VCE Physics

Unit 1

Unit 1: Areas of Study• Wave-like Properties of Light (10 weeks)

• Nuclear and Radioactivity Physics ( 2 weeks)

• Energy from the Nucleus (3 weeks)

Wave-like

Properties

of

Light

Wave-like Properties of LightKey Knowledge and Skills

• What can Light do?

• Describing Waves

• Using the Wave model to explain what Light can do

• What else could Light do?

Use the ray model of light to

• describe the reflection of light from plane and curved mirrors

• explain the formation of images by mirrors and determine their properties

• describe the refraction of light by different media• calculate angles and refractive indices using

Snell’s Law

Use the ray model of light to

• explain the formation of images by lenses• explain the operation of optical fibres as repeated

internal reflection• describe colour dispersion in prisms and lenses• describe the dispersion problems of optical fibres

Better Models of Light

Describe the nature, types and properties of waves

• model waves as the transfer of energy without matter transfer

• describe the two types of waves: transverse and longitudinal

• describe waves in terms of particle motion and direction of propagation, amplitude, wavelength and period and frequency

• use the wave equation v = f

Use the wave model of light to

• explain properties of light such as refraction and dispersion

• identify visible light as part of the electromagnetic spectrum

Use the wave model of light to

• describe the polarisation of light and its support for the transverse wave model for light

• describe interference effects

Practical Activities: Demos, Round robins, Expts, Investigations

Wave-like Properties of Light• Round robin of introductory activities• Images in Plane Mirrors• Focal length of a Concave Mirror• Focal length of a Soup Spoon• Snell’s Law• Focal length of a Convex Lens• Refraction of Particles

Practical Activities: Demos, Round robins, Expts, Investigations

Wave-like Properties of Light (ctd)

• Waves on a spring

• Refraction of Waves

• Polaroid Filters

• Brewster’s angle

• Interference of Light demonstrations

Practical Activities: Demos, Round robins, Expts, Investigations

Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

• Radioactive sources (range and absorption)

• Half life of Dice

• Half Life of Protactinium

Energy from the Nucleus

Resources

Applets

Lenses & mirrors (hazelwood)

Both lens and mirror types are possible. The focal lengths are adjustable. The applet offers the source of a parallel beams, an object or a point source. The beam of several parallel rays can both be moved and tilted. The point source also has several rays. The object has just the standard three rays. The change of lens or mirror is done by moving the position of the focus through to the other side. This is the most versatile applet.

Resources: Applets

Nuclear Reactor

Fusion Reactor

Assessment Tasks

Possible Practical Investigations

Optical fibres

• How does signal output vary with bending?

Polarisation

• Birefringence of sticky tape

• Scattered sunlight

Colour

• Refractive indices of different colours for water

Assessment Tasks

Possible Practical Investigations

Radioactivity

• Sources of natural radioactivity

• Radon in the classroom

• Range of alpha and beta particles

Other Assessment Tasks

“identify sources of bias and error ….”

Such articles could form the basis of:

•A multimedia presentation,

•A response to a media article or

•A written report

A useful source of such articles on Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy is Nuclear: Organizations

Depth of Treatment?

• “model wave behaviour as transfer of energy …” Should sound be described?

• “apply a wave model of energy transfer to visible light and the em spectrum”

Should the Maxwell model of crossed electric and magnetic fields be described?

Depth of Treatment?

• “describe the colour components of white light and colour effects including interference effects …”

What other colour effects should be covered?

Should interference be explained as cancellation and reinforcement due to path difference?

Depth of Treatment?

• “evaluate the strengths and limitations of a wave model ..” What are the limitations of the wave model? Is it the need for a medium?

• “apply a ray model to … reflection, refraction, …”

Does this include lenses and mirrors?

Depth of Treatment?

• “apply the nuclear model … stability of nuclei, … strong nuclear forces …”

What depth of treatment is appropriate?

• “explain nuclear fusion …” How deep?