Simon Poliakoff
@simonpoliakoff.bsky.social
Physics Teacher who loves demonstrations and practicals. Makes YouTube videos and free creative commons lesson resources.
Website: www.teachphysics.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SimonPoliakoff
Website: www.teachphysics.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SimonPoliakoff
October 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Test run went this afternoon
October 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Test run went this afternoon
I have treated myself to a better monkey ready for Thursday:
October 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I have treated myself to a better monkey ready for Thursday:
Added another nice rainbow photo to my collection yesterday when the low evening sun combined with a sudden rain shower.
#ITeachPhysics
#ITeachPhysics
September 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Added another nice rainbow photo to my collection yesterday when the low evening sun combined with a sudden rain shower.
#ITeachPhysics
#ITeachPhysics
I extended GUESS to GUESS SUn adding Significant figures and Units at the end.
September 10, 2025 at 5:04 AM
I extended GUESS to GUESS SUn adding Significant figures and Units at the end.
Madeira is lovely too but does it have a sea pool fed by a natural thermal spring where you can float in bath temperature warm water watching shoals of fish swimming amongst the bubbles rising from vents? And if you force your teenagers to get up v early you can have it to yourself?
August 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Madeira is lovely too but does it have a sea pool fed by a natural thermal spring where you can float in bath temperature warm water watching shoals of fish swimming amongst the bubbles rising from vents? And if you force your teenagers to get up v early you can have it to yourself?
Finished two days of loudspeaker making with year 8. Key to making them loud is to ensure the coil is securely attached to the cup so that the cup vibrates along with the coil.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
July 18, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Finished two days of loudspeaker making with year 8. Key to making them loud is to ensure the coil is securely attached to the cup so that the cup vibrates along with the coil.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Got the few students who were actually in my lesson this afternoon to test out the tumble buggies / constant velocity buggies ready for next year.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
One of the many activities in my forces and motion sets of ideas
www.teachphysics.org/home/forces-...
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
One of the many activities in my forces and motion sets of ideas
www.teachphysics.org/home/forces-...
July 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Got the few students who were actually in my lesson this afternoon to test out the tumble buggies / constant velocity buggies ready for next year.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
One of the many activities in my forces and motion sets of ideas
www.teachphysics.org/home/forces-...
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
One of the many activities in my forces and motion sets of ideas
www.teachphysics.org/home/forces-...
Useful and inspiring day at the @ogdentrust.bsky.social senior teacher fellowship induction today in Stratford upon Avon. Found time for an early morning river walk. Looking forward to making more sets of physics teaching ideas next year.
#SciTeachUK
#SciTeachUK
July 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Useful and inspiring day at the @ogdentrust.bsky.social senior teacher fellowship induction today in Stratford upon Avon. Found time for an early morning river walk. Looking forward to making more sets of physics teaching ideas next year.
#SciTeachUK
#SciTeachUK
Just finished planning my workshop of fun physics things for KS3/GCSE for the Bedford Festival of Science CPD event on 8th July. Booking link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/secondary-...
It features this but do you know what it is?
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
It features this but do you know what it is?
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
June 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Just finished planning my workshop of fun physics things for KS3/GCSE for the Bedford Festival of Science CPD event on 8th July. Booking link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/secondary-...
It features this but do you know what it is?
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
It features this but do you know what it is?
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
Interesting when you add an Earthed copper wire in the centre.
June 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Interesting when you add an Earthed copper wire in the centre.
Inspired by a video made by James Lincoln about electric fields I have been exploring using copper mesh, a fun fly stick and threads to show electric fields ready for teaching in September.
Photo attached and link to video if you are interested
youtu.be/lD3V6-2WTAw
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Photo attached and link to video if you are interested
youtu.be/lD3V6-2WTAw
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
June 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Inspired by a video made by James Lincoln about electric fields I have been exploring using copper mesh, a fun fly stick and threads to show electric fields ready for teaching in September.
