Physics Professional Development Program From Study Design to Course Plan: Unit 1 Scheduling

There are a number of choices as to how the Areas of Study can be combined and sequenced. For example you could merge Energy from the nucleus and Nuclear and radioactivity physics and start the year with the nature of atom. Alternatively, while the nights are still warm begin the year with Astronomy. The Area of Study Wave-like properties of light has a substantial amount of content. You may wish to cover it in two sections with one of the other Areas of Study in between.

Time Constraints and Solutions

Student do a Practical Investigation as one of the assessment Tasks. This is likely to require about 2 weeks. The class time available for the teaching of the content of Unit 1 is about 12 - 13 weeks, allowing two weeks for the Practical Investigation, one week for revision and preparation for a June Examination. The Study Design specifies four weeks for the Detailed Study, Nuclear and radioactivity physics could be covered in about 3 weeks, leaving about 6 weeks for Wavelike properties of Light

Topics for Assessment Tasks

Practical Investigation (student designed or adapted) In this Unit students do a practical investigation as an assessment task. For this task they identify discrete and continuous variables, select at least one relevant independent variable and recognise controlled variables. They also apply a given method to control of variables and collect relevant data. They also record raw qualitative and quantitative data and present processed data, including correct use of units, appropriately. They use appropriate materials, apparatus and measurement procedures to ensure reliability in the data. They recognise sources of error and uncertainty. The two main Areas of Study and the Detailed Study, Astronomy, allow scope for topics for investigation. Examples include: The sensitivity of the eye Caustic curves Optical activity of sodium chlorate Moire fringes Sellotape and polarised light Brewsters angle Colours of the rainbow Range of alpha particles in air with pressure Patterns in stressed materials Range of beta particles in metals Depth of focus of a microscope Natural radioactivity in plants Light scattering and polarised light Radon collection in buildings Double refraction of Iceland spar Sources of background radiation Multimedia presentation or a report (written, oral, annotated visual) Design of a Telescope Copernican Revolution Design of a Microscope Galileos optics and discoveries Theatre lighting A medical case history Design of spectacles A day in the life of a medical physicist Uses of radioisotopes in industry How does ultrasound work? Use of radioisotopes in medicine Prospects for nuclear energy? Sources of environmental radiation Likelihood of sustained fusion?

Data analysis Refractive index of materials Randomness of radioactive decay Half-life experiments

Range of alpha particles Lunar position data Planetary position data

Response to a media article (possible topics and sources) Colour in nature Historical extracts from Copernicus, etc Uses of Polarised light Telescope brochures Optical fibres Articles on medical technologies EM spectrum Nuclear energy applications Radioactive dating methods Strategies for fusion Environmental radiation exposure

Integrating Medical Physics with Wave-like properties of light and Nuclear and radioactivity physics
The Area of Study Medical physics includes a variety of medical technologies that can be referred to in either of the main Areas of Study. For example: Medical Physics 1. Application of radioisotopes 2. Operation of optical fibres as endoscopes 3. Use of laser treatments 13. Behaviour of light in light optical fibres 5. Visible light as part of em spectrum 4. Medical imaging: ultrasound 2. Wave behaviour X-rays, CT 5. Images produced by: ultrasound X-rays, CT, MRI, PET 2. Wave behaviour 3. Particle model of the nucleus Wave-like properties of light Nuclear and radioactivity physics 4. Effects of radiation on humans

3. Particle model of the nucleus

Unit 1: A sample Course Plan with the Areas of Study done separately
Wave-like properties of light Weeks 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.8 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 7. 8. Key Knowledge and Skills Concepts Summary Practical Activities Action model describe calculate identify apply explain describe describe evaluate describe apply calculate describe interpret describe Demo: Types of waves Demo: Microwave apparatus Demo: Polarisation of Light Demo: Colour effects due to interference, etc Pracs: Plane mirrors, Concave mirrors and Convex lenses Prac: Snells Law Demo: Dispersion Demo: Optical fibre

Nature of waves Properties and examples of waves Wave equation Light as transverse em radiation Wave model and light Models of light Polarisation of light Colour and colour effects including interference effects

