Physics Professional Development Program From Study Design To Course Plan: Unit 1 Scheduling
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.
Data analysis Refractive index of materials Randomness of radioactive decay Half-life experiments
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
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