Creating pleasant musical sounds by vibrating the strings of musical instruments such as guitars and violins is the result of the type of instrument played as well as the mastery of the player. This article explains the physics of vibrating strings caused either by a bow drawn over them or by being plucked, and provides a simple analysis to…

The formation of waves as used for surfing close to the shore is described and explained, and linked to other wave topics that are covered in school science. Of course, there are differences because the wave activity is influenced by many factors, such as the weather and the shape of the shoreline, which make the wave patterns much more…

Earthbound manifestations of gravity in falling objects are distorted by the large mass and size of the Earth. Movement is also affected by air resistance. This article questions whether an approach based on everyday observations is necessarily the best starting point for introducing the idea of Newtonian gravity. Instead, a theoretical approach…

Science and technology play an important role in modern medicine and experience shows that, although school students and their relatives are likely to have experienced some of the complex procedures available today, they are generally not aware of the science behind them. Demonstrations that link school science to medical procedures can therefore…

The bicycle is one of the greatest locomotive machines ever invented. It is also a perfect vehicle for you to teach some of the ideas that are taught in forces topics to 11- to 16-year-olds. In this article we look at some of the ways in which you can use the bicycle and cycling to provide an alternative and engaging context for teaching some of…

Diagrams and photographs (or computer simulations) should not replace effective observations of the wave properties that can be illustrated using a ripple tank, but they can provide support when discussing and revising what has been observed. This article explains and illustrates a route towards successful photography, which is much easier with…

The infrared camera, or thermal imaging camera, can be used to complement the teaching of a number of topics in high school science. Here, we provide seven examples of its application in teaching physics, chemistry and biology concepts at high school level. We also discuss its strengths for such applications and provide some pointers for science…

Balanced science was a possible answer to a perceived need in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for students to study the three major science subjects up to age 16 without taking too large a proportion of curriculum time. Experience has shown that it is not a simple problem to solve, and this article describes various attempts going back several…

This article describes the implementation of an activity with a Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) learning cycle to teach the concepts of velocity and acceleration to physics students aged 17-19. The study indicates how the instructor enacted the activity and provides sample student responses and group discussions. The description includes an example…

Rheology is an enormously far-reaching branch of physics (or physical chemistry) and has a number of different guises. Rheological descriptions define fluids, semi-solids and conventional solids, and the application of this science defines the performance and utility of materials and substances as diverse as foods (such as yogurt and marmalade),…

This article looks at how the nature of truth in science is not absolute and in accepting the idea that certain 'laws' are sufficiently true we can unlock the rigidity of discipline-based scientific thinking to make the possibility of tackling many of the grand challenges facing society a reality. The nature of Open Science is focused on the fact…

The Institute of Physics curriculum committee has been looking at ways of framing schoollevel physics so that it gives students a rewarding and productive experience of physics and leaves them with positive views of the discipline and its cultural contribution, as well as lasting and detailed skills, knowledge and understanding. The result is some…

Martin Wagenschein's ideas of prioritising phenomena in making sense of science processes have influenced the German "Lehrkunstdidaktik" (art of teaching) approach. This article sketches a "Lehrkunstdidaktik" teaching unit inspired by Michael Faraday's "Chemical History of a Candle." It shows how primary and lower…

Computer simulations have been used very effectively for many years in the teaching of science but the focus has been on cognitive development. This study, however, is an investigation into the possibility that a student's experimental skills in the real-world environment can be judged via the undertaking of a suitably chosen computer simulation…

This article is the second of a two-part series that explores science teachers' and their pupils' experiences of using different pedagogical approaches based on understandings of how brains learn. Part 1 (Torrance Jenkins, 2017) focused on the two approaches rooted in cognitive psychology: Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and Cognitive Acceleration…