Build an Atom - Phet Topics Atoms Atomic Structure Isotope Symbols Atomic Nuclei Description Build an atom out of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and see how the element, charge, and mass change. Then play a game to test your ideas! Practical Physics This website is for teachers of physics in schools and colleges. It is a collection of experiments that demonstrate a wide range of physical concepts and processes. Some of the experiments can be used as starting-points for investigations or for enhancement activities. Many have links to carefully selected further reading and all include information and guidance for technicians. Physics is a practical science. 5 Skills That Will Make You a More Valuable Filmmaker There are tons of skills that will make you a better filmmaker, but have found these 5 skills to be invaluable. Here are 5 skills that I like to see in filmmakers I hire or 5 skills he/she is willing to develop. Watch the video above to see all 5 tips and read the conclusion below to see the payoff of mastering these skills. 1. Knowing How to Stage Gear Staging gear is a crucial step in production.
Reflective Surfaces Can Ruin Your Shots. Here Are Some Quick Fixes "Reflective surfaces are a pain in the ass," said every filmmaker ever. Say you've just canned a glorious tracking shot. When you go to review the footage, however, you're dismayed to find out that you tracked past three windows, and in every single one of them you can see the dolly and camera crew, the boom operator, and some PA holding coffee that is wandering around like a lost puppy.
How to Light & Shoot a Seamless White Background from Start to Finish A seamless background can make your project look like a million bucks, but lighting one can be a little tricky if you don't know where to start. Zach Arias offers up this lighting tutorial on DEDPXL to show you how to light for a seamless white, black, grey (virtually any color, really) background. If you're a stickler for details like me, one thing you'll appreciate is the utter thoroughness of the lesson. Arias breaks down not only the hows, but the whys behind every creative and technical decision he makes on his set. A Cheap & Easy Way to Create a Professional-Looking Infinite Black Backdrop Here's a cheap, simple, and professional-looking technique to add to your arsenal -- the infinite black background. Because its visuals add a level of surrealism and style, we've seen this used in music videos, dream sequences in narrative films, art films, you name it -- and chances are if you're not wondering how to pull it off, it's because your curiosity has already led you to find the answer. Filmmaker Lewis McGregor shares his insight into how to create this effect inexpensively and simply by using black material, three lights, and editing software.
3 Isn't a Crowd, but You Can Make It Look Like It Is with These Cinematography Tricks What do wild parties, college lectures, massive armies, and zombie hordes have in common? If you're a filmmaker, they all require a ton of extras. But not everyone has a big enough budget or network to acquire them, which can be pretty stressful considering that at some point in your filmmaking journey, you're going to want/need to shoot a scene that requires a crowd. That's why it's crucial for every indie filmmaker to learn how to trick your audience into thinking that your five roommates (god help you) are actually a throng of wasted co-eds thrashing to EDM -- or whatever your scene calls for. This video from our buddies at Film Riot offers some techniques on how to do this both in-camera with clever blocking and camera settings, as well as in post by compositing multiple shots of the same extras. That technique is great if you want to show your crowd in an extreme wide shot, but you're eventually going to have to get in close.
Learn How to Build a Good DIY Rain Machine for $15 (& a Great One for $60) If your scene is calling for rain, don't wait for Mother Nature to get her act together. You can create your own rain and not spend a ton of money to do it. Here's a tutorial by Tom Antos that shows you how to construct two different rain machines: a $15 rig made out of a flat sprinkler hose and a sturdier $60 to $70 rig made out of PVC pipe. Before you get too far into making either of these rigs, here are a few things you should know. First of all, movie rain is not like real rain.
How Color-Coded Notes Make You A More Efficient Thinker It's a tall order to take physical notes on actual paper with a real pen. Most people I know don't do it, despite the clear benefits . It's more stuff to lug around, while your ever-ready phone offers literally hundreds of apps for speaking, writing, drawing, and syncing notes. So considering the use of multiple pen colors for your notes can seem a bit like lugging a Victrola around for a morning jog. But there are real, tested benefits to using multiple colors to stretch out your thoughts, take notes on meetings, and do your research on deeper topics. Color improves recall time for graphs and charts , and can be a "a very effective performance factor" , if not overdone.
Spatial Agency - Connections map Christiania is an autonomous settlement on the site of a former military barracks in Copenhagen. After the military left the site it was fenced off but in 1971 a group of people took over parts of the site to make a children's playground. Soon after Christiania was proclaimed a Freetown with one of the original goals being to 'build up a society from scratch'. It is one of the largest 'slum communes' and was set up in direct response to the lack of affordable housing and social facilities, and as an antidote to stressful city life.