Practical Activities

VCE Physics
Some Possible Practical Activities
Unit 1 Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Practical Activity Description Type
1 Properties of radiation Show the range of alpha, beta and gamma radiation Demonstration
2 Half life Simulation with dice Experiment
3 Half life Measurement of a short lived radioisotope, e.g Class
Protactinium, Caesium 137 exercise /
experiment
4 Radioactive Decay Simulation of radioactive decay Spreadsheet
Experimental Investigations
Randomness in radioactivity Natural radioactivity in plants Range of alpha particles in air
Range of radioactivity Radon collection in buildings with pressure
Range of beta particles in metals Sources of background radiation
Unit 1 Electricity
1 Potential difference Measure and graph voltage drops around a simple circuit Experiment
of a battery and two resistors across connecting wires,
resistors and the battery
2 Efficiency of a DC Measure the voltage across and the current through a DC Experiment
motor motor as it lifts a known mass through a fixed distance in
a measured time.
3 Ohm’s Law Measure and graph the voltage across the and current Experiment
through a resistor
4 Resistors in series Measure and graph the voltages across each of two Experiment
resistor in series, as well as the voltage across the
combination for various current values
5 Resistors in parallel Measure and graph currents through each of two resistor Experiment
in parallel, as well as the current through the
combination for various voltage values
6 Non-ohmic resistor Measure and graph the voltage across and the current Experiment
through a 12 V light globe as the voltage is increased.
7 Diode Measure and graph the voltage across and the current Experiment
through a diode as the voltage is increased in both
orientations
8 LDR, Thermistor Measure and graph the voltage across and the current Experiment
through an LDR or a thermistor as the voltage is
increased.
9 Household wiring Investigate a ‘Wiring in a House Demonstration Board’ Experiment
10 Internal resistance Measure and graph the voltage across and the current Experiment
through an old battery under a variety of resistive loads
11 Photovoltaic panel Measure the voltage output and current from a PV panel Experiment
under a variety of resistive load and light conditions.
12 Dissection of an Dissect an electrical appliance such as a heater, dryer, Exercise
electrical device iron, etc Note: the power cord should be c
These can be packaged as a booklet of activities that students can work through at their own pace.
Efficiency of a cycle dynamo Lifetime of a torch globe Does a flame conduct
Lifetime of batteries Variation of resistance with electricity?
Efficiency of a DC motor strain LED and incandescent
Conductivity of a pencil line lighting
1
Prepared by the Australian Institute of Physics (Victorian Branch) Education Committee - 2009
Unit 2 Motion
1 Accelerated motion Record position vs time of a glider on an inclined air Experiment
track and generate displacement and velocity vs time
graphs
2 Complex motions Use a motion detector to describe actions such as Class exercise
walking.
Use video analysis to investigate movement in athletics. Experiment
3 Motion under gravity Drop a quadratic string, a string with pendulum bobs at Demonstrations
distances so that they hit the ground at equal time
intervals.
Drop 0.5kg and 5kg masses at same time on to foam.
Use ultrasound motion detector to display the motion of
a bouncing basketball.
4 Reaction force Use bathroom scales to investigate the reaction force Class exercise
when standing, leaning or in a lift.
5 Combining forces Use a Forces table to show vector addition of forces and Class exercise
also components of forces
Use a Newton’s cart on front bench to show force Demonstration
components.
6 Newton’s 2nd law Record position vs time of a glider on a level air track Experiment
accelerated by a falling mass. Investigate acceleration
for a range of values of falling masses and total mass
moved.
Use a Newton’s cart on front bench to investigate how Demonstration
acceleration depends on mass for a constant force.
7 Hooke’s Law Measure, graph and analyse the extension of a spring Experiment
