Resources by Institute of Physics (IOP)

Electron diffraction tube

In this video, Alom Shaha explains the elements of an electron diffraction tube and how to use one to demonstrate a diffraction pattern. The video is aimed at teachers but it could also be used with older students to illustrate the working of an electron diffraction tube.

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Elliptical Orbits

This Teaching Astronomy and Space video clip, from the Institute of Physics (IOP), Teachers TV and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), illustrates a simple demonstration showing how the orbits of the planets form an ellipse around the sun. It also...

Energy 11-14 *suitable for home teaching*

From the Institute of Physics, this resource provides extensive teacher guidance and suggested classroom activities to support the teaching of: 

• paying for getting things done
• shifting energy between stores
• energy resources and pathways
• calculating energy everywhere
• ...

This item is one of over 25,000 physical resources available from the Resources Collection. The Archive Collection covers over 50 years of curriculum development in the STEM subjects. The Contemporary Collection includes all the latest publications from UK educational publishers.

Episode 100: Preparation for Electric Current Topic *suitable for home teaching*

From the Institute of Physics, this topic looks at basic electrical ideas, particularly current, potential difference and energy. The topic is split into teaching episodes. These are self-contained activities of varying time periods. The topics in this section include:

Episode 101:...

Episode 101: Introduction to Circuits

These activities, from the Institute of Physics, look at electrical circuits. They provide a review of previous knowledge and introduce the language needed to cope with the greater depth of learning at post-16 level. Activities include: • a discussion about electrical circuits to reinforce knowledge and highlight...

Episode 102: Current as a Flow of Charge

From the Institute of Physics, these activities allow students to understand the idea of electric charge and its relationship to a flow of current. There are a range of activities and these include: • using an analogy to represent the movement of charge • defining current and the coulomb • calculations to show the...

Episode 103: Currents and Charge Carriers

From the Institute of Physics, these activities present a range of examples involving different types of charge carrier and links the measured current to rates of flow of charge. The activities consist of a series of demonstrations which could be set up before the lesson. These include: • considering different...

Episode 104: Drift Velocity

From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode shows that charge carriers in good conductors usually move very slowly. It illustrates the derivation and use of the equation I = nAvq.

A range of activities include:
• viewing the movement of permanganate ions in an electric field
•...

Episode 105: Sources of Electrical Energy

This activity from the Institute of Physics discusses energy transfer in electric circuits and links this, by analogy, to other more familiar examples.

The activities include:
• demonstrations of human and lemon-powered batteries to illustrate that that there is nothing special about the chemical...