1. Vicphysics Website Restructure
The Vicphysics website was set up in in 2004 as a repository of resources, that is, course documents, worksheets, tests and links to useful websites. Overtime the number of files has grown to thousands and the web links to many hundreds. The website has become multi-layered, making it difficult for teachers to find material that could address their needs.
Vicphysics has begun an upgrade of the website that will occur in three stages.
The first stage is underway and involves simplifying the Main Menu and the drop-down options.
The Main Menu now has the following headings:
- Events Only current events are now displayed. Previous events under a separate heading at the bottom of the list. Competitions moved to ‘Students’ in the Main Menu. A calendar has been included at the top with active links to Vicphysics events including monthly meetings as well as events for students provided by Melb Uni, etc
- Course Design This is the Course Planning page that was previously under 'Teachers' with information for Units 1 & 2 and 3 & 4, as well as Practical Activities, Assessment tasks and Combined classes
- Resources This is the older 'Teachers' with resources for the Areas of Study. Other sections in the drop down menu include Revision and Exams, Professional Development, Useful Websites and Videos, Investigations and Practical Activities, and Apps and Applets
- Strategies. The is the Teaching Strategies webpage that was previously under 'Teachers/General'
- Issues This is unchanged covering Misconceptions, etc except for the addition of 'Using AI in Teaching Physics'
- News This is unchanged covering Newsletters, etc except for the addition of 'Job Ads' from the old 'Careers' heading which has been removed.
- Students This is unchanged covering the Revision Lecture and resources on Learning and revising Physics except for the addition of 'Competitions' for Students from 'Events' .
- Archives This is a new section for files that are no longer useful in 2025, as well as the webpage of resources produced during COVID and links to conference proceedings going back to 1999. Each conference has a description of available downloads such as keynote presentations and workshops on a diverse range of topics. There are many gems among the presentations by David Jamieson, Dick Gunstone and Derek Muller.
- Search A better search plug-in will be installed shortly.
For iPads and Phones, the hamburger icon reveals the Main Menu. 
Stage 2 will be a redesign of the Home page.
Stage 3 will focus on improving the access to the content resources for the various Areas of Study.
We welcome your feedback on the re-structure in the Forum.
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2. November 2024 Exam
The Nov 2024 exam paper had two questions on content from Unit 1 Electricity, Section B, Q’n 12 on combining voltage sources in solar panels and Q’n 8c on electrical energy delivered by a current.
The Vicphysics Committee was of the understanding that the Nov exam could only assess Units 3 and 4 content because Units 1 and 2 are not a prerequisite. Vicphysics wrote to VCAA shortly after the exam to clarify the policy. VCAA’s response was uncommittal.
It is possible that the Examining Panel in seeking to design a question to assess the new dot point on solar panels over-reached the mark. The active verb in the new dot point is ‘describe’, which is in the bottom rung of the Verbs in the Key Knowledge, page 18 of the Study Design, with no suggestion of implying calculation.
Furthermore Unit 1 Electricity does not cover voltage sources in series and parallel.
It is likely that the design of this question was an oversight without any long-term implications. Not all dot points in Units 3 and 4 can be examined in any exam and often important concepts do miss out from time to time, so having marks on Unit 1 content does seem a lost opportunity.
Nevertheless, without any clear comment from VCAA, teachers may need to be circumspect in preparing their students for this year’s exam.
If you have a comment, please enter it in the Forum.
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3. Air track offer
A school in the Eastern suburbs has purchased a new air track and is offering their old one to any school for free.
There is no air supply. The gliders in the image are included.
If you are interested, please contact the teacher. Pick up, etc will need to arranged.
4. Forces and motion: 200 teaching ideas
Regular readers of this newsletter will recognise the name, Simon Poliakoff, UK physics teacher, who has a website of teaching resources. He has just put together some google slides of teaching ideas as part of the Ogden Trust.Senior Teacher Fellowship. He describes it "as a mixture of T&L ideas, demonstration and practical ideas, videos and models. The majority are not my own but I hope that I have collated some of the best ideas from all sorts of different sources with some useful guidance and that there is something new for almost everyone". You can find them here.
He continues "The background colour indicates the age group it is likely to be most appropriate for (see slide 4) and the icons indicate the type of activity (slide 3). The traffic lights (top RH corner) indicate how easy it is to implement. Each slide either has a picture or a video. The idea is that you can flick through the slides and see if there are any ideas that appeal to you. As always you should complete your own risk assessment.".
He has also produced a short introductory video. He has a google form for feedback and suggestions.
5. Planetary Alignment
The Planets are aligning this week and next week.
Some useful websites are:
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6. Searchable Misconceptions with research and strategies
The Institute of Physics (IOP) website for teachers has a webpage on Misconceptions. There are 241 entries, which can searched by Area of Physics, Age group and concept.
Each entry has about 1 - 5 teaching resources, a couple of diagnostic tools and several references.
