Classically, light is an electromagnetic wave-- a wave of oscillating Electric and Magnetic fields instead of oscillating molecules of air or water like in sound or water waves. Electric and Magnetic fields are not something we can "see", but when they oscillate in synchrony, it results in a visual phenomenon called light! Light, a universal… Continue reading Visualizing Polarization
Subatomic particles have an intrinsic property that is quite strange to us. Called spin, this property has the dimensions of angular momentum. It is a rather strange name because the word spin does not imply that the particle is spinning on its own axis. All we can know is that it's a type of angular… Continue reading An informal introduction to spin and kets
This is a periscope made by students with two right angled prisms in a course on Optics taught by Physics faculty, Rema Krishnaswamy. (These kind of setups are often used in optics research to manipulate or displace a beam of light. Also look up 'Dove prism') What phenomena/concepts is this setup based on? We wish… Continue reading Exploring a periscope made with prisms
What is this session about Make abstract concepts relatable How do we help students engage with concepts from Heat and Temperature that are often at an abstract level? History of Thermal Physics Understand how people in the 1700s measured specific heat capacities and latent heat accurately and also perform a related experiment on ice calorimetry.… Continue reading Two simple experiments for a Thermal Physics classroom
What is this session about Combining a variety of tools It is now possible to combine a variety of easily available tools to do conventional lab experiments more effectively (even at home) Smartphones, free software and spreadsheets A combination of tools can enable students to record and analyse data accurately and conveniently Transferable skills Once… Continue reading An experiment on RC circuits for lockdown times
What is this session about Vector algebra made interesting Concepts from vector algebra are introduced at the higher secondary level. If we show students how it helps answer some interesting questions from diverse fields, they will find it more interesting. Elegant solutions Vector algebra can lead us to short and elegant proofs/solutions, when used in… Continue reading Vector algebra: Some exciting applications
What is this session about Physics in the world around us How do we see the broader relevance of Physics concepts to the world around us? Connections within the sciences Can we blur the boundaries between disciplines and see how interrelated these fields are? Some key concepts in science How do we convey ideas in… Continue reading Using examples from Biology and Climate Science in a Physics classroom
This method shows numerically, how the Schrodinger equation for a particle in a potential well V( x ) has physical solutions only for certain values of energy. The geogebra application for this activity can be found at https://www.geogebra.org/m/ccgsestj wagthedogDownload
A spectroscope decomposes light. It works by taking light and splitting it into the wavelengths thatmake it up which is known as a spectrum. Its many uses are found in the fields of physics, chemistryand biology to determine the composition of different substances. Different elements make differentcolors when they glow. We can make objects and… Continue reading Construction of a spectroscope
A freely falling object on Earth is solely under the influence of gravity. This experiment utilizes a mobile application Phyphox that makes use of an acoustic watch to help us calculate the value of acceleration due to gravity 'g'. freefall-using-an-acoustic-stpowatch-on-the-smartphoneDownload
