Materials Science within AS and A-level Physics

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Materials Science within AS and A-level
Physics Elizabeth Swinbank Director, Salters
Horners Advanced Physics University of York
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Changes to AS/A-level physics
All AS and A-level specifications (syllabuses)
are changing for first teaching in September 2008
All the new physics specs have 4 content
assessment units (2 AS, 2 A2) 2 coursework
assessment units (1 AS, 1 A2) a requirement to
address how science works Most have
little or no optional content See IOP
summary for details of assessment structures
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Materials Science content is predominantly in
AS AS core content includes resistivity refrac
tive index At AS, nearly all specs require
mechanical properties Hookes law Young
modulus stress-strain graphs elastic and
plastic behaviour meaning of terms brittle, hard
etc
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A2 core content includes specific heat
capacity There is essentially no other Materials
Science content in any A2 physics
specification See Appendix for details of
individual spec requirements
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Examples of content requirements Draw
force-extension, force-compression, and
tensile/ compressive stress-strain graphs.
Identify the limit of proportionality, elastic
limit and yield point (Edexcel) One method of
measuring Young modulus and fracture stress (OCR
B) Describe how to determine the resistivity of
a metal wire experimentally (WJEC) Refractive
index of a substance is given by n c/v (AQA B)

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How Science Works Nature and limitations of
scientific knowledge (hypothesis and prediction,
data and explanation, modelling, the scientific
community) Scientific enquiry (experimental
skills, data handling, mathematical
skills) Communication (scientific language,
presentation of data) Applications and
implications (decision making, risk, ethics)
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Coursework All specifications require practical
coursework at AS and A2. Students undertake a
practical task (or tasks) that are either set by
the awarding body or devised by their
teachers. Typically, the exercise takes about 1
hour to complete. The exact requirements vary
between specifications.
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Examples of AS practical coursework
requirements Use and be familiar with standard
laboratory equipment (eg electric meters
vernier callipers newtonmeters... electronic
balance ) (AQA) Take measurements and record
data showing awareness of the limits of accuracy
(WJEC) Analyse and interpret data to provide
evidence, recognising correlations and causal
relationships (OCR A)
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Visit or case study The Edexcel specification
for AS requires a report of a visit or case
study. The practical task should be linked to
the visit/case study. Example Visit a biscuit
factory observe mechanical testing of products
for quality control Practical measure elastic
modulus of ice-cream wafer
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Materials activities from Salters Horners
Advanced Physics (Edexcel) Context-led
course Food industry product development and
quality control Spare part surgery designer
materials
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Eat sweets to establish the meaning of technical
terms brittle, hard, etc
   
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Plot force-extension graphs for strawberry laces
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Measure Brinnell hardness of mints
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Measure breaking stress of model bone
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Determine Young modulus of UHMWPE for use in hip
replacements
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A blueprint for the development of Materials
Science resources Focus on mechanical properties
for AS level Include electrical, thermal and
optical properties Address how science
works Develop experimental skills Put
activities in authentic (and novel) contexts
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Appendix Materials Science elements of the new
AS and A-level physics specifications AQA A AQA
B (Physics in Context) Edexcel (includes
SHAP) OCR A OCR B (Advancing Physics) WJEC
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AQA A Unit 1 Particles, Quantum Phenomena and
Electricity resistivity superconductivity Unit
2 Mechanics, Materials and Waves
density Hookes law tensile stress and
strain energy stored breaking stress plastic
behaviour fracture and brittleness stress-strain
curves Young modulus
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AQA A Unit 5 Nuclear Physics, Thermal Physics
and an Optional Topic specific heat capacity
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AQA B (Physics in context) Unit 1 Harmony and
Structure in the Universe refractive index Unit
2 Physics Keeps us Going elastic potential
energy stiffness (of a sample) thermal
conductivity U values resistivity superconducti
vity Unit 5 Energy Under the Microscope specific
heat capacity
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Edexcel (SHAP) Unit 1 Physics on the
go density laminar and turbulent
flow viscosity and Stokess law Hookes
law compressive and tensile stress and
strain stress-strain graphs Young
modulus elastic and plastic behaviour breaking
stress energy stored meaning of brittle, hard,
ductile, malleable, stiff, tough
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Edexcel (SHAP) Unit 2 Physics at
work resistivity temperature and
resistance refractive index Unit 5 Physics from
creation to collapse specific heat capacity
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OCR A Unit 1 Mechanics tensile and compressive
deformation Hookes law stored energy stress
and strain Young modulus breaking
stress elastic and plastic deformation stress-st
rain graphs Unit 2 Electrons, Waves and
Photons resistivity temperature and
resistance superconductivity
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OCR B (Advancing Physics) Unit 1 Physics in
action designer materials mechanical behaviour
deformation and fracture stress, strain Young
modulus stiff, elastic, plastic, ductile, hard,
brittle, tough stress-strain graphs size and
spacing of particles metals, ceramics, polymers,
composites electrical behaviour metals,
semiconductors, insulators resistivity,
conductivity
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OCR B (Advancing Physics) Unit 4 Rise and Fall
of the Clockwork Universe specific heat capacity
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WJEC (Wales) Unit 1 Motion, Energy and
Charge density stored energy Hookes
law friction viscosity resistivity superconduc
tivity Unit 2 Waves and Particles refractive
index
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WJEC (Wales) Unit 4 Oscillations and
Fields stiffness (of a sample) specific heat
capacity