Nelson

Physics
HSC

Stuart Ryan
Janet Holmes
Contributing authors
Ray Martine
Alan Storen

8ljkiXc`X

9iXq`c

AXgXe

Bfi\X

D\o`Zf

J`e^Xgfi\

JgX`e

Le`k\[
B`e^[fd

Le`k\[
JkXk\j

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd i

6/23/09 9:10:25 PM

Physics Stage 6 HSC Course Student Book

1st Edition
Stuart Ryan
Janet Holmes
Publishing editor: Eleanor Gregory
Project editor: Katharine Day
Editor: Catherine Greenwood
Cover design: Santiago Villamizar
Cover image: Corbis Australia
Text design: Santiago Villamizar
Photo research: Lisa Piemonte
Production controller: Jo Vraca
Typeset by Macmillan Publishing Solutions

Any URLs contained in this publication were checked for

currency during the production process. Note, however,
that the publisher cannot vouch for the ongoing currency
of URLs.

2009 Cengage Learning Australia Pty Limited

Copyright Notice
This Work is copyright. No part of this Work may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior
written permission of the Publisher. Except as permitted under the
Copyright Act 1968, for example any fair dealing for the purposes of private
study, research, criticism or review, subject to certain limitations. These
limitations include: Restricting the copying to a maximum of one chapter or
10% of this book, whichever is greater; providing an appropriate notice and
warning with the copies of the Work disseminated; taking all reasonable
steps to limit access to these copies to people authorised to receive these
copies; ensuring you hold the appropriate Licences issued by the Copyright
Agency Limited (CAL), supply a remuneration notice to CAL and pay any
required fees. For details of CAL licences and remuneration notices please
contact CAL at Level 15, 233 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000,
Tel: (02) 9394 7600, Fax: (02) 9394 7601, Email: info@copyright.com.au,
Website: www.copyright.com.au

For product information and technology assistance,

in Australia call 1300 790 853;
in New Zealand call 0508 635 766
For permission to use material from this text
or product, please email aust.permissions@cengage.com
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Stuart Ryan, Janet Holmes.
Physics stage 6 HSC
1st ed.
9780170177931
Includes index.
For secondary school age.
Physics - Textbooks.
530

Cengage Learning Australia

Level 7, 80 Dorcas Street
South Melbourne, Victoria Australia 3205
Cengage Learning New Zealand
Unit 4B Rosedale Office Park
331 Rosedale Road, Albany, North Shore 0632, NZ
For learning solutions, visit cengage.com.au
Printed in China by China Translation & Printing Services.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 12 11 10 09

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd ii

6/23/09 9:53:54 PM

\\\\\

Contents
Introduction
About the authors
Acknowledgements

vi
vii
viii

Module 1 Space

Chapter 1 Gravity

1.1
Mass and weight
1.2
Gravitational fields
1.3
Gravitational potential energy
Summary of gravity
Review questions

Chapter 2 Projectiles
2.1
Projectile motion
2.2
Equations of motion
2.3
Motion in two dimensions
2.4
Projectile motion at an angle
Summary of projectiles
Review questions

Chapter 3 Spaceflight

3
4
7
9
9

11
12
13
16
20
27
27

29

3.1
Escape velocity
3.2
g-forces
3.3
Rotation of the Earth and rocket launch
3.4
Changing rocket acceleration
3.5
Uniform circular motion
3.6
Low-Earth and geostationary orbits
3.7
Keplers Law of Periods
3.8
Re-entry
Summary of spaceflight
Review questions

30
31
33
34
34
35
37
39
41
42

Chapter 4 Newtons laws of gravitation

44

4.1
Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation
4.2
Gravitational field
Summary of Newtons laws of gravitation
Review questions

45
46
49
49

Chapter 5 Einsteins Theory of Relativity

51

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7

Building on Newton
The aether
The MichelsonMorley experiment
Frames of reference and Galilean relativity
Einstein and the postulates of the Theory
of Special Relativity
Time dilation
Length contraction

