Choosing the Option

1. Choosing the Option A2 Physics – Unit 5

2. Options (Unit 5 PHA5A-5D) • Unit 5A Astrophysics • Unit 5B Medical Physics • Unit 5C Applied Physics • Unit 5D Turning Points in Physics

3. Unit 5A Astrophysics • Telescope  Bit dry?, but not too hard. • Classification of stars  Talks about different types of stars. Gets interesting in bit about Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Supernovae. • Cosmology  Large scale Astronomy, Universe Expanding forever? • Pros  Teacher’s Specialism, Cool Stuff about Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Supernovae • Cons  Quite specialised, doesn’t have overall application to other areas of physics like say applied.

4. Unit 5B Medical Physics • Body Mechanics • Physics of Vision, Hearing • The Heart • X-ray Imaging, Ultrasound, MRI • Endoscopy • Biological Effects of Radiation • Pros  Nice link up with Biology, Medicine. Looks lighter on the Maths side if you find that part difficult. • Cons  Out of the 4, your teacher knows the least. Quite specialised like Astrophysics.

5. Unit 5C Applied Physics • Rotational Dynamics  Useful but tricky • Thermodynamics and Engines  can be tricky and a bit dry. • Pros  If you are going to study Physics at Uni this would give you the largest head start, supports other areas of physics. • Cons  Some parts are tricky mathematically, others conceptually, a bit dry.

6. Unit 5D Turning Points in Physics • Discovery of Electron • Wave-Particle Duality • Special Relativity! Interesting but tricky • Pros  Interesting topic, Special Relativity is important Einstein stuff that is interesting. • Cons  Again quite specialised, re-visits some already covered ground – bit repetitive in places? Descriptive?

7. Now Vote! • One Vote Each:- • One with the most votes wins.

8. Practical Skills Verification (PSV) Added only a few days ago… • Determination of the specific heat capacity of a solid (can do this next week). • Measuring the absorption of beta or gamma radiation by aluminium or lead leading to a determination of the half-value thickness. (can do this next week too).

9. Practical Skills Verification (PSV) • Also on the list… • Use of data logging in any of the above contexts; analysis of the outcome using a pc-based spreadsheet. • We could, in theory, get this all done and dusted next week – will everyone be here?

10. Absorption Experiment Vary the thickness of the absorbing material and plot count-rate versus thickness.