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Listed under:  Science  >  Forces and energy
Video

Can We Help?: Effects of g-force on the human body

Peter Rowsthorn visits the Australian International Air Show to answer the question, 'What effect does g-force have on the human body?' Join Pete in the cockpit of a light plane for some aerobatics with pilot David Pilkington. G-force expert Dr David Newman explains the science as Pete endures up to 6 g in the aircraft.

Video

Can photons and atoms generate laser?

Electrons around atoms can absorb and emit photons of particular colours of light – see three different atomic models explain what's going on.

Video

Catalyst: The physics of a slinky drop

Imagine holding a slinky by the top end, with the bottom end dangling in mid-air. What do you think would happen when you let it go? Explore the physics of two equal and opposing forces working on an object in this awesome experiment!

Interactive

Plotting a Magnetic Field

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how to plot the magnetic field around a bar magnet using a plotting compass. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

Refraction

Students use this resource consisting of ten slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand refraction of light and know some examples. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

Factors Affecting Thinking Distance

Students use this resource consisting of nine slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that the stopping distance of a car depends on the alertness of the driver as well as its speed and frictional forces. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

Forces

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand what forces are and what they can do. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Disappearing coin trick

This resource contains a materials, instructions and brief explanation for students about the process of rotating hands to make a coin seem to dislodge.

Interactive

Calculating Moments

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the principle of moments and its application to situations involving one pivot. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

Factors that Affect Braking Distance

Students use this resource consisting of ten slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that the braking distance of a car depends on its speed and other factors which affect the frictional forces needed to stop the car. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Text

Coal and its uses

Find out where we get the coal that powers our homes and industries. This is a PowerPoint presentation outlining how coal is formed, mined, processed and used. All slides contain images or maps. Teachers' notes are included.

Audio

Forbes Carlile talks about sports science as a career, 2008

This is an edited sound recording of the Australian sports scientist and swimming coach Forbes Carlile (1921-), speaking about sports science as a career. Carlile states that being competent at sport is useful, but not absolutely essential, for someone to be a good sports scientist. He says all scientific discoveries lend ...

Audio

Ian Frazer discusses the cervical cancer vaccine, 2008

This is an edited sound recording of the Australian medical scientist Ian Frazer discussing how he and his colleague Jian Zhou developed the first vaccine to prevent and treat cervical cancer. He describes their breakthrough laboratory discovery in 1990, and how they realised a vaccine was possible. He also tells of the ...

Image

The 'Southern Cross' reaches Sydney, 1928

This is a black-and-white photograph of the 'Southern Cross' biplane arriving in Sydney and being greeted by reporters and photographers and a large contingent of police after the record-breaking flight of Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew across the Pacific. Signed portraits of the crew are superimposed upon the photograph, ...

Audio

Chris Arthur recalls the Franklin River campaign, 2008

This is an edited sound recording of an interview with Chris Arthur, a Tasmanian environmentalist, who describes being arrested and imprisoned in December 1982 after participating in a blockade of a site linked to a proposed project to dam the Franklin River in south-western Tasmania. He also talks about how he has gone ...

Online

Australia and the First World War - a unit of work

This unit of work for middle and upper secondary students explores the influence of the First World War on the construction of Australian identity. An introductory exploration of the Australian digger myth and legend is followed by five activities framed as investigations. Links are provided to a variety of online resources, ...

Audio

Ian Frazer describes medical research work, 2008

This is an edited sound recording of Australian medical scientist Ian Frazer outlining some of the joys and frustrations of a career as a medical researcher. One advantage, he says, is that researchers know that many people may benefit from the work they themselves are enjoying, but he warns against a career as a research ...

Interactive

Discovering democracy: should the people rule?

Interact with a slideshow of images and text to explore the development of systems of government, from early democracy in Athens (where all 'citizens', a small proportion of the population, could vote), through the oligarchy in Sparta and direct democracy in Switzerland to Australia’s system of representative democracy. ...

Interactive

Energy skate park

This is an interactive resource about the potential and kinetic energy changes as a skater rolls around a skate park. Students learn about conservation of energy with a skater, they can build tracks, ramps and jumps for the skater and view the kinetic energy, potential energy and friction as he moves. Students can also ...

Audio

Judge Kevin Parker speaks about remorse and forgiveness, 2008

This is an edited sound recording of Kevin Parker, vice-president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), describing how most people accused of human rights violations before the ICTY have not been remorseful. He suggests that it is therefore difficult for the victims of abuses to offer ...