The electromagnetic spectrum in C 21 science courses

The electromagnetic spectrum in C 21 science courses Peter Campbell Nuffield Curriculum Centre 1

C 21 courses for 2006 GCSE Additional Science Entry level GCSE Science GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics or GCSE Additional Applied Science For some students For all students For most students For some students OCR’s Entry Level Course feeds into GCSE Science Single Award Full range GCSE F and H tiers Single Awards Full range GCSEs F and H tiers 2

GCSE Science for citizens & future scientists Radiation and life module map u the story: from personal to societal decisions, national and international u related – ideas about science – science explanations u links to modules in other courses 3

Radiation & life: the big picture Science explanations u Electromagnetic spectrum - in terms of photon energies u Radiation model: source, journey + detector Ideas about science u Language of risks and benefits u Correlation or cause: evaluating health studies based on sample populations 4

Radiation models Textbook section B (science explanations) – source-radiation-detector – radiation transfers energy: ray, wave or particle – absorbing electromagnetic radiation – ionizing and non-ionizing radiation Activity AP 2. 6 Radiation journeys (circus of experiments) 5

Is there a health risk? Textbook section D (ideas about science) u How would you know if there were health risks associated with using mobiles? Health surveys: sample size and matching populations u Precautionary principle: UK government recommends children under 8 years avoid using mobile phones. Activity AP 2. 15 A safe place to live? Activity AP 2. 16 Microwave radiation near phone masts 6

GCSE Additional Science for future scientists The wave model of radiation u u Wave equation c = fl Wave path: refraction, diffraction, interference Activity: Ripple tank experiments 7

GCSE Physics: P 7 Observing the Universe Black body radiation u Line spectra u u Life cycle of stars, explained by fusion 8