stemNRICH - The Physical World
Welcome to the Physical World collection of stemNRICH resources.
In these resources, maths is used as a tool to explore some aspect of the physical sciences. Some might be best used in the maths lesson, with reference made to the science. Others could be taught as cross-curricular topics.
Stage 3 is roughly 11-14 years and Stage 4 roughly 14-16 years. The stars indicate how easily most learners can get into the problem, although most problems contain enough depth to challenge and stimulate all.
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Curve Spotting
Can you spot circles, spirals and other types of curves in these photos?
Maths Trails - Encouraging Purposeful Outdoor Learning
In this article, Becky Moseley outlines key considerations for Primary teachers wanting to create a maths trail in their own locality.
Avalanche!
Investigate how avalanches occur and how they can be controlled
Observing the Sun and the Moon
How does the time of dawn and dusk vary? What about the Moon, how does that change from night to night? Is the Sun always the same? Gather data to help you explore these questions.
Playground Snapshot
The image in this problem is part of a piece of equipment found in the playground of a school. How would you describe it to someone over the phone?
Troublesome Triangles
Many natural systems appear to be in equilibrium until suddenly a critical point is reached, setting up a mudslide or an avalanche or an earthquake. In this project, students will use a simple simulation game to investigate the properties of such systems.
Reaction Timer
This problem offers you two ways to test reactions - use them to investigate your ideas about speeds of reaction.
Pinhole Camera
Make your own pinhole camera for safe observation of the sun, and find out how it works.
Does This Sound about Right?
Examine these estimates. Do they sound about right?
Temperature
Is there a temperature at which Celsius and Fahrenheit readings are the same?
stemNRICH - The Physical World
PhysNRICH is the area of the StemNRICH site devoted to the mathematics underlying the study of physics
Programming: Moiré Patterns
We need computer programmers! Logo is a great entry-level programming language - and you can create stunning graphics while you learn.
Big and Small Numbers in Physics
Work out the numerical values for these physical quantities.
How Do You React?
To investigate the relationship between the distance the ruler drops and the time taken, we need to do some mathematical modelling...
Bigger or Smaller?
When you change the units, do the numbers get bigger or smaller?
Electric Kettle
Explore the relationship between resistance and temperature
Choose Your Units
Which units would you choose best to fit these situations?
Carbon Footprints
Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy local?
Investigating the Dilution Series
Which dilutions can you make using only 10ml pipettes?
Constantly Changing
Many physical constants are only known to a certain accuracy. Explore the numerical error bounds in the mass of water and its constituents.
Big and Small Numbers in the Physical World
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in physical contexts.
A Question of Scale
Use your skill and knowledge to place various scientific lengths in order of size. Can you judge the length of objects with sizes ranging from 1 Angstrom to 1 million km with no wrong attempts?
Speed-time Problems at the Olympics
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to race against Usain Bolt?
Far Horizon
An observer is on top of a lighthouse. How far from the foot of the lighthouse is the horizon that the observer can see?
Perfect Eclipse
Use trigonometry to determine whether solar eclipses on earth can be perfect.
Guessing the Graph
Can you suggest a curve to fit some experimental data? Can you work out where the data might have come from?
Big and Small Numbers in Chemistry
Get some practice using big and small numbers in chemistry.
Approximately Certain
Estimate these curious quantities sufficiently accurately that you can rank them in order of size
Construct the Solar System
Make an accurate diagram of the solar system and explore the concept of a grand conjunction.
Heavy Hydrocarbons
Explore the distribution of molecular masses for various hydrocarbons
Molecular Sequencer
Investigate the molecular masses in this sequence of molecules and deduce which molecule has been analysed in the mass spectrometer.
Alternative Record Book
In which Olympic event does a human travel fastest? Decide which events to include in your Alternative Record Book.
chemNRICH
chemNRICH is the area of the stemNRICH site devoted to the mathematics underlying the study of chemistry, designed to help develop the mathematics required to get the most from your study of chemistry at A-level and university.
physNRICH
PhysNRICH is the area of the StemNRICH site devoted to the mathematics underlying the study of physics
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Rule of Three
If it takes four men one day to build a wall, how long does it take 60,000 men to build a similar wall?
Crossing the Atlantic
Every day at noon a boat leaves Le Havre for New York while another boat leaves New York for Le Havre. The ocean crossing takes seven days. How many boats will each boat cross during their journey?
Fixing the Odds
You have two bags, four red balls and four white balls. You must put all the balls in the bags although you are allowed to have one bag empty. How should you distribute the balls between the two bags so as to make the probability of choosing a red ball as small as possible and what will the probability be in that case?