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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

New demo for showing how barium works well as a contrast agent in x-ray imaging using low energy gamma rays from Americium in place of x-rays: youtu.be/bIkgGMPTKrw #ITeachPhysics

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Demonstrating why barium is used as a contrast agent for medical X-rays

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This is why I share everything as Creative Commons on www.teachphysics.org

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

First physics video of the academic year. Using a infrared / thermal imaging camera to simulate x-ray image formation: youtu.be/KkS-JUrdfDQ #ITeachPhysics

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Simulated X-ray imaging demonstration

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

What happens to the horizontal component of velocity. It ends up going vertically down?

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I will try the highlighter on the printer paper next time I do the demo.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Annoyingly my school doesn’t have any overhead projectors but I bought one cheaply a few weeks ago and have just finished repairing it (the thermal cut out switch was damaged) so hoping to bring it into use next term.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Looks good. I also have this simpler demo to show the UV with printer paper and a vintage slide projector. Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm youtu.be/8lr-LA-0xzc #ITeachPhysics

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Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I made use of the hot sunny weather to make this video yesterday. What Herschel might have done with thermochromic paper youtu.be/M7nqcpd7x-A #ITeachPhysics

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What Herschel might have done with thermochromic paper

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I use this question for practice interviews for 6th formers applying to tough to get into Universities who do hard interview questions.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

It is a shame you can’t visit it anymore. Used to be an interesting tour.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

But still a nice video to get people thinking about physics. This is an interesting extension: youtu.be/cDLJQDUNcsY

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Spinning Springs

YouTube video by Jeff Regester

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I agree that explaining it thinking of each turn/loop on the spring as an object initially in equilibrium is the best way of explaining it. When you release it the forces are still balanced on every turn except the top one which then accelerates down…

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Just shared my latest Creative Commons set of ideas for teaching physics via my website: www.teachphysics.org/home/atomic-... Nearly 200 ideas. Thanks to @ogdentrust.bsky.social for their support. Thanks to all those whose ideas are inlcuded. #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK

Image of title slide of set of ideas for teaching Atomic and Nuclear Physics

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I have put it on my to do list to watch and link clips from.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

What film is you black and white clip from?

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

I noticed quite a few hits to my website www.teachphysics.org from the US which I now think is probably because it was featured in the websights section of the April issue of AAPT The Physics Teacher. I was wondering if someone who gets it could send me a photo of it. Thanks S. #ITeachPhysics

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

On a school trip to the zoo today and was pleased that I managed to get a nice photo of the structural colour of the morpho butterfly. #SciTeachUK #ITeachPhysics

Blue morpho butterfly with wings open showing the blue colour.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I recommend a Wacom pen display or similar as you can write on it whilst facing the class and it feels more like paper but appears on the board.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

It works really well with BoomWhackers to look at the harmonics in open-closed and open-open pipes. #ITeachPhysics Same note but what's the difference? A simple standing/stationary waves in pipes demonstration youtu.be/jqapLI7VqZQ

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Same note but what's the difference? A simple standing/stationary waves in pipes demonstration

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Latest idea for using a Radiacode (Ad). A gamma camera. #ITeachphysics Demonstrating the idea of gamma camera imaging youtu.be/PyGlHtvihXA

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Demonstrating the idea of gamma camera imaging

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

As tungsten halogen lamps give out some UV I wondered if I could use a vintage Rank Aldis Tutor 2 slide projector to show UV beyond the visible light in a spectrum #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm youtu.be/8lr-LA-0xzc

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Two simple ways to reveal the UV beyond the violet end of the visible light specturm

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I have made some great connections after sending messages to thank people when I have used their website, app and resources and often got more good suggestions back in return.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

The breaking stress of a crunchie bar practical is a standard for my physics lessons during the materials topic so I made this video describing it. #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK youtu.be/Kr6YKfMN1f0

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Measuring the breaking stress of a crunchie bar

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Making good use of the Radiacode 110 which they kindly sent me for using in my YouTube videos I made this video about radioactive things you can buy relatively cheaply. I hope you like it. #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK youtu.be/gdcyphtu26k

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How much radioactive stuff can I buy for £50?

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Thanks to @cleapss.bsky.social for the article in their bulletin from which I learnt about the Radiacode.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Radiacode kindly agreed to send me one of their gamma ray detectors (the Radiacode 110) so that I could see how it might be used in physics teaching. Here is the first video making a gamma ray spectrum from the school cobalt 60 source #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK youtu.be/DRDnrSdAKTs

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Surely you can't make a gamma spectrum of cobalt-60 in a school

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Great! Shade the back with some black sugar paper to make the image easier to see.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Measuring count rate is worth doing along with the standard penetrating power: Measuring count rate of stronitum 90 source youtu.be/QEhyZ_GU5B4

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Measuring count rate of stronitum 90 source

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

I use this for deflection of beta particles. Deflection of beta particles by a magnetic field youtu.be/MGJLSOM7Xg4 #ITeachPhysics

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Deflection of beta particles by a magnetic field

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Interestingly in my efforts to include more diverse role models in physics lessons, astronomy is the one area where I feel I am totally spoilt for choice and can’t fit them all in. Perhaps more Space topic in a reviewed curriculum would help improve things.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Great activity. I will add it to my ideas set for teaching waves when I next do an update.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Thanks to @phetsims.bsky.social for the useful simulations to use in the explanation.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Inspired by @harvard.edu natural sciences lecture demonstrations video which shows a projected absorption spectrum of sodium I created this version with an extension to then project the emission spectrum. I hope you like it. #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK youtu.be/Gz--LUuYvSg

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From absorption spectrum to emission spectrum in one beautiful physics demonstration

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

And less tempting to be stolen and eaten!

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Yes a 250W halogen bulb in a 1960s slide projecto.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

It is quick to set up if you already have a gravity well.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

This video is about how to use 4 way stretch cloth to model electric fields. It is based on an activity in the @perimeterinstitute.ca resources for teaching fields available from here: resources.perimeterinstitute.ca/products/fie... if you make a free account. youtu.be/ea6RB8nb6iU #ITeachPhysics

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Stretchy cloth model of electric fields

YouTube video by Physics with Simon Poliakoff

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

I think it would be v difficult to show the laser beams in ambient light and for a prolonged period. It might be better to have a second demo of showing the path of a laser beam nearby.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

The difficulty is not damaging the optical components. I used a very light smoke for a short time from burning a paper craft straw ( Like you can use for brownian motion smoke cells ) in a blacked out room. I think most things could end up leaving a residue in the optical components.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

I am just projecting the image of a narrow single slit. And then using 1000 lines per mm diffraction film directly in front of the projector lens. But the Rank Aldis Tutor 2 is very bright 250W halogen bulb. It produces a little UV so you shouldn’t look into the lens. They go for £30-40 on ebay.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Used my ‘new’ 1960’s slide projector to make the best projected spectrum I have managed. I hope my students appreciated it. #ITeachPhysics #SciTeachUK

Large visible light spectrum on lab wall about 2m long and half a metre high.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Floating a steel ball in mercury is good and can be sealed.

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

I use one when discussing that pressure doesn’t depend on the shape of the container at GCSE. They are v cheap to buy.

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