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd iii

52
52
53
54
56
56
61

5.8
A further discussion on time
5.9
Mass and the ultimate speed
5.10 Mass and energy
Summary of Einsteins Theory of Relativity
Review questions

63
64
66
68
68

Module 2 Motors and generators

73

Chapter 6 The motor effect

74

6.1

Magnetic fields associated with electric

currents
6.2
The force on a current-carrying conductor
in a magnetic field
6.3
The force between two parallel current-carrying
conductors (Amperes Law)
6.4
Torque
6.5
Torque on a coil
6.6
The DC electric motor
6.7
Application of the motor effect: Galvanometers
and loudspeakers
Summary of the motor effect
Review questions

Chapter 7 Electromagnetic induction

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4

Michael Faraday
Magnetic flux and magnetic flux density
Electromagnetic induction
Generating a potential difference in a
loop of wire
7.5
Lenzs Law
7.6
Lenzs Law and the conservation of energy
7.7
Back emf
7.8
Eddy currents
7.9
AC electric motors
Summary of electromagnetic induction
Review questions

Chapter 8 Generators
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4

Generators
Generating electricity
Advantages of AC over DC
The impact of AC generators on society
and environment
8.5
The battle of the currents: Westinghouse
and Edison
8.6
Transmission of electricity
Summary of generators
Review questions

75
78
80
83
84
84
87
90
90

93
94
95
97
98
101
104
104
105
106
107
107

109
110
111
113
114
114
117
119
119

6/23/09 9:10:25 PM

Nelson Physics

iv

Stage 6 HSC

Chapter 9 Transformers
9.1
The transformer
9.2
Energy loss in transformers
9.3
Using transformers to supply electricity
Summary of transformers
Review questions

Module 3 From ideas to

implementation
Chapter 10 Cathode rays
10.1
10.2
10.3

History of cathode rays

Crookes experiment
The force on charged particles moving
in a magnetic field
10.4 Electric fields
10.5 Thomsons experiment
10.6 Cathode ray tubes
Summary of cathode rays
Review questions

Chapter 11 The photoelectric effect

11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.6

Electromagnetic waves
Hertzs experiment
Demonstration of the photoelectric effect
Planck and black body radiation
The photoelectric effect
The photoelectric effect and the classical
wave theory
11.7 Quantum theory
11.8 Quantum explanation of the photoelectric effect
11.9 Einsteins photoelectric equation
11.10 Planck and Einstein
Summary of the photoelectric effect
Review questions

Chapter 12 Semiconductors
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5

Conductivity
Band structure
Doping
Thermionic devices
Solid state devices replace thermionic
devices
12.6 Transistors
12.7 Applications of semiconductors in solar cells
Summary of semiconductors
Review questions

Chapter 13 Superconductors
13.1
13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6
13.7

Interference
Diffraction
The Braggs X-ray crystallography experiment
Crystal lattice structure of metals
Superconductors
BCS theory
Meissner effect

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd iv

121
122
124
124
126
126

127
128
129
130
131
134
136
137
139
139

142
143
143
145
146
146
147
148
150
151
153
154
154

157
158
158
159
160

13.8 Applications of superconductors

Summary of superconductors
Review questions

Option 1 Medical physics

176
179
179

181

Chapter 14 Ultrasound in medicine

182

14.1 Ultrasound
14.2 Piezoelectric effect
14.3 Acoustic impedance
14.4 Intensity ratio
14.5 Different types of scans
14.6 Doppler effect
Summary of ultrasound in medicine
Review questions

183
184
185
186
188
190
192
192

Chapter 15 Electromagnetic radiation

as a diagnostic tool
15.1 X-rays
15.2 Computed axial tomography scans
15.3 Endoscopes
Summary of electromagnetic radiation
as a diagnostic tool
Review questions