The entries are quite specific, for example:
- Many students are confused by the idea of conventional current
- Many students interpret wave-particle duality to mean that electrons are either a particle or a wave depending on other factors
7. Stories from Physics
Another IOP website is Stories from Physics. It is collection of "amazing, amusing and enlightening stories". "The stories will be of interest to any teacher and are ready to use with students to bring the discipline alive and illustrate its reliance on human ingenuity and frailty".
The webpage displays the areas of physics such as Forces and motion, Electricity and magnetism, etc. Clicking on an area takes you to the stories, which are a useful length with a few references. On the side is a list of few more, but underneath the list is the text 'View Chapters (58)" with a number showing how many stories there are to choose from for this area of physics. Each area has about 60 stories.
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8. Events for Students
a) Girls in Physics Breakfasts in 2025
These are the dates and speaker details for breakfasts that have been organised.
- Bendigo, 20th March. Using Radiotherapy to Treat Skin Cancer with Emma Dyce and Natalie Clements, Medical Physicists with Genesis Care
- Mildura, 25th March. The Fascinating World of Solar Energy with Damaris Getanda from RayGen
- Ballarat, 27th March. Molecular Movies with X-ray lasers with A/Prof Nadia Zatsepin, Swinburne University
- Wodonga, 8th May. Breath of Discovery: Nanotechnology a Disease Breathalyser with Renee Goreham, University of Newcastle
- Monash University Date: TBC, Amelia Lui and Taïssa Danilovich, Monash University
- Traralgon, Early June..Astrophysics, Clare Kenyon, Monash University
- Geelong, 14th August. How important are powders? with Negin Amini and Sirjana Adhikari, Deakin University
- Melbourne, Speaker yet to be announced.
Flyers will be added to the website this week.
Bookings will open shortly as universities return to confirm tentative bookings made last year.
Change for 2025. This year the metropolitan events will start at 8:00am and the regional events will start at 8:30am.
b Physics Days at Luna Park: Dates and Cost and Synchrotron Tours
Bookings are now open at Luna Park.
The cost is $35 per student with teachers free. Physics Days at Luna Park will be on from Monday, 3rd March to Friday, 7th, March
In the past, Luna Park invoiced the school after the event. Once the actual student numbers are known, they will now require a deposit of 30% to confirm the booking, which must be paid four weeks prior to the event. You can now seek your school's approval for the activity.
Flight Simulators: The RAAF flight simulators will again be there on each day.
Synchrotron Tours: As an add on and also a benefit to regional schools for whom the trip to Melbourne is a major commitment, the Australian Synchrotron is offering Synchrotron tours. Each tour runs for one hour and has a limit of 24 students. The tour is free, with ANSTO covering the cost for two days and Vicphysics the other two days. Tours are available from Monday to Thursday.
The 3pm tours for each day are now fully booked. There is now a second tour starting at 3:15pm on each day. Tentative bookings can be taken for the second tours. Confirmation of their availability from the Synchrotron will displayed on our website.
Note: The website, see link below, displays the number of spots still available.
An aerobatic display has been requested, but confirmation will not be received until February.
It is expected that the RAAF flight simulators will be back.
Information on the day and worksheets as well as booking for a Tour can be found here
c) Barcelona International Youth Science Challenge, 7th to 18th July
BIYSC is a two-week international residential science program for young people from all over the world, passionate about Science and Technology. They work hands-on in a research project alongside professional scientists. There are about 150 students selected from applications and video interviews.
The physics projects include:
- Cosmic Ray detection
- Quantum cryptography
- Quantum Entanglement
There are also projects in Engineering, Medicine, Maths, etc.
The cost is 3200 euros covering accommodation and meals. Air travel to Barcelona is not included.
Students from Years 10 to 12 can apply.
Closing Date: 18th February
d) Learning Physics: Some Strategies. Online early Term 2
Vicphysics is organising a Zoom Webinar on strategies for Learning Physics. It will be an after-school event early in Term 2 for about one hour. There will be three speakers, each with a different perspective and advice and each speaking for 15 minutes. The final 15 minutes is for students' questions. The students can join one of three breakout rooms, one for each of the speakers.
Students will need to register, there will be a cost of $10. Schools will be able to make group bookings.
The date and details of the program will be in the next newsletter.
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Vicphysics Teachers’ Network Inc is excited to announce that “PHYSCON 2025 – Making a Quantum Leap,” a hybrid conference for all teachers of Physics, will be taking place on Friday, 21 February online and at Swinburne University of Technology’s Hawthorn Campus with the support of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
2025 is the international “Year of Quantum,” and we are very fortunate to have Professor Nicolas Menicucci from RMIT give the keynote address at the conference. He is an outstanding communicator who is leading the Australian national campaign to raise awareness of the ubiquity and importance of quantum phenomena and the opportunities that quantum technologies present for those with physics knowledge and skills.