produced by various masses.
8 Energy transfer and Measure drop and rebound height of a rubber ball. (GPE, Experiment
transformations efficiency, KE)
Time 10 lifts of a 2.0 kg mass from shoulder level (GPE,
Power)
Time the run up a flight of stairs (GPE, Power)
Measure time and distance of a loaded trolley rolling
down a slope (GPE, KE)
Time the drop of balls of different densities from roof
height (GPE, KE, air resistance)
* These can be done as a round robin of short activities
9 Momentum in Measure speeds of air track gliders before and after Class exercise
collisions impact to investigate conservation of momentum.
Newton’s Cradle Demonstration
Experimental investigations
The sporting impacts of a ball with a The bounce of a basketball The bounce in track shoes
bat (volleyball) Kicking a football
The motion of a model bungee The motion and energy Design of car bumper
jumper transfer of a mechanical wind Shock absorbers
The friction of running shoes up toy Energy of a catapult
The performance of a parachute The physics of walking /
The motion of weightlifting running
The energy of magnetic collisions The physics of a sprint start
2
Unit 2 Wave properties of light
1 Introductory activity A series of short exercises on the properties of light that Observation
can be done over about two periods, which can be used exercise
to generate a set of questions which the study of light
will provide answers. Activities can include:
• Line up two pins with the plan mirror reflection of
two other pins,
• Using large curved mirrors describe what you see as
you approach each of them,
• Line up two pins on one side of a glass block with
two pins on the other side,
• Apparent depth: compare graph grid with one seen
through glass block,
• Fresnel lens from OHP How is it different?
• Slide projector: move to get larger image, which way
do you move the lens to focus the new image,
• Bifocal spectacles: Investigate with rays from a light
box,
• Produce a rainbow with a prism, which colours bend
more?
• Walk towards a large plane mirror, do you see more
of yourself?
2 Types of waves Use a slinky to demonstrate transverse waves. Demonstrations
Use a ripple tank to demonstrate the properties of waves.
3 Reflection of Light in Use a plane mirror to investigate the behaviour of light. Experiment
a plane mirror
4 Reflection of Light in Use a concave mirror to investigate the behaviour of Experiment
a concave mirror light.
5 Refraction of Light Use semicircular plastic dish and glass or perspex Experiment
rectangular blocks to investigate Snell's law
6 Refraction of Light in Use a convex lens to investigate the behaviour of light Experiment
a convex lens
7 Refraction of light in Remove the optic nerve from a bull’s eye, wrap the eye Demonstrations
the eye in clear wrap, then view the world from the back.
Remove the lens, place on a glass slide and put over text
8 Total Internal Show total internal reflection. Demonstrations
Reflection Show TIR in optical fibres and light pipes.
9 Dispersion of Light Show the colour components of white light. Demonstration
Produce a rainbow with a hose and measure the angle of Experiment
each colour to determine its refractive index in water.
10 Polarisation Rotate one polaroid slide on top of another. Demonstrations
Place layers of sellotape between the slides to show
colour effects.
Place a crystal of Iceland Spar on the OHP, then put a
polaroid slide over it.
Use a microwave kit to show transverse nature of em
radiation.
The sensitivity of the eye Depth of focus of a microscope Brewster’s angle
Sellotape and polarised light Double refraction of Iceland spar Fresnel lenses
Colours of the rainbow Caustic curves Optical activity of sodium chlorate
Patterns in stressed materials Moire fringes Light scattering and polarised light
3
Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Astronomy
1 Night observation Assisted with binoculars or telescope or unassisted, over Homework
several nights or in one night, of stars, moon and/or
planets.
2 Telescope comparison Visit to a telescope store. Homework
Construct a simple telescope Measure the diameters and
distances of the solar system
Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Astrophysics

