This report explores the differences in uptake of 'gendered' subjects at A level in schools between girls and boys. In a previous report, It's Different for Girls (2012), the Institute of Physics looked at progression into A Level physics and the patterns...

A Catalyst article about climate control, and specifically the process known as cloud seeding. Cloud seeding has met with initially encouraging results. The method entails adding silver iodide to the air in clouds to encourage ice crystals to form, so that they grow rapidly and produce more snow or rainfall than...

Cloud chambers are boxes specially made to detect charged particles and radiation. In this activity, a cloud chamber, made from a plastic fish tank or terrarium, is used to observe alpha and beta particles.  The suggested source used in the cloud chamber is a thoriated welding rod.  Dry ice is used ...

Produced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), this A4 colour brochure describes the leading role played by UK scientists and engineers at universities, observatories and research council establishments in the Cluster mission that is currently exploring the Earth's space environment. The European...

Published in 2009 by LSIS, this report describes an action research project undertaken by Longley Park Sixth Form College. The research undertook a comparison of the different GCSE science specifications and an analysis of the January results for an AS chemistry unit to investigate the impact of GCSE qualifications...

Purpose: The camera built into many mobile digital devices is an effective way of recording the equipment used in practical science, and the outcomes of investigations.  A sequence of recorded images displayed as a collage, with annotations added, is a simple and quick way to communicate procedures and findings to...

Purpose: Usually students work in groups at a practical activity, and use their own results to interpret the outcomes. For some investigations, it is helpful to use larger data sets, than single groups could collect during a lesson. Google forms provides a simple means of collating a large number of sets of data,...

In this video from Osiris Educational Bill Rodgers discusses what effective colleague support can reasonably be given when dealing with behaviourally...

Purpose: Good practical science should include a variety of types of investigation and locations. Digital technology can support activities that involve outdoor work and observations over time, without being disruptive to school routines. 

Teaching approach: In the example described in the link below, data...

This simulation allows students to use an air hockey table to investigate simple collisions in 1D and more complex collisions in 2D. Students can experiment with the number of discs, masses, initial conditions, and can vary the elasticity and see how the total momentum and kinetic energy changes during collisions...

Collisions: extra - chasing the ball!

Collisions: inelastic collision top view

Inelastic large spin

Collisions: inelastic little spin