A Girls in Physics Breakfast will be held at Monash University on Friday, 21st July.
This edition of the newsletter has a different focus. It features a series of articles that are through provoking and informative. They cover:
- Applying cosmic ray showers
- Australian solar energy innovation
- ‘imperfect metaphors’: The language of Quantum Physics
- Origin of scientific process
- a clever EMI demonstration
There are also three schools seeking physics teachers.
Dr Barbara McKinnon (Pres), Deepa Jain (Vice-Pres), Dan O’Keeffe OAM (Sec) and Sandor Kazi (Treas)
Table of Contents
1. Using muons to explore the Great Pyramid of Giza
2. Combining solar power with thermal storage to avoid wasting energy: An Australian Initiative
3. Physics World: Articles on Quantum language: ‘imperfect metaphors’
4. Carlo Rovelli: Anaximander and the Nature of Science: Reviews
5. EMI Demonstration under water
6. Events for Students
- Out-of-Field Electricity Workshops in Term 2 at Hamilton and Wangaratta
8.Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position? (3 positions)
9. Vicphysics matters
- Vic Physics Forum
- Subscriptions
- Tutor Listing Service
- Scientists explain why people in crowds sometimes form orderly lanes
- Membrane mirrors take off for use in large scale telescopes
- The dream of a ‘quantum internet’ is closer than you might think
1. Using muons to explore the Great Pyramid of GizaHere are three articles on how the detection of muons in cosmic ray showers from inside the pyramid has located previously unknown chambers. 
- Stile article This is a link to the previewing lesson from Stile. It has three questions, each with introductory material. It is pitched at middle school level. It also has a link to the original research, also see below.
- The Physics Teacher article ‘Using Cosmic Rays to see the Unseeable’ by Don Lincoln, Fermilab. This article explains the origin of the muons and why they are an ideal particle for penetrating matter. It also discusses the use of muons to investigate the structure of volcanoes.
- The original article in Nature Communications is available in ‘open access’.
Supplied by Gary Bass.
2. Combining solar power with thermal storage to avoid wasting energy: An Australian Initiative
The Australian company, RayGen, is seeking to address the problem of what do you do if your solar panels are producing too much power for the grid. The company based in Nunawading, are setting up a powerplant at Carwarp, just south of Mildura. This article in Physics World explains their technology.
3. Physics World Articles on Quantum Language
- Beyond the quantum woo-niverse: getting to grips with the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. This is a review by Philip Moriarty of the latest book by Chris Ferrie, titled ‘Quantum Bullsh*t: How to ruin your life with advice from Quantum Physics’. Chris is the author such popular books as ‘Quantum Physics for Babies’ and ‘General Relativity for Babies’. Check his collection here. Chris is also an associate professor at the Centre for Quantum Software and Information at UTS. Click the link in the headline to access the full review. This the opening paragraph to give you a sense of the article: “You can no doubt guess that Chris Ferrie’s Quantum Bullsh*t: How to Ruin Your Life with Advice from Quantum Physics is not a formal, dispassionate academic treatise on the cultural and societal ramifications of quantum physics. And if you’ve already wrinkled your nose at that title, be warned – inside the covers it gets a heck of a lot more sweary. Ferrie’s expletive-laden writing style is not for the faint-hearted, in this universe or any other.”
- Let’s talk about quantum 2.0: why we need to sharpen up our language This article explores the issues surrounding the imperfect metaphorical language used to describe quantum phenomena. The opening paragraph is ‘Superposition, entanglement and other baffling facets of the quantum world are now the driving forces behind various breakthrough technologies. Whereas “quantum 1.0” was all about interrogating the mysteries of Schrödinger’s wave equations and setting up clever experiments to close loopholes in the theory, “quantum 2.0” is putting the most bizarre aspects of quantum physics to routine work. Quantum computers based on superposition, as well as encryption devices relying on entanglement for long-distance communication, are now all becoming technologically viable.’
4. Carlo Rovelli: Anaximander and the Nature of Science. Some Reviews
Carlo Rovelli, the author of such classics as ‘Seven Brief Lessons on Physics’ and ‘Reality is Not What it Seems’ has written a book on the ancient Greek philosopher, Anaximander (610 BCE – 546 BCE), and his role in establishing the scientific method. The book was written about 10 years ago in Italian and only now has been translated into English.
Rovelli describes the ancient response to models of the universe, nature and human life, as either strict adherence and reverence to the teachings of the master or absolute rejection. Anaximander had a different approach, he studied and respected the master, in his case Thales, but critiqued him, did not hesitate to say he was mistaken and it was possible to do better. For example, Anaximander proposed a different model for the universe that the Earth floats free without falling and does not need to be resting on something and proposed that rain was humidity pumped from the earth by the sun.
It is his process of critique and proposing something better that Rovelli argues establishes an intellectual tradition that leads to modern science.
The book is published by Allen Lane.
Some reviews of the book:
- The Guardian (UK) by Tim Adams
- Financial Times by Dylan Neri
Some Youtube videos:
- The British Library: a 90 minute ‘In conversation’ with Carlo Rovelli by Tom Whipple
- Institute of Philosophy and Technology a 50 minute zoom presentation by Carlo Rovelli with slides.
5. EMI Demonstration through Water
At the Beginning Physics Teachers’ In-Service, Paul Cuthbert from University High School included a demonstration of electromagnetic induction through water that caught people’s attention. He used a dissectible transformer.
