Subjects: Physics

  • Anton Zeilinger: From Einstein to Quantum Information

    In 1905, Albert Einstein published several ground-breaking papers, including one on quantum physics for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Despite this, Einstein remained a critic of quantum theory his entire life. He did not accept the role played by randomness, the phenomenon of entanglement or the notion of complementarity. Since then, a number of experiments have confirmed aspects of quantum theory and given rise to a new field – quantum information science – where randomness, entanglement and complementarity are applied to process information in novel ways.

  • John Ellis/Robert Orr: The Large Hadron Collider

    International researchers at the Large Hadron Collider have embarked on one of science’s greatest adventures. With its very high energy, the particle collider will explore the mysteries surrounding the smallest particles of matter. It may also pierce secrets that the universe has hidden since the early stages of the Big Bang, such as the nature of dark matter and the origin of matter itself. It is the largest scientific experiment ever attempted and the complex international efforts to bring it to life, including Canada’s involvement, are part of this presentation.

  • The Physics of Information: Quirks & Quarks

    Do ideas about information and reality inspire fruitful new approaches to the hardest problems of modern physics? What can we learn about the paradoxes of quantum mechanics, the beginning of the universe and our understanding of black holes by thinking about the very essence of information? The answers to these questions are surprising and enlightening, but also controversial. The topic of information within physics has involved some of the 20th century’s greatest scientists in long-running intellectual battles that continue to the present day. In this special debate, hosted by the CBC’s Bob McDonald of ‘Quirks and Quarks’, you will enjoy a lively discussion between four prominent physicists who have thought long and hard about these questions.

  • Jeffrey Rosenthal: The Curious World of Probabilities

    Probabilities and randomness arise whenever we are not sure what will happen next. They apply to everything from lottery jackpots to airplane crashes, email spam to insurance policies, and medical studies to election polls. Prof. Rosenthal’s exploration of odds and oddities will explain how a “Probability Perspective” can shed new light on many familiar situations in our everyday lives, and how computer algorithms which use randomness can be used to address problems in many branches of science.

  • Nuclear Energy: Basic Version – Metric

    Introduces the basics of how a nuclear power station works. What is fission and the role of cooling water in nuclear reactors? Understand the nuclear fuel cycle: mining, milling, enrichment, fabrication and spent fuel (storage and reprocessing). Also discover other uses of nuclear energy, including ‘non-power’ uses. Includes sequences designed for student enrichment/ teacher background (breeder reactors, fusion and fusion reactors, and fission).

  • Nuclear Energy: Advanced Version – Metric

    In addition to covering all topics in the basic version of Nuclear Energy, this program covers a number of advanced topics. Understand the use of water to vary reactor power, as well as different methods of mining uranium and witness a specific example of a fission reaction. Students will be introduced to more detailed discussion of enrichment, including structure properties of Uranium Hexafluoride, centrifuging, gas diffusion and the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. Includes sequences designed for student enrichment and teacher background (breeder reactors, fusion and fusion reactors, fission).

  • Nuclear Energy: Basic Version – Imperial

    Introduces the basics of how a nuclear power station works. What is fission and the role of cooling water in nuclear reactors? Understand the nuclear fuel cycle: mining, milling, enrichment, fabrication and spent fuel (storage and reprocessing). Also discover other uses of nuclear energy, including ‘non-power’ uses. Includes sequences designed for student enrichment/ teacher background (breeder reactors, fusion and fusion reactors, and fission).

  • Nuclear Energy: Advanced Version – Imperial

    In addition to covering all topics in the basic version of Nuclear Energy, this program covers a number of advanced topics. Understand the use of water to vary reactor power, as well as different methods of mining uranium and witness a specific example of a fission reaction. Students will be introduced to more detailed discussion of enrichment, including structure properties of Uranium Hexafluoride, centrifuging, gas diffusion and the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. Includes sequences designed for student enrichment and teacher background (breeder reactors, fusion and fusion reactors, fission).

  • Measurement and the Search for Relationships

    Learn how mathematical relationships can be investigated experimentally and how to write the report. This program uses case studies to show how the physical world can be described by mathematical relationships. It specifically demonstrates how an experiment can be designed to test the effect of two independent variables and how mathematical formulae can be derived from experimental measurements. This program also outlines how to prepare a report for an experiment. Program chapters include: (intro, investigation, effect on T of mass, effect on t of oscillation amplitude, measuring spring stiffness, effect on T of spring stiffness and the search for a constant).

  • Polarisation de la Lumiêre

    Les matiêres incluent generation d’ones EM; orientation des photons; reflexion, transparence et refraction au niveau atomiques; birefringence, Film Polaroid; son fonctionnement; incidence brewsterienne; comment supprimer l’eclat aveuglant, effets de ciel, croisement de polariseurs.
    Applications pratiques.