Secondary Catalogue

Nuclear energy generates massive amounts of electricity but also produces highly dangerous radioactive waste. This clip explains waste production in reactors, its treatment and containment and how technology continues to improve safety around nuclear fission. It also explores reprocessing of waste and summarises the costs and benefits of nuclear power generation. Show Less

Nuclear reactors contain radioactive fuel that undergoes fission, producing immense heat that drives turbines. Globally, about 10 per cent of electricity is generated this way. This clip details what happens inside a reactor, nuclear fuel and its processing, how reactions are contained and how the heat generates power. It provides a clear explanation of nuclear power generation for middle to senior secondary students of science/physics. Show Less

Understanding how nuclear fission produces such vast quantities of energy starts with unimaginably tiny sub-atomic particles. This clip details how fission occurs in radioactive nuclei to release energy. It also explores why the amount of energy generated when nuclei split is so great, using Einstein’s equation: E = mc2. Aimed at middle to senior secondary students of science/physics, this resource will assist in gaining a clear understanding of nuclear fission. Show Less

The energy produced by nuclear fusion powers stars like our own Sun. This clip examines nuclear fusion, including what occurs at the sub-atomic level and why the energy released by fusion is vastly greater than in nuclear fission. Einstein’s equation, E = mc2 is used to calculate specific energy quantities. Senior secondary students of chemistry and physics will find this a valuable resource. Show Less

Engineering, construction and structural design have come a long way since humans first got here. This clip looks at modern design and construction materials, and provides glimpses of the future, as technology and our understanding of environmental impact and sustainability shapes our approach. It examines preferred futures, modern techniques and materials, and provides an insight to the design and construction of Dubai’s towering Burj Khalifa. Show Less

Human structures must be designed to withstand a range of forces. Here, three types of forces causing stress on structures are highlighted – bending, torsion and shear. Each one is defined, and different construction techniques are examined, with a particular focus on bridge-building. This clip provides secondary and vocational design and technology students with an insight to how structural design and construction techniques overcome massive stress forces. Show Less

In the final episode, we look at the three ways that heat energy can transfer from one thing to another: conduction, convection, and radiation. A heat source is useless if heat energy can't transfer from the heat source to whatever you want heated. Understanding heat transfer is essential if you want to cook good food and if you want to stay warm when it's cold and stay cool when it's hot. Show Less

In episode four, 'The Kelvin Scale', we look at the temperature scale that is superior to the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales in many ways. Zero on the Kelvin scale is equal to -273°C. And why is -273°C so special? Because that's the coldest temperature you can get! Show Less