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Department of Physics
August 2012
LOMOND PHYSICS
Physics Annual Review
August 2012
Dr Alan MacBeath
Head of Physics
Physics News
Department Review 2012
A review of the 2011/12 academic
year by the head of department, Dr
Alan MacBeath.
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Exam Success
The department of Physics continue
to deliver excellent results at all
National Qualification levels.
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Engineering Achievements
Arkwright Scholarships
A review of the prestigious
Arkwright Scholarship scheme by
Calum Wilson (S6).
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Welcome to the Department
of Physics. Another year of
hard work and opportunity
sees the majority of our
students progressing onto
further education courses of
their choice, securing
engineering apprenticeships,
and generally expanding
their understanding and
appreciation of Physics in
their day-to-day lives. A
significant amount of thanks
go to Colin Butler and Alan
MacBeath for their continued
devotion to the department.
IET Faraday Finals
S1 pupils earn a place in the National
finals in this unique and inspiring
engineering challenge competition
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“All science is either Physics or stamp
collecting” Ernest Rutherford
Department Review: looking back on a busy year
The department of Physics continues to build on its
reputation for success with outstanding achievements
in both certificate examinations and external
competitions. The department supported twelve
Advanced Higher students through their studies this
academic year, a class size that highlights both the
appeal of the subject, and the reputation of the
department. Physics continues to challenge and
inspire students by exploring various subject areas
through varied teaching approaches, and is a
requirement for candidates who are seeking careers
in engineering, medicine, medical science, science,
space and technology to name a few. The department
continues to offer certificate courses at Standard
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Department of Physics
Grade, Intermediate 2, Higher
and Advanced Higher, and will
this year offer Applied
Mathematics to support
applications made by
Engineering candidates. Colin
Bulter remains instrumental to
the success of the department
and as well as leading the S2 Big
Green Challenge debating team
to the National Finals, has
continued to hold a weekly hill
running club and uphold
Lomond Schools title as Scottish
Islands Peaks Winners for three
wins in four years. Colins
passion for Physics, and
learning continues to inspire
and motivate students.
The department has also seen
success in Engineering with an
S1 team reaching the National
Finals of the IET Challenge held
in London, a successful
CANSAT team who completed
flight missions in the Scottish
CANSAT championships, a
WoSPEG team that finished
third in the finals of the
WoSPEG Physics competition,
and Caleigh Bradbury who
secured a prestigious place on
Space School held at Strathclyde
University. The department
continues to run a Young
Engineers club that is forecast to
expand this coming year.
Congratulations go to Iain
Symon who gained a very
prestigious Engineering
scholarship from the Arkwright
Trust and joins Calum
Wilson(S6) and Ross StanleyWhite (S6) who have managed
to secure funding for their
studies and the department.
The department also reports
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August 2012
on another successful S2 trip to the
Eurospace Centre in Belgium on
which 30 students undertook a
week long residential astronaut
training course. Thanks go to
Miriam Ward, Colin Butler and
Alan MacBeath for running this
wonderful trip.
The year ahead is filled with
further learning and exciting
opportunities for all students. In
September there is an S3 trip to an
IoP lecture in Glasgow University.
Lomond hosts the IET Faraday
Challenge for local schools in
October. Young Engineers will
offer projects to design airboats,
gliders, 4 x 4 vehicles and
CANSATs. The department will
compete in the Big Green
Challenge debating competition
and the WoSPEG competition to
name but a few.
You would be silly to miss out on
all the action!
Dr Alan MacBeath
Students work together
at flight control in the
Eurospace Centre and
try to get to grips with
the multi-axis chair
shown above.
8th
Eurospace 2013
April – 12 April 2013
Exam Success: Physics results are
outstanding
I am very pleased to report
another outstanding set of Physics
results for exam candidates in S4,
S5 and S6 who sat Standard
Grade, Higher and Advanced
Higher awards. The results
continue to reflect the impact that
small class sizes and inspiring
teaching have on the development
of our students. Our Advanced
Higher candidates secured seven
A grades and four B grades at the
highest level of secondary Physics.
A review of these results is shown
in table 1. Well done everyone, we
are incredibly proud of your
efforts and achievements.
