Curated Video
Buoyancy: The Forces That Determine Why Objects Float or Sink
Discover the forces at work underwater, which dictate why large boats float but small pebbles sink. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. The buoyant force is an upward-acting force determined by the weight of the displaced water. Ships...
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Rollercoasters
Journey through a rollercoaster ride to find out which forces are at work to create this theme-park thrill. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Rollercoasters do not have engines. Rollercoasters use forces. Electromagnets are used along...
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Planet Hunters
Scientists suppose there could be other life-bearing planets like Earth. To find them, they are looking for 'wobbling' stars. Physics - Universe - Learning Points. When a planet orbits a star, it has just enough gravitational force to...
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Pressure and Surface Area
Learn how surface area can affect the amount of pressure exerted, and why this is useful in life? Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Pressure is the amount of force acting on a set area. Pressure is measured in pascals. Pressure can be...
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Fly Me to the Moon
What do you need to do to get into space? An explanation of orbits, forces and the 'slingshot effect'. Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. In order to land on the Moon, Apollo 11 had to be launched at just the right speed. If a...
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Factpack: G-Force
Chart G-Force up the scale, from standing still to the greatest G-force ever. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. A Twig FactPack Film. Open a discussion on what has been already learnt in a topic, or use to grab attention at the start...
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Shoemaker-Levy
The collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in 1993 was the first collision of its kind to be witnessed by man. Physics - Universe - Learning Points. The comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was discovered orbiting Jupiter in 1993....
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Colonising the Moon
From the Russians' attempt to colonise the Moon to eccentric plans for Mars. Physics - Universe - Learning Points. The longest anyone has ever stayed on the Moon is 75 hours. Helium-3 is rare on Earth but can be processed from Moon soil,...
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The Birth of Our Solar System
The explosive reactions and forces, from gravity to nuclear fsion, which formed our Solar System. Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Our Solar System is the region of space which falls within the gravitational influence of our...
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Time Travel
Is it possible to travel through time? Do the laws of physics make it impossible? How could it be achieved? Physics - Waves - Learning Points. Although the science is theoretical, the laws of physics do not rule out time travel. Einstein...
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How Do Animals Fly?
Biological evolution has allowed some animals to fly. Find out exactly how their wings work to achieve this. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Flight occurs when the upward force is greater than the downward. Flight is explained by...
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Terminal Velocity
If a skydiver jumps out of a plane, when will they stop accelerating? Competing physical forces hold the answer. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Terminal velocity is the maximum constant velocity. Terminal velocity increases with...
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Black Holes
Discover how dying stars transform into black holes, areas of mass so great that even light can't escape. Physics - Universe - Learning Points. When a star dies, it collapses and condenses into a single point, known as a singularity. The...
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Cylinders: Fuelling Saturn V
In creating giant detachable fuel cylinders to blast Apollo 8 into outer space, NASA engineers manufactured the most powerful machine ever made. Maths - Shape A Twig Math Film. Reinforce and extend the learning required by the...
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Newton's Laws of Motion
Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion explain how and why objects move as they do - the principles which underlie all of modern mechanics. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Sir Isaac Newton published his laws of motion in 1687. Every movement...
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Types of Weather: Rain
Rain is essential to our planet. Without it, all life on Earth would struggle to survive. How do rain clouds form and what determines whether it rains or not? Earth Science - Weather - Learning Points. Rainfall comes from the clouds...
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How Did Saturn Get Its Rings?
Since Galileo first sighted Saturn, scientists have been baffled by its beautiful rings. What are they made of and where did they come from? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Saturn's rings were first discovered by Galileo in...
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Earth's Twin
Billions of years ago, Earth collided with its twin planet Theia. The impact and resulting geophysical changes prepared Earth for complex life. Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. 4 billion years ago Earth had a twin called...
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Tropisms and Hormones
Discover the hormones that dictate whether a plant grows downwards with gravity, towards water and nutrients, or upwards towards light. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Tropisms allow plants to seek out the best conditions for...
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Momentum
Explore the reasons why objects can keep moving on their own, and why most of them will eventually stop. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Momentum is how we quantify a moving object. Outside forces affect momentum. Momentum is...
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Centre of Gravity: Finding the Balance Point of Irregular Objects
We use a plumb line and hook to find the centre of gravity of an irregularly shaped piece of card. A hole is punched in the card and it is suspended from the hook. A plumb line is used to let us draw the vertical line under the hole on...
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Aiming for the Outer Planets
The use of direct and indirect proportion in navigating the Voyager spacecraft to the outer planets. Maths - Number A Twig Math Film. Reinforce and extend the learning required by the curriculum. Twig’s context films show abstract...
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Calculus: Newton
Newton's development of calculus, and how this changed the way we describe the world. Maths - History Of Maths A Twig Math Film. Reinforce and extend the learning required by the curriculum. Twig’s context films show abstract concepts in...
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Forces of Nature
Introducing the four main forces of nature: gravity, electromagnetic force, weak and strong nuclear forces. Learn why they are fundamental to life on Earth. Physics - Forces - Learning Points. There are four fundamental forces of nature....