Physics as a natural science
How does physics measure and explain the world, from protons to galaxies?
8 lessons
Lessons
Physics and measurement
Chapter 1Physics as a science and the scales of the universeWhy can physics study both a proton and the whole universe, even though their sizes are so far apart?
- Chapter 2Quantities, units and the SI system
Why is the distance to the Voyager 2 probe sometimes given in kilometres, sometimes in astronomical units and sometimes in light-hours, even though it is one and the same distance?
- Chapter 3Measuring and the reliability of a measurement
Why do ten students get ten different results for the rolling time of the same ball, even though they all use the same stopwatch?
- Chapter 4Graphing and fitting a straight line
Why do data points not usually all land exactly on one straight line, and yet a single line fitted to them can reveal the relationship between the quantities?
Motion and matter
Chapter 5Uniform motion: speed, position and graphsWhy can the position of the Voyager 2 probe be calculated in advance for any day, even though it is more than 20 billion kilometres from the Sun?
- Chapter 6Acceleration of free fall: $v = gt$
Why did the astronaut on the Moon drop a hammer and a feather at the same time and see them hit the ground together, even though on Earth a feather drifts slowly down?
- Chapter 7Density: $m = \rho V$
Why can two metal cubes of the same size feel completely different in weight in your hand, and how can you work out what an unknown object is made of using only a balance and a measuring cylinder?
Your own investigation
Chapter 8Your own experimental investigation: planning, carrying out and reportingWhy do two groups get different speeds for the same toy car, even though both measure carefully?
Apply independently
At the end of the module you can try whether you can apply what you have learned independently, in the style of the matriculation examination. The model answers and marking guides open after your own solution.
- Apply independently 3 tasks · 27 points
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Module goals
Show all 5 goals
The student
- becomes familiar with physics as a systematic science based on experiments
- becomes familiar with the scales of matter and of the universe
- becomes familiar with the methods used to gather information in physics
- can plan and carry out simple scientific experiments
- gains experiences that awaken and deepen an interest in physics and in studying it