Transition Year Physics
Transition Year Physics Modules and Project Ideas
Be a sound engineer
The Ashfield Music Festival, gives students the chance to find out more about the practical applications of physics by trying out life as a sound or lighting engineer working at a music festival.
Developed by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Career Development Organisation (CRAC), Ashfield Music Festival is a full-day event, in which students set up a music festival company and take on one of six roles - project manager, health and safety advisor, construction manager, electrical engineer, sound engineer or lighting engineer
Designed to help students develop skills in work-related learning and inspire more of them to study physics after school, the activity is based on the fictitious scenario that Ashfield council would like to create a new music festival.
The students are supported by real-life scientists and work in teams that compete against each other. To be successful they must use a mixture of physics-based knowledge, creativity and enterprise skills in order to win the contract to build the festival’s main stage.
Medical Physics module
Medical Physics module based on 8 weeks (16-20 hours). Includes hands-on experiments and demonstrations. Supported by Institute of Physics in Ireland and IBEC. Contact paulnungent@eircom.net
Designed for and (primarily by) teachers interested in giving a module in Astronomy. Assuming no previous knowledge of Astronomy, it is based on a series of 19 "hands-on" activities for the students, augmented by clearly written background material. Powerpoint presentations are also provided for the teacher.
Design and Discovery Module (Intel)
This design and discovery module promotes a hands-on learning experience by encouraging students to identify creative solutions to everyday problems in the world of design and engineering. The module focuses on basic scientific, design and engineering concepts.
The Virtual Physics Laboratory
From a lens to a nuclear power station. A suite of over 170 simulations based on real data. Produced by the National Physics Laboratory and the Institute of Physics. Contact paulnugent@eircom.net
Science UPD8 is a website translating the latest breakthroughs and science behind the news, into inspiring activities – and publishing them fast. Includes activities and worksheets. Well worth the short registration
Excellent collection of short video clips by experts.
Senior Cycle and Transition Year physics resources.
Relevant, simple, but non-trivial, physics experiments with support materials to help set up the experiments and analyse the results. They are designed to help ease the transition from school to university.
Physics ‘book club’ reading list
Produce a film of less than two and a half minutes that explains physics in an entertaining way and get your film nominated for the red carpet 'hollywood style' awards ceremony. Open to all ages. Go to the SciCast website to see previous years winning films which are highly entertaining yet educational.
Physics on Stage demonstration booklet
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