On Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 11th of April, three level 2 physics classes split up and attended a day trip to Rutherford’s Den and to the University of Canterbury's Science department to learn about nuclear physics.

On Wednesday morning, we started off the morning standing in the rain waiting for a bus and then once a bus had arrived, we caught it into town and from there we walked to the Arts Centre, which used to be known as Canterbury College. 

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed into an old lecture theatre and as soon as we had settled in we started a quiz about the history of Lord Ernest Rutherford. 

During the rest of our time there, we were shown where Ernest carried out his experiments, we were taught about the famous experiments that he carried out, and about how he helped to shape our understanding of physics today. 

It was really interesting as there was a bunch of interactive activities that we had the chance to play with and it helped put what we had been learning in class into perspective. 

Once we had finished up at Rutherford’s Den, we bussed to the University of Canterbury where we had the chance to carry out experiments using different equipment and radioactive substances — we also had the opportunity to hold uranium rods that were used in an experimental nuclear power plant a while ago.

Overall, even though the day was wet and cold, the physics students had a great day and learned a lot about radioactivity and nuclear physics.