Distance learning laboratory: a remote atomic and nuclear physics experiment

While it is clear that on-line education offers new opportunities for students to study in a way that suits their particular learning style, there are laboratory-based disciplines that require hands-on experience with real world systems. This is especially true in Physics where a standard curriculum involves a large amount of laboratory-based work. While computer-based simulation software has been used extensively in engineering and various science-based areas these are not a direct substitute for traditional Physics experimental labs which provide students with the practical skills of handling real equipment, and measuring with sufficient accuracy and precision to allow comparison with various theoretical predictions. On-line laboratories where distance students have remote control over real laboratory equipment is a practical alternative to traditional physics laboratories, at least for some classes of experiments. This paper describes the development of a remote-controlled Cosmic Ray Telescope experiment at the University of Newcastle

Inspiration for tomorrow technicians: online physics remote

Internet communication technology has already blended into the modern education, changed it and provides new opportunities for students to study at a university of their choice. There are increasing numbers of open universities, global university collaborations and networks that provide online courses but subjects with compulsory experimental laboratories such as Physics are not well presented. Software simulation cannot substitute the behaviour of real equipment and remote laboratory that allows students to control real experimental apparatus via the Internet provides the best strategic approach. This poster demonstrates the Gamma Ray Spectroscopy remote lab developed for Atomic and Nuclear Physics course at the University of Newcastle. LabVIEW software was used for the control and communication support. Integrated USB cameras provide real-time video of the apparatus in operation