Pythagorean Astronomy: TRAPPIST-1 and other stories

Posted on 27 March 2017 by Chris North

At the end of last month, there was a lot of interest in the discovery of seven roughly Earth-sized planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. One month on, Chris North and Edward Gomez discuss the implications of this discovery. We also get an update from the Amaury Triaud, of the University of Cambridge, about TRAPPIST and its successor, SPECULOOS.
Read more

Ogden Trust School Physicist of the Year Award

Posted on 24 March 2017 by Brychan Govier

Is one of your students the future face of Physics? The Ogden Trust’s School Physicist of the Year Award is open for nominations. If you teach A-level physics at a school or college in Wales, you can nominate your most promising year 12 physics student. Entries are limited to one year 12 student per school, and
Read more

Martin Rees: the World in 2050

Posted on 20 March 2017 by Chris North

Leading astrophysicist Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and a senior figure in UK science, will look ahead to 2050 in a public lecture at Cardiff University on 6th April. This event is sponsored by the Learned Society of Wales and forms part of the Annual University/LSW Partnership Lecture series. It will be followed by a reception
Read more

A Physics Puzzle – Solution

Posted on 15 March 2017 by Chris North

A few weeks ago we posted the puzzle on the right – well, here’s the answer. A simple pendulum has a period given by If you insert that into the expression in the puzzle you get That simplifies to πg – which you could otherwise write as pi g! Not too complicated, providing you spot the trick! If
Read more

Pythagorean Astronomy: Backyard Worlds

Posted on 28 February 2017 by Chris North

February saw the first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Rocket from Launchpad 39A – the same launchpad used by the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle. In this month’s Pythagorean Astronomy, Edward Gomez and Chris North discuss these impressive structures along with the study of a supernova (the explosive death of a massive star) just hours
Read more

Welsh Teachers Reach for the Stars

Posted on 22 February 2017 by Sarah Roberts

The largest teacher-training event ever run by the School of Physics and Astronomy was held on Friday 3rd February with 30 welsh teachers receiving new activities, interactive resources and digital technologies for the classroom. A second event took place at the Centre for Alternative Technology on Thursday 9th February, inviting educators from schools in North,
Read more

Calling All Science Teachers!

Posted on 21 February 2017 by Matthew Fleet

Fancy some new GCSE physics and astronomy learning materials on the topic of redshift? I am a third year physics undergraduate, doing my independent research project on the teaching of physics and astronomy at GCSE level. The designing of learning materials has lead me to investigate the impacts of the exam board systems in England
Read more

A Physics Puzzle

Posted on 15 February 2017 by Chris North

There are quite a lot of physics puzzles and brain-teasers out there about physics, but here’s one we quite liked. It requires you to know a little bit about pendulums – which is normally covered in A/S-level physics (or equivalent). We’ll post the solution on 15th March 2017 – so make sure to check back then!
Read more

Pythagorean Astronomy: Star Attractions

Posted on 30 January 2017 by Chris North

Join Chris North and Edward Gomez as they discuss the month’s astronomy news. Not only were there two new NASA missions announced this month, but Space-X successfully returned to flight with their Falcon 9 rocket. Further afield, there are predictions of a pair of stars that are set to explode in a few years. Being
Read more