Secondary
Introduction
The main objective of the GDC is to provide a fun and exciting Science Education Program for both Primary and Secondary school excursion groups. We aim to inspire students to aspire to careers in Science, and to re-ignite a passion for Science in students of all ages.
Our Educational experiences include an insight into mysteries such as Black Holes, experiments with gravity on the Leaning Tower of Gingin, experimentation with interactive exhibits and displays, and learning about our place in the Universe. Students will have the unique opportunity to be at the location of exciting cutting edge scientific research into the detection of gravity waves.
High school visitors this year will also have the opportunity to view the Zadko Telescope and participate in research related to tracking near Earth asteroids. Also, in 2010 a visit to the Cosmology Gallery will incorporate discovering how Science interconnects with the narratives of Indigenous Cosmology.
Download our 2010 Education Kit and Booking Form Secondary
Download the Booking Form only
Download our Excursion Management Plan Gravity Discovery Centre EPD
The Gravity Discovery Centre….A High Impact Experience…
Resources
Below is a set of resources designed for in-depth study into specific units of work. These can be used as a complete unit, or used for individual activities, either pre-visit, post-visit or onsite. Assessment is included.
Life & Living
Biodiversity
This program provides a range of activities exploring species biodiversity, genetic biodiversity and ecosystem biodiversity, which are designed to be carried out on site.
A word of warning! Students should be made aware of the dangers associated with collecting and examining invertebrates. Besides “redbacks”, a number of other animals that may be harmful are likely to be present in the bush. Students are advised not to venture too far from the designated tracks and to take the usual precautions when walking in the bush.
The tasks address outcomes at levels 3-6 in both the Life and Living and the Investigating Scientifically sub-strands. Some activities include cross-curricular links and connections to other science sub-strands. An indication of the levels covered in each activity has been provided in the accompanying teacher’s notes.
Nasty Creepy Crawlies
Nasty Creepy Crawlies encourages students to explore the Life and Living and Investigating Scientifically sub-strands of the Science Learning Area by studying an invertebrate common to the area, the Kangaroo Tick. The activities provided are intended to be flexible and adapted by teachers according to the level, interest and prior knowledge of their students.
Pendulums & Measurements
The Simple Pendulum
You find pendulums all around you in clocks, swings, clothing as you move, electric power lines in the wind etc. They provide a great study tool for investigating the scientific method from a low to a very sophisticated level.
This activity is targeted to the serious Science students. It allows them to develop a high level of understanding of the Scientific Method through a rigorous investigation. This module can be followed by the ONE SECOND PENDULUM that enables the students to apply what they have discovered and to develop some understanding of statistical analysis.
This would be a great preparation for a visit to the GDC to use the large Foucault pendulum to prove that the earth is rotating, as well as using it to find the mass of the earth.
The Foucault Pendulum
The Foucault Pendulum was invented by French physicist, Jean Bernard Foucault (pronounced foo-ko) in 1851 in Paris and was demonstrated for the first time at the world’s fair in the Pantheon in Paris.
Although the pendulum seems to change its path during the day, it is actually the floor beneath it that is moving.
Centuries ago, Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when a body is set in motion it will move continuously in a straight line from its origin, so long as the body is not interrupted by an outside force that alters its direction. So if the pendulum seems to rotate with respect to the floor and we know there is no force available to make the pendulum rotate, and there is no outside force that will interrupt the swing – then – it must be the floor that is rotating. As we know the floor is attached to the earth SO it must be the earth that is rotating!
Rate of Change – The One Second Pendulum
You find pendulums all around you in clocks, swings, clothing as you move, electric power lines in the wind etc. They provide a great study tool for investigating the scientific method from a low to a very sophisticated level.
This activity is targeted to the serious science students It allows the them to develop a high level of understanding of the Scientific Method through a rigorous investigation. This module can be followed by the ONE SECOND PENDULUM that enables the students to apply what they have discovered and to develop some understanding of statistical analysis.
This would be a great preparation for a visit to the GDC to use the large Foucault pendulum to prove that the earth is rotating as well as using it to find the mass of the earth.
You may do this experiment by constructing your pendulum or by downloading an interactive program where you can do the experiments from the program.
Mass of the Earth
How often is it in science that we take measurements by an indirect means? For example, we measure force and mass by measuring the stretch of a spring that has been calibrated, we measure time by the swing of a pendulum, and even the mass of an electron by its curvature in a magnetic field.
