Year 11 – Waves and Thermodynamics – School of Physics HSC Physics Module

Conduct a practical investigation involving the creation of mechanical waves in a variety of situations in order to explain:
- the role of the medium in the propagation of mechanical waves
- the transfer of energy involved in the propagation of mechanical waves (ACSPH067, ACSPH070)
conduct practical investigations to explain and analyse the differences between:
- transverse and longitudinal waves (ACSPH068)
- mechanical and electromagnetic waves (ACSPH070, ACSPH074)
construct and/or interpret graphs of displacement as a function of time and as a function of position of transverse and longitudinal waves, and relate the features of those graphs to the following wave characteristics:
- velocity
- frequency
- period
- wavelength
- displacement and amplitude (ACSPH069)
solve problems and/or make predictions by modelling and applying the following relationships to a variety of situations:
- $v = f\lambda$
- $f = \frac{1}{r}$

explain the behaviour of waves in a variety of situations by investigating the phenomena of:
- reflection
- refraction
- diffraction
- wave suspension (ACSPH071, ACSPH072)

conduct an investigation to distinguish between progressive and standing waves (ACSPH072)

conduct an investigation to explore resonance in mechanical systems and the relationships between:
- driving frequency
- natural frequency of the oscillating system
- amplitude of motion
- transfer/transformation of energy within the system (ACSPH073)

construct a practical investigation to relate the pitch and loudness of a sound to its wave characteristics
model the behaviour of sound in air as a longitudinal wave
relate the displacement of air molecules to variations in pressure (ACSPH070)
investigate quantitatively the relationship between distance and intensity of sound
conduct investigations to analyse the reflection, diffraction, resonance and superposition of sound waves (ACSPH071)

investigate and model the behaviour of standing waves on strings and/or in pipes to relate quantitatively the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the waves that are produced to the physical characteristics (eg length, mass, tension, wave velocity) of the medium (ACSPH072)
analyse qualitatively and quantitatively the relationships of the wave nature of sound to explain:
- beats $f_{beat} = \lvert f_{2}-f_{1}\rvert$
- the Doppler effect $f^{'} = f\frac{v_{wave}+v_{observer}}{v_{wave}-v_{source}}$

conduct a practical investigation to analyse the formation of images in mirrors and lenses via reflection and refraction using the ray model of light (ACSPH075)
conduct investigations to examine qualitatively and quantitatively the refraction and total internal reflection of light (ACSPH075, ACSPH076)

predict quantitatively, using Snell’s Law, the refraction and total internal reflection of light in a variety of situations
conduct a practical investigation to demonstrate and explain the phenomenon of the dispersion of light
conduct an investigation to demonstrate the relationship between inverse square law, the intensity of light and the transfer of energy (ACSPH077)
solve problems or make quantitative predictions in a variety of situations by applying the following relationships to:
- $n_{x} = \frac{c}{v_{x}}$ – for the refractive index of medium $x, v_{x}$ is the speed of light in the medium
- $n_{1}sin(\theta) = n_{2}sin(\theta)$ (Snell’s Law)
- $sin(\theta_{c}) = \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}}$ – for the critical angle $i_{c}$ of medium $x$
- $I_{1}r^{2}_{1} = I_{2}r^{2}_{2}$ – to compare the intensity of light at two points, $r_{1}$ and $r_{2}$

explain the relationship between the temperature of an object and the kinetic energy of the particles within it (ACSPH018)

analyse the relationship between the change in temperature of an object and its specific heat capacity through the equation $\Delta Q = mc\Delta T$

investigate energy transfer by the process of:
- conduction
- convection
- radiation (ACSPH016)

conduct an investigation to analyse qualitatively and quantitatively the latent heat involved in a change of state

model and predict quantitatively energy transfer from hot objects by the process of thermal conductivity

apply the following relationships to solve problems and make quantitative predictions in a variety or situations:
- $Q = mc\Delta T$ , where $c$ is the specific heat capacity of a substance
- $\frac{Q}{t} = \frac{kA\Delta T}{d}$ ,
  where $k$ is the thermal conductivity of a material

Year 11 – Waves and Thermodynamics