2011/12
A&B
(1&2)
A-C
(1-3)
PASS
Standard
Grade
83%
98%
98%
Higher
71%
85%
91%
Advanced
Higher
92%
92%
92%
Table 1: SQA Results
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Department of Physics
August 2012
Arkwright Schoraship: Lomond Physics students
continue to secure scholarships. Calum Wilson writes…
The Trust was named after Sir Richard
Arkwright who is famous for the design and
development of a water-powered spinning
frame. The Arkwright scholarship seeks to
create future leaders in engineering and design
by increasing the number of outstanding young
people who pursue university courses and
careers in these subjects.
The Arkwright scholarship is a significant
achievement as more than 1000 students applied
and only 263 received a scholarship. The
selection process consisted of a 3 hour aptitude
paper which asked us to design solutions to
problems, such as recovering golf balls on a
driving range or creating add-ons for a power
drill. After the paper a number of candidates
were chosen to be interviewed by a panel of
judges, which consisted of heads of design and
engineering projects. We both spent a day at
Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh for our
interviews and spent time working on a group
task to design a robot buggy.
As Arkwright Scholars we will have access
to: Arkwright Alumni Website, Career
Awareness Days, Networking opportunities,
Personal Development opportunities, Sponsors
websites, Arkwright Scholar Group on
Facebook.
This really gives us a huge source of
information about engineering and anything we
wanted to know about different types of
engineering. There is also information about the
Arkwright Trust itself and possible career
options.
These Scholarships are presented to students
excelling in Physics and design subjects in order
to support them through Higher and Advanced
Higher. The Arkwright Trust provides an
annual financial award for scholars and their
school, to encourage people to considering
engineering in the future. The Trust can also
offer work experience.
Ross has been sponsored by The Lloyds
Register Educational Trust and Calum has been
sponsored by The Barcapel Foundation. Ross
will be travelling to London to receive his award
and Calum will be travelling to Glasgow.
This was an excellent opportunity for both of
us to have an insight into what engineering was
all about and gave us ideas and confidence for
the future. Well done to Iain Symon who has
secured an Arkwright Scholarship for 2013.
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Department of Physics
August 2012
WoSPEG
IoP Lecture
Lomond School students
competed in the West of
Scotland Physics Education
Groups annual Physics
competition for secondary
schools in Scotland. The
competition consists of rounds of
general knowledge, general
science, questions on Standard
Grade Telecommunications,
Using Electricity, and
HealthPhysics topics, with
individual, team, and buzzer
rounds.
The department of Physics
organised a day trip for thirty S4
students to the Institute of Physics
lecture on “Looking Inside the
Body,” on the 5th September 2011.
The lecture material revisited and
expanded on some of the medical
techniques and technology that
students were introduced to in the
Health Physics topic and acted as
enrichment to their understanding
of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Students were able to find out
how physicists build machines
The Lomond team of Iain Symon that do what our eyes cannot – see
inside the human body
(S4), Lewis Cameron (S4) and
Oliver Monteith (S3) managed to
sail through the first two heats of This inspiring lecture revealed
how over the past hundred years
the competition, leaving six
physicists have developed
other teams in their wake, to
reach the final of the 2011 event. increasingly sophisticated
techniques to see inside the body.
The final was held at Strathclyde These techniques use x-ray,
University and was fought out
radioactive molecules and
by Lomond, High School of
magnetic fields to produce images
Glasgow and Bearsden
of the body and these images
Academy. After a very nervous
allow doctors to better diagnose
and treat illness and disease.
start, the Lomond team
gradually eased into their
performance. With cheers of joy The lecture trip was a huge
and despair echoing through the success as it offers a different
learning environment for our
lecture theatre, the Lomond
students. In addition to this, it
School supporters club of
gives each learner the experience
Alasdair Philbey, Morgan
of being in a University lecture.
Serpell, Lisa Tomlinson and
Eilidh Cameron could not
conjure up enough momentum
and the team were narrowly
This years IoP Lecture is titled
defeated by the High School of
“Physics and the Games: A
Glasgow.
Winning Formula,” and will be
held at Glasgow University on the
Well done to all of the
participants, and the supporters. 4th September 2012 at 1pm. The
The competition will start in
Physics department will be
September for any interested
organising a school trip to this
S3/4 students.
event.
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Physics news
Work Experience:
Scottish Opera is
requesting applications
for a work experience
week starting 8th October
for S4 pupils who may be
interested in a future in
the performing arts
sector, whether as a
performer, technical
theatre specialist, or arts
administrator. See Dr
MacBeath to apply.
