fizzics » podcast

answers to unit 3 practice nab

mrmackenzie — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:05:04 +0000

Here are the solutions to the practice NAB for unit 3 of Higher Physics. How did you get on?

higher unit 3 – practice NAB

mrmackenzie — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:20:54 +0000

We’ve almost finished the course and you should be thinking about preparing for the final NAB. Use this practice paper to help with your revision. I’ll post answers in a few days.

robot radiotherapy

mrmackenzie — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:23:45 +0000

Last week, the BBC broadcast a Horizon programme about new cancer treatments being trialled at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. The documentary followed three different types of treatment; robotic surgery, a genetically targeted drug and a radiotherapy robot.

As we’ve discovered, standard radiotherapy treatment involves splitting the required dose into 3 beams, so only cells inside the tumour receive the full dose. The radiotherapy robot, CyberKnife, allows high energy x-rays to enter the patient’s body from many different angles. The advantage of this robot is that it minimises the risk to healthy tissue while ensuring a fatal dose of energy is delivered to the cancer cells.

I have put together a series of clips from the programme to follow patient Ray’s treatment. The clip from the planning meeting shows just many individual beams the robot will use during the treatment.

To find out more about how x-rays affect living cells, watch this clip from Bang Goes the Theory.

The Royal Marsden Hospital has a video that provides a quick guide to radiotherapy.

Use the download link below if you would like to save a copy of the CyberKnife video.

how satellites rule our world

mrmackenzie — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:02:28 +0000

BBC2 showed a really good programme about satellites last night. This screenshot showing a satellite passing over the Highlands is taken from about 17 minutes into the show. Click on the picture to visit the BBC’s own page about the documentary.

It was quite eye-opening to see just how much modern society relies on satellite technology.

You can download the entire programme using the link below.

S3 credit electricity revision

mrmackenzie — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:41:47 +0000

If you found the general test tricky, here is something to help you prepare for the credit test on Thursday morning. Click on the download link to get your own copy of a full set of notes on the Using Electricity unit.

Thanks to Mr Cunningham for sharing these notes.

AH investigation report

mrmackenzie — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:19:00 +0000

This week is your last chance to submit a draft of your investigation report for proof reading. I have already given you a copy of the SQA guidelines for candidates. You might also find the attached uncertainties document helpful. Pay special attention to the final page; reports that fail to account for calibration uncertainty will be penalised by the external marker.

If you are struggling with uncertainties in Excel, have a look at the two linest documents I posted earlier this year.

solutions to higher physics unit 2 practice NAB

mrmackenzie — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:05:34 +0000

Sorry folks, the link I put up here earlier did not have the answers to the practice NAB for unit 2 of Higher Physics. I’ve written my answers for you instead, with mark allocation indicated down the side in red.

Download a copy using the link below.

dropping a slinky

mrmackenzie — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:41:28 +0000

Ria asked if a slinky really stops in mid air when it is released. Eoin helped us to find out the answer.

It’s easier to see what happens if you watch a slow motion version.

Or even slower motion.

Why does that happen?

higher physics unit 2 practice NAB

mrmackenzie — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:30:32 +0000

You should be getting ready to do the NAB for unit 2 of the Higher Physics course. Use the attached practice NAB to help with your preparation.

S3 Homework – Resistance

mrmackenzie — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:33:46 +0000

Here is your homework on the resistance topic. Download the pdf with your questions by clicking on the download link below.

Please hand in your jotter no later than Tuesday 7th February.

Pupils going on the school ski trip should try hand their jotter in by the end of this week.