Posted on 15 March 2011 at 15:33h

I've finished the syllabus, the trial exam is over and it's time for some revision. This applies only to my SL class of course since we won't finish the HL syllabus until the last lesson. So how can we revise in class. Going through the whole syllabus is quite pointless as is picking out random difficult bits. Going through past exam papers is Ok but only if all the students have tried the questions beforehand (forget that then). Getting students to do exam questions in class might be better use of the time but it's incredibly boring for me. So to fill the gap last year I made a compilation of interesting physics videos (or videos of interesting physics) from youtube. What we do in class is watch the clip and discuss the physics behind it using the physics learnt to explain these interesting phenomena is a good way to round off the course and is a nice way to revise without it feeling like revising. The other day we spent the class discussing the recent tsunami, during the hour long class we started with waves, energy of a water wave, refraction of water waves, relationship between wave speed and depth, v = fλ, seismic waves, refraction and reflection, how ultrasound works, how seismic studies work, the working of the ear, impedance matching, how a seismograph works, Newtons laws of motion, inertia, resonance. Then we got on to nuclear power, chain reaction. critical mass, moderation, control, transmutation of oxygen, nuclear waste, fuel enrichment shutting down a reactor. So we covered a lot but did it prepare the students for the exam. Well I hope so, explaining these things is exactly the sort of skill that will be tested by objective 3 type questions but more importantly maintaining an interest in the subject throughout the revision period will make the revision more meaningful and enjoyable, it also keeps me happy and if I'm happy we're all happy.