Supported Study:
Supported study will be
arranged for all certificate
examination students.
Students who are under
achieving will be advised
to make attendance
compulsory. The sessions
will be open to all
students in each year
group.
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Department of Physics
August 2012
IET Faraday Final
Delivered in 45 school/college by the Institute of
Engineering Technology (IET), the Faraday
Challenge Days are one day STEM activities
designed for six teams of six students aged 12-13
years. There are an additional 12 extra dates held at
IET Academic Partner universities across the UK.
IET Faraday Challenge Days give students the
opportunity to research, design and make prototype
solutions to genuinely tough engineering
problems. At each event teams compete to win a
prize for themselves and a trophy for their school.
Lomond School entered a team of six S1 pupils:
Becca Hordern, Hamish Maddick, Robbie Kennedy,
Rowan Aitchison, Megan Pelly and Daniel Clancy.
The team competed in a regional event held at
Glasgow Caledonian University and were sitting
top of the leaderboard until the final day.
This year there were a total of 44 Faraday Challenge
Days hosted in schools in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with an additional 11
events which took place at IET Academic Partner
Universities.
The winners of each event were awarded a prize for
each team member and a trophy for their school.
Each winning team from the 2011-12 season was
added to the league table and the top three teams
from across the UK won themselves an all expenses
paid trip to the National Final in London on 21-22
June 2012. The top teams also received a special
treat of a London Duck tour during their two day
stay in London.
The Final challenge saw the top three teams battle it
out for the top prize of £1,000 for their school, with
second and third place receiving £500 and £250:
FIRST PLACE: Church Stretton School
SECOND PLACE: Ellesmere College
THIRD PLACE: Lomond School
The teams were challenged to design and build a
rehydration station which could be used to provide
The IET Faraday Challenge Finalist 2012
drinks for
athletes during a
Race Walk.
Students had to
produce a
promotional
video for their
product and be
interviewed by
our panel of
engineering
experts on the
science,
technology,
engineering and
maths in their
designs. They
did all of this in
just one jampacked day.
We were lucky enough to have retired Olympic
Race Walker Chris Maddocks join us for the day,
and the IET Deputy President Barry Brooks, IET
Director of Membership and Professional
Development Michelle Richmond, and IET Young
Woman Engineer of the Year Charlotte Joyce
presented students with their awards and
certificates.
Well done to all participating team members!
www.urtv.com/LomondIET
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Department of Physics
August 2012
Space School 2012: Lomond Physics student
secures prestigious place. Caleigh Bradbury writes…
At the beginning of March I had the honour of
being 1 of the 103 fifth year pupils across Scotland
to be selected for the Scottish Space School at the
University of Strathclyde. When I applied I had to
submit a personal statement explaining what
“makes me tick” and why I would benefit from
attending Space School. Upon writing this, I had
no idea the extent to which this week would
benefit me but my expectations were definitely
exceeded. I never thought I would leave Space
School; having danced with astronauts, having an
astronaut tweet me, with many new friends, and a
potential career in mind.
I was assigned to Team Hyperion with 4 other
girls and 6 boys. Throughout the week we had to
compete in many challenges and also worked on a
Big project and a “wee” project. The Big project
consisted of finding a way to improve exercise in
space and for the “wee” project we had to come
up with an app for the Scottish Space School.
Monday consisted of rocket building and
launching, this was an exciting day especially
since our NASA guests were arriving too. Points
were awarded for the best design, landing within
20 ft of the launch area and closest to 200ft. We
took pride in the fact we didn’t get points for the
closest to 200ft as ours exceeded this height
significantly. This competition was the start of
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many for Team Hyperion to do “above
averagely good” but not win. I did some
“market research” for our Big Project when my
job was done for the rocket building. When we
finally found the courage the girls and I went
and introduced ourselves to Mike Baker and
Ron Garan and asked them questions about
exercising in space. They said, “That would be
pretty cool” to our idea. I don’t think any of us
will ever forget the way they sounded
pleasantly surprised at our idea.
