Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode helps students to observe total internal reflection (TIR) as a consequence of refraction. Students use a semi-circular block to observe TIR and see how a fibre optic can be used to transmit information.

The activities include:
* ray tracing...

This series of learning episodes, from the Institute of Physics, looks at how waves add together by superposition. It follows a 'conceptual approach' by looking at superposition itself, followed by interference fringes and then diffraction.

The episodes in this topic are:

Episode 320:...

This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, introduces the basic idea of superposition of waves, explaining what happens when two or more waves meet.

The activities include:
• recapping students’ knowledge and understanding of waves
• demonstration of waves using a rope
•...

This learning episode from the Institute of Physics covers the constructive and destructive interference of waves.

Through discussion, student experiments and teacher demonstrations, students look at:
* simple interference of waves
* waves from two sound sources
* demonstration of Young's...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students look at different light sources through diffraction gratings. Using this system, students measure the wavelength of a laser and derive the grating formula.

The activities include:
* looking through gratings
* deriving the grating...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students observe diffraction using a ripple tank or laser.

The activities include:
* simple ways to observe diffraction
* demonstration of diffraction using a ripple tank or laser
* deriving the formula for minima in the diffraction...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students look at standing waves in musical instruments and measure their wavelength. Microwaves are used to estimate the speed of light.

The activities include:
* demonstrating waves in a rope
* how superposition results in standing waves...

This series of sessions, produced by the Institute of Physics, develops the idea that Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation is precisely that; universal. Every single object with a mass in the universe gravitationally attracts every other object with mass. By following the learning episodes in this topic, students...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students discuss and see worked examples that introduce Newton’s law of universal gravitation for point and spherical masses.

Students practice calculations of the force between objects. The meaning of the inverse square law is discussed.

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This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, introduces the notion of a field of force and how it can be diagrammatically represented using field lines. The actual strength of the field at a point in space is defined by the field strength. The activities include: • discussing fields and field lines •...

Through discussion and worked examples, this learning episode from the Institute of Physics, enables students to combine concepts of circular motion with Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to understand the motion of satellites. It includes an explanation of Kepler’s third law.

The activities look at:...

From the Institute of Physics, this resource uses discussion, worked examples and modelling to help students appreciate the energy changes that take place as a body moves in a gravitational field. The learning episode is quite extended and gives a good grounding in these ideas.

The activities look at:...

This topic, from the Institute of Physics, explores electric fields and draws the comparison between these and gravitational fields. They both follow inverse square laws, and so their equations look very similar. The topic includes a series of learning episodes which are self-contained and last one or two lessons...

Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduce students to electric fields, field lines and equipotentials. Similarities with gravitational fields are highlighted, but with the need to take account of the of charge.

The activities include:
• discussion and demonstration of field...