1 Solar observation Observe changes in the sun, note safety concern. Class
exercise /
homework
2 Spectral analysis Observe spectral lines in chemical samples. Experiment
3 Doppler shift Show Doppler shift with sound by analogy. Demonstration
Sunspot activity Spectral analysis of an incandescent lamp Stellar image analysis
Online telescope observations Search for Pulsars through Parkes programs
Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Investigations: Flight

1 Measuring lift and Use top loading balances to measure the lift and drag on Investigation
drag an aerofoil.
2 Bernoulli effect Place a table tennis ball in an air stream from an air track Demonstration
hose.
3 Propeller thrust Use a top loading balance to measure thrust from a Investigation
propeller attached to a DC motor for different values of
supply voltage
Aerofoil design The drop in pressure with fast flow When does water flow become
Wind problems around The drag on spheres and other turbulent?
buildings shapes
Drag of objects in water
Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Investigations: Sustainable energy sources

1 Solar thermal Use a demonstration solar water heater to investigate the Investigation
thermosiphon process and the factors affecting the
efficiency of the heater,
2 Photovoltaic Measure the voltage output and current from a PV panel Investigation
under a variety of resistive load and light conditions.
3 Efficiency of a DC Measure the voltage across and the current through a DC Investigation
motor motor as it lifts a known mass through a fixed distance in
a measured time.
4 Wind Use a fan to drive a propeller connected to either a Investigation
generator of a DC motor and measure the output voltage
and current for a variety of wind and resistive load
conditions,
5 Hydroelectric Use a demonstration hydroelectric generator and Investigation
measure its performance with a variety of flow rates and
resistive loads.
6 Hydroelectric Use a demonstration hydroelectric generator in reverse Investigation
to pump water up hill and measure its efficiency with a
various values of height and voltage supply
4
5
VCE Physics
Unit 3: Motion in one and two dimensions
1 Circular motion Investigate how the centripetal acceleration of a Experiment
revolving rubber stopper, as measured by the number
of washers on the end of the line, is affected by
changes in radius and frequency.
Investigate how the centripetal acceleration of a Excursion
passenger in a Luna Park ride is related to the
dimensions and speed of the ride.
2 Projectile motion Use ballistics car to demonstrate components. Demonstration
Investigate range, maximum height and time of flight Experiment
for a range of angles and initial speed
3 Changes in Potential Use a dropped mass attached to a spring to Experiment
energy investigate the transformation of energy between
gravitational potential energy, spring potential energy
and kinetic energy. Excursion
Investigate the energy transformation in a Luna park
ride.
4 Momentum and kinetic Measure speeds of air track gliders before and after Class exercise
energy in collisions impact to investigate conservation of momentum and
the elasticity of the collision.
Newton’s Cradle Demonstration
5 Reaction force and Use bathroom scales to investigate the reaction force Class exercise
apparent weightlessness when standing, leaning against a wall or in a lift.
Investigate how the centripetal acceleration of a Excursion
passenger in a Luna Park ride and determine the
value of the reaction force.
Motion of a parachute Sweet spot of a tennis racket Physics of a sprint start
Motion of a balloon Energy transfer in a pole Forces and energies in stretched
Forces and energies of a bouncing vault rubber
ball Motion on a trampoline The bounce time of a ball
Unit 3: Electronics and photonics

1 Use of a Multimeter Measure and compare AC and DC voltages of a Experiment
power pack.
Measure resistance of several resistors.
2 Use of a CRO Measure voltages of a battery. Experiment
Measure AC voltages and compare with those of a
multimeter.
3 Properties of thermistor Measure resistance for a range of temperature and Experiment
and LDR light conditions.
4 Properties of Diodes Measure the forward and reverse bias with simple Experiment
circuit to give the voltage current characteristics of a
diode, the voltage current characteristics of a photo
diode and the voltage current characteristics of an
LED.
5 Circuits Design, construct and investigate voltage divider Experiment
circuits with a range of input transducers.
6 Modulation and Design, construct and investigate a voltage divider Experiment
demodulation circuit with an LED output connected to another
circuit with a photodiode input.
6
7 Voltage Amplifier Use a simple amplifier circuit to measure the input Experiment
and output voltage to construct a graph to determine
the voltage gain.
Use of a simple amplifier circuit to show clipping Experiment
Frequency response of a one Make a thermistor into a Conduction voltage of different
transistor amplifier thermometer coloured LEDs
Unit 3: Detailed Study: Materials and their use in structures

