Curated Video
The Curse of Phlogiston
The 17th century German chemist Johann Becher proposed that an element, phlogiston, was released when substances burned. He was wrong, and his incorrect theory led many early chemists to misunderstand the significance of some of their...
Curated Video
The Race for Absolute Zero: Laser Cooling
Lasers are usually associated with heat. But scientists have instead used them to reach the coldest temperature ever recorded. Could they reach absolute zero? Physics - Energy And Radioactivity - Learning Points. Absolute zero is...
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What Are Stars?
What are stars made of? How are they born, how do they live, and how do they die? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Our nearest star is the Sun. A star is formed from a cloud of dust and gas, which shrinks under gravity and...
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Place Like Home: Life On a Moon
The discovery of Titan's atmosphere excited scientists, who believe it could hold the key to life on Earth. Physics - UniverseLearning Points. Titan is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. Titan's atmosphere is 98%...
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Global Warming
Earth has always had changeable weather, but now the world's climate is getting warmer. What is global warming, why is it a problem and how can we stop it? Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points. Most scientists agree that human...
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Shockwaves: The Damage Caused by Supersonic Speeds
Discover the damage caused by shockwaves and how they are created by supersonic speeds. Physics - Waves - Learning Points. Waves of high pressure are produced when something moves through a medium at supersonic speed. At supersonic...
Curated Video
Molecule
Two or more atoms held strongly together by covalent bonds. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions. Twig Science Glossary Films reinforce...
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Frozen Balloon
We lower a helium-filled balloon into liquid nitrogen to see how the change in temperature affects its volume. When it hits the cool liquid nitrogen, the gas inside contracts and the volume of the balloon decreases. When it is removed...
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Fire Extinguisher Sublimation
We release carbon dioxide from a fire extinguisher against a dark cloth to see what happens. The expanding gas cools as it leaves the extinguisher, forming a visible dry ice solid on the cloth. As it warms, the carbon dioxide vanishes...
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The Halogens
Halogens are hazardous to human life, yet they can also be very useful. How do they react when they meet other elements? Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The halogens are the elements in Group 7 of the periodic table. The...
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What is an Orbit?
How the orbit of the planets is dictated by mass and the force of gravity. Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. The curved path of one object around another is its orbit. Objects orbit due to the effects of gravity. The...
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Rates of Reaction: Basics
Knowing the rate of a chemical reaction can be very important, particularly for industry. Discover which factors indicate the rate of a chemical reaction, and how you can change it. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Some reactions...
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How the Oceans Formed
The same water has been on Earth for four and a half billion years. Where did this water come from? Earth Science - Weather - Learning Points. 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth's surface was too hot for water to exist. Inside the Earth's...
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Burning – Did you know?
Did you know that wax is the fuel that keeps a candle burning? Material processes - Changing materials - Burning A Twig Tidbit Film - Did you know? A fascinating fact is revealed.
Curated Video
Characteristics of air – What happens next?
A balloon is pumped full of gas ... what happens next? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of air Learning Points A balloon expands when pumped with air. As a balloon fills with air the pressure inside...
Curated Video
What is a mixture?
Find out what makes a mixture, and what happens when materials react chemically. Material processes - Separating mixtures - What is a mixture? Learning Points A mixture is formed when different materials are combined without chemical...
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Opposing forces
Opposing forces are at work all the time, even when you aren't moving! Physical processes -Force and motion - Action and reaction Learning Points When opposing forces are balanced, an object remains stationary. Unbalanced forces cause an...
Curated Video
The wonder of water
We use water every day ... but what do you really know about it? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of water Learning Points Water is the only substance on Earth that occurs naturally in all three states....
Curated Video
What is air?
You may not think about it much, but air is everywhere and it is essential to life. Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of air Learning Points Air is a mixture of gases including nitrogen and oxygen. Air...
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Fuels
Learn all about fossil fuels and how the energy they contain came from the Sun. Physical processes - Energy and energy transfer - The Sun as our main source of energy Learning Points Oil and gas are formed from remains of marine plants...
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Space rockets
Find out how rockets shoot into space at amazing speeds. Physical processes -Force and motion - Action and reaction Learning Points Newton's third law states that every force has an equal and opposite force. A Twig Context Film....
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The energy debate
Which is better ... renewable or non-renewable energy? People and places -Future of energy - The energy debate Learning Points Non-renewable energy will run out; renewable energy will not. Burning fossil fuels releases harmful emissions....
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Separation by evaporation
Learn how to find out the difference between tap water and spring water. Material processes - Separating mixtures - Separation by evaporation Learning Points Evaporation can be used to separate a solution. A solution is formed when a...
Curated Video
Overusing resources
Find out why some resources are in short supply and why we need to conserve as much as possible. People and places -Human impact on the environment - Overusing resources Learning Points Some natural resources on Earth are limited and...