Physics Lecturer. This Science breakfast is part of her speaking tour across Australia. Swinburne University's Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing and Vicphysics Teachers' Network are sponsoring this event.

Dr Curceanu will speak briefly about the opportunities and challenges of a career in Particle Physics, both as a scientist and as a woman.

Students will be seated in pairs at tables with students from other schools. At each table there will be one or two young women either in the early stages of a science or engineering career or still studying at university. Over breakfast, the students can query them about their life and work. There will also be one or two teachers at each table.

Cost: $15 per student. First teacher is free, extra teachers at $15 each.

Numbers: There is a limit of a maximum of 6 students per school.

To book, go to Trybooking at and enter the names of all attending aas well as the school

Note: Payment needs to be made at the time of booking, so a school credit card or personal credit card will be required. School Order numbers are not accepted. There is a small Trybooking surcharge.

Seating: When entering student details, please note that students will be paired at tables in the order they are entered, that is 1st and 2nd together, 3rd and 4th together, etc.

Promotional material: A flyer to display in the school and a letter to the Head of Science can be downloaded from .

Venue: Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 . There is parking at the rear. The theatre for the 3D Astro Tour is just across the road in the university campus.

More information is available at .

4. Other speaking engagements by the AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2016

a) Where are the “others”? A glimpse into the Fermi paradox, Tuesday, 23rd August, Melbourne Girls' College.

b) From the Big Bang to Black Holes. Quo Vadis the Universe?, 9:030am, Wednesday, 24th August, Camberwell Grammar School.

c) Schrodinger's Cat and Quantum Technologies, 12:30pm, Wednesday, 24th August, MacRobertson Girls' High School;30

d) Where are the “others”? A glimpse into the Fermi paradox, 12:30pm, Thursday, 25th August, Mt Helen Campus, Federation University, Ballarat

e) Riding on a Star, AIP Vic Branch Public Lecture 6pm, Thursday, 25th August, La Trobe University

Her topics are:

Where are the “others”? A glimpse into the Fermi paradox,

a) 1:30pm, Tuesday, 23rd August, Melbourne Girls' College and

d) 12:30pm, Thursday, 25th August, Mt Helen Campus, Federation University, Ballarat

Abstract: Where are the “others”? Are there other beings in the Universe , do extraterrestrial civilisations exist? Enrico Fermi said that if they exist, they ought to be here already. Is it so? The search for life in the Universe is a very active field of study. We shall explore the fascinating Drake equation, which calculates the number of advanced civilizations in our galaxy and will discuss the way in which the search for life in our Solar system and outside it is performed. The discovery of more and more planets, some of them similar to our own, gives to some of us the hope, to others the fear, that the “others” might indeed exist.

If you wish to attend the first talk, please contact Sandor Kazi at the school at 08571333@mgc.vic.edu.au to see if there is space available.

If you wish to attend the talk at Ballarat, please contact Stephanie Davison, the School and Community Engagement Coordinator at the campus at s.davison@federation.edu.au or Ph: 5327 9373. There is also a Hartung Youth Lecture on Kitchen Chemistry earlier that day, starting at 10:30am. Both lectures will be in the Geoffrey Blainey Auditorium. There are also campus tours available and opportunities for lunch. Contact Stephanie for full details.

b) From the Big Bang to Black Holes. Quo Vadis the Universe?, 9:00am, Wednesday, 24th August, Camberwell Girls' Grammar School.

Abstract: Einstein thought the Universe is static, has no beginning and no end. To make it static he introduced “by hand” in his famous general relativity equation the cosmological constant. But soon after, Hubble discovered that the Universe is expanding! We have now a theory, the Big Bang theory, which tells us the Universe as we know it was born about 13.7 billion years ago and has evolved ever since. We shall explore the main events in the Universe’s history, going from the first instants, when all was just a dense quark-gluon soup, to the formation of the first stars, of our Solar System, and of the mysterious black holes. The Universe is not only expanding, but it does so in an accelerated way – due to the so-called mysterious dark energy, which made us reconsider Einstein’s cosmological constant. How will the Universe evolve? Various scenarios will be discussed, together with the efforts to understand the origin of dark energy.

