Birds can fly because they flap their wings in-phase at the same time. We can walk because our legs move out-of-phase at the same time. At a concert, people move to the rhythm, some left to right, some front to back, others in whichever way, but everyone is in "sync" with each other and the… Continue reading Research: Synchronization of oscillators on a network
Tag: Physics Around Us
Physics of the everyday life, nuggets and insights.
Visualizing Polarization
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
Collisions
They happen all around us. Raindrops fall from the sky and collide with the ground. We have all heard of black holes colliding in spacetime. More often than you'd like, random furniture collides with your harmless toes (your furniture might beg to differ). The last one might have left you wanting to cushion your furniture… Continue reading Collisions
Exploring a periscope made with prisms
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
Making a Sundial/Fun with Shadows
What is this session about Phenomena around the Earth-Sun system Simple measurements/observations with a sundial can tell us a lot about interesting phenomena A common misconception What is the reason for the seasons? Big ideas Measuring the circumference of the Earth What do we discuss in this session? Starting with simple observations, one can build… Continue reading Making a Sundial/Fun with Shadows
Vector algebra: Some exciting applications
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
Using examples from Biology and Climate Science in a Physics classroom
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
Physics at home
What is this session about Scientifically rigorous experiments at home How could we do quantitative school science experiments at home with commonly available material? Connect everyday phenomena to school Physics Can we recognise and appreciate Physics phenomena at home? Can we pedagogize these, i.e. connect them to formal Physics? What do we discuss in this… Continue reading Physics at home
Better way of refrigerating food?
Came across this idea, new to me at least, of preserving food, in a container full of water, strong enough to hold the contents at constant volume. Normally a recipe for disaster- broken bottles stand witness - this works because the water doesn't actually freeze even though cooled a bit below 0 degrees C, the… Continue reading Better way of refrigerating food?
Acid – Base Chemistry ; Titrations
An indicator in chemistry is used to detect the presence of a specific chemical or a specific type ofchemical. In this lab, we are going to use red cabbage juice as an indicator to identify pH of vinegar . Using this we are going to identify the amount of acetic acid in vinegar. Acid-Base-Chemistry;TitrationDownload