1 Compression, tension Use a range of everyday objects to demonstrate Demonstration
and shear observable effects of compression, tension and shear.
2 Young’s modulus Stretch copper wire to fracture Experiment
3 Stability Using a metre ruler supporting a mass across two top Demonstration
loading balances, use the calculation of torques to
determine the reaction forces at the balances.
Using a triangle of two metre rulers with the free Demonstration

ends joined by two pieces of string with a spring
balance in the line, resting on two top loading
balances, which each sit on a trolley, use the
calculation of torques to determine the reaction
forces at the balances.
Bending of a beam Properties of glued joints Strength of human hair
Bending of a cantilever Effect of reinforcing Effect of heat treatment on
The creep of stretched rubber The strength of soldered joint metals
Unit 3: Detailed Study: Further electronics

1 Use of a multimeter Measure and compare AC and DC voltages of a Experiment
power pack.
Measure resistance of several resistors.
2 Use of a CRO Measure voltages of a battery. Experiment
Measure AC voltages and compare with those of a
multimeter.
3 Properties of diodes Measure the forward and reverse bias with simple Experiment
circuit to give the voltage current characteristics of
a diode.
4 Rectifier Use diodes to construct and use both a half wave Experiment
and full wave rectifier.
5 Capacitor Investigate the charging and discharging of a Experiment
capacitor, and its use in smoothing AC.
6 Voltage regulators Construct and use a circuit to demonstrate the Experiment
characteristics of a voltage regulator.
7 AC to DC power supply Construct an AC to DC power supply, use meters Experiment
and a CRO to diagnose faults, and once working,
evaluate its performance, then investigate the effect
on the ripple voltage of changing various
parameters of the circuit.
Frequency response of an AC to DC power supply Efficiency of an AC to DC power supply
7
VCE Physics
Unit 4: Electric power
1 Properties of magnets Investigate Force between magnets Demonstration
Investigate magnetic field of bar and horseshoe or Class
magnets Exercise
2 Oersted's Experiment Show magnetic effect of an electric current in Demonstration
magnetic field
3 Left Hand Rule Show magnetic force on current loop Demonstration
Show movement of Al rod on rails with horseshoe Demonstration
magnet
Show slow oscillation of loudspeaker cone Demonstration
4 Magnetic field of Use current balance kit to determine magnetic field Experiment
Solenoid of a solenoid
5 Turning Effect in a meter Investigate meter mechanism with small compass Class Exercise
6 Model DC Motor Show motor principle with models Demonstration
7 Dissection of DC Meter Dissect a small DC motor then reassemble Class Exercise
8 Electromagnetic Induction Show generation of induced EMF by magnet in Demonstration
solenoid
9 Model Generator Use a model generator to demonstrate production Demonstration
of AC and DC.
10 Electromagnetic Induction Investigate Lenz' Law Formal
Experiment
12 Electromagnetic Induction Drop strong magnet through an Al cylinder Demonstration
13 Transformer Show effect of Turns ratio on voltage and current Demonstration
14 Transmission Lines Show the effect of transformers on Power loss and Demonstration
voltage drop
Unit 4 Interactions of light and matter

1 Interference and Investigate diffraction and interference of light Class Exercise
Diffraction of light through red and blue filters with slides of double or Experiment
and single slits of varying size
2 Photoelectric Effect Discharge of electroscope with zinc plate on top Demonstration
with UV light
3 Photoelectric Effect Investigate the effect of intensity and frequency of Class Exercise
light incident on a metal surface on the energy of
ejected electrons
4 Hydrogen Spectrum Investigate the energy levels of Hydrogen Class Exercise
5 Energy gap in LEDs Investigate the triggering voltage for LEDs Experiment
producing light of different wavelengths
Unit 4 Detailed Study: Synchrotron and its applications
1 Electrons in Electric and Use a magnet to deflect an electron beam in a Demonstration
Magnetic Fields Maltese Cross tube, a paddle wheel tube, a
deflection tube and a CRO.
2 Modelling Synchrotron Use a laser beam to produce diffraction patterns Demonstration
radiation with a laser with fibres of different sizes, two dimensional or class exercise
meshes and gauzes and between two bolts.
3 Line Spacing on a CD Determine the line spacing on a CD and DVD Experiment
4 Simulation data accuracy Compare the diffraction patterns from a grating Demonstration
of synchrotron light using a red laser and using red filtered light or class exercise
5 Two Dimensional Diffraction Effects with Demonstration
Microwave apparatus
6 Modelling X-ray Model the interference of X-rays from different Demonstration
interference in a crystal crystal layers with microwaves reflected from two
with microwaves rows of coins
7 Modelling Bragg Record intensity vs angle to find maxima to Experiment
diffraction with substitute into nλ = 2d sinθ to find ‘crystal
Microwaves spacing’
Unit 4 Detailed Study: Photonics