Chapter 16 Radioactivity as a
diagnostic tool
16.1 Radioactive isotopes and half-lives
16.2 Metabolism of radioactive isotopes
16.3 Positrons, electrons and gamma rays
16.4 Positron emission tomography
Summary of radioactivity as a diagnostic tool
Review questions

Chapter 17 Magnetic resonance

imaging as a diagnostic tool
17.1 Nuclei as small magnets
17.2 Spinning nuclei
17.3 Strong magnetic fields
17.4 Precessing and radio waves
17.5 MRI scans
17.6 Comparison of medical imaging techniques
Summary of magnetic resonance imaging
as a diagnostic tool
Review questions

195
196
198
200
202
202

204
205
206
207
208
210
210

212
213
213
214
215
216
217

161
162
165
166
166

Option 2 Astrophysics

168

Chapter 18 Observing the night sky

222

169
170
171
173
174
175
175

18.1 Astrophysics
18.2 Galileos telescope
18.3 Detecting wavebands
18.4 Resolution and sensitivity
18.5 Ground-based astronomy
Summary of observing the night sky
Review questions

223
224
226
227
229
232
232

219
219

221

6/23/09 9:10:34 PM

Contents

Chapter 19 Measurements of the night sky

234

19.1 Measurements of distance

19.2 Spectroscopy
19.3 Stellar spectra
19.4 Spectral classification
19.5 Other inferred information
19.6 Photometry
19.7 Spectroscopic parallax
19.8 Measuring colour and colour index
19.9 New technology
Summary of measurements of the
night sky
Review questions

235
239
239
242
243
245
247
249
251

Chapter 20 Binary and variable stars

257

20.1 Binary stars

20.2 Variable stars
20.3 Pulsating variable stars
Summary of binary and variable stars
Review questions

258
265
267
269
269

Chapter 21 Life cycle of stars

21.1 Stellar formation
21.2 Main sequence stars
21.3 Red giants
21.4 Star death
21.5 Open and globular clusters
Summary of life cycle of stars
Review questions

Option 3 From quanta to quarks

Chapter 22 Models of the atom
22.1 Thomsons plum pudding model
22.2 Rutherfords model
22.3 Difficulties with Rutherfords model
22.4 Bohrs model
22.5 Balmer and Rydbergs equations
22.6 Energy levels of hydrogen
22.7 Limitations of Bohrs model
Summary of models of the atom
Review questions

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd v

253
253

271
272
275
278
281
286
288
289

291
292
293
293
294
297
298
299
300
301
301

Chapter 23 Quantum physics

23.1
23.2
23.3

De Broglies matter waves

Diffraction and interference
Experimental evidence for de Broglies
matter waves
Summary of quantum physics
Review questions

Chapter 24 Nuclear physics

24.1 Discovery of radioactivity
24.2 The atom
24.3 Discovery of the neutron
24.4 Naturally occurring radiation
24.5 Detecting radiation
24.6 Radioactive decay
24.7 Why are nuclei unstable?
24.8 Discovery of nuclear fission
24.9 Nuclear fission and chain reactions
24.10 Energy from nuclear reactions
24.11 The Manhattan Project
Summary of nuclear physics
Review questions

Chapter 25 Applications of nuclear

physics and the standard model of matter
25.1 Nuclear reactors
25.2 Basic principles of a nuclear reactor
25.3 Nuclear power
25.4 Applications of radioisotopes
25.5 Neutron scattering
25.6 Particle accelerators
25.7 The standard model of matter
Summary of applications of nuclear physics
and the standard model of matter
Review questions

Appendices
Answers
Glossary
Index

303
304
306
306
309
309

310
311
312
313
315
316
317
319
321
322
323
324
326
326

329
330
331
334
336
339
339
341
343
343

345
359
372
377

6/23/09 9:10:36 PM

\\\\\\

Introduction
Nelson Physics Stage 6 HSC has been authored to specifically meet all
the requirements of the Board of Studies Stage 6 Physics syllabus.
The text includes features designed to engage, challenge and extend
students in meaningful learning experiences. These features offer students
the opportunity to learn in different ways as they explore the exciting and
dynamic study of physics.

