Astrophysics: 16-19
List created by Tom Lyons - ESERO UK Teacher Fellow
Cosmology: the Origin and Development of the Universe
This book on cosmology, from the Royal Astronomical Society, provides a good primer for those teaching A-level physics courses or GCSE Astronomy. The resource begins by introducing the history of measurements in cosmology, from Aristotle to Galileo and Newton. It gives brief explanations of: • the inverse square law for light • parallax • Doppler and red shift • Hubble’s law.
Black Hole Mathematics
Event horizon, time dilation, Kepler's Law, KE and PE, Kinetic theory calculations and more...
Space-based Astronomy Educator Guide
Activities to demonstrate: effects of the atmosphere for ground-based observation; spectroscopy; redshift; resonance; telescopes; imaging and the use of binary to code data.
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
This collection contains high quality images and video produced by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to illustrate galaxies, nebulae, astronomy and cosmology.
Conservation of Momentum
Richard Garriot demonstrates the conservation of momentum, in space.
Astronomy in the UK
Produced by the Royal Astronomical Society, this booklet reviews British astronomy and space science. It includes articles on discoveries and achievements of UK scientists, current projects, plans for the future, careers information, and advice for schools and students. NOTE: THIS RESOURCE IS FROM THE YEAR 2000.
Birth of the Solar System
Good video intro into formation of the solar system
space:uk Magazine
Published by the UK Space Agency, the Space:UK magazine has all the latest news in UK space science, technology and exploration. This collection contains issues starting in 2004 and running through to the present day. Each issue contains interesting and easy-to-read articles on space news. They are suitable for teachers wishing to increase their own knowledge or as stimulus materials for students aged 14 and above.
TRUMP Astrophysics Project
The Teaching Resources Unit for Modern Physics (TRUMP) is a collaboration between school teachers and academic experts whose aim is to support the teaching of modern physics in post-16 courses. The Astophysics package was published in 1997. It was written primarily to support modules currently available in the A level physics syllabuses at that time but much is still relevant now. Publications 1. Introduction to Astrophysics 2. Observational Properties of Astronomical Objects 3. Star Formation and Evolution 4. Planets and Orbits 5. Telescopes and Instruments 6. Galaxies, Cosmology and Relativity
Teaching Advanced Physics: Fields
IOP A-level teaching resources that include gravitational fields and orbital motion
Teaching Advanced Physics: Astronomy
IOP resources on astronomy and cosmology
Sheila Kanani: Planetary Scientist
A profile of a planetary scientist. Also includes a recipe for making a comet!
Faye Cashman: Spacecraft Engineer
A profile of a systems engineer. Faye also talks about Bridget - a prototype rover for the ExoMars mission
Teaching Astronomy and Space: Expand Your Horizons
Designed for GCSE level but useful videos as intros for A-level topics are: How Big is the Universe; The Electromagnetic Spectrum; The Life Cycle of Stars. Some of the demonstrations are also useful for A-level: Elliptical Orbits; Invisible Wavelengths; Redshift; The Lifecycle of Stars - The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Scale of the Universe
The best powers of ten type resource yet!