Today sees saw the launch of the last space shuttle. For thirty years this space craft has brought us joy and sadness. I can remember the first launch way back in 1981. I was thrilled as a physics undergraduate to see this new era of space exploration happening, especially when the astronauts carried out physics experiments in space and showed us the Earth in all its glory using modern tv and video.
There was the fantastic rescue of the Hubble Space Telescope but also the dire sadness of the two disasters.
The Challenger disaster of January 1986 was particularly sad because of the loss of the first school teacher on board Christine McAuliffe.
In 2003 a faulty tile caused the disaster of Columbia as it returned to Earth. In all fourteen astronauts lost their lives in the shuttle program.
Here is a link to a wonderful documentary on the space shuttle`s history.
Farewell Space shuttle and God`s speed on your final return.
Hi physics lovers! Here are some physics tricks you can try out during the summer holidays.
These tricks use physics and are part of a physics roadshow. You can try them out in the house and have some fun.
Take also a look at the best ever comedian that ever lived, the one and only Tommy Cooper.
My S1 classes were involved in an interdisciplinary project early this year.
As part of their project they had to present to camera a summary of the big connection between sound vibrations and electromagnetsim which resulted in the invention of the telephone.
I am sure you will find them enjoyable.
Hi first year scientists. Have a go at this nasty nine test on chemical reactions.
Remember that the test is only nasty if you have not studied for it.
Hi first year scientists here is the movie of some of the experiments we tried out to discover how sound is made.
Remember this is a journey of discovery leading us to how Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone around the time when our time machine lands.