MrG Physics

Physics teacher in the South West. Tinkering with electronics to use in the science classroom.

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Starting to pack for #ASEConf2025. I'll be at the school exhibit on the Sat showing how you can use cheap off the shelf electronics + 3d printing to make useful sensors for the science classroom. Now trying to work out which demos I can squeeze in a bag I can actually carry...

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Favourite three from class of students using @tinkercad to design bookmarks. Making good use of the multi colour printing available to them. Simple but effective #dailystem @dailystem

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Back teaching capacitors for A level Physics. Chance to use the DIY Bluetooth volt/ammeter with @phyphoxorg app learning charge/discharge curves. Exposes them to the maker side of things too - opening the hood, talking 3d printing / electronics. @pimoroni #iteachphysics

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@Hookean1 Big fan of this demo. We also do three components in parallel but two LEDs in opposite direction and then small filament bulb on third. Like doing it when teaching AC - having done diodes. With 2 different colours LEDs and low f the students can pick up on the diff threshold pds

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@edmunds_dr The continuation of the Google 'AI overview' (top of Google search) went for exactly that:
Gravity: The downward force that pulls the skydiver towards Earth
Drag force: The upward force exerted by the air rushing past the skydive

It merged separate articles on N3 and terminal V

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@edmunds_dr First thing that came to mind was Newton 3 - sure enough a Google of N3 pairs on a skydiver, AI gave: The forces acting on a skydiver are described by N's 3rd Law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Any takers for which 'pair' they chose?

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@samirmoezzi @CLEAPSS_DT @CLEAPSS @arduino Have thought of bringing the DIY sensors project to the school exhibit day at the conference for the past couple of years. The chance to also see what you @CLEAPSS have been up to might mean this is the year to get on and book it.

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@Prusa3D XL goes brrr printing a whole class set of 'modular microSD card containers'. Creative interpretations of the design spec by the students. Lots still to be learnt about tolerances, designing for printing etc but that is the beauty of 3D printing - fail fast & iterate.

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@BeaulieuBio @LesLaboratory I once sent this parts list to a friend for how I built one along with a 3d printed mount. Les might be able to talk to whether the hq camera (nb needs to be cs mount one for the lens I used) is overkill. I used a pi zero 2w and the smaller paton Hawksley spectroscope

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@BeaulieuBio @LesLaboratory It might have been me you'd talked with it about. We talked about chlorophyll in front of the scope with various light sources / white light. Sadly never got round to it - have got some students interested in the project so may have something before the end of term

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@phyphoxorg x @F1inSchoolsHQ at the UK Nationals finals. Team used the load cell to see the force output from the CO2 cartridge

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@PhysicsRandall @BarnettDreyfuss Can second this. Was just reflecting on how my mini has been printing away for almost 2 years with abs no tinkering needed. Big enough to do everything needed for the engineering/science things we do at school (cases for DIY sensors/ data loggers)

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@Hookean1 With two young kids have been to my fair share of playgrounds. Best see-saw ever was up in Lake District, had a proper pivot (no big springs) and two sets of handles on each side. Not sure my 4 y.o was entirely following along with the moments lesson but lots of combos possible

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@helenrey @mrlouieevans @IOPTeaching Love the 'pens of potential'. We use the colouring of potentials starting in yr9 all the way through to A-Level. Helps students construct a robust model for electricity and gives them a very powerful yet simple to implement strategy to solve circuit problems.

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Treasure trove of old @LEGO_Group instructions found in parents loft. Time to see which sets we still have the pieces for - could be a busy day..

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Now to see how long it survives 4 under 7 y.o .. might also be my turn to do some childcare

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Productive afternoon with a great loft find at the parents house. Rigging still to do and a quick hunt through the loose bricks box for the 5ish missing pieces. #lego 6285 Black Seas Barracuda - must have been up there for 25 odd years ...

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@drfootleg Snap. Gone down a treat with the kids. The wled software/instructions are just superb. Kids a tad younger so went with a tsop ir receiver/remote. Board had a jst-xh port for i2c that I used for an inmp441 (thx @BogdanAlecsa) - for sound reactive (+so they can sing at it😬)

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

With yr13s today, dropping magnets through a coil - Faraday's Law.
@phyphoxorg timed experiment makes it easy to catch the moment of dropping.
Refresh rate of the Bluetooth voltmeter high enough to see the shape change from magnet approaching and leaving coil
#iteachphysics

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

@BogdanAlecsa Have one on the desk ready to go. Just hope I've left space on the breadboard to solder the wires in...

[MrG Physics @RGill_1]

Spare esp32 at home so putting it to use as a WLED controller. To be used under daughters bunk bed but given the season 🎄 thought I'd pair it with @pimoroni addressable fairy lights - 5m of custom light effects. Threw in a tsop38238 so she can use a remote to change settings