Published for the Institute of Physics, this report examines the contribution of physics to the Scottish economy between the years 2005 and 2010. Figures are given for the numbers of people employed in physics-based sectors of the economy, the contribution in financial terms, gross value added per worker and the...

This article from School Science Review, describes the design, delivery, evaluation and impact of a CPD course for physics and chemistry teachers. A key aim of the course was to use the context of the James Webb Space Telescope project to inspire teachers and lead to enriched teaching of STEM subjects.

The...

This Catalyst article looks at the changing definition of the kilogram, a unit of mass and a base unit in the SI system (the International System of units). It has been found that the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK), made in 1879 and kept in a vault in Paris, has lost about 50microgrammes of mass over the...

This Catalyst article investigates the launch of the the Philae lander from the Rosetta spacecraft and its landing on Comet 67P.

The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 3.

Catalyst is a science...

From the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the 'Big questions, big experiment' wall chart describes the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It looks at the "big questions" about our Universe that scientists are trying to answer, and how the amazing LHC will help them to do so. The 'Tunnel to the...

This Catalyst article uses physics to investigate the possible causes of the sinking of the Titanic. Mike Follows explains how the hull of the Titanic was constructed to be watertight, however, the strength of the rivets used on the ship were inadequate.

The article shows how the alignment of the sun, Earth...

Almost every scientific experiment or industrial process requires a measurement of temperature. For example, the specification of the length of an object is meaningless without reference to the temperature at which the measurement was made. And all chemical and biological processes are intrinsically temperature-...

The Naked Scientists are a group of physicists, science communicators, astronomers and researchers from Cambridge University. They use radio, live lectures and the internet to strip science down to its bare essentials and promote it to the general public.

Podcasts from the Naked Scientists are supported by...

In 2009 and 2010, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) monitored a sample of the new GCE AS and A level qualifications respectively offered by the three England-based unitary awarding organisations: AQA, Edexcel and OCR. The six subjects addressed were: English Literature and Geography...

This activity, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, introduces students to ways of combining errors (uncertainties) from two independent measured quantities. Using the equation for Doppler shift, the error in the rotational velocity and time period are calculated....

Since 1799 the Royal Institution has been introducing new technologies and teaching science to the general public.  Their vision is " A world where everyone is inspired to think more deeply about science and its place in our lives."  They use their iconic Christmas...