Tuesday was another exciting day for us; people
from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh
visited us in the morning, we had our first
lecture and Skype call with an astronaut. It was
also my birthday and my flatmates managed to
find this out and arrange a sing-song in the
lecture room to my dismay but on the other
hand I was presented with a cake. We started
off the morning in a portable planetarium set up
in the assembly hall and made our own exoplanet models. In the afternoon we did the
“Heart of the Matter” challenge where we were
meant to be making a heart rate monitor,
however even the mentors studying electrical
engineering struggled to help us. After feeling a
bit defeated we headed over to the lecture hall
to receive a talk from Steepest Ascent about
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Department of Physics
UKubes (cuboid satellites) where
we all discovered that there is a
significant space industry in the
UK. However, after dinner was a
highlight of the week: a Skype call
with Chris Hadfield, a Canadian
astronaut, who is currently
training for launch in November
and is aspiring to be the first
person ever to record an album in
space. We all left that lecture hall
feeling very inspired and
motivated to do something
significant with our lives.
However, this feeling soon
escaped us when we realised I had
cake in my room waiting for my
constantly hungry team.
Wednesday brought a biology
orientated day where we checked
out our lab work from earlier on in
the week and later on that day we
also got a lecture off the Head of
Science at Strathclyde about
microbes in space and how to tell
if there’s life up there. However,
we had a more important task in
hand, designing our Big Project.
Our team had come up with a
portable bone density measuring
tool and I became heavily
involved with the designing of the
product using CAD. After this we
were certain we were going to
win. On Friday, we would find
out that once again we were,
“above averagely good”, coming
in fourth place. To me, this was
my favourite day as we had our
“Evening with NASA”
presentation where we heard
about the careers of; an aspiring
astronaut, a current astronaut and
a retired astronaut. After this, our
NASA guests and their families
joined us at the Open Mic Night
where we had a chance to talk to
August 2012
them and see the variety of
talents amongst our fellow
students. Talking to Heather
Paul (space suit designer/female
mechanical engineer/future
astronaut) was inspiring and
uplifting for me and she became
a role model to many of the
female students there that week.
It was our last day of activities
on the Thursday. We faced the
Mars Rover Challenge and the
Mars Lander Challenge. The
Mars Rover Challenge was
mainly suited for those who play
video games and it involved
controlling various moving
vehicles. Unsurprisingly, my
team was, “above averagely
good” at this task. Our standards
remained the same for the Mars
Lander Challenge where we had
to come up with a way of
landing an egg from a height
without it smashing whilst
keeping the egg in the air as long
as you could during its descent.
We were very confident after our
trial run, however, the final run
never went as well and yet again
we didn’t win. With all the
activities now over, it was time
for a Skype call with a
biomedical engineer/astronaut
and then to get ready for the
Gala dinner or in my case catch
up on some sleep. At dinner we
had to sit with people who
weren’t in our team so I sat with
the girls I met earlier on in the
week when I got lost on campus
and we were accompanied by
Nicky, the daughter of the
astronaut we had Skyped that
day and two of the mentors. This
was a good opportunity to learn
about life as an incredibly clever
American teenager, university
Caleigh Bradbury talking
about her experience at
Space School in 2012
held at the University of
Strathclyde.
Space School 2013:
Apply through Dr
MacBeath
courses and life as a student. After
dinner was the Ceilidh, where
everybody got up and danced, even
the NASA guests and their family.
This was a very fun way to end an
amazing week yet there was a sense
of sadness creeping in amongst us
as we knew this was the final
hurrah.
Friday saw the teams present their
Big and “wee” project, the
presentation of awards, which
unfortunately, you don’t get for
being, “above averagely good”
along with many sad goodbyes.
Caleigh has been shortlisted to be in
with a chance of securing a training
camp at NASA. Well done!
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Department of Physics
S2 STEM Day
Big Green Challenge
STEM sessions work with
students with a particular
interest in, or aptitude for,
problem-solving, design,
manufacturing or engineering.
STEM Days are for students
in S1/2.
Friday June 22 saw an early start
for the Lomond team as they
headed for Edinburgh and the
Scottish Parliament for the final
of the Big Green Challenge. This
is an annual event organised by
Highlands and Islands
Enterprise to encourage interest
in the potential of renewable
energy in the Highlands and
Islands. Thirty two teams began
the competition in May and the
eight finalists gathered in
Edinburgh for the decisive
debates. The Lomond team from
S2 comprised Sally Ram, Lucy
Dunn, Calum Alcorn and Ella
Keating and were drawn first to
speak in front of the judges and
some MSPs, as well as the
audience watching online
through parliament TV. Lomond
debated very strongly in this
quarter final for the motion that
‘The expansion of renewables
would be harmful to Scottish
industry.’ and won a place in the
semi final. Before the semi final
the competitors were given a
tour of the parliament buildings
and then returned to find out
which motion would be debated
next. In this semi final round
Lomond were narrowly beaten
for a place in the final but can be
pleased with third place,
especially since this was their
first time debating at the
parliament. The Lomond team
all enjoyed the new experience of
debating in the parliament and
the marvellous surroundings
certainly added an atmosphere
of authenticity and
professionalism.
