VCE Physics Podcast

An updated guide to preparing for and completing the upcoming VCE Physics exam.

Electric fields, Electric field lines - between plates, Electric field lines around particles, Electric field between charged particles, Coulomb’s law, Calculating with Coulomb’s law, Electric field strength, Electric fields & work, Speed of charged particles in electric fields

Dynamic microphone, Condenser microphone, Carbon microphone, Frequency response curves, Sound recording, Amplifiers, Loudspeakers

Definitions, Why optical fibres?, Light emitting diodes, Light dependent resistors, A light sensing circuit, Photodiodes, Phototransistors, Remote control circuit, Digital data, Binary numbers, Pulse Code Modulation, Light modulation

Australia’s energy usage, Why is sustainable energy important?, Energy transformations & efficiency, Solar energy, Photovoltaic cells, Solar energy calculations, Wind power, Wind power calculations, Hydro power, Hydro power calculations, Biofuels.

What is light?, The electromagnetic spectrum, Waves, Wave equations, Light as electromagnetic radiation, Polarisation, Colour, Colour addition, Colour subtraction, Interference & structural colour

The human eye, Near point, Lens power, Short sightedness (Myopia), Long sightedness (Hypermetropia), Using lenses

Refraction, Converging lens, Diverging lens, Images in convex (converging) lenses, The human eye, Images in concave (diverging) lenses, The lens & mirror equation, Image formation - summary

Reflection - formation of images, Reflection in concave mirrors, Reflection in convex mirrors, The lens & mirror equation

Reflection, Formation of images, Refraction, Refractive index, Snell’s law, Total internal refraction, Critical angle, Apparent depth, Dispersion of colour

Energy, Work, Gravitational potential energy, Kinetic energy, Work calculations, Ramps, Energy transformations, Elastic potential energy, Efficiency, Power

Momentum, Calculating momentum changes, Impulse, Force & time - Airbags, Conservation of momentum, Conservation of momentum calculation

Gravity and Newton’s third law, Tension and pulleys, Car towing a trailer, Inclined planes

Forces, Forces as vectors, Resolving vectors, Explaining motion - Aristotle vs Newton, Newton’s first law, Newton’s second law, Weight, Calculating acceleration, Newton’s third law, Moving forward, Gravity & Newton’s third law

Displacement, velocity and acceleration, Velocity-time graph, The five kinematics equations, Solving kinematics problems, Gravity

Constant velocity, Constant acceleration, Interpreting position-time graphs, Interpreting velocity-time graphs, Solving problems with graphs

Motion as a vector, Vector resolution, Vectors in two dimensions, Distance & displacement, Speed & velocity, Acceleration, Acceleration while changing direction

The nucleus, Nuclear fission, Chain reactions, Mass defect, Atomic mass units , Uranium 235 fission, Energy released: E = mc2, Binding energy

A look at the effects of radiation and the calculation of doses.

Radioisotopes all have a characteristic half-live, that measures the time taken to decay. This podcast looks at the calculations involving half-lives.

An introduction to the different types of radiation - alpha, beta and gamma.

Photon momentum Photon momentum calculations De-Broglie wavelength Electron diffraction Emission and absorption spectra Energy levels Bohr’s model of electrons Hydrogen emission spectrum Mercury emission spectrum Electron waves

Lenard’s experiment, The photon model, Light as photons, Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect, Photon energy, Electron volts, Electron energy

Huygen’s wave theory, Newton’s corpuscular theory, Young’s double slit experiment, Double slit interference, Diffraction, Single slit interference, The electromagnetic nature of light, The electromagnetic spectrum, Light as electromagnetic radiation

Diffraction, Diffraction through gaps, Interference patterns - two sources, Calculating interference patterns, Calculating interference patterns - directly between sources, Calculating interference patterns - in front of one source.

Standing waves in strings, Speed of waves in strings, Standing waves in strings - other harmonics, Beats, Open ended pipes, Open ended pipe harmonics, Closed pipes, Closed pipes harmonics, Harmonics & timbre, Spectral analysis

Sound intensity, Sound level: The decibel scale, Sound level calculations, Some decibel measurements, Change in intensity, Human hearing, The Phon scale

Sound waves, Wave equations, Speed of sound, The Ear, Speed of sound, Sounds are waves, Intensity, Pitch, Timbre

Mains AC, Transmission of electricity, Energy losses, Transformers, Transmission power calculations, Power

Voltage across a moving rod, Induced current - opposes changing flux, Magnetic flux, Lenz’s law, Induced EMF, EMF calculations, EMF vs flux graphs, AC generator (alternator)

A look at the parts and rotation of a DC motor.

A look at the forces acting on current carrying wires & charged particles in magnetic fields.

Magnetism, Earth’s magnetic field, Magnetic fields, Drawing the magnetic fields, Strength of magnetic fields, Magnetic fields around wires, The right-hand grip rule, The solenoid

Torque, Centre of mass, Equilibrium, Stability, Tension structures, Arches, Cantilevers, Ties

Forces, Stress, Strain, Stress / strain graphs, Young’s modulus, Strength, Strain energy and toughness

Semiconductors and doping, PN junctions, Reverse bias - no current, Forward bias, Diode IV curves, Uses of diodes, Calculations with diodes in series and parallel

Electric charge, Current, Potential difference, Resistance, Ohm’s law, Series circuits, Parallel circuits, Combination circuits - series + parallel, Power

Acceleration, Calculating accelerations, Turning and angles, Circular motion on an inclined bank, Vertical circular motion, Staying in the circle

Calculating the height, speed and time period of satellites in orbit.

Types of errors, Accuracy vs precision, Estimating uncertainties, Calculating with uncertainties, Finding relationships between data, Graphing with uncertainties

An analysis of the energy changes as a weight oscillates up & down on a spring - Gravitational, kinetic and elastic potential energy.

A look at gravity - the equations and effects.

Hooke's law, Work, Elastic energy.

Projectile path, Forces on a projectile, Velocity of a projectile, Projectiles & energy, Horizontal projection, Projection at an angle, Problem solving