A pair of videos that investigates the density of different materials.  The first allows students to see an experiment on the density of regular and irregular objects from home. The second part outlines the calculations used to work out the densities of cylinders of different materials. This is a required practical...

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Describe characteristics of objects or substances with high (or low) densities.
• Compare the density of objects that differ in both mass and volume.
• Explain the equation ρ=...

Produced by The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC), this resource looks at the testing of materials in the context of dentistry. Students first look at the properties of teeth and the nature of toothache before going on to test materials for a range of properties.

Experimental methods...

This video for a-level and GCSE high ability students looks at how we derive units.  It looks at why speed can be measured in m/s and then goes onto to look at the units for force using F=ma and also why we use Joules for energy.  It also discusses the seven main base units and how all units are derived from these...

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Describe how forces always arise in pairs

• Label force arrows to describe the action of the force

• Represent the size and direction of a force with an...

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Identify an object that has a higher speed because it travels further in a given time
• Identify an object that has a higher speed than another when they travel different distances...

Aerospace engineers need to take into account the heat generated when the space craft move through the atmosphere at extreme speeds, both during launch and at re-entry, as without proper thermal protection the space craft could be destroyed. Insulating blankets, foams and tiles are used to protect the spacecraft....

Students will design a jet pack that can be worn by either the players or referee during a football game on the Moon. They will consider how a jet pack works and the different parts of a jet pack. They will then sketch an idea for a wearable jet pack with consideration for how it will fit, the weight of the jet...

This resource gives students a brief overview of the different options available when building a parachute for the CanSat Competition. Students will learn about the underlying physics of parachutes and their design and how to control the speed of their CanSat. 

Learning objectives:

• Understand...

In this activity, pupils will use the theme of the London Marathon to respond to a design context, investigate the context on the internet and design a wheelchair for sports use. 

Pupils will consider the use of different search...

This activity sheet is based on the Inventive Podcast.  It introduces a structural engineer and author, Roma Agrawal, and links her work to forces. The activity sheet also supports Careers Benchmark 4: Careers in the curriculum by introducing a career and role model. There are also links to short audio clips of the...

Published by LSIS, this research report describes a project undertaken by New College Nottingham. The project describes the creation of a webquest to aid the learning of space exploration for a BTEC first diploma.

Using a blog facilitated a dialogue between the students themselves and also with the class...

A Catalyst article about a brilliant new light source under construction in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside - the Diamond Light Source. Diamond will be a source of synchrotron light. Many of the everyday commodities people take for granted, from chocolate to cosmetics, from revolutionary drugs to surgical...

This Catalyst article looks at diamonds and shows how they have extraordinary properties: optical, thermal and when exposed to X-rays.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2016, Volume 27, Issue 2.

Catalyst is a science...