Resources by Institute of Physics (IOP)

Episode 305: Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode enables students to appreciate that there is a continuous interchange between potential and kinetic energy during simple harmonic motion. Students are also shown the mathematical basis for calculating energy.

The activities include:
•...

Episode 306: Damped Simple Harmonic Motion

From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode will help students to see how energy moves from an oscillating system and how this results in a decrease in amplitude that follows an exponential decay pattern.

The activities include:
• observing water oscillating in a u-tube
• the motion of...

Episode 307: Resonance

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students see demonstrations and perform practical work to understand how simple harmonic oscillators show resonance when forced to vibrate at their natural frequency.

The activities include:
• discussing resonance
• demonstrating Barton's...

Episode 308: Preparation for the Progressive Waves Topic

In these activities, from the Institute of Physics, students look at waves, speed, frequency, wavelength and wave graphs. They provide an opportunity to assess and build on prior knowledge.

In this topic, there are three learning episodes:

Episode 309: ...

Episode 309: Generating Waves

From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduces the idea that vibrations can give rise to disturbances travelling outwards, i.e. to progressive waves. This illustrates some of the basic properties of waves. The activities include: • investigating transverse and longitudinal waves in a spring •...

Episode 310: Wave Graphs

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students interpret graphs of waves to understand concepts such as wavelength, frequency and phase.

The activities in this episode include:
• plotting displacement and drawing longitudinal waves
• considering phase
• understanding...

Episode 311: Speed, Frequency and Wavelength

These activities, from the Institute of Physics, consider how speed, frequency and wavelength are linked by the wave equation v = fλ . This is achieved by measuring frequency using an oscilloscope and measuring the velocity of sound in free air.

The activities include:
* worked example to deduce and...

Episode 312: Preparation for Electromagnetic Waves Topic

This series of resources, produced by the Institute of Physics, develops the idea that there are several types of electromagnetic radiation, similar to light, all of which travel at the same speed in empty space. The topic is split into learning episodes which are self-contained activities that take one or two...

Episode 313: Polarisation

This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, help students to develop their idea of electromagnetic radiation and polarisation. The basic ideas are developed through demonstrations and experiments. The approach is non-mathematical. The activities include: * using polarising filters to observe polarisation...

Episode 314: Electromagnetic Radiation

In this learning episode from the Institute of Physics, through a demonstration and the production of a presentation, students extend their understanding of the nature of different types of electromagnetic radiation, and considers their shared nature.

The activities look at:
• using heat detector and...