Simon Poliakoff

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm

As tungsten halogen lamps give out some UV I wondered if I could use a vintage Rank Aldis Tutor 2 slide projector to show UV beyond the visible light in a spectrum

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Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm
youtu.be/8lr-LA-0xzc

I have made some great connections after sending messages to thank people when I have used their website, app and resources and often got more good suggestions back in return.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Measuring the breaking stress of a crunchie bar

The breaking stress of a crunchie bar practical is a standard for my physics lessons during the materials topic so I made this video describing it.

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youtu.be/Kr6YKfMN1f0

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff How much radioactive stuff can I buy for £50?

Making good use of the Radiacode 110 which they kindly sent me for using in my YouTube videos I made this video about radioactive things you can buy relatively cheaply. I hope you like it.

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youtu.be/gdcyphtu26k

Thanks to @cleapss.bsky.social for the article in their bulletin from which I learnt about the Radiacode.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Surely you can't make a gamma spectrum of cobalt-60 in a school

Radiacode kindly agreed to send me one of their gamma ray detectors (the Radiacode 110) so that I could see how it might be used in physics teaching. Here is the first video making a gamma ray spectrum from the school cobalt 60 source

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youtu.be/DRDnrSdAKTs

Great! Shade the back with some black sugar paper to make the image easier to see.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Measuring count rate of stronitum 90 source

Measuring count rate is worth doing along with the standard penetrating power:

Measuring count rate of stronitum 90 source
youtu.be/QEhyZ_GU5B4

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Sweet Radioactive Decay

This is also fun as a simple model: Sweet Radioactive Decay
youtu.be/NLrTlm_VWpw

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Deflection of beta particles by a magnetic field

I use this for deflection of beta particles.

Deflection of beta particles by a magnetic field
youtu.be/MGJLSOM7Xg4

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Interestingly in my efforts to include more diverse role models in physics lessons, astronomy is the one area where I feel I am totally spoilt for choice and can’t fit them all in. Perhaps more Space topic in a reviewed curriculum would help improve things.

Great activity. I will add it to my ideas set for teaching waves when I next do an update.

Thanks to @phetsims.bsky.social for the useful simulations to use in the explanation.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff From absorption spectrum to emission spectrum in one beautiful physics demonstration

Inspired by @harvard.edu natural sciences lecture demonstrations video which shows a projected absorption spectrum of sodium I created this version with an extension to then project the emission spectrum. I hope you like it.

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youtu.be/Gz--LUuYvSg

And less tempting to be stolen and eaten!

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Teaching ideas for electricity, electric fields and capacitors for science and physics teachers

Thanks for posting Dan - you have saved me a job that was on my to do list. #SciTeachUK

Here is the trailer video: youtu.be/Ni5s2HXCzXI

Yes a 250W halogen bulb in a 1960s slide projecto.

It is quick to set up if you already have a gravity well.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Stretchy cloth model of electric fields

This video is about how to use 4 way stretch cloth to model electric fields. It is based on an activity in the @perimeterinstitute.ca resources for teaching fields available from here: resources.perimeterinstitute.ca/products/fie... if you make a free account.

youtu.be/ea6RB8nb6iU

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YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff Investigating a parallel plate capacitor with aluminium foil and printer paper

Simple investigation of a a parallel plate capacitor using a multimeter, Aluminium foil and printer paper:

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youtu.be/vhlyCSOw5f4

I think it would be v difficult to show the laser beams in ambient light and for a prolonged period. It might be better to have a second demo of showing the path of a laser beam nearby.

The difficulty is not damaging the optical components. I used a very light smoke for a short time from burning a paper craft straw ( Like you can use for brownian motion smoke cells ) in a blacked out room. I think most things could end up leaving a residue in the optical components.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff A working interferometer built from Lego

Yes it is good fun. I made this video when I borrowed one.

youtu.be/8I3JCa8wCQQ

I am just projecting the image of a narrow single slit. And then using 1000 lines per mm diffraction film directly in front of the projector lens. But the Rank Aldis Tutor 2 is very bright 250W halogen bulb. It produces a little UV so you shouldn’t look into the lens. They go for £30-40 on ebay.

Large visible light spectrum on lab wall about 2m long and half a metre high.

Used my ‘new’ 1960’s slide projector to make the best projected spectrum I have managed. I hope my students appreciated it.

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Floating a steel ball in mercury is good and can be sealed.

I use one when discussing that pressure doesn’t depend on the shape of the container at GCSE. They are v cheap to buy.

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff 30 physics demonstrations that look like magic

I made this compilation of some of my favourite demonstration videos from the last couple of years Which almost look like magic (to me at least).

I hope you like it.

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youtu.be/jQKr1ZrQSjc

This is my collection of ideas for using it: www.teachphysics.org/home/infrare...

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@rhettallain.bsky.social has some good videos with IR cameras. As does @hookean.bsky.social

It is a HikMicro MiniX which connects via WiFi to android or apple device and is wireless. In low tech setup I have used visualiser pointing at phone to display on the board. Wireless is good as can move it around the lab. Has manual focus which is good for macro work.