Knowledge and understanding are listed at the beginning of each

chapter.
Problem sets appear throughout the body of each chapter. The graded
questions enable students to develop their understanding of the concepts
of physics and to build up the required skills. Problems are written using
the Board of Studies verbs, providing students with valuable experience
in answering exam-style questions.
New terms are highlighted in the text and are accompanied by a margin
glossary as well as an end-of-book glossary.
Clear worked examples show students how to set out and solve examstyle problems.
Icons link the student to first hand investigations, secondary information
and problem solving activities in Practical Physics for senior students
HSC. These activities satisfy all the practical and problem solving
requirements of the Stage 6 Physics HSC syllabus.
End-of-chapter summaries present the key points of the chapter and
provide a basis for revision.
End-of-chapter review questions enable students to consolidate and
revise the knowledge and understanding, and skills taught in each
chapter.

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd vi

Student CD-ROM
A student CD-ROM is provided in the back of each textbook. This contains
a PDF version of the textbook. By clicking on an icon in the PDF version
students will be taken to:
Test Yourself at the end of each module and option provides students
with 20 auto-correcting multiple-choice questions complete with an
explanation of the answer and page reference to textbook.
Word Check activities at the end of each module and option
enable students to further their understanding and reinforce their
knowledge of key physics terms in each chapter.
MP4 Podcast Revision at the end of each module and option are
downloadable to an MP3 or MP4 player and enable students to
revise physics any time, any where.
Videolinks take students to relevant YouTube videos that engage
students and bring physics alive. Clicking on the videolink icon will
take students to a page on the Cengage website where they will
further link to the YouTube video. If your school blocks YouTube
videos or to keep the links current, it is highly recommended
that the teacher download the videos to a TeacherTube (www
.teachertube.com) or VodPod (www.vodpod.com) site. Cengage
will make every effort to keep these links current.
Also provided on the Student CD-ROM is a copy of LoggerPro 3.6 to assist
students with data collection and analysis.

6/23/09 9:10:38 PM

\\\\\ About

the Authors

Stuart Ryan is an experienced classroom physics teacher having taught

for almost 20 years in both government and independent schools in
New South Wales. He has a Masters Degree in Educational Studies and
is currently the co-ordinator of Physics at Shore School. He recently coauthored Practical Physics for Senior Students for the Peliminary and HSC
courses. Stuart would like to thank his wife, Ariana, and children Bethany
and Jack for their understanding and support.

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd vii

Janet Holmes has a BSc DipEd from Sydney University. She is an experienced
classroom physics teacher with a passion for the practical application of
mathematics in the physical world. She has taught at a variety of schools
both in private and public education. She is currently the Senior Physics
teacher at Mulwaree High School in Goulburn NSW. Janet has an enthusiasm
for the facilitation of learning in young people and providing the educational
experiences and resources needed to reach their full potential.

