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1. Physics Gymnasium Lecture for Students: Weekly on Thursdays at University of Melbourne
The University is holding its lecture series again this year. This year they will be held a week apart. The first one is this Thursday,
The program is:

Aug 10^th: Special Relativity – Prof. David Jamieson.: What is so special about relativity? and why is it Einstein's greatest achievement?
Aug 17^th: The Strangeness of Heat – Prof. Andrew Melatos.What do rubber bands, DNA molecules, star clusters in the Milky Way, demons (of the Maxwell kind), and computers have in common?
Aug 24^th: Quantum Computers – Approaching Fast – Prof. Lloyd Hollenberg. Bring a laptop and join Prof Hollenberg as he introduces you to just enough quantum mechanics to start programming a quantum computer!
Aug 31^st: Light and Matter – Prof. Harry Quiney Exploring the photon - is it a wave or a particle? Could it be both? Take a journey into the amazing world of the photon. Its history, present and future (In person and live-streamed)
Sept 7^th: TBC – Assoc. Prof. Katie Auchettl

They are mostly live in-person only events, except for 31st August and they will be held in the Hercus Theatre.
At 5:30pm, there will be snacks and drinks with the lecture starting at 6:00pm and finishing at 7:00pm
To register click here.

2. Physics at 5. An opportunity to network
Physics at 5 started last Tuesday. There was discussion about this question on the NHT Exam paper:
Question 5
The diagram shows an ideal transformer in which the primary coil is connected to a battery and
a switch. An ammeter is connected to the secondary coil. When the switch is closed, the pointer on the ammeter momentarily deflects.

How could the deflection on the ammeter be made larger?
A. decrease the number of primary coils
B. decrease the number of secondary coils
C. increase the number of secondary coils
D. place a resistor in series with the ammeter
What do you think of this question?
A draft of the Vicphysics solutions to the NHT paper is available here.

'Physics at 5' continues this week.
Wanting to bounce around some lesson ideas, mull over a tricky question, or unpack a physics concept?
Vicphysics is hosting a weekly, half-hour online Zoom drop-in session on Tuesdays at 5:00pm.
Great opportunity to check in with other colleagues about any aspect of Physics teaching and learning! The discussions will be moderated by members of the Vicphysics Committee.
This is the zoom link. The Meeting ID is 815 1456 7258 and the Passcode: 459295. The Waiting Room will be used.
The same link, ID and passcode will be used for future Tuesday gatherings.
Each meeting is planned to go for about 30 minutes.

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3. PHYSCON 2024: 23rd February, 2024. Call for presenters

Victorian Physics Teachers' Conference Friday, 23rd February, 2024 at Swinburne University of Technology

Call for Sessions:

Vicphysics invites teachers to share their ideas with their colleagues. You can register a workshop by completing this form.
Closing date for submitting workshops is Monday, 28th August.
If you would like to be involved in organising PHYSCON 2024, please nominate for the planning committee by 5:00pm this Wednesday, 9th August.

Check our PHYSCON 2024 webpage for more details about the conference.

The keynote speakers at the conference will be:

Dr Liam Hall from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. He will be speaking about the rapidly developing field of quantum technologies and innovative approaches to teaching quantum concepts in secondary schools.

Bio: Dr Liam Hall is an Associate Investigator with the ARC Centre for Excellence in Exciton Science. Hailing from a complementary background in quantum and condensed matter physics, Liam brings with him new expertise in the field of quantum sensing, with the potential to enrich research programs at the interface of chemistry and physics. He has spent the last decade working with Professor Lloyd Hollenberg and Dr David Simpson at the University of Melbourne School of Physics to develop diamond-based ‘quantum sensors’ that use the quantum properties of crystallographic defects in diamond as sensors of magnetic resonance signals.

Dr Sara Webb from the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology. She will be speaking about bringing the Universe into the Classroom

Bio/Abstract: Dr. Webb is an astronomer who is passionate about applying novel machine learning techniques to large astronomical datasets, and exploring how it can be transferred to different disciplines. When Dr. Webb isn’t researching she is actively communicating science to the wider public via traditional and social media, and leading as mission director the Swinburne Space Challenge School programs. She’ll cover all the resources available to begin teaching astronomy in the classroom, and the speciality programs Swinburne runs to give high school students even greater insight into the future of space applications and experimentation. Sara was a 2022 Superstar of STEM.

