2014 STAV/AIP Physics Teachers Conference

1. 2014 STAV/AIP Physics Teachers Conference It is wrong to think that the task of physics is to find out how Nature is. Physics concerns what we say about Nature. Niels Bohr

2. Where do I sit? Please sit at the Table Number on your Name Tag To foster networking, the others at your table are teachers from nearby schools.

3. Program Changes Sessions cancelled: A9, A14 B9, B13, B15, C6, C7, C13, C15, C16 D8, D14 E6, E11 F2 G3 . The more success the quantum theory has, the sillier it looks. Albert Einstein - 1912

4. Workshop A16: Synchrotron Tour Car Pooling? To: Those who have booked A16, if you wish to car pool, meet at the lectern after the discussion session.

5. Where are the new Physics Labs? The old 1st Year Physics Labs have gone. The new ones are on the ground floor of Building 27. The entrances are off the lobby to the S5 lecture theatre. Check the map on the back of the program for directions.

6. Wireless Access Connect to SSID: guest-wireless Username: ext-stavphy Password: physics2014 The number of users online is limited, so please log off when finished. Laptop locker keys: Available at Registration.

7. Sessions: C12 & E8Chief Assessor’s Report Please Note: The purpose of this session to provide feedback to teachers on how their students performed on last year’s exam. It is not the place for comment on the exam or specific questions. Such concerns should be directed to the Examinations Branch, VCAA.

8. What’s in your folder? AIP Newsletter • Events for students and teachers • What does the Committee do? • Map of website vicphysics.org Notepad and Evaluation slips

9. AIP Travelling Scholarship • The AIP Education Committee is offering a scholarship to support one teacher to attend an international Physics Teachers Conference during 2014 and January 2015. • The scholarship is worth up to $2000. • Applications to AIP Ed Comm by 2nd May. • Check www.vicphysics.org/scholarship.html for further details and possible conferences.

10. AIP Support for Beginning Physics Teachers Support for: • First Year Outs • Those returning to Physics teaching • Those asked to take on a Physics class Two Programs: • In-Service Program • Mentor Scheme

11. AIP Support of Beginning Physics Teachers 1. In-Service Program • Day in-service: Monday 7th April • Venue: Brunswick Secondary College. • Cost: None; Travel support for country participants. • To apply: www.vicphysics.org/support.html One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, …

12. AIP Support of Beginning Physics Teachers • Mentor Scheme • The AIP Education Committee will fund several retired teachers to work with ‘beginning physics teachers’. • They will be available for one meeting during each of Terms 1, 2, 3 and 4 and be available for regular phone and email contact. • To apply www.vicphysics.org/support.html … immediately obtain an understanding of anything much.- Richard Feynman

13. Physics Equipment Grants The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee plans to use some of its funds to provide essential physics equipment to under-resourced schools with negligible equipment budgets. Schools will need to apply by the last Friday of Term 1. Grants will be made later in the year. Check the handout for more details.

14. Victorian Young Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT) For: Year 10 and 11 students, in teams of three. What do they do? • conduct three open-ended experimental investigations, • prepare reports, and ..

15. Victorian Young Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT) Then in competition in December… • They describe and defend their methods, results and analysis, • They challenge the reports of other teams.

16. Victorian Young Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT) Topics for 2014 • Conductivity of pencil lines: The lines, drawn by so-called ‘lead’ pencils, conduct electricity. Investigate the factors that determine the resistance of the line. 2. Bouncing ball If you hold a Ping-Pong ball above the ground and release it, it bounces. The nature of the collision changes if the ball contains liquid. Investigate how the nature of the collision depends on the amount of liquid inside the ball and other relevant parameters. 3. Rubber motor A twisted rubber band stores energy and can be used to power a model aircraft, for example. Investigate the properties of such an energy source and how its power output changes with time.

17. AIP 2014 Photo Contest • Open to students only, • Students may enter more than one photo, • Prize pool: up to $1000, • Closing date: First day Term 4, • Judging by panel.

20. AIP 2014 Video Contest • Open to students in Victorian schools. • Topic: Students are encouraged to video a discussion between two or more students regarding Climate Change in which some students ask FAQs and the other students answer the questions explaining the Science involved with or without visual aid, à la Veritasium • Max: Three minutes of video • Prize pool: up to $1000 per category • Closing date: First Day of Term 4 If this sticker is blue, you're driving too fast

21. Physics Days at Luna Park • The dates for 2014 are: • Tues 4th March (FULL) • Weds 5th March (FULL) and • Thurs 6th March (FULL). • Cost $23.95 per student. Open from 10:30am until 2:30pm. • Worksheets / videos are available www.vicphysics.org/lunaworksheets.html • Special Features: • RAAF Roulettes Aerobatics Displayon each day at 10:00.00am on nearby St Kilda beach, • Synchrotron Tour before or after. • BOOKINGS CLOSED

22. Using Satellite Data in the Classroom Morning Tea offering: Paul Butler has used FUNcube data in the classroom. The data can be easily accessed by an iPad. To find out more, see Paul at Table 4 during Morning Tea. Handouts available.

23. The Laboratory Technicians Association of Victoria (LTAV) has produced a book of advice on physics equipment for lab techs, 75 pages in length. It can be purchased from LTAV for $23 for the CD and black and white hard copy. Check out http://www.ltav.org.au/ Physics Manual for Lab Techs

24. Associate membership: $103 per year Benefits: Physics Teachers’ Conference discount ‘Australian Physics’ magazine, 6 per year. Reciprocal membership with Institute of Physics (UK) among others (reduced rate for joint membership). http://www.aip.org.au/info/ Joining the AIP

25. Who are they? A committee of physics teachers, teacher educators and academics. When & where do they meet? Next at University High School, 11th March, 5pm–7pm. Teachers are encouraged to attend meetings, contact Sue Grant, the chairperson at susanmgrant1@bigpond.com AIP Education Committee

26. What do they do? Liaise with VCAA on curriculum matters, Distribute an email newsletter to physics teachers several times each term, Administer a website of resources for teachers: www.vicphysics.org , Prepare a detailed review of the VCE Physics Exam, Plan this STAV/AIP Physics Teachers Conference, and other PD activities, Organise physics activities for students, such as the Competitions and Physics Days at Luna Park. AIP Education Committee

27. Who comes to meetings? AIP Education Committee

28. AIP Education Committee Physics News by Email An electronic newsletter is sent to over 1000 physics teachers about once a fortnight. To be a recipient, email the AIP at danok@bigpond.com Useful resources from previous emails are at www.vicphysics.org/news.html Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. Lord Kelvin

29. Physics is great - 40 orders of magnitude can’t be wrong Physics: Know your world to change your world Radio has no future. - Lord Kelvin Physics is like sex, it produces valuable results, but that is not why we do it. - Richard Feynman Stand on the shoulders of giants - get a physics degree X-rays will prove to be a hoax. Lord Kelvin My goal is simple. It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all. - Stephen Hawking