9. Strengths and limitation of the wave model of light 10. Ray model of light as derived from wave model 11. Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection 12. Snells law and refractive index 13. Dispersion 14. Light pipes and optical fibres as TIR 15.Material and modal dispersion in optical fibres Revision, Tests, Assessment

Total 6 weeks

Nuclear and radioactivity physics Weeks 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4

Key Knowledge and Skills Concepts Summary 3. Origin of , and radiation and particle model of nucleus 1. Models of nuclear and radioactivity physics 6. Nuclear transformations and decay series 2. Radioactive decay as a random decay with a half-life 1. Models of nuclear and radioactivity physics 4. Effects of , and radiation on humans 8. Data on nuclear and radioactivity physics from a database 5. Effects of ionising radiation on organisms and the environment 8. Data on nuclear and radioactivity physics from a database 7. Natural and artificial isotopes 9. Sources of bias and error in media articles Revision, Test, Assessment Detailed Studies

Practical Activities Action apply describe model describe select describe select describe identify Demo: radioactive sources

Prac: half-life of dice, Prac: half-life of a radioactive source IT: database IT: database

Time: 3 weeks Astronomy Weeks 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 Key Knowledge and Skills Concepts Summary 1. Positions of celestial objects on a standard grid 2. Diurnal and annual motion of the stars and planets as seen from Earth 3. Telescopic observations of changes to celestial objects 4. Early geocentric models of the Universe and the epicycle orbits of the planets 5. Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system and its effect 6. Galileos observations of the moon, etc to heliocentric interpretation 7. Discovery by telescope of new celestial objects 8. Telescopes: purpose, optical system, mount and data collection system 9. Astronomical data from a database Revision, Test, Assessment Practical Activities Action plot describe describe describe describe relate describe assess select IT: Simulations IT: Simulations

Time: 4 weeks

Medical physics Weeks 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.5

Key Knowledge and Skills Concepts Summary 1. Applications of radioisotopes 6. Responsible practices in the use of radioactive materials 2. Operation of optical fibres as endoscopes and other applications Properties of laser beam 3. Use of laser treatments Physics of two or more of ultrasound, X-rays and CT 4. Medical imaging with two or more of ultrasound, X-rays and CT 5. Images produced by ultrasound, X-rays, CT, MRI and PET Revision, Test, Assessment

Practical Activities Action describe use explain evaluate describe interpret Demo: X-ray from Maltese Cross apparatus Excursion: Hospital visit

Total: 4 weeks Energy from the nucleus Weeks 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.5 Key Knowledge and Skills Concepts Summary 1. Nuclear model of the atom, nuclear particles, stability and forces 3. Nuclear fission reactions of U235 1. Energy balance of fission reactions 4. Neutron absorption in U238 to form Pu239 3. Nuclear fission of Pu239 5. Fission chain reactions, criticality, and neutron absorption and moderation 6. Energy transformation for power generation 7. Risks and benefits of nuclear energy 8. Computer simulations of an aspect of nuclear power 2. Nuclear fusion, conditions and energy released 1. Energy balance in fusion reactions Revision, Test, Assessment Practical Activities Action apply explain apply describe explain model, describe describe evaluate analyse explain, apply

Total 4 weeks

New Equipment Needs

Area of Study Wave-like properties of light Nuclear and radioactivity physics Astronomy Equipment Polaroid filters, light pipes, optical fibre Half-life source Telescopes, different mounts and optical systems, including one of quality)

Addressing the Risk and Safety Dot Points

These could be covered by including relevant material within prac notes distributed to students. Wave-like properties of Light: If lasers used (NHMRC booklet on laser radiation, now responsibility of ARPANSA, No: 6, www.arpansa.gov.au) Nuclear and radioactivity physics: effects of radiation exposure (NHMRC booklet on ionising radiation, now responsibility of ARPANSA, No: 19) Astronomy: Warning on using telescopes to look at sun Medical physics: effects of radiation exposure (NHMRC booklet on ionising radiation, ARPANSA, No: 19)