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4. More on Oppenheimer.
Last week's newsletter featured Derek Muller's youtube video (32 min) on Oppenheimer.
Some other useful videos are:

Brian Cox interviews the director of the film 'Oppenheimer', Christopher Nolan. (19 min)
Reith Lectures by Robert Oppenheimer. The Reith Lectures are the BBC equivalent of the ABC's Boyer Lectures. Oppenheimer recorded them in the 1953.
Oppenheimer contemplated developments and certain changes in atomic physics from Newton’s laws to quantum theory. In the first two lectures, Oppenheimer deals with the work of Isaac Newton and Ernest Rutherford and how that work changed the
world of science. The next three broadcasts examine quantum theory and the work of other scientists including Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein. Lastly, Oppenheimer analysed the community of man and how science relates to it. He attempts to connect to philosophical ideas and humanitarian ideals throughout the lectures, enabling the listener to reflect that science breeds understanding; its practice enables new insights into social and cultural factors upon which science impinges, bringing its practitioner a greater social responsibility. Audio of the 6th is available. Transcripts of all six are available (go down the page to 1953). There is also a podcast of Brian Cox discussing these lectures.
Physics World blog with views of their writers on the film.

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5. Events for Students

Girls in Physics Breakfasts in 2023
Below are the dates and venues for the remaining Term 3 Breakfasts with the speakers and their topics.

16th August, Traralgon. Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Geothermal: vast energy reserves beneath our feet
25th August, Ballarat. Speaker: Dr Taissa Danilovich, Monash University, Topic: Molecules in Space
1st September, Bendigo. Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories

The cost this year is $20 per student, the first teacher attends for free. There is a discount to $5 for low ICSEA schools, you need to contact Vicphysics to request the discount.
For more details and to book go to the Vicphysics website.

Swinburne Innovation Challenge
Swinburne University of Technology’s Innovation Challenge gives high ability students in years 10 to 12 an opportunity to extend their learning in Applied Innovation through an eight-week challenge and on-campus experience.
To start the program, students will form multidisciplinary teams (STEM, sociology, media, etc) of 4-6 and select a challenge to address related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.(Examples not provided)
After forming their teams and selecting the challenge focus, students will attend a half-day on-campus experience at Swinburne’s Hawthorn Campus (13th Sept).

After the on-campus experience, students will return to school and work in their teams to refine their idea and create a final pitch. Final pitches are submitted in the form of a 1-2 min video and a panel of Swinburne experts will evaluate them and award prizes in a range of categories. Swinburne support is available.

Cost: There are no details, but it seems to be free to Gov't school teams. The program is repeated later in the year.
For more information and to register click here. This flyer has more details.

Revision Lecture: Sunday, 10th September. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology
The Revision lecture this year will be delivered on-line and in person. The presenter will be Colin Hopkins, with chat room support for online participants from Sandor Kazi and Paul Cuthbert.
The program will run from 10:00am until 2:50pm with two 50 min morning presentations and a 10 min break in between, followed by a 60 min lunch break, with two more 50 min sessions in the afternoon.
Swinburne University is not only providing lunch, but also offering 25 min Astro Tours and campus tours at lunch time. They will also have Course Advice booths in the lunch area.
Notes will be available in a digital format.
Cost: $25, payment by credit card only. If schools wish to book a large group, please contact Vicphysics.
Venue: Level 2, AMDC Building, Swinburne University of Technology, Burwood Rd, Hawthorn.
Students can register for the lecture and the tours at the Students webpage on the vicphysics website.
Getting there: Glenferrie railway station, Six tram routes (16, 48, 70, 72, 75 and 109). Free car parking across Burwood Rd in the council car park.

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6. Events for Teachers

Talk, Dinner and Catching Up: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend or Foe? , 6pm, Weds, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel

The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network invites physics teachers and others interested in physics education to gather in an informal setting for a series of dinners with a guest speaker. The guest speakers will address diverse topics touching on curriculum, pedagogy and the discipline itself. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and network with colleagues over dinner.

The next occasion will be Wednesday, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel at 85 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn starting at 6:00pm.

Topic: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend of Foe?
Speaker: Prof Andrew Greentree from RMIT, Andy is a theoretical physicist, with a background in quantum optics and quantum information.

The cost is $45 ($40 for Vicphysics subscribers) and covers a main course and drinks.

For more details and to book click here. To download the flyer, click here. For some background, check this video and this article:
16 min video , How ChatGPT can help physicists in their daily work

Lab Techs Workshops, Weds 13th September, Camberwell Grammar School
The Workshops are on again this year, back in the last week of Term 3.
The program offers a range of workshops including:

Learning new skills e.g. repairing a multimeter, using a CRO, using a Ruhmkorff coil,
Soldering: An introduction to the Art with Harvey Edwards from Principles and Practice
Electronic data method in the Physical Sciences with Megan Simkins from Ciderhouse
Electronic data collection with Amanda Lovett from Modern Teaching Aids
Physics Demonstrations for Open Days and Using Science Toys with Man Lam from Mount Alexander College (to be confirmed)
Safe handling of ionising radiation and storage of radioactive sources with Dan O'Keeffe, Vicphysics
Tour of lab and prep room facilities including animal house plus Laboratory management hints with Svetlana Marchouba, Camberwell Grammar School.

Cost: $75, lunch is included.
For more details and to book, click here.

