Kickstart Physics

Framed by the motor effect

HSC Physics made accessible for students and teachers. Get inside the experiments, including Generators, Cathode ray tubes and the Wilson cloud chamber. See the experiments of Hertz, Lenz, J.J. Thompson, Einstein and more. All in the setting of a real Physics Lab in the historic Physics Building at the University of Sydney.

Your class will spend a two and half hours going through our experiments in small groups. Each group has its own dynamic demonstrator and covers highlights of the syllabus in depth. Worksheets are provided for all students and teachers. A pen and a calculator will be needed throughout the workshops.

Custom workshops are an option - choose 5 experiments from the above modules. Or if you have other requests (e.g. Crookes discharge tubes, or force between two wires demo), contact us and we will do our best to help you.

Kickstart Bookings

You can book with the Online booking form
OR
contact us with the details given below

Kickstart Physics on the Road

The Kickstart on the Road team has begun the 2013 adventure with initial planning. More details in the link below. See the Latest Physics news for more about kickstart on the road 2013.

Kickstart demonstrators at the Parkes Radio Telescope

In June and July 2012, Kickstart is visiting Broken Hill, Dubbo and Port Macquarie on its annual trip. Click here for more details.

Kickstart Teaser: Superconductivity

Modules

Kickstart workshops are hands-on workshops addressing specific dotpoints from the HSC Physics syllabus. The dotpoints covered are specified on the Syllabus dotpoints page.

Quantitative analysis of the photoelectric effect

From Ideas to Implementations:

• Hertz's Experiment
• Photoelectric effect
• Cathode rays
• Semiconductors
• Superconductors and the meissner effect

Motors and Generators:

Measuring the generation

• Motor Effect
• Electromagnetic Induction and Lenz's Law
• AC Induction Motors
• Generators
• Transformers

Quanta to Quarks:

• Wilson Cloud Chamber
• Atomic emission spectra (including Hydrogen)
• Penetration of Radioactive emission
• Tracking fundamental particles
• Mass defect in radioactive decay

The School of Physics is the home to one of the nodes for the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale. Some elements of the Quanta to Quarks module is supported by the research into high energy particle physics being done here at the school.

Space:

Michelson Morley interferometer

• Speed and velocity
• Projectile motion
• Acceleration
• C and relativity
• Energy and rocket science

Medical Physics:

A Medical Physics module has been developed. It is now ready for bookings.

• Radioactive half-life
• Ultrasound
• NMR
• Optical CT
• Penetration of radiation

Year 11:

The year 11 workshop is ready for bookings giving the year 11 students a chance to come and visit the School of Physics. This workshop will cover experiments from each of the 4 topics and a teaser for year 12:

• Angular momentum
• Laser communications
• Solar physics
• Electrical circuits
• Teaser (Discharge tube)

Costs

Workshops: $27.50 per student (GST inclusive)
Interactive lectures: $10 per student (GST inclusive)

There is no charge for teachers. For custom modules of more than 5 experiments, additional charges may apply.

After you've been to the university for your Kickstart sessions a tax invoice will be sent to you. You can pay by cheque, visa, mastercard or bankcard. Cash payment is not accepted. Refunds will only be given under consideration.

We also request that final student numbers be confirmed at least one week prior to attending your workshop.

Note: If your students arrive late for a session, we cannot guarantee that your workshop can run beyond the allocated end time to compensate.

Discount offer

The Sydney Observatory and the School of Physics are offering a discount to schools that complete Kickstart workshops and a visit to the Observatory on the same day.

• Kickstart
  $25 per student (GST inclusive)
• Sydney Observatory
  $6 per student

Housekeeping

Students must wear closed toe footwear while in the laboratory, and long hair should be tied back. Full Safety information about Kickstart Workshops is found in our risk assessment forms.

Parking on the University campus is unrestricted outside the areas denoted as University Vehicles Only. The cost is $24 per day or $2 per hour after 3 pm. A minibus of 15 seats or less can park in any valid parking spots on campus. For buses larger than this, you will need to find parking on surrounding public streets. A free parking permit can be organised for you if you contact us in advance and specify the date of your visit and the registration number of your vehicle. Note that this does not guarantee you a parking space.

Ralphs Cafe

Food and Drinks: water is available in the lab. Students are advised to bring their own food, Ralphs cafe is nearby, and we have drink vouchers.

Contact Us

If you wish to book a Kickstart session please: Go to the Online booking form
OR
email us :

• Your contact details, (school name, address, phone and fax)
• Number of students.
• Preferred modules.
• Three suggested dates. During Uni terms Kickstart is unavailable on Wednesday & Thursday afternoons. You can find a timetable of current bookings here. The maximum class size is 35 students.
• Start times for your workshop.

We will contact you within a couple of days to confirm your booking.

Kickstart Physics is co-ordinated by Tom Gordon.

Phone: 9351 3201
Fax: 9036 7158
Email:

Kickstart is also available in Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy & Histology. See the Science Faculty website for more details.