STEM days are inspiring and fun
for everyone taking part. This
year 60 S2 students worked
together in small teams on a
‘design-and-make’ project to
improve their creative thinking
and problem-solving
skills. Teams were faced with
the task of creating a vehicle that
could protect two passengers
(eggs) in a crash scenario.
What are the benefits?
STEM Days support the aim of
the National Curriculum and
schools agenda by linking the
curriculum to the wider world
and demonstrating that what is
being taught in the classroom
has direct relevance within the
world of work.
The benefits to the learners are: provides information about
future career and HE/FE
options - Encourages personal
development including time
management, team work,
problem-solving and personal
and social skills - Promotes
creativity and enterprise skills.
Well done to all of the teams that
took part, and thank you to the
Smallpeice Trust for running the
STEM day.
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August 2012
Extra
curricular
Hill Running:
Mr Butler continues to
offer hill running as an
extra curricular activity,
covering vast distances
like wild mountain goats.
Keep an eye on the notice
board for information
about the hill runs that
are planned.
Tennis/Photography:
Dr MacBeath monitors
tennis at Lomond, with
lunch sessions and
annual competitions. A
photography club also
runs from lab 3
depending on general
interest at the start of the
year.
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Department of Physics
August 2012
Smallpeice Engineering Placement: Iain Symon
The Smallpeice Trust is a charity whose aim is to
increase awareness of engineering in schools, and as
a possible career. It does this by STEM (Science
Technology Engineering Maths) courses in schools,
and by arranging residential courses in Colleges and
Universities for school pupils. The courses cover a
huge range of engineering subjects, varying from
nanotechnology to Space science, Renewable to
nuclear. Six Lomond pupils from S3 joined 34 others
from all over the UK on the Marine Engineering
course at Strathclyde University last June.
The course, as well as the 2 practical team projects,
had a number of industry presentations, visits, and
an active social program. The presentations started
with a welcome from the Head of the Marine
Engineering Department at Strathclyde University,
followed by a talk on presentation skills from a
member of the Smallpeice Trust. Marine
Engineering companies, including Babcock, came to
talk about marine design, construction and
management. Our industry visit was to BAE at
Govan who were completing an 8000-ton midsection of the first Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft
carrier. The part we saw has now been raft- floated
down the Clyde on a round Britain trip bound for
Rosyth in the Firth of Forth where the ship will be
constructed. Pity the Forth-Clyde canal isn’t bigger.
For the 2 practical projects we were in teams of 4.
The introduction project was to design and build a
car. Simple enough, but no: The budget was tightly
limited and the vehicle had to be ready for its crash
test in 2 hours. The crash test was a 1m near vertical
descent terminating in a solid immoveable
obstruction. As this was deemed too easy, the car
had to carry 2 raw eggs, both of which had to be
able to ‘see out’ , had to be easily got in and out of
the car, and had to be intact post-crash. It soon
became apparent that working to limited time and
money is difficult, and many of our ingenious ideas
had to be jettisoned (or await future development).
All teams did produce a car, but not all passed the
test. Some poor eggs perished, some forcibly
ejected, others guillotined by their restraints or
crushed in folded metal. Hinged padded body
contoured seats and multiple elastic bands saved
our little passengers.
The main project was to build and design a
container ship, but, as with the car, certain
specifications were limiting exact and the product
would be put to the test. The ship was to carry 6
large light containers and 6 little very heavy ones.
She would have a motor, be remote controlled, and
race through a tank 100m long, 2 m wide but with a
gently meandering canal section only 15cm wide.
There was no shortage of ideas on design, and
plenty of rethinking and reconstruction when
problems arose. Our spirits sagged and soared with
the setbacks and triumphs of our ship. In the test
tank some leaked, some flooded, electrics shorted,
loads shifted, boats got stuck, but it was great
competitive fun.
