Welcome to A-Level Physics! • Physics is regarded as the most fundamental of the sciences. It deals with matter and energy, with scales from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the size of the Universe. In A-Level physics students will learn about fundamental physical concepts and about physics in everyday and technological settings. • This “virtual” induction is designed to answer some of your questions about the A-level physics course and for you to try out some tasks to help you prepare for the start of the course.
A-level Physics Introduction • The next few slides contain information on the course structure and content. • Following that are three induction activities to complete, linked to the topics in Year 12. Please work through these at your own pace. For help or further information about A-level physics please contact: Mrs Cooper (until 31 st August 2020) scooper@saltashcloud.net Mrs Bovey nbovey@saltashcloud.net Mrs Blackmore lblackmore@saltashcloud.net
EdExcel Salters-Horners Approach Year 1 • Higher, Faster Stronger – Mechanics • The Sound of Music – waves • Good Enough to Eat – viscosity and materials • Technology in Space – circuits and materials • Digging up the Past – circuits and light • Spare Part Surgery – materials and optics Year 2 • Transport on Track – momentum and electromagnetism • The Medium is the Message – Capacitance and induction • Probing the Heart of Matter – particle physics • Build or Bust – simple harmonic motion • Reach for the Stars – Gravity, stars, cosmology and nuclear physics
Expectations – An ideal physics student would • Be hard working • Have an enquiring and questioning approach • Meet all deadlines • Be resourceful and independent • Constantly review and reflect on progress and seek ways to improve. • Persevere, especially when the going gets tough • Be interested in physics! • Communicate ideas clearly • Have a practical, hands on approach • Have a positive attitude
Assessment Structure A-level: • 100% of the assessment will take place at the end of Year 13 in 3 final examinations. • Exams will be a mixture of multiple choice and extended answer questions, along with questions on investigative techniques and practical work. • There is no coursework. All students will complete the “Practical Endorsement”: Required practical work completed throughout the course. Knowledge and understanding of practical techniques will be assessed in the exam papers. Year 12 The content in Year 12 will be assessed in two internal progression examinations at the end of Year 12. Each paper will be 50% of the grade with content split between them. NOTE: The expectation will be that students MUST pass the Year 12 progression tests in order to continue with the A-level course.
Being Prepared Always bring… • Pens, pencils, rulers, protractor • Scientific calculator • A folder to keep homework/notes organised You will be provided with: • Textbook (revision guide) • Exercise books (for organising class notes) – these can be hole-punched to go into your folders • Practical Endorsement folder (this stays in school and all of your practical work is kept organised in here)
Lessons and homework Class based learning will include: • Teacher led instructions and explanations of content • Opportunities to practice applying concepts to questions • Discussions and activities to check understanding • Practical and investigative activities Home based learning will include: • Regular written tasks with exam questions (set on SMH) • Completing analysis and evaluation of practical work for the Practical Endorsement folder • Pre-learning tasks where you will research and read information on a topic before starting it in class.
The next few slides contain tasks and activities for you to complete as part of your introduction to A-level physics. Do your best to start “thinking like a physicist” as you work through them.
Thinking Like a Physicist • A key skill for a physicist to develop is to take physics rules and ideas that they are already familiar with and use them to explain or interpret new situations • You have already studied GCSE physics, so the following tasks are about applying GCSE physics ideas to new situation. • The following tasks are safe to carry out at home, but please do take care and be sensible. If you are unable to carry out the tasks, then look up
Induction Task 1: Collision Forces and Impact The force felt by an object in a collision is the rate of change of • momentum This is sometimes called impact. • Force = Change in Momentum Time Taken F = mv t Collisions: The FORCE experienced in an impact depends on TWO things 1. The velocity before the collision 2. The TIME taken for the person to stop
Task 1: Answer the questions below in sentences 1. Name three car safety features that help to prevent injury in the event of collision. 2. State what is meant by “impact” 3. Write down the equation that relates force, change in momentum and time. 4. a) Calculate the force if the change in momentum was 750kg.m/s and the time taken was 0.2 seconds. (show your workings!) b) Calculate the force is the change in momentum was 750kg.m/s and the time taken was 0.4 seconds c) Explain how increasing the time affects the force. 5. Select a car safety feature. Describe how it works and EXPLAIN how it reduces the risk of injury in a collision using ideas about force and momentum.
Task 2: Chose one of the options below to complete Option 1: Save the egg! **Please check with the adults at home that Option 2: Car Safety you are allowed to do this and be aware of Pick a type of car that you are interested in. You may wish to your safety at all times** chose a family car, your dream car, a racing car, rally car etc. 1. Take a raw egg and design/make Research how “safe” the car you have chosen is and produce protection around it (think along the lines a piece of work reporting on this of air bags and crumple zone). Use whatever materials you have Ways of presenting your research: *Put a picture of the car in the centre of a page and label and (paper/tissue etc) annotate the features 2. See how far you can throw your *Produce a short video advertising how safe the car is Talk protected egg onto a hard surface about and point to the safety features (easiest if you have without it breaking (eg drop it from waist chosen a car your family owns!) height, holding above your head etc) *Write a newspaper style article/advertisement highlighting the safety features. 3. Vary the thickness of the protection to see what effect it has. The type of safety features you should find out about include 4. Write a short report (include a picture!) airbags, roll bars, side impact bars, crumple zones, seat belts (racing/rally cars have special types of seatbelt) showing what you have found out and Additionally if you have chosen a car that is driven on the road explaining how your protection works in you can research the “NCAP” rating of the car, and explain terms of force and change in momentum. what it means. You could also look at how child car seats are designed for safety and find out about isofix systems
Induction Task 2: The Reversing arrow Trick • The link below is for the Institute of Physics “Do try this at home” page. There are several activities that you can try, but in particular, read through number 4, “reversing arrow” and try setting this up. • Draw a diagram to show how the experiment works and why the arrow reverses. • Use ideas about light rays and lenses to explain what happens. https://beta.iop.org/athome If you are unable to try out this activity, revise the topic of lenses and light. Write out the definition of refraction and draw diagrams to show how lenses work and how images are formed.
Induction Task 3: What is Viscosity? Viscosity is a quantity that represents a fluids resistance to flow. The more viscous a fluid is, the slower its rate of flow. The viscosity of a fluid depends on the intermolecular forces between the molecules. This can be affected by temperature.
Induction Task 3: Comparing Viscosity If you are unable to do this investigation , research the topic of viscosity and make notes on methods for measuring the viscosity of liquids and why it is important in the food industry. Practical Investigation into viscosity • Your task is to compare the viscosity of liquids in your home. Please take care when doing this practical You will need the following in order to try this practical • 3 or 4 thick liquids. Please select food based items. Check the adults in your household are happy for you to use the food items. Suitable liquids for viscosity experiments are: cooking oils, honey, treacle, golden syrup, sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise etc • A stopwatch or timer (most phones can do this) • A ruler and a protractor • A smooth flat surface (for example a smooth tray or dinner plate)
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