If you wish to attend this talk, please contact Giselle Lobo at the school at LoboG@cggs.vic.edu.au to see if there is space available.

c) Schrodinger's Cat and Quantum Technologies, 12:30pm, Wednesday, 24th August, MacRobertson Girls' High School

Abstract: Quantum Mechanics (QM) is probably the best theory we ever had – with implications and applications everywhere around us: from the explanation of atomic structure to silicon based technologies. We would be tempted to believe that QM has no mysteries for us and that we know everything. It is not like this! In spite of its tantalizing success, QM still spurs a lively debate about its interpretation: what does QM really mean about Nature? The famous Schrodinger cat paradox is one of the puzzles of QM. We shall explore it and present possible ways out: a new alternative theory (collapse models), the existence of many worlds and the Bohmian mechanics. We shall also see what types of experiments are done to test QM. The peculiar features of QM (such as entanglement) offer extremely interesting perspectives for future technologies: the so-called quantum technologies. We shall discuss some of them, from quantum computing and cryptography to teleportation. Today’s dreams might become tomorrow’s realities.

If you wish to attend this talk, please contact Diana Sandulache at the school at sandulache.diana.d@edumail..au to see if there is space available.

e) Riding on a star , AIP Vic Branch Public Lecture, 6pm, Thursday, 25th August, La Trobe University

Abstract: 8 light minutes away there is the Sun, the star we know best! We are travelling through the Universe together with the Sun and at night we can admire many other stars in the sky. But how does a star work? Why is it shining? We shall perform an imaginary journey through the Universe riding on a star: we will explore the nuclear reactions keeping it alive, and will see what happens when a star dies. It can become an impressive supernova and give birth to a neutron star or to a Black Hole. How will our Sun end? As a curiosity, we shall discuss the neutrinos produced in the Sun and how they are being studied in underground laboratories as well as at the South Pole to better understand this chameleon particle.

The lecture theatre is yet to be confirmed. Refreshments will be available prior to the lecture.

5. VCE Physics Days Luna Park in 2017 and Topic Sequence for Unit 3

The Unit 3 study design starting next year is significantly different from the current course. This will require teachers to consider the order in which they will present the content from the various Areas of Study.

The consensus seems to be start with Area of Study 3 'How fast can things go?' on Motion, but leaving Relativity to the end of the semester. Then do Area of Study 1 'How do things move without contact?' on fields, but starting with the gravitational field, followed by electric, then magnetic fields, which leads on to Area of Study 2 'How are fields use to move electrical energy?' on electromagnetism. The Relativity section of Area of Study 3 can then be used to link electromagnetism to motion.

For this reason the committee decided to stay with March. The actual dates are yet to be confirmed by Luna Park Management, but they will be either 7th to 10th March or the week before, 28th Feb to 3rd March. Confirmation is expected by the end of August.

A week by week teaching program for Units 3 & 4 for next year is at

6. Forthcoming events for Students and General Public

a) The Acoustics of the Didgeridu: A triumph of mind over matter, Thursday, 4th August, University of Melbourne

Speaker: Prof Lloyd Hollenberg. Venue: Laby Theatre

b) Science Fact or Fiction 2.0, 12pm, 7pm, 16th August, Australian Synchrotron

What is the science behind email? How much do you trust Doctor Google? Are cats taking over the internet? Find out at Science Fact or Fiction 2.0; a big screen experience where the World Wide Web collides with cutting edge science. Fact or Fiction 2.0 is a 90 minute show where the audience watch popular internet clips before voting on whether the information featured is actual science fact or pure science fiction.

Audience: Years 5 - 10

Cost: Free

Venue: Australian Synchrotron, 800 Blackburn Rd, Clayton

To Book: Call (02) 9717 3090 or email tours@.au

There is also a show for the general public at 7pm. To book go to

c) Relativity: The Where and When, 6pm, Thursday, 18th August, University of Melbourne

Speaker: Prof David Jamieson. Venue: Laby Theatre

d) State of the Universe VI: The Olympic Edition, 6:30pm, Friday, 19th August, Swinburne University

Abstract: Astronomy and the Olympics. Has there ever been a more natural partnership? Both owe a debt to the Ancient Greeks. Both require years of preparation and dedication. Both are focussed on stars. Celebrating National Science Week, and shamelessly cashing in on Rio 2016, the Sixth Annual overview of progress in astronomy is going for Gold.

