Physics misconceptions

Here is a useful little video...

Diffraction at home

At home one evening I noticed a nice diffraction pattern caused by light from a neighbours light passing through a thin gauzy curtain which had a grid-like weave. A good topic for students - let them explain the effect.
Here is a photo at the right. You can see the coloured fringes speading out from the light in the vertical and horizontal directions, four sets in all. The bottom one is clearest. They are clearer in reality than they are in the photo.

Physics discoveries video

From Youtube a Discovery video (45 min) about major physics discoveries. Good for discussion.

Vortex engine

Here is an interesting and intriguing topic which involves a lot of physics some of which is fairly basic. Perhaps good for an assignment? Cannot say how practical it is but looks impressive.

"AVEtec is the brainchild of Canadian engineer, Louis Michaud. His Atmospheric Vortex Engine (AVE) harnesses the physics of tornados to produce extremely cheap and clean energy. In his design, warm or humid air is introduced into a circular station, where it takes the form of a rising vortex, i.e. a controlled tornado. The temperature difference between this heated air and the atmosphere above it supports the vortex and drives multiple turbines. The vortex can be shut down at any time by turning off the source of warm air."

Using X-rays to identify minerals on Mars

The Mars rover (Curiosity) is using X-rays to identify the elements in rocks on Mars according to a report in Universe Today.
"...uses X-ray diffraction, the standard practice for geologists on Earth using much larger laboratory instruments, and this is the first time this method has been used on another planet. It provides more accurate identifications of minerals than any method previously used on Mars. X-ray diffraction reads minerals’ internal structure by recording how their crystals distinctively interact with X-rays."

"We now know it is mineralogically similar to basaltic material, with significant amounts of feldspar, pyroxene and olivine, which was not unexpected. Roughly half the soil is non-crystalline material, such as volcanic glass or products from weathering of the glass."

Looks like a good item to use in class as an example of diffraction or use of X-rays.

Atomic-scale devices

Devices such as electronic components and computer memory are being made from single atoms or a small number of atoms according to this report. Plenty of good physics involved in this. Major technology changes are on the way. Physics and electronics course will have to be revised. Lab work will be more of a challenge...

Thermoelectric electricity generation

The thermoelectric effect ususally gets a brief mention in A-level syllabuses (syllabi). This effect occurs in some materials where a temperature difference produces a potential difference. It is not often used to generate power since the efficiency is low, much less than using,say, a steam driven generator. It is also used in temperature sensors which can be small and robust.
Now progress has been made and a new material found with a much higher efficiency of 15-20% which make it much more useful. See this report from Phys.Org.