* all comments to be confirmed with VCE Physics SD (available March 2015)

Draft Study

Design*

Suitable tasks for assessment in this unit may be selected from the following:• report of a practical investigation (student-designed or adapted) using an appropriate format, for example, a scientific poster, practical report, oral communication or digital presentation.

and

A selection from the following:• annotated folio of practical activities• data analysis• design, building, testing and evaluation of a device• explanation of the operation of a device• proposed solution to a scientific or technological problem• report of a selected physics phenomenon• modelling activity• media response• summary report of selected practical investigations• reflective learning journal/blog related to selected activities or in response to an issue• test comprising multiple-choice and/or short answer and/or extended response.

Where teachers allow students to choose between tasks they must ensure that the tasks they set are of comparable scope and demand.

Assessment

• Three containers in a row..equal

amounts of clear watertwo

peopleplace one hand in

outside container..then place

same hand in centre

containerDescribe the

temperature of the centre

container

Goldilocks temperature

Human perceptions are unreliable

independent, calibrated observations are necessary to establish trends

= sensors!

Thermodynamics• easy first topic (in summer!)

• good introduction to the need for calibration(accuracy) and reduction of variation (precision)

• simple projects readily available

• solar ponds/solar (thermal) tower

• insulation/insolation• selective surfaces(reflect/absorb)

• heat energy!!

• heat is a noun ..rather than a verb

• add heat (energy) and..remove heat (energy)

• temperature increases/decreases ..rather than ‘goes up/down’

… a few points to be made

Sensors

• Plenty available

• simple logging software

• plenty of data, graphs available

• the ‘heat equation’ is an approximation..it is a differential..so beware of curve fitting!

Why is the freezing point depressed in an ice block??

(2x)100ml of water is mixed

What happens if 100ml of room temperature water is mixed with

200ml of ‘hot’ water?

300 ml of (140 C˚ ) 3

= 46.7 C˚

Decide who the audience may be…

Adjust the timelines to accommodate external requirements.

Be flexible in assigning deadlines, eg. swim day is a good data

collecting opportunity…

Reporting of data is a ‘story’

The ‘real’ school report may be completed at a later date, demonstrate skills and planning is a

requirement..not a completed report.

VICPhysics website

Mag-Net website bit.ly/1zQxleO

Ready sources of assistance

vicphysics.org

GB website bit.ly/1DuSyCH