Presenter: Assoc. Prof. Chris Fluke, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University

Venue: Swinburne University, Hawthorn Campus, ATC building, ATC101 (Enter from Burwood Road)

Map:

Please click on this link to register

e) Videoconferences: Meet an ANSTO Expert, various dates, ANSTO

In this two-lesson plus homework program your students gather, process and present information about a practising Australian scientist. The ANSTO speakers are practiced science communicators and can talk to primary and secondary students at an appropriate level. See more and book a session go to:

Please note ANSTO have booked their speakers for a 3 hour time slot from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. When you book one of these sessions, ANSTO will contact you by email and ask you to select a 30 minute period within this time slot for your students to talk with their expert.

Forthcoming videoconferences are:

• 23rd August. Tom Cresswell on using nuclear science to investigate how contaminants from mining sites make their way into organisms and food chains in aquatic environments.

• 1st September. Kate Brandis on using nuclear science to analyse bird feathers collected from wetland areas across Australia as part of the Feathermap citizen science project. The nuclear signature of these feathers can help track the movements of waterbirds around Australia from wetland to wetland

• 8th November. Karina Meredith on using nuclear science to investigate groundwater supplies so that we can use them wisely and sustainably.

f) A quiz on the VCE Study with Prizes, 6pm, Thursday, 1st September, University of Melbourne

A series of questions based on past VCE exams. Following the answer to each question, there will be a '3-minute' physics talk by a physicist, pointing out the misunderstandings. Venue: Laby Theatre

g) How to pass the exam, 6pm, Thursday, 15th September, University of Melbourne

Speaker: Ms Clare Kenyon. Venue: Laby Theatre

Exoplanets at Scienceworks with Professor Jonti Horner on 23rd September.

7. Forthcoming events for Teachers

a) Workshop on Laboratory Learning, 9am - 3pm, Thursday, 1st September, Maribyrnong

ASELL Schools (Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning) invites teachers to a Workshop on Laboratory Learning.

Venue: Maribyrnong College, River St, Maribyrnong VIC 3032

Cost: The workshop is FREE, however, participants are requested to commit to sharing their learning from the workshop with colleagues within their school.

Description: The program includes hands-on sessions exploring exemplary practical activities targeted at the 7 – 10 science curriculum, as well as sessions investigating ideas for optimising science learning in the laboratory. Sessions will include student participants and you may invite a student from your school to attend.

Morning tea and lunch provided together with comprehensive notes.

To register please complete the registration form by clicking

ASELL Schools practical activities include integration of the Science Inquiry Skills, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Understanding strands of the Australian Curriculum, and link to contemporary science. ASELL Schools (Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning) is a three-year STEM project funded by the Federal Government. For further information contact Ian Bentley i.bentley@deakin.edu.au

8. 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) Chiral molecules spotted in interstellar cloud

b) Lasers transform infrared into broadband white light

c) Gravity and Levity: A blog about the big ideas in physics, plus a few other things

a) Chiral molecules spotted in interstellar cloud



Scientists could be one step closer to understanding how life emerged on Earth, now that chiral molecules have been detected for the first time outside of the solar system. Chiral molecules, which play crucial roles in the chemistry of life, exist in two different structures that are mirror images of each other. Although the type of molecule detected (propylene oxide) is not a biological one, its discovery suggests that biologically relevant molecules could exist outside of the solar system. As well as suggesting that the precursors for life could exist elsewhere in the universe, the discovery could also help us to understand how chiral molecules – and life itself – emerged on Earth.

Just like human hands – which are mirror images of each other, but not identical – chiral molecules are referred to in terms of their right- and left-handedness. Chirality is an important property of life and most biological processes are "homochiral" – they are highly selective in terms of the handedness of the molecules involved. For example, most amino acids found in living organisms are left-handed, whereas most sugars produced by nature are right-handed.

b) Lasers transform infrared into broadband white light



A new way to make broadband white light using a cheap, portable infrared diode laser has been developed by researchers in Germany. The technology uses nonlinear effects in a specially designed, easily produced, amorphous material to convert the infrared radiation into broadband visible light. The emitted light is also exceedingly directional, making it useful for high-spatial-resolution devices such as microscopes. It could also have applications in everything from lighting displays to projection systems.

c) Gravity and Levity: A blog about the big ideas in physics, plus a few other things!

This is a blog, , by Dr Brian Skinner, who is doing a post doc at MIT.

Recent blog discussion titles include:

• How strong would a magnetic field have to be to kill you?

• How big is an electron?

• Where does magnetism come from?

• Samuel Beckett's Guide to Particles and Anti-Particles

• Where do electric forces come from?

• Surfing and the double slit experiment[pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]

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