By Mrs Smart (Science Teacher)

On Tuesday 17th September, the Physics Department took a group of enthusiastic Year 10 students to Cambridge for the annual Physics at Work exhibition at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. This was the second year running that our students had the chance to attend this exciting event.

The exhibition focuses on the interaction between active scientific researchers and students, offering a unique opportunity to explore the excitement of modern physics research. It plays an important role in helping students who are soon making career and exam choices, inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Highlights of the event included talks and exhibits ranging from AWE (Nuclear Security Technologies), where students had fun with smoke ring cannons, to cloud chambers revealing traces of background radiation. There was also fascinating information about the British Antarctic Survey, and the morning was packed with examples of how diverse and impactful Physics is across a wide range of careers.

Some students got to stand on a board of nails (without hurting their feet!) as part of the Isaac Physics workshop. The students were also very excited and thoroughly enjoyed the Math Works session on computer-controlled feedback systems. They saw the dramatic lightning-like traces in a spark chamber produced by muons from cosmic rays hitting the upper atmosphere.

Here are some fun facts we learned:

- There’s more energy in a chocolate bar than in an average explosion!

- Your fingernails grow at 50 nanometres every minute!

The students had a fantastic experience, and many are now considering studying Physics at A Level and IB in the future.