The Force and Motion Workshop: John Monash Science School
The intensive module steps you through the key concepts and skills to successfully teach the relevant Year 7 - 10 curriculum content.

Why your colleagues should participate:

Deepen their conceptual understanding of key concepts in electric circuits
Engage in practical activities that they can directly deploy in your classroom
Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
Improve their ability to differentiate curriculum and assessment student achievement
Access materials to support your classroom practice prepared by experienced teachers and science education academics associated with the Vicphysics Teachers' Network
Become part of a network like-minded teachers who are striving to improve their practice

This event is next term. It will be six two-hour sessions on Thursdays from 26th October, starting at 4:30pm.
Cost $240 per participant for each workshop. A discount is available for teachers from low ICSEA schools.
For more details and to book click here.

Course Planning Day for Units 3 and 4 in 2024, Friday, 10th November. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology.
Vicphysics is organising a Course Planning Day for Friday, 10th November, the day after the Physics exam and the day before the assessors' meeting. It will be held at Swinburne University of Technology and also online. The program is:
9:00       Welcome
9:15       Presentation on new content in the Study Design, in particular additions to Special Relativity
10:00     Small Group Discussion on Course Planning: teaching order, weeks per Area of Study, etc.
11:00     Morning Tea
11:30     Presentation on styles of practical activities
12:00 Small Group Discussion on selecting practical activities
12:45 Lunch
1:30 School-based Assessment for Unit 3 and 4 with Maria James, VCAA Science Manager
2:30      Small Group Discussion on Assessment Tasks: consideration of examples, completion of a draft, ...
3:30       Finish
Lunch will be provided for in-person participants.
Cost: $90 non-subscribers, $80 subscribers in person. $50 non-subscribers, $40 subscribers online.
Registrations are open at the Vicphysics website.

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7. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
The Vicphysics Teachers' Network has a Job Ads page to assist schools in finding a physics teacher.
There are seven (7) schools seeking a physics teacher. The Vicphysics webpage above has a link to the Government schools jobs website. The following Gov't Schools are seeking a physics teacher.

Scoresby Secondary College (closes 9th August)
Virtual School Victoria (closes 7th August)
Sunbury College (closes 9th August)
Mount Ridley P-12 College (closes 13th August)
Brighton Secondary College (closes 15th August)
Warrnambool College (15th August)
Mentone Girls Secondary College (closes 15th August)

The webpage is updated every weekend. The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service.

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8. Vicphysics matters

i) 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. The link is on the top line of our website’s home page: https://www.vicphysics.org/ 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 login in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber you can register to just 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 a lodging a post.

We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for the exchange of ideas as we begin planning for the new study design.

ii) Subscriptions: A Vicphysics subscription gives you access to the Teachers section of the website. The subscription will last for a year from the day payment is received. Both individual and school subscriptions are available. Check the homepage for subscription link.

iii) Tutor Listing Service: The website has a Tutor Listing Service. There are now six tutors listed. If you tutor and wish to add your name to the list, please check the website.

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9.   Physics News from the Web
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) Advances in solar telescopes
Even as our understanding of the Sun has grown, many fundamental questions remain—some of which have big implications for life on Earth.  Our Sun has been an object of mystery and study for as long as humans have been around to squint at it in wonder. Sunspot observations have been recorded for over 400 years, and eclipses were first documented thousands of years ago. Although the Sun is no longer a complete mystery, the way we observe it continues to develop, as continued technological advances uncover new mysteries for future generations to solve. (Ed Note: a very comprehensive overview)

b) Quantum mechanics and thermodynamics can both be true, say physicists
(Ed Note: Apologies for the word 'true' in the title, but that was thr author's choice.)
Physicists in the Netherlands and Germany have shown that the theories of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics are both valid ways of describing the behaviour of photons in a quantum processor. The results open the door to a deeper understanding of how to reconcile these two great theories.
Thermodynamics and quantum mechanics are cornerstones of modern physics, but in one specific, important way, they don’t get along well. The point of contention revolves around the second law of thermodynamics, which states that a closed system will move towards maximum entropy (a measure of the system’s disorder, or chaos) in an irreversible way. The theory of quantum mechanics, in contrast, allows previous states of particles to be calculated back, meaning that the flow of information and time are both reversible.

c) Giorgio Parisi: the Nobel-prize winner whose complex interests stretch from disordered magnets to flocks of starlings: The study of complex systems
A review of Parisi's new book – In a Flight of Starlings: the Wonder of Complex Systems –. In the space of just 120 pages, Parisi seeks to explain in lay terms just what it is that brought him such acclaim, which journalists covering his Nobel prize attempted to sweep under a rug modishly labelled “complexity”.  his slight volume might not be a paradigm of science communication, but it nonetheless attains considerable charm and accessibility with its acute insights into the virtues and vicissitudes of doing science led purely by curiosity.

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