Programme of lectures and demonstrations

Particle Physics and the Forces of Nature - Dr John Shepherd
It appears that all matter can be regarded as built from particles of just two basic types, known as the quarks and the leptons, and that there are just four basic forces in nature (strong, weak, electromagnetic, and gravitational). This lecture will explain the links between these two statements, in terms of what are believed to be fundamental symmetries of the physical world.

Gauging the Cosmos - Dr Bill Barnes
One of the central tasks for astronomers is measuring distances to stars and galaxies and all the strange objects in the Cosmos. Many different techniques starting with triangulation are used. The problem is harder the further the distance and astronomers have developed clever methods that reach to the largest distances we can observe.

Musical Instruments - Pipes and Strings - Dr Ian Summers
Musical-instrument makers have developed a large range of instruments based on standing waves in various systems, these waves being excited in a variety of ways. Some of the underlying physics will be explained in this lecture, and a selection of instruments will be demonstrated.

Laser Light's Fantastic - Professor Roy Sambles
A demonstration lecture illustrating some of the fascinating aspects of light.

The Electronic Revolution - Dr Sarah Usher
Since the development of the transistor in 1947 the sophistication of electronics has increased at an enormous rate. Electronic components are becoming smaller and faster every year, enabling the computing power that once occupied a whole room, now to be worn on our wrists. This lecture will discuss the electronic revolution and how this has effected our everyday lives.

A Peep Inside the Body - Dr Bill Vennart
The human race has a natural inquisitiveness to look inside objects. Surgeons and clinicians need to examine organs and structures in the human body without causing any damage. This lecture will be about the principal imaging techniques in medicine. They all have their genesis in basic physics discoveries.

Quantum Mechanics in the Real World - Professor John Inkson
The concept of quantum mechanics are very difficult and seem to contradict "common sense". What exactly is the uncertainty relationship? can particles really be in two places at once? is a vacuum really full of particles? etc. etc.... However quantum mechanics is the basis of Physics and Chemistry and without it most of our everyday electronic equipment, radio, TV, computers, etc. would not work. This talk will consider how far should we trust our "common sense" and hence how quantum mechanics affects our "real" world.