The Social program was good too. As a group we
went bowling, to Laser Quest, and had a tour of the
Glenlee where the course Dinner and Disco was
held. It was a fantastic opportunity that gave us an
insight into university life, introduced us to marine
engineering people both from academic life and
industry and exposed us to the challenges of team
work. We learned a surprising amount about
shipping.
I had a lot of fun. I’d like to go again.
Thank you to The Smallpeice Trust, for arranging it
all and for funding my place, and to Dr Tully and
the Physics department for making me aware of it.
Iain Symon
Congratulations to Charlie Hordern who has undertaken
a summer residential week at Strathclyde University
during the holiday.
If you are interested in expanding your engineering
interests, to strengthen your CV, or to explore career
possibilities, then please speak to Dr MacBeath who has a
list of the various residential and non-residential courses
available.
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
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Department of Physics
August 2012
S2 Eurospace 2012: Lomond Physics students
make a residential visit to the Eurospace Centre.
A group of 30 S2 students from Lomond School in
Helensburgh travelled to the Eurospace Centre in
Belgium this Easter to attend an astronaut training
course. The annual weeklong course introduced
the students to the training expectations that are
imposed on astronauts and gave them an insight
into the world of Space Physics and Engineering.
The week began with a briefing and tour of the
Space Centre during which many of the training
activities were introduced. Students were split
into small groups and an intense schedule of
training sessions began. All groups performed
moonwalk, multi-axis chair, rotating chair, antigravity wall, clean room satellite build, satellite
upkeep and general operations missions that
enriched their understanding of the preparation
and rigor that is expected in the space industry.
Over the duration of the week, the teams were
guided through a rocket build course. The course
began by introducing the students to rocket
theory. Individual students were supplied with
the necessary equipment, and rocket engine, to
enable them to design and build their own rocket
over the course of the week. At the end of the
week all of the rockets were launched giving the
students a chance to discuss the impact of minor
design alterations on flight time and altitude
reached.
One of the highlights of the trip for most of the
10
students, and staff, was the simulated return
mission to the International Space Centre (ISS).
Each team was assigned a role, either in flight
control on Earth, or in the cockpit on the shuttle.
Teams had to work seamlessly to safely guide
the mission from launch on Earth, to docking at
the ISS, and then to re-entry and landing. Two
out of the four missions were fully completed,
the others are still somewhere in space.
The department of Physics at Lomond
School has offered this trip to pupils for the last
three years as it complements the Space Physics
material that is covered in the National
Curriculum. The trip also complements other
space activities that are offered by the
department including annual entries to the
Space School at Strathclyde University, and an
annual CANSAT project that takes place as an
extra-curricular activity for S5 and S6 pupils. As
well as being an educational trip, Eurospace
offers an insight into the world of Space Physics
and gives pupils a feel of what a career in the
space industry could offer them.
The department of Physics will be running
another Eurospace trip in on 8th April 2013 for
S2. If you are interested in your son/daughter
attending please contact Dr MacBeath at school.
www.lomondeurospace.blog.com
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Department of Physics
August 2012
The Physics Pathway
Reading Physics can lead to many different career
opportunities and the department has worked hard to
educate our students about the career choices that are
available to them when they leave school. Following
the pathways shown above, by the end of S6, students
should have had a taste of Engineering, Physics and
Space Physics giving them a more advanced insight
into what career may interest them and a better idea if
it is a career they would like to pursue.
Young Engineers Club
The goal of the Young Engineers Club at Lomond
School is to inspire young people to develop and
interest in engineering, and in doing so, recognize
the importance and excitement of engineering as a
future career. To do this, the club runs a wide range
of national competitions and internal competitions.
The Club was founded by Dr Ann Tully and
continues to grow and inspire our future engineers.
The 2012 program was focused towards S1-S3
students who embarked on a project to
design an air powered vehicle, and an
airboat project that required prototypes to
race on land, and on water. A special
mention must go to Max Pelly and Charles
Sommerville-Wood who won the airboat
challenge, narrowly beating Jasmine Greig
and Jack Nicol. S5/6 engineers undertook
the first Scottish CANSAT competition
(page 12) and S4 students were busy with
Arkwright Scholarship applications.
The Young Engineers Club introduces
students to the technology used to make,
build and control objects. A list of the
upcoming projects this academic year can
be found on student noticeboards and in
lab 3, but include a new 4 x 4 challenge, a
smallpeice glider project and a rocket
workshop. There will be Young Engineer
projects for all year groups to cater for a
growing interest in engineering.