Photo attached and link to video if you are interested
youtu.be/lD3V6-2WTAw
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Photo attached and link to video if you are interested
youtu.be/lD3V6-2WTAw
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
I struggle to get good results from our gas discharge tubes, EHT I tried the Arbor Scientific of using a plasma globe instead which works very well as you can see in the photo. Full details in the video:
youtu.be/AjuKXOFSdjY
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
youtu.be/AjuKXOFSdjY
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
June 25, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I struggle to get good results from our gas discharge tubes, EHT I tried the Arbor Scientific of using a plasma globe instead which works very well as you can see in the photo. Full details in the video:
youtu.be/AjuKXOFSdjY
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
youtu.be/AjuKXOFSdjY
#IteachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
This is probably my favourite idea on slide 140 from the waves collection of physics teaching ideas (see quoted post). Using a cheap remote controlled LED light to see the appearance change under red and green light. Students have to explain it.
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
June 16, 2025 at 5:11 AM
This is probably my favourite idea on slide 140 from the waves collection of physics teaching ideas (see quoted post). Using a cheap remote controlled LED light to see the appearance change under red and green light. Students have to explain it.
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
Here is the ray diagram for the floating ship illusion.
Image by cmglee commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
Thanks for all the podcasts
Image by cmglee commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
Thanks for all the podcasts
June 15, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Here is the ray diagram for the floating ship illusion.
Image by cmglee commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
Thanks for all the podcasts
Image by cmglee commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
Thanks for all the podcasts
Apparently it is green turtle day which reminded me of my favourite wildlife encounter- independent snorkelling in Cyprus with my family and seeing these beautiful creatures last October.
June 14, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Apparently it is green turtle day which reminded me of my favourite wildlife encounter- independent snorkelling in Cyprus with my family and seeing these beautiful creatures last October.
Here is the collection of over 250 ideas for teaching the waves topic from KS3 to A-Level. Follow the link to access them all: www.teachphysics.org/home/waves-i...
Thanks to all who contributed and especially @ogdentrust.bsky.social for funding my time to make it.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Thanks to all who contributed and especially @ogdentrust.bsky.social for funding my time to make it.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
June 9, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Here is the collection of over 250 ideas for teaching the waves topic from KS3 to A-Level. Follow the link to access them all: www.teachphysics.org/home/waves-i...
Thanks to all who contributed and especially @ogdentrust.bsky.social for funding my time to make it.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Thanks to all who contributed and especially @ogdentrust.bsky.social for funding my time to make it.
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
Lawn looking nice for not having been mowed.
June 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Lawn looking nice for not having been mowed.
Important job completed today. Home knitted Physics sign added to the top of my classroom display board. Thanks to a young knitter at home.
#ITeachPhysics
#ITeachPhysics
June 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Important job completed today. Home knitted Physics sign added to the top of my classroom display board. Thanks to a young knitter at home.
#ITeachPhysics
#ITeachPhysics
Accidentally created a density demo when I refilled a hand wash bottle with a different type:
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
June 3, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Accidentally created a density demo when I refilled a hand wash bottle with a different type:
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
#ITeachPhysics
#SciTeachUK
@crossjack.bsky.social It is now definitely readable (I only had a finer grade wire wool in the house). Should I do more - i was worried I would damage the scale markings. Is any wax wood polish okay or specifically renaissance wax? I think it doesn’t look too bad for 30 Pounds + postage.
May 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
@crossjack.bsky.social It is now definitely readable (I only had a finer grade wire wool in the house). Should I do more - i was worried I would damage the scale markings. Is any wax wood polish okay or specifically renaissance wax? I think it doesn’t look too bad for 30 Pounds + postage.
Another Griffin & George
May 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Another Griffin & George
@crossjack.bsky.social I bought a cheap travelling microscope from eBay. Any tips for best method of removing surface rust from the scales?
May 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
@crossjack.bsky.social I bought a cheap travelling microscope from eBay. Any tips for best method of removing surface rust from the scales?
@crossjack.bsky.social any idea on the age of this microwave transmitter
May 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
@crossjack.bsky.social any idea on the age of this microwave transmitter
May 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM