Modern Physics
in International
Teaching
A brief overview of the
treatment of twentieth
century physics in the
International Baccalaureate
Guess the
experiment
The team
Any connections?
Sandor Just 1904
Nick Holonyak 1962
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 as
Raise awareness of moral social ethical implications of using science
Eg “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 students
Eg 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
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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
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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 Relativity
Q: 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.
