IOP MODEL project: Practical Physics at Work
The Institute of Physics' MODEL Project: Practical Physics at Work provides engaging and relevant practical activities related to Physics, as well as student instructions and worksheets plus guidance for teacher and technicians.
The Institute of Physics’ MODEL Project: Practical Physics at Work provides engaging and relevant practical activities related to Physics, as well as student instructions and worksheets plus guidance for teacher and technicians.
The practical activities are supported by video sequences showing how some people use Physics in the jobs they do.
The materials are arranged into six topics. Each topic has:
- a number of student practicals, many of which contain more than one activity
- teacher and technician guidance notes for the student practicals
- related video sequences, each with work-related on-screen questions
- worksheets for the on-screen questions, and a sheet of answers to all the worksheets for the topic.
Basic information
More information about the education resources created by the Institute of Physics here.
The Institute of Physics’ MODEL Project: Practical Physics at Work provides engaging and relevant practical activities related to Physics, as well as student instructions and worksheets plus guidance for teacher and technicians.
The practical activities are supported by video sequences showing how some people use physics in the jobs they do.
The materials are arranged into six topics. Each topic has:
- a number of student practicals, many of which contain more than one activity
- teacher and technician guidance notes for the student practicals
- related video sequences, each with work-related on-screen questions
- worksheets for the on-screen questions, and a sheet of answers to all the worksheets for the topic.
- Harnessing Energy - the nature of energy, energy transfer and transformation, the Centre for Alternative Energy
- ‘What will happen as we use up fossil fuels? Are we facing an energy crisis? Where will we get our energy from in the future?’
- Making a Spectacle - the Physics behind making good spectacles, the optician
- ‘Not everyone has good eyesight. Many of us need spectacles or contact lenses to improve our vision. A lot of science goes into making sure people get the right spectacles to suit their needs.’
- Sounds Good - improving sound quality, sound in the theatre
- ‘Our modern society has more ways of making sounds than ever before. How can we control sound to get good quality when we want it and cut out the sounds we don’t want to hear?’
- Cutting Edge Materials - materials science, nitinol – a smart metal alloy
- ‘What do materials scientists do? They investigate the properties of materials. Sometimes they try to make a material for a purpose. Sometimes a material is discovered and they explore its potential uses. The properties of all materials must be rigorously assessed.’
- Bright Sparks - electricity, circuits, generators and motors, the electrician.
- ‘We rely on electricity. It is a very versatile form of energy. But who installs electrical systems in our homes and workplaces? How can we be sure they will work correctly and safely once installed? An understanding of the Physics of electricity helps electricians do their work.’
- Physical Health - Physics used in medical analysis, the modern hospital
- ‘Modern hospitals have changed enormously in your lifetime. Thanks to amazing technological advances, we can see what is happening inside the body in more and more detail. Much of this is because of the work of medical physicists.’
The material is not presented as a complete teaching scheme. Components may be used individually or by units as appropriate. The topics are: