Recently, our Year 11 and 12 Physics students visited Adelaide University's Mawson Lakes Campus to take part in a range of experiments in a tertiary science setting. Read on to find out more about their experiences!

Year 11

Year 11 Physics students recently visited the Mawson Lakes campus of Adelaide University, where they explored real-world applications of physics through hands-on activities in radar technology and nuclear physics.

During the visit, students collected and analysed data to calculate the speed of sound and measure the speed of moving objects using radar. They also investigated nuclear physics concepts, including determining the half-life of a radioactive substance and exploring beta and gamma radiation.

The day sparked engaging discussions, from the surprising radioactivity of everyday items like bananas to how human hearing changes with age. The data gathered will support students in their upcoming assessments, where they will demonstrate their skills in analysing results and evaluating scientific methods.

The excursion also provided a valuable opportunity for students to experience a university campus environment and consider future study pathways.

Year 12

Have you ever played air hockey? Do you remember those smooth round ‘pucks’ that hover above a table with 100s of tiny holes? Year 12 Physics students recently took up the challenge of analysing collisions on an air hockey table at Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes. Using video capture, students measured the motion of air hockey pucks on a 2D table. The almost frictionless motion enabled students to verify if momentum is conserved (or not). The visit to the Adelaide University campus also provided an opportunity to engage with an ‘out-of-this-world’ experience in the Planetarium.

Shane Schoff
Faculty Leader – Science