He made a small coil or solenoid with a metre or so of wire with a small globe attached. He placed the coil at the bottom of large beaker filled with water and place the beaker on top of iron core of the primary coil of the transformer. See image of equipment set up at left, the light is feint in the image. The image on the right is just the coil around the primary.
His notes are on the Vicphysics website here.
These are other photos of the set up on the website as well as two videos of the demonstration.
Return to top6. Events for Students
Girls in Physics Breakfasts in 2023
A breakfast at Monash University has been confirmed for Friday, 21st July.
The Girls in Physics Breakfasts program starts this term. Below are the dates and venues that are open for bookings with the speakers and their topics.
- 25th May, Central Melbourne. Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Black Holes – a Window to another Universe
- 31st May, Mildura. Speaker: Speaker: Distinguished Professor Emeritus Frances Separovic AO, Melbourne University, Topic: MRI of Molecules: where Biophysics meets Cell Chemistry.
- 21st July, Monash University. Speaker: Dr Karen Livesey, University of Newcastle. The AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2023. Topic to be advised.
- 2nd August, Geelong. Speaker: A/Prof Elizabeth Hinde, Melbourne University, Topic: Glow in the dark – Using fluorescence to observe DNA in a living cell
- 11th August, Wodonga. Speaker: Emma Dyce, Medical radiation physicist, Topic: Treating skin cancer with radiotherapy
- 16th August, Traralgon. Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Geothermal energy in Gippsland
- 25th August, Ballarat. Speaker: Dr Taissa Danilovich, Monash University, Topic: Molecules in Space
- 1st September, Bendigo. Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories
The cost this year is $20 per student, the first teacher attends for free. There is a discount to $5 for low ICSEA schools, you need to contact Vicphysics to request the discount.
For more details and to book go to the Vicphysics website.
Flyers to promote the Term 2 events to your students are on the website. Flyers for Term 3 events will be up in coming weeks.
a) Out-of-Field Electricity Workshops. 
It will be held in two venues: Hamilton and Wangaratta. The workshops to be Victoria University Secondary College, the Cairnlea campus, in St Albans has been cancelled. It will now be held in Term 3 in a Metropolitan venue.
For Hamilton and Wangaratta, the format has been changed to two full days from 9:30am to 3:30pm. For Hamilton the days are Weds, 31st May and Tuesday, 6th June, while for Wangaratta the PD will be on Weds, 24th May and Thursday, 15th June.
The intensive module steps you through the key concepts and skills to successfully teach the relevant Year 7 – 10 curriculum content.
Why your colleagues should participate:
- Deepen their conceptual understanding of key concepts in electric circuits
- Engage in practical activities that they can directly deploy in your classroom
- Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
- Improve their ability to differentiate curriculum and assessment student achievement
- Access materials to support your classroom practice prepared by experienced teachers and science education academics associated with the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network
- Become part of a network like-minded teachers who are striving to improve their practice
Cost $240 per participant. A discount is available for teachers from low ICSEA schools.
For more details and to book click here.
8. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has a Job Ads page to assist schools in finding a physics teacher.
There is three (3) schools seeking a physics teacher. The Vicphysics webpage above has a link to the Government schools jobs website. The following Gov’t Schools are seeking a physics teacher.
- Mentone Girls Secondary College (closes 10th May)
- Warrnambool College (Closes 15th May)
- Euroa Secondary College (closes 15th May)
The webpage is updated every weekend. The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service.
i) Vicphysics Forum: Tips and Questions for the Physics Teaching Community
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has set up an online Forum for teachers to raise issues, seek ideas, offer suggestions, etc. The link is on the top line of our website’s home page: https://www.vicphysics.org/ We hope it will be an opportunity for mutual professional development.
The forum is open to all teachers. If you are a subscriber you can login in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber you can register to just use the forum at ‘My Account’. Given the purposes of this Forum, we ask that you use your real name when generating a topic or a lodging a post.
We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for the exchange of ideas as we begin planning for the new study design.
ii) Subscriptions: A Vicphysics subscription gives you access to the Teachers section of the website. The subscription will last for a year from the day payment is received. Both individual and school subscriptions are available. Check the homepage for subscription link.
iii) Tutor Listing Service: The website has a Tutor Listing Service. There are now six tutors listed. If you tutor and wish to add your name to the list, please check the website.
10. Physics News from the Web
Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.
a) Scientists explain why people in crowds sometimes form orderly lanes
By drawing on ideas first developed by Albert Einstein, researchers in the UK and Poland have created a new theory that explains how organized, counter-flowing lanes of motion can emerge in seemingly disordered systems – including crowds of people. Led by Tim Rogers at the University of Bath, the team verified their model by observing real human crowds.
b) Membrane mirrors take off for use in large space telescopes
Extremely large telescopes in space- or balloon-based observatories will require mirrors that are much larger, more sensitive and lighter than those in operation today. Large membrane mirrors with low areal weight show promise in this context, but they are difficult to manufacture with the required optical quality.
Researchers in Germany have come up with a new way to make very thin polymer mirrors of a high enough quality to serve as the primary mirrors in space telescopes, using an approach that’s very different from conventional mirror production and polishing processes.
c) The dream of a ‘quantum internet’ is closer than you might think
Ten years. That’s how little time we have, or so it’s commonly believed, before quantum computers could potentially hack into all our supposedly private Internet data – whether it’s e-mails, medical records, bank transactions or government secrets. Information streaming down fibre-optic cables to every corner of the world, which is currently secure against the most powerful supercomputer decoders, will suddenly become visible to anyone with the right quantum tech.
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