1 Energy gap in LEDs Investigate the triggering voltage for LEDs Experiment
producing light of different wavelengths
2 Total Internal Reflection Tyndall effect with laser beam Demonstration
in water
3 Optical waveguide Aim laser beam along straight and curved pieces of Demonstration /
plastic Class exercise
4 Properties of a simple Use a clear plastic tube and water to investigate the Experiment
optical fibre properties of an optical fibre.
5 Light escaping from a Investigate the effect of the refractive index of the Experiment
fibre cladding of a fibre
6 Attenuation in an optical Use glue sticks to investigate attenuation Experiment
fibre
7 Laser to Audio Receiver Use a modulated laser to send audio by laser beam Demonstration /
and investigate the quality Class exercise
8 Wavelength of a laser Use the diffraction of a laser beam from a CD to Experiment
determine the wavelength
Unit 4 Detailed Study: Sound
1 Types of waves Use a slinky to demonstrate transverse and Demonstration
longitudinal waves.
2 Samples of sound waves Use a signal generator and a loudspeaker to produce Demonstration
a range of frequencies and to illustrate human
frequency response.
3 Speed of Sound Use stop watches to measure speed of sound by Class Exercise
echo method.
4 Intensity & Intensity Use a dB meter to measure a variety of sounds. Class Exercise
Level
5 Inverse Square Law Use a dB meter to calculate the intensity over a Class Exercise
range of distances from a source. or Formal Expt
6 Reflection of waves Use a slinky to show reflection of transverse and Demonstration
longitudinal pulses at fixed and free ends.
7 Superposition of waves Use a slinky to show the superposition of transverse Demonstration
pulses.
8 Diffraction Produce sounds of different frequencies to show Demonstration
diffraction effects.
9 Interference Detect cancellation and reinforcement while Class Exercise
twirling a tuning fork at the ear.
10 Interference Use two speakers to detect nodal and antinodal Class Exercise
lines
11 Standing waves in air Observe nodes formed between a speaker and a Demonstration
reflections from a hard barrier. Alternative
equipment: Sound machine
12 Standing waves in air Observe sound in a large diameter long plastic tube Demonstration
over a Meeker burner
13 Standing waves in Attach a weighted string to a ticker timer Demonstration /
strings experiment
14 Standing waves in Use a slinky to show harmonics in stretched spring Demonstration
springs
15 Standing waves in Vibrate together 3 hacksaw blades of different Demonstration
blades lengths
16 Standing waves in rods Hit rods end on while holding at a node Demonstration
17 Standing waves in air Observe resonance with tuning forks above a Experiment
variable length air column.
18 Standing waves in air Blow into the adjustable wooden organ pipe Demonstration
19 Microphones ‘Dissect’ a set of old microphones Class exercise
20 Response of a Investigate the frequency response of a microphone Experiment /
microphone class exercise
21 Baffles of a loudspeaker Investigate effect of baffles on the performance of a Experiment /
loudspeaker class exercise

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VCE Physics

Some Possible Practical Activities

Unit 1 Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Astrophysics

Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Investigations: Flight

Units 1 & 2 Detailed Studies: Investigations: Sustainable energy sources

Unit 3: Electronics and photonics

Unit 3: Detailed Study: Materials and their use in structures

Using a triangle of two metre rulers with the free Demonstration

Unit 3: Detailed Study: Further electronics

Unit 4 Interactions of light and matter

Unit 4 Detailed Study: Photonics

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