Forensic physics: ballistics outreach project

Academic secondees: Carl Brown and Mike Newton

With the aim of encouraging enthusiasm for science, this project aimed to engage pupils in real-world applications of physics. The project involved the development and delivery of a forensic physics event, focussing on ballistics and projectiles.

Working in teams, students acted out the role of Police Forensic Firearms Examiners. They used two independent methods to measure the muzzle/launch energy of the following devices:

• Gundog trainer dummy
• Ball bearing gun
• Air rocket
• Laboratory projectile launcher

The activities were designed to be both fun and educationally valuable with strong links to the National Curriculum.

Since its successful launch, this event has been held on a number of occasions by CELS at NTU.