The other keynote speaker is Prof Manjula Sharma from the University of Sydney. Prof Sharma is a professor of Science Education and is active in STEM and teacher enrichment. She will speak on 'Curiosity, inquiry and emotional engagement.'
Program features:
- Inspiring keynote speakers: quantum physicist, Prof Nick Menicucci and physics education expert, Prof Manjula Sharma, see details above.
- Four sessions encompassing more than 40 workshops relevant to secondary Physics teaching and learning, many livestreamed and available post event on demand,
- Presentations by the VCE Physics Chief Assessor and the VCAA Science Curriculum Manager,
- Includes networking opportunities, exhibitors, cutting-edge laboratory tours and Saturday excursions.
Flyer Program
To check out the Conference fees and to Register click here
b Astrophysics Scholarship Program for Vicphysics Members
The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University is offering the Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy) — a fully online program designed to deepen your understanding of the universe while fitting seamlessly into your professional schedule.
As a physics teacher, this program is an excellent opportunity to broaden your knowledge and inspire your students with cutting-edge insights from the world of astronomy.
Scholarship Opportunity:
Swinburne University are excited to announce a 20% tuition scholarship exclusively for VicPhysics members, valued at $2,560, to support your studies. Simply enrol here and afterwards contact the course coordinator Dr Sara Webb (swebb@swin.edu.au) who will implement your scholarship. The remaining course fee is tax deductable as a self-education expense relates to your employment activities.
Course Structure ( do 4 of 5)
Full-time or part-time study options available.
Apply Now!
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enhance your professional development and bring engaging, cutting-edge astronomy insights into your teaching.
For more information visit Swinburne Astronomy Online.
If you have chosen not to be a Vicphysics member, but just to only have access to resources, you can upgrade to membership by completing this form.
c) Beginning Physics Teachers' In-Service, Tues, 8th April
Vicphysics is finalising the next Beginning Physics Teachers' In-Service. It will be on Tuesday, 8th April in the first week of the school holidays. Details of the program and the venue will be in the next newsletter. Check here for previous programs.
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There were no schools seeking a physics teacher.
The Job Ads page on Vicphysics website is updated every weekend. The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service.
i) Vicphysics Membership and Access to the Teachers' Resources on the website.
Vicphysics has changed its membership structure, benefits and fees. Previously, a subscription to the website resources was separate from being a member of Vicphysics. Access to website resources is now being included as one of a number of member benefits.
Membership benefits include:
- access to teacher resources section of the website
- discounts to attend conferences, in-services, etc,
- certification for attending each PD event,
- PL certificate for committee meetings supplied at the end of the calendar year and
- voting rights.
Membership fees are: Individual: $60, Retired: $40, Student (tertiary): $40, School: $120.
Vicphysics also offers a Resources Access Only option without the discounts and other benefits listed above. The fees for this option are the same as above.
Existing subscribers currently receive discounts, which will cease when their subscription expires. At that point, subscribers will need to choose between the two options above for continued access to the Teacher resources.
We are looking forward to increasing the membership base of Vicphysics and to fostering member input into our extensive range of activities from Physics teaching professional learning such as our recent SAC PD events or the Physics Teachers Conference to supporting activities for students, such as the Luna Park Physics Days or photo and poster competitions.
You can join us here!
ii) Vicphysics Forum: Tips and Questions for the Physics Teaching Community
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has set up an online Forum for teachers to raise issues, seek ideas, offer suggestions, etc.
Link here directly, or look out for it on our webpage where it can be found at the top right of our home page.
We hope it will be an opportunity for mutual professional development.
The forum is open to all teachers. If you are a subscriber, you can log in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber, you can register to use the forum at ‘My Account’. Given the purposes of this Forum, we ask that you use your real name when generating a topic or lodging a post.
We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for exchanging ideas as we begin planning the new study design.
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Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.
a) Why telling bigger stories is the only way to counter misinformation
So what can physicists do to combat the spread of misinformation? In this article Robert Crease believes there’s little point trying to counter misinformation by supplying more of the “right information”. The only solution, he believes, is for us to tell bigger stories in which the wrong information is seen as an “obvious and dangerous sub-plot”.
b) ‘Why do we have to learn this?’ A physics educator’s response to every teacher’s least favourite question
In his years as a physics teacher, students often asked Mark Whalley why they had to learn the subject when most of them would never directly use it in their careers. Having never been satisfied with the answers he gave, he here sets out the case for learning physics, even for students who don’t pursue the subject further
c) A physicist’s guide to ice cream: the complex science behind one of the world’s most popular desserts
What exactly is ice cream? For most of us, it’s a tasty frozen dessert, but to food scientists like Douglas Goff, it’s also a marvel of physics and chemistry. Ice cream is a complex multiphase material, containing emulsion, foam, crystals, glass, solutes and solvent.
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