Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and, gathering them around him, he taught them saying: blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are the meek; blessed are they that mourn; blessed are the merciful; blessed are they that thirst for justice; blessed are you when persecuted; […]
Josh has just come into Fifth Year. I don’t teach him this year but have had a lot of contact with him over the years; he is enthusiasm personified. His latest query relates to that little matter of The Big Bang. What, he asked me recently, was there before The Big Bang? I thought about […]
Dublin City of Science 2012 will host a 10 day ‘Science in the City’ festival from 6 – 15 July as part of the ESOF 2012 science in the city programme. The Festival will consist of over 60 events and unites a community of cultural institutions, organisations and individuals who are passionate about showcasing the […]
Looking for a top grade? Just one day to go. Wondering what topics to concentrate on? Consider the following: Electromagnetic Induction has appeared on past exam papers on the following years: 2011 — 2010 — 2009 — 2008 no.8 2007 12 (c) 2006 no.11 {5/8 of a long question} 2005 12 (b) 2004 12 (c) […]
Few concepts in Physics generate wonder quite like Quantum Theory. You only need to look at the shelves in the Popular Science section of a bookstore for evidence. Yet (once again) in schools we play down this sense of wonder. I used to think this wasn’t done deliberately but now I’m beginning to learn that […]
Having to pick out the singular most incredible concept in physics would be an interesting task (to say the least). Rarely a day goes by without me invoking the term ‘awesome’ in some context or other. I really do have a wonderful job. Today however I came to what I think may be my favourite […]
We had fun with these resources yesterday so I thought I would share them. First up, where did all the stuff that makes up you and me come from? Hold up your hand: You are looking at stardust made flesh. The iron in your blood, the calcium in your bones, the oxygen that fills your […]
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer By Walt Whitman When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, […]
It is important to realize that in physics today, we have no knowledge what energy is. Richard Feynman Sometimes when I’m teaching I have been known to go off on a tangent which may be only marginally related to what we’re doing in class; other times I manage to restrain myself and may just allude to the tangential concept in […]
Something to take with you into your Science exam tomorrow – the quotes are from Einstein: Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. These exams […]