11
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Department of Physics
August 2012
Scottish CanSat 2012: Lomond Physics students
compete in the first Scottish CANSAT project.
Organised by the European Space Agency (ESA),
in collaboration with the Norwegian Centre for
Space-related Education (NAROM), CanSat is a
competition for teams of high school students
across Europe to design, develop and build a
working satellite experiment which can fit into a
drinks can.
Dr Paul Lyden organised the first-ever Scottish
national competition with the winning team
launching their design at the European finals in
April 2012 at Andøya Rocket Range in Norway.
There, the design was sent into space in a rocket up to an altitude of 1 km - to conduct their
experiments and return safely with results. Based
on the whole-project success, a European winner
was then selected.
The Lomond School team of Laura Baird, Serena
Town, Joseph Anderson, Elliot Howie, Charlotte
Chambers and Katherine Bull worked endlessly to
familiarise themselves with programming, sensor
control, electronics, soldering, radio frequency
transmission and prototype design to meet the
deadlines of the competition. It was an excellent
learning platform and an engineering project at its
best – hands on!
The Scottish final was split between two events –
the launch, and the presentation. The launch was
12
held at Strathaven airfield. Each CanSat was
deployed from a microlight and results were
recorded on descent. There was only one
scheduled flight per team, so if things did not
work no results could be recorded and
analysed. A successful flight was performed and
the team were in high spirits having measured
temperature, pressure, and acceleration in 3
axis.
The second stage of the final was a presentation
of results at the Royal Observatory. The
Lomond team faced a few technical problems
with their presentation that saw them missing
out on a winning position and a trip to Norway.
The competition was an excellent way to expose
the students to a real engineering project, and
the field of space engineering. Lomond finished
the Scottish competition in the top 7 out of 14
schools from around Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong
Learning, Michael Russell MSP says:
"This is an exciting and innovative competition, that
I am sure those taking part will finding challenging.
Good luck to all of those taking part and representing
Scotland."
www.urtv.com/LomondEurospace
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Department of Physics
August 2012
Curriculum for Excellence: Department plans for curriculum change
The Scottish Government have
released a new curriculum for 318 year olds. It consists of a
broad education for students up
to S2 who will follow the
Curriculum for Excellence. In
S3/4 students will read National
4 and National 5 Physics, and
then progress onto Revised
Higher and then Revised
Advanced Higher. In light of the
documentation available, the
department of Physics has
decided to offer Intermediate 2
to the current S3 students to
ensure they are fully prepared
for higher tiers of the subject.
The current S2 cohort will follow
National 4 and National 5 when
they enter S3 next year.
with the content of the courses.
Additionally, a year of
examinations can be analysed
and discussed to allow us to
prepare students thoroughly to
enable them to achieve the
results they need to progress in
life.
The decision to hold off early
adoption of the new National
Curriculum was not taken
lightly and was taken to ensure
that resources were ready and
rigor maintained. The year
ahead is one of preparation to
make sure our students receive
the best possible education to
make their progress after
Lomond smooth and productive.
Although change promotes
uncertainty, it should not
generate fear. The department is
aware of the needs of our
students and is making positive
steps towards delivering, and
maintaining, a very high
standard of course throughout
the school.
A program of school visits will
allow staff to become familiar
with the contents of the new
courses, isolate pitfalls, predict
timescales and gain experience
The Higher and Advanced
Higher courses do not need to be
adopted until 2015, however to
give our candidates the best
platform to succeed, we believe
that implementation of the
Revised Higher will probably
take place in 2014 (current S4) to
make sure they are ready for the
Revised Advanced Higher when
they reach S6.
If you have any questions, or
general concerns, please do not
hesitate to contact me to discuss
the future of Physics at Lomond
School.
Always thinking about
our student’s success.
Physics Prizewinners 2012:
S2
Max Pelly
S3
Katherine McPhie
S4
Iain Symon
S5
Joseph Anderson
S6
Tom Claxton
Arkwright Scholars:
Tom Claxton
Calum Wilson
Ross Stanley-Whyte
Iain Symon
Alan MacBeath
Head of Physics
"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
Albert Einstein
Department of physics
Lomond School, 10 Stafford Street, Helensburgh,
Argyll and Bute. G84 9JX.
a.macbeath@lomondschool.com