Science News
Archery Incursion
It was with great motivation and sense of achievement that Year 10 Science students participated in the Archery Warz Incursion that complemented the Physics unit studied in term 3. This hands on, engaging and at times physically challenging activity assisted students in development of problem solving skills, strategizing, resilience, team building skills and communication. They developed an understanding of the science behind Archery, Forces and Energy. Great fun was had by all.
Students were tutored on how to hold and use a bow and arrow. Their sharp rapier minds associated all of the actions and reactions, all of the forces and motion, with newtons 3 laws, energy and momentum.
Whilst battling each other across the room they began to appreciate the effects of gravity, arrow design and moving targets. Each arrow was shot above the target and an allowance was made for how much the arrow would drop between the bow and the target.
Consolidated knowledge was not the only thing the students left with as they left the gym with big smiles and laughter whilst all the time thanking the world of physics for fun.
Beam Me Up, Synchrotron
Our year 11 physics students got their high tech on and headed to Clayton in August, to visit the Australian Synchrotron – the only one in the country. It’s a giant MCG-sized particle accelerator that can analyse samples of food, medicine, blood, minerals and more to a high-tech molecular level – helping to advance medical breakthroughs, solve crimes and even optimise production conditions for chocolate.
It’s famously been used to solve the poisoning of Phar Lap and to discover a hidden painting by Edgar Degas beneath another of his works. It’s even been used to invent a whole new wool fibre and prospect for gold, sampling local flora to determine future gold mining sites.
It’s all part of bringing to life Unit 2 of Physics, Outcome 2 ‘Particle accelerators’.
Our students were toured around the synchrotron site, given in-depth talks about different components of this amazing technology, and even got to do small-scale experiments.
It was a wonderful way to give the students insight into a specific field of physics and how it applies to a range of industries. For example, the synchrotron is used by the Australian Defence Force, food manufacturers, medicine and pharmaceutical groups, agriculture, mining, police forensics and more.
Shane Galloway
Units 1/2 Physics teacher