astronomy

Rodney Jory

Rodney Jory is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Rodney Jory rather than just read about it. In short: Rodney Leonard (Rod) Jory AM, (26 November 1938 – 14 October 2021), was an Australian physicist noted for establishing and running the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF/NSSS) and for his contributions to Australian teams which have competed at the International Physics Olympiad. He retired from the position of director of the NYSF in January 2005.

Key takeaways

Rodney Jory belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Rodney Jory to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Rodney Jory from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Rodney Leonard (Rod) Jory AM, (26 November 1938 – 14 October 2021), was an Australian physicist noted for establishing and running the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF/NSSS) and for his contributions to Australian teams which have competed at the International Physics Olympiad. He retired from the position of director of the NYSF in January 2005. He died in 2021 in Merimbula, New South Wales, at the age of 82.

Education Born and bred in Adelaide, after beginning his high schooling at Woodville High School (1951), Professor Jory then attended Prince Alfred College (1952–1955). His university education began at the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science degree with honours (1956–1960). This was followed with a PhD from The Australian National University (1960–1964). His PhD was completed under the guidance of Professor L. G. H. Huxley and Dr R. W. Crompton, initially at the University of Adelaide and then transferring to the Australian National University. The research focussed on the drift velocities and diffusion coefficients of electrons in nitrogen, hydrogen and helium.

University career Professor Jory has taught at a number of Australian and overseas universities, most extensively at The Australian National University and the University of Canberra. His career history is as follows:

1964, technical assistant, Research School of Physical Sciences, Australian National University 1965, senior demonstrator, Department of Physics, Australian National University 1965–1966, research associate, Florida State University 1967–1968, lecturer, University of Liverpool 1969, lecturer, University of New England 1970–1973, senior lecturer, Canberra College of Advanced Education 1974–1984, registrar, Canberra College of Advanced Education 1985–1989, principal lecturer, Canberra College of Advanced Education 1989–?, visiting fellow, Australian National University 1990–?, associate professor, University of Canberra 2006, visiting lecturer, University of Sussex 2007, visiting lecturer, University of Vienna 2008, professor University of British Columbia

NSSS / NYSF In Australia, Professor Jory is well known for his involvement with the National Science Summer School (which was renamed the National Youth Science Forum in 1996). He assumed the role of director at its inception, and stayed in that position for 21 years (1984–2005).

Major awards 1990, Rotary District 9710 Vocational Excellence Medal for work as Director of the NSSS since 1984. 1992, Rotary International Certificate of Appreciation and Commendation for exemplary service to the Programs of Rotary. 1997, Member of the Order of Australia (AM). 1997, Australian Institute of Physics Award for Outstanding Service to Physics in Australia 1999, finalist in The Michael Daley Eureka Prize for the Promotion of Science, awarded by the Australian Museum.

Miscellaneous Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics ACT Justice of the Peace Flying Officer, (RAAF), retired Executive member, Australian Soccer Federation, various years, 1960–1979

Scientific publications Jory, R.; Crompton, R. W. (1962). "On the Swarm Method for Determining the Ratio of Electron Drift Velocity to Diffusion Coefficient". Aust. J. Phys. 15 (4): 451. Bibcode:1962AuJPh..15..451C. doi:10.1071/PH620451. Jory, R.; Rees, J. A. (1964). "The Diffusion of Electrons in Dry, Carbon Dioxide Free Air". Aust. J. Phys. 17 (3): 307. Bibcode:1964AuJPh..17..307R. doi:10.1071/PH640307. Jory, Rodney (June 1965). The motion of electrons in crossed electric and magnetic fields. Canberra: Australian National University. Jory, R. (1965). "Transport Coefficients for Low Energy Electrons in Crossed Electric and Magnetic Fields". Aust. J. Phys. 18 (3): 237. Bibcode:1965AuJPh..18..237J. doi:10.1071/PH650237. Jory, R.; Rees, J. A. & Crompton, R. W. (1965). "The Diffusion and Attachment of Electrons in Water Vapour". Aust. J. Phys. 18 (6): 541. Bibcode:1965AuJPh..18..541C. doi:10.1071/PH650541.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Jory, R. & Crompton, R. W. (1965). "The Momentum-Transfer Cross Section for Low Energy Electrons in Helium". Proc. 4th International Conference on Physics of Electronic and Atomic Collisions. Quebec. Jory, R.; Crompton, R. W. & Elford, M. T. (1967). "The Momentum Transfer Cross Section for Electrons in Helium". Aust. J. Phys. 20 (4): 369. Bibcode:1967AuJPh..20..369C. doi:10.1071/PH670369.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Press articles The Australian National University media release 28 January 1997 Rotary Down Under issue No 447 December 2003 January 2004

See also National Youth Science Forum International Physics Olympiad

References Member of the Order of Australia, awarded Australia Day, 1997. The Michael Daley Eureka Prize for the Promotion of Science, 1999 finalist.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Rodney Jory

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Rodney Jory claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Rodney Jory before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Rodney Jory ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Rodney Jory

In research: Rodney Jory appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Rodney Jory in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Rodney Jory is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1938 births, 2021 deaths, Academic staff of the Australian National University, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Rodney Jory outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Rodney Jory in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Rodney Jory means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Rodney Jory out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rodney Jory in simple terms?

Why does Rodney Jory matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Rodney Jory?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Rodney Jory.