Modelling C60
Yeast
Wave Power
The UK coast is constantly being bombarded by sea waves. There is a massive amount of power available from these waves. Jonathan describes three different ways of generating electrical power from water waves.
More details | Watch nowHow does a transistor work?
A short video explaining how transistors work. At the heart of our high-tech society with radios, mobile phones, computers and space exploration are tiny electronic components called transistors. They have revolutionised electronics and in the pr....
More details | Watch nowSolar Cells
A short video on solar cells explaining with accompanying information sheet. How they work and how Jonathan uses solar power at home.
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With some simple circuitry and a homemade hand powered generator Jonathan makes AC and DC electricity that could be used for charging a mobile phone or attaching to a wind turbine.
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Jonathan makes some simple paper windmills/turbines and experiments with a simple generator to power house hold devices such as torches, calculators and even a radio.
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Jonathan shows us with a cheap and simple homemade demonstration how your mobile telephone generates radio waves in order for you to use it to communicate. As you will see you can use this method to explore many aspects of your mobile phone!
More details | Watch nowWhat is Graphene?
In October 2010 the Nobel Prize for Physics was won by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at Manchester University for their work on graphene but if you are left wondering just what graphene is then watch this video. Jonathan explains all.
More details | Watch nowGraphene and the Carbon Revolution
Jonathan explains what graphene is and how it fits into the revolution in carbon science.
More details | Watch nowElectrical Generator
This short video shows one of the demonstrations for the Physics SEPNet exhibition - "Who will keep the lights on?" which travelled around the southern UK from February 2009. We describe and explain the electrical generator demonstration which Jona....
More details | Watch nowForms of Carbon Burning Diamond and Graphite; and the Discovery of Fullerenes
With the aid of Prof. Sir Harry Kroto, Dr Peter Wothers demonstrates that both Diamond and Graphite are indeed made of Carbon.
More details | Watch nowInbreeding in an isolated population of animals
Jennifer talks about recent research detailing the effects of inbreeding on an isolated animal population and shows how this affects our ideas about breeding domestic animals.
More details | Watch nowBuckyball workshop
Professor Sir Harry Kroto shows local schoolchildren in Sheffield how to build a buckyball
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Bill introduces queueing theory and uses it to design the most efficient check out line
More details | Watch nowPhotocopier
Bill uses power tools to take apart a photocopier. He shows how it works, and shares the story of its invention by Chester Carlson.
More details | Watch nowThe Light Bulb
Bill reads from his book of fairy tales. He tells the story of the engineering of a light bulb, focusing on the materials breakthrough needed to make the filament.
More details | Watch nowCopper – The Miracle Metal
Bill cuts a copper pipe from his ceilng to show the five properties of copper that make it the most important metal for our world: From clean water to electronics.
More details | Watch nowConcrete
Bill moves a piece of sewer pipe into his office to show how important the ancient material concrete is to our modern world. It, of course, wreaks havoc on his office.
More details | Watch nowThe Geiger Counter
Bill sings a song - with help from Doris Day - about the geiger counter. He shows that scientist Hans Geiger became an engineer when he designed the counter as a tool to make his life easier.
More details | Watch nowThe Cell Phone
Bill invades a cell phone store to show that the design of a mobile isn't arbritary. Engineers uses seven basic principles to create a useful phone.
More details | Watch nowTantalum
With his hammer Bill cracks up a cell phone to expose how our electronic gadgets rely on the mineral tantalum - mined as Coltan.
More details | Watch nowWhy a Chair?
Bill asks the question 'Why a chair?' ... the answer reveals the human aspects of engineering design.
More details | Watch nowGarbage – Rubbish?
Bill covers his office floor with trash to see what takes up space in a landfill. He digs through fast food containers and diapers to learn that what we really need is green design of our manufactured objects.
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