Grade 9 Physics (Short)Lessons for Spring 2025
Assessments: to be arranged Test date: to be arranged
| Week number | Starting date | Lesson content | Lesson resources and links | Homework | |
| 2 | 7.1 | THE SMALL STUFF Small things: structure of matter.. Scale and powers of ten. Recap the particle model. This was suggested by the Ancient Greeks who had no way of knowing if it were true. SI prefixes and powers of 10 Useful units with the very big and small | Cosmic Zoom (1968) Cosmic Eye (2018) Extra info if you want it Have you ever seen an atom? Nature, Imaging individual atoms. (2 minutes) 1 ppt Lesson notes Wednesday | Watch this video, and be prepared to discuss your ideas about it next week. | |
| 3 | 13.1 | HOW DO WE KNOW? Scientific hypotheses - how do we identify the things we cannot see? 'The game of chess' idea Revising the structure of atoms. Subatomic particles - quarks | Place in order of size Atomic models through time Fact, hypothesis, theory, truth ? 2 ppt lesson notes Crash course in particle physics (in case you are interested) Part 1 Part 2 | No homework | |
| 4 | 20.1 | Paradoxes in physics - special relativity and Schrödinger's Cat | In the lesson you are taken through the weird thinking of quantum mechanics with the wave-particle duality view of the world. The nature of paradoxes and a different way of viewing the world are introduced. No cats were harmed in the lesson Paradoxes - what are they? NewScientist article on Schrödinger’s cat Lesson notes 9B Wednesday Power of Gravity - Jim Al Kahlili 45 minutes | Watch this video - there is no written task for this homework | |
| 5 | 27.1 | Atomic structure | 4 ppt Quick video to explain the types Learning outcomes | ||
| 6 | 3.2 | Ionising radiation
| 4 ppt Dangers of ionising radiation Alexander Litvinenko story Ionising radiation graphics Lesson (Weds)notes Lesson notes Thursday | ||
| 7 | 9.2 | Einstein's Equation | 5 ppt Where does the energy come from? Mass defect. Einstein's equation. worksheet answers are at the end of the sheet lesson notes | Complete the worksheet you were given in class | |
| 8 | 17.2 | 6ppt Nuclear reactions which generate energy. Understanding a how a fission reactor works video Understanding chain reactions video Problems with nuclear power. Lesson notes Some excellent resources: HBO series 'Chernobyl' Film: 'Oppenheimer' News report from USA 28.4.1986 Live radiation map Europe Further resources on fusion and fission: IAEA site - F & F - what's the difference? BBC Bitesize (GCSE level) The Science Hive Brief description of nuclear accidents worldwide Video detailing events at Chernobyl - this is a bit sensationalised... Thursday lesson - a good question was asked about how the neutrons are introduced into a nuclear reactor to begin with. Basically some highly reactive uranium (enriched) which already gives out a few of the neutrons is put in and after a while removed otherwise too many neutