Here is the file you will need for the graphing activity in today’s lesson.
AH Physics
AH investigations – uncertainties and graphs
Now you have some measurements in your daybook, it’s time to look at the uncertainties in your data. There will be scale reading uncertainty, calibration uncertainty and randon uncertainty to consider. I’ve attached a copy of the latest guidance from SQA on uncertainties for AH Physics candidates. Download a copy and use it to help with number crunching.
Remember that there is help available when you are ready to graph your data. Start here.
AH homework
Here are the questions I asked you to do by next Monday.
P40 Q4 & 5
P41 Q9
P42 Q12
P43 Q17 & 18
P44 Q21 & 22
Remember to show your working.
If you need the SQA data booklet, download a copy using the link below.
transit of Venus
I set my alarm clock for 4am and was disappointed to find a sky full of clouds that would prevent us from viewing the transit of Venus from Thurso and the surrounding area.
The BBC Horizon programme broadcast last night was very good. You can still catch it on iPlayer for the next week or download it using the link below.
good luck for int2, higher & advanced higher
The big man of Physics has a special message for you:
I have classes periods 1 & 4 but you are free to stop by E3 any other time before the exam if you need some help.
advanced higher physics past papers 2001-2011
Past papers and solutions for 2001 to 2011 are now available on the advanced higher physics revision page.
how satellites rule our world
BBC2 showed a really good programme about satellites last night. This screenshot showing a satellite passing over the Highlands is taken from about 17 minutes into the show. Click on the picture to visit the BBC’s own page about the documentary.
It was quite eye-opening to see just how much modern society relies on satellite technology.
You can download the entire programme using the link below.
AH investigation report
This week is your last chance to submit a draft of your investigation report for proof reading. I have already given you a copy of the SQA guidelines for candidates. You might also find the attached uncertainties document helpful. Pay special attention to the final page; reports that fail to account for calibration uncertainty will be penalised by the external marker.
If you are struggling with uncertainties in Excel, have a look at the two linest documents I posted earlier this year.
dropping a slinky
Ria asked if a slinky really stops in mid air when it is released. Eoin helped us to find out the answer.
It’s easier to see what happens if you watch a slow motion version.
Or even slower motion.
Why does that happen?
beautiful equations
Those of you not out celebrating New Year might have spotted a programme called Beautiful Equations on the BBC schedule. The programme follows an artist as he asks about five famous physics equations.
One of the featured equations should be familiar to you from unit 1 of the AH Physics course;
Hopefully you recognise this as Newton’s equation for the gravitational force between two bodies. I have extracted the nine minutes or so relating to Newton’s work and embedded it below.
The link below will download the entire programme, which also looks at 
, time dilation in special relativity, the Dirac equation and Stephen Hawking’s work on black holes.