
Here is a little video to remind you of the relationships required at AH. See below for updates
Please note




Using John Sharkey’s Flash Learning this video covers the required Virtual CfE Advanced Higher Physics Equations. NB there are some updates to equations since this material was produced.
Using John Sharkey’s Flash Learning Virtual CfE Advanced Higher Physics these videos cover all of the unit Rotational Motion and Astrophysics. Note there have been a few changes to the Course Specifications since these were produced.
Here are some of the recordings from Virtual Flash Learning for the Rotational Motion Section. Turn off the volume if you dont want to hear from me.
This one has audio but you can switch it off.
Note in the Stellar Physics video the equation for Apparent Brightness has now been changed see below
Resources: Notes and video (flash learning AH CfE Virtual Physics)
Read the notes, watch the video and answer the questions below, in a way that makes them form a good note about the subject.
Here is a nice little video on Standing Waves. Standing waves are formed when a wave interferes with its reflection to produce nodes and antinodes.
…..and here is the explanation for the standing wave video
Below are some cracking resources from Sally Weatherly, find her here!
Below are some accumulated resources. Thanks to all of those who produced them.
ah-quanta-summary notes problems-2015 Thanks to RGC for these notes
quanta-and-waves-student-booklet-i-ror Thanks to Mr Orr for these.
Quanta and Waves Student booklet I ROR pdf version of the above
4.2 Energy changes during simple harmonic motion
ah waves summary notes and problems 2013 RGC notes thanks for these
PhysicsQuantaandWaves_tcm4-726389 Andrew McGuigan Numerical Questions
ah quanta summary notes and problems 2015 LA
ah quanta tutorial solutions 2015
ah uncertainties experiments 2013
ah waves summary notes and problems 2013
ah waves tutorial solutions 2013
stellar physics pdf stellar physics.doc
Properties_of_stars_and_stellar_evolution
cosmic-rays A quick research task on cosmic rays.
cosmic-rays-answers The answers to the sheet above.
solar-wind-magnetosphere-answers
Scientist think that the Earth is due a “Magnetic Flip” Research this starting at the link below and then answer the AH Revised question on this from the 2015 Paper Q11
Here is a Radio 4 programme talking about the consequences of a polar flip. If you want to view further programmes click on the link below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/curious case of Rutherford and Fry
The number of sunspots is an indication of solar activity. Research this and then complete the AH Revised 2013 paper Q6.
Quantum Tunnelling – strange but true
Background
What is the Uncertainty Principle? Minute Physics
Quantum Tunnelling is the process by which a particle gets across a barrier that it cannot classically pass.
It is related to wave-particle duality in that it is a result of the wave nature of a particle.
The probability of the particles getting through the barrier drops exponentially with the thickness of the barrier.
“>What is Quantum Tunnelling? Minute Physics
How to walk through walls- Quantum Tunnelling
Is Quantum Tunnelling faster than the speed of light?
PhysicsQuantaandWaves_tcm4-726389
Tutorial AH Revised Booklet v2
December 2020
An adaptation of Tom Balanowski’s notes by Mr Bailey. This is a useful guide to teachers preparing students for their AH Physics Project. PLANNING is the KEY.
If you are not familiar with Excel can I recommend you spending a bit of time looking over the post in the BGE section (link below). I’ll add a further advanced part for you below.
Other packages are available and some are more robust such as R but I am not sure whether I will introduce that to you now.
https://www.mrsphysics.co.uk/advanced/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hookes-Law-Table-in-Excel.mp4
Plotting graphs in Excel is coming this way soon!
Firstly from me
check out the prefixes you need. Notice anything different?
I am grateful to Ms K Ward from George Heriot’s School for trawling through the new and old curriculum and recording the changes. Thanks also for allowing me to reproduce it here.
Old assessment: 100 mark question paper, 30 mark project, plus pass all the units
New assessment: 155 mark question paper, scaled to 120, 40 mark project (hence project is 25%)
The content is no longer divided into ‘mandatory course key areas’, ‘suggested learning activities’, and ‘exemplification of key areas’. There is simply a list of the course contents.
Where the wording has changed but I don’t see any real difference, I have said ‘no change’.
Kinematic relationships – no change
Angular motion – derivation of centripetal acceleration equation is gone
Rotational dynamics – no change
– ‘Conversion between astronomical units (AU) and metres and between light-years (ly) and metres’ – is new
– ‘Consideration of the energy required by a satellite to move from one orbit to another’ – is gone
– ‘Knowledge that the escape velocity from the event horizon of a black hole is equal to the speed of light’ – is new
Specific example of a p-p chain is now given
Hertzprung-Russell section is rewritten more clearly.
Introduction to quantum theory – no change
– ‘Knowledge of the interaction of the solar wind with Earth’s magnetic field’ – is gone. New document only mentions composition of solar wind. Helical motion of charged particles is still there though, so it might not really matter.
