Modern Physics in International TeachingA brief overview of the treatment of twentieth century physics in the International Baccalaureate

Guess the experiment

The team

Where are we?

Any connections?

Nick Holonyak 1962

Sandor Just 1904

Max Planck 1894

IB Pedagogy Learner profile(inquirer, communicator, open-minded, refective, risk-taker) Syllabus linked to “Theory of Knowledge”Eg “students should be familiar with the direct and indirect effects of ionising radiation on structures within cells. TOK: Correlation and cause, risk assessment” Syllabus linked to aims such asRaise awareness of moral social ethical implications of using scienceEg “Discuss the economic and ethical implications of high-energy particle physics research.”

IB Sciences 21% assessed experimentation(designing, analysing data, evaluating) 3% inter-disciplinary team project Physics: choose 2 special options(eg Astrophysics, Communications, Electromagnetic waves, Relativity, Medical physics, Particle physics) Possibility of “extended essay” project

Group 4 Project

Recent UK influences… Structured lessons(objective, starter, middle, plenary) Active Learning Assessment for Learning (formative

feedback) Lesson observation: graded! “How Science works” for all studentsEg applications of science, designing experiments, evaluating evidence, communicating scientifically…

Modern Physics in IB Atomic and nuclear structure Quantum world and particle physics Astrophysics Digital technology Energy resources and Climate Change Medical physics Relativity

Atomic and Nuclear Brownian motion, Rutherford gold foil

description only Ionising radiation experiments, cloud

chamber Half life of protactinium Uses and dangers of radioactivity Atomic spectra: emission tubes Nuclear mass defects, fission, fusion

Two atoms were walking across a road when one of them said, "I think I lost an electron!" "Really!" the other replied, "Are you sure?" "Yes, I 'm absolutely positive.“

Quantum world Photoelectric effect Atomic energy levels: electrons as

standing waves Interpretation of wave function Heisenberg uncertainty

This is apparently a true story. It took place just outside of Munich, Germany.Heisenberg went for a drive and got stopped by a traffic cop. The cop asked, "Do you know how fast you were going?" Heisenberg replied, "No, but I know where I am." 

Particle Physics Descriptions of elementary particles,

fundamental interactions, exchange particles, Feynman diagram rules

Particle accelerator design, particle detectors

Standard model and conservation laws Asymptotic freedom, neutral current

A neutron walked into a bar and asked, "How much for a drink?" The bartender replied, "For you, no charge.“

Astrophysics Stellar spectra, Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien Laws,

classification of stars Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Distances: Parallax, spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid

variables Cosmology: Olbers paradox, Big Bang evidence,

Hubble’s Law, dark matter problem Stellar evolution: neutron star and black hole limits

Q: What is the simplest way to observe the optical Doppler effect? 

A: Go out at and look at cars. The lights of the ones approaching you are white, while the lights of the ones moving away from you are red. 

Digital Technology Binary data Operation of CD Operation and uses of CCD Sampling

Energy Resources and Climate Change Fossil fuels: energy densities,

efficiencies, sankey diagrams Non-fossil: nuclear, hydro, solar, wind –

various simple calculations Greenhouse effect: black bodies,

emissivity, absorption spectra Global Warming: evidence, possible

consequences (simple calcs), solutions

Medical Physics Hearing: decibel scale, frequency

response, defects Imaging: x-ray, attenuation, ultrasound,

impedance, MRI, CT scanning Use of radiation: dose, risk, diagnostic,

therapy

Relativity Inertial frames of reference, simultaneity Lorentz factor, Time dilation, twins paradox Evidence: Michelson-Morley, muon decay Momentum and energy: formulae General relativity: equivalence principle,

gravitational red shift, black holes (Schw.radius)

Evidence for General RelativityQ: Where does bad light end up? A: In a prism.

What experiments can I do about….. Quantum?

LEDs of a variety of colurs

Experiments in astro?

I’ve got a question…. Y9 (14 yrs old): So these electron thingys, just how small are they then? Y11 (16yrs old)You’re telling me the universe is expanding? So am I expanding too? Y13 (18 yrs old)OK, OK, so sometimes its a wave sometimes its a particle. Just tell me which one it is really.