6/23/09 9:10:40 PM

\\\\\\

Acknowledgements
The authors and publishers would like gratefully to credit or acknowledge
the following sources for permission to use copyright material.
Alan Storen: p. 316; Arnold Reinhold: p. 124; The Cathode Ray Tube sit
http://members.chello.nl/h.dijkstra19: p. 131; Cengage Learning Australia,
Practical Physics for Senior Students by Roberson et al 2008. Reprinted
with permission of Cengage Learning Australia Pty Ltd: pp. 88, 129/
Cengage Learning Australia/Lisa Piemonte: p. 125 (bottom right); CMS
Collaboration: p. 341 (centre right); Corbis Australia: p. 199 (bottom),
223 (top right), 223 (bottom left), 228, 325 (bottom left); CSIRO's Australia
Telescope Compact Array Photo: D. Smyth: p. 231; Education Development
Center, Inc.: pp. 169, 171, 172; Educational Outreach/Cavendish
Laboratory University of Cambridge/Department of Physics, University of
Cambridge: p. 136; Internet Encyclopedia of Science/David Darling:
p. 248; iStockphoto: pp. 93, 121, 128, 157, 182, 204, 291, 292, 310,
342 (right)/ Diego Barucco: p. 221/Omas Bercic: p. 168/ Karl Dolenc: p. 1/
Bojan Fatur: p. 75 (bottom right)/ Rui Frias: p. 73/ Aaliya Landholt: p. 212/
Philip Lange: p. 329/ Dave Long: p. 2/ Albert Lozano: p. 161 (left)/ Andrei
Malov: p. 181/ Steve Mann: p. 74/Christian MateiCevdet: p. 44/ muratseyit:
p. 198/ Gkhan Palas: p. 11/ Damian Palus: p. 127/ Christopher Pattberg:
p. 197 (top right)/ David Peeters: p. 183 (right)/ Nick Schlax: p. 303/
Gregory Spencer: p. 109/ Sandeep Subba: p. 6/ technotr: p. 12 (bottom)/
Luis Carlos Torres: p. 142/ Maria Toutoudaki: p. 195/ Sze Fei Wong:
p. 51; Jupiterimages Corporation: pp. 12 (top), 30 (bottom), 75 (top right),
94 (top left), 94 (centre), 118, 164, 183 (left), 186, 189, 223 (top right
inset), 322, 330; Mai-Linh Doan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Meissner_
effect_p1390048.jpg: p. 176; Mtodorov 69 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
File:Induction-motor-3a.gif: p. 106; NASA: pp. 4, 29, 40, 222, 225, 266,

00 PHYSICS STAGE 6 HSC SB PRE.indd viii

271, 272, 273, 278, 282/ AURA/ STScI/ NASA: p. 287 (top right)/ NASA/
CXC/PSU/G. Pavlov et al.: p. 285/ NASA/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al.: p. 283/
NASA, ESA and AURA/Caltech: p. 286/ NASA, H.E. Bond and E. Nelan
(Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.); M. Barstow and M.
Burleigh (University of Leicester, U.K.) and J.B. Holberg: p. 258/ NASA, Jeff
Hester and Paul Scowen Arizona State University: p. 230/ NASA/MSFC: p.
34/ NASA/Tod Strohmayer (GSFC)/Dana Berry (Chandra X-ray Observatory):
p. 257; Newspix/Simon Benson: p. 336; Ojibberish/Wikimedia http://
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diode_tube_schematic.svg: p. 161
(right); Photolibrary: pp. 52, 75 (bottom left), 89, 146, 162, 177, 178, 191,
196, 201, 209, 216, 217, 224, 234, 235, 236, 259, 294, 296, 297, 304,
308, 311, 325 (top right), 338; Shutterstock/ Zhiltsov Alexandr: p. 163/
bravajulia: p. 197 (bottom)/ Susan Law Cain: p. 200/ Mikael Damkier:
p. 190/ Marcel Jancovic: p. 3 (left)/ Li Wa: p. 199 (top)/ Phillip Minnis:
p. 125 (left)/ reporter: p. 125 (top right)/ Dennis Tokarzewski: p. 165/
WizData, Inc.: p. 3 (right); US Library of Congress: pp. 115, 116; Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NewtonCannon.svg: p. 31; Wikipedia/Arpad
Horvath http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quark_structure_proton.svg:
p. 342 (left); Wikipedia/MissMJ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Standard_
Model_of_Elementary_Particles.svg : p. 341 (bottom right).
Every attempt has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright holders.
Where the attempt has been unsuccessful, the publisher welcomes
information that would redress the situation.
The publishers would like to acknowledge Peter Roberson for his
assistance and contributions to Stuart Ryan during the authoring and
development process.

6/23/09 9:10:42 PM