Simple harmonic motion (SHM)– no change
Waves – no change
Relationship for interference due to division of amplitude is now specified,
opd=mλ or (m+1/2) λ where m=0,1,2…
Polarisation – no change
– ‘Knowledge of Millikan’s experimental method for determining the charge on an electron’ – this was in ‘exemplification’ before but is now specifically required knowledge
– ‘Comparison of gravitational, electrostatic, magnetic, and nuclear forces in terms of their relative strength and range’ – the words in bold are new
– ‘Knowledge that, in an RC circuit, an uncharged capacitor can be considered to be fully
charged after a time approximately equal to 5τ. Knowledge that, in an RC circuit, a fully charged capacitor can be considered to be fully discharged after a time approximately equal to 5τ.’ – is new
Electromagnetic radiation– no change
– ‘Absolute uncertainty should normally be rounded to one significant figure. In some instances, a second significant figure may be retained.’ – the words in bold are new. It does not specify the instances in which a second figure may be retained.
– ‘Knowledge that, when uncertainties in a single measurement are combined, an uncertainty can be ignored if it is less than one third of one of the other uncertainties in the measurement’ – is new
– ‘Knowledge that, when uncertainties in measured values are combined, a fractional/percentage uncertainty in a measured value can be ignored if it is less than one third of the fractional/percentage uncertainty in another measured value’ – is new
– The equation for the uncertainty in a value raised to a power is now given:
– This short section is new
The AH today were working in 3 groups to research via practicals and notes about SHM. The task is given below. Well done to Morford and Hodgson who created the following from their practical, with very little assistance. Their results were so good I thought I’d share them.
Mr Morford wrote
Morford & Hodgson (2019)
“These graphs are from our recent experiment to determine the effect of damping on an oscillating mass. A mass was hung from a spring over an Alba Ranger ultrasound device. We then analysed our measurements using excel and graphed our results to find the decay due to damping.”
This was the task for the class and my thanks to the IoP for their Practical Physics lessons and to the other places referenced for some great practical techniques. I will neaten this post later, but I promised Morford and Hodgson that I would post tonight!
Hopefully I can collate the rest of the groups information soon.
By the end of the lesson you should……
https://www.webassign.net/question_assets/ncsucalcphysmechl3/lab_7_1/manual.html
https://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/shm/springs.htm
http://practicalphysics.org/investigating-mass-spring-oscillator.html
Despite Covid-19 the intrepid AH students have been showing damping with a pendulum bob and tracker. The original movie has still to be analysed by our friends from Annan
Now if we can add Atwal, Burns, Carson and Morrin’s tracker we can have a full set for 2020 and you can look back with fondness at your time in AH, despite all the distancing.
A mass suspended on a spring will oscillate after being displaced. The period of oscillation is affected by the amount of mass and the stiffness of the spring. This experiment allows the period, displacement, velocity and acceleration to be investigated by datalogging the output from a motion sensor. It is an example of simple harmonic motion.
Analysis
Measurement of period
Period and Amplitude Observe that the period appears to be independent of amplitude.
Effect of mass
A straight line is the usual result, showing that the period squared is proportional to the mass.
Velocity and acceleration
A plot of the resulting data shows a ‘velocity vs. time’ graph. Note that the new graph is also sinusoidal. However, compared with the ‘distance vs. time’ graph, there is a phase difference – the velocity is a maximum when the displacement is zero, and vice versa.
A similar gradient calculation based on the ‘velocity vs. time’ graph yields an ‘acceleration vs. time’ graph. Comparing this with the original ‘distance vs. time’ graph shows a phase difference of 180°. This indicates that the acceleration is always opposite in direction to the displacement. Teaching notes
Aim: To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.
Aim: To find the effect of damping on an oscillating spring
Aim: To find the effect of mass on an oscillating spring
Aim: To use the formula for an oscillating spring to find m or k etc
Here is a little document to start you on some revision. The answers are given at the end, but don’t cheat.
definitions RM&A pdf definitions RM&A word
I’ll add some more on other topics later.
Thanks to H Stark for her 10 week Revision Plan, you’ve just enough time if you start NOW!
PhysicsElectromagnetismAH_tcm4-726384 Questions on the electromagnetism topic
ah electromagnetism summary notes 2013 Robert Gordon’s College brilliant notes
ah electromagnetism problems 2013
These are great little notes by F Kastelein on Unit 3 Electromagnetism. A lovely summary
Here is a great little video on Lenz’ Law called Michael’s Toys
Complete
Please complete notes for ALL of Kinematics and Angular Motion. Use the Traffic Light document to help you. Cover, calculus and the equations of motion definitions. Proving the angular motion equations, prove equation for central acceleration. Look at circular motion and cover banking, tension in circles, washing machine drums. pendulums. Hand these in Thurs Period 5.