Today we are going to measure the mass of the Earth using a conical pendulum. WOW: can we really do this?
Cosmology & Astronomy
Cosmology
By completing the activities in this module they can experience the universe through three stunning virtual tours. What was once just intellectual property will become a gut feeling.
They will make a journey that will change their view of the universe and their place in it. This will be achieved through creative activities and the sharing of ideas with others.
Our Star the Sun
Sol, Earth’s nearest star, has fascinated humans since they first looked at the heavens. Your students will be able to share this wonder by studying beliefs of many cultures and using the observatory facilities on site to carry out serious collection and analysis of solar data.
They will use procedures, equipment and software that is used in all major land-based solar observatories, and their observations will be recorded for future school groups and e-mailed back to school for use in classroom presentations.
Modern Science
Lasers
Lasers – the stuff of science fiction or everyday life? Your students will determine which as they work through these activities.
They will develop an understanding of what lasers are and an appreciation of the many uses we employ them for on a daily basis. They will see how research into gravity wave detection makes use of the properties of lasers and observe a functioning interferometer.
At school they can take part in an internet web quest as a member of a UN committee investigating the benefits of lasers to humanity.
As their teacher you will find the assessment rubric and background information invaluable as a means of levelling your students progress.
Time Travel
Your students rarely enjoy challenging their minds more than when presented with time travel conundrums. This module will allow them to actually travel forwards in time! They will also hear the past. A roof mounted solar ripple tank casts shadows on the floor. These images model gravity waves and will be measured in a student-designed experiment.
At school they will make up their own time-travel stories and employing the knowledge that they have gained will analyse the work of others.
As a teacher you will appreciate the background information, which will help you respond to your students’ questions on the subject. The expected response sheet and levelling rubrics will be invaluable resources in assisting the assessment of your students.
Energy & Change
Magnetism
The relationship between electricity and magnetism had begun to be investigated and two of nature’s fundamental forces were linked.
The magnetic effect caused by electric current flowing is the physics behind the electromagnet and you will see one in the GDC display. Its strength is controlled by the current passing through the coils.
Vacuum
When your students engage themselves in the activities in this module they will be tackling some of the bigger questions about ‘Life, The Universe & Everything’.
They will modify their own beliefs by replicating experiments (allegedly) performed by Galileo at the leaning tower in Pisa, using our own leaning tower. This experiment along with experiments using vacuum and warped space, and viewing of light sculptures would be impossible to do in a normal classroom setting, and will excite and motivate your students.
The learning doesn’t stop at the centre; your students will have fun investigating the effects of vacuum on their bodies while at school.
Speed of Sound
This activity is targeted to the serious science students. It investigates in a sequential way the factors that effect the speed of sound in a pipe, wave interference, and develop some lateral thinking to investigate scientifically, which means this unit can be used to clearly demonstrate that the student is working at level 6.
Background information of this unit can be found in the unit Time Travel if the students don’t have any prior knowledge in sound transmission
The Strange World of the Quantum
This module exposes students to quantum mechanics…the physics theory that underpins the designs of computer components and lasers, explains the properties of atoms and molecules, explains how stars work and how all the matter we are made of was created in the big bang and inside stars. The fundamental idea behind quantum mechanics is that anything that moves sometimes acts like a particle and sometimes acts like a wave. When light acts like a stream of particles, we call them photons. When sound acts like particles we call them phonons. In this module we will study vortex rings which are fluid motions which act like particles, cable waves that can act like particles or waves, and our laser interferometer where the light shows itself as a wave. We will finish with a thought experiment which exposed the central mystery of quantum physics.
High School Free Fall Experiments
Exciting free fall experiments from the world’s only purpose built Leaning Tower! A spectacular 45 meter tower offering stunning views. This high school module allows students to repeat Galileo’s famous experiments from the Leaning Tower of Pisa….and much more. Galileo’s experiments marked the start of experimental physics. Students drop big water balloons, and see craters being formed. For years 8-10, the project allows students to undertake a range of investigations in basic physics: (gravity, acceleration, energy, and air resistance) in an exhilarating context. For years 11- 12 these can be extended using simple formulae, graphs and statistics. Students will make measurements and plot graphs, using visual estimation, stop watch timing, and by reading data from digital camera video clips. Students will be able to question whether Galileo was himself telling the whole truth when he discussed free fall from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and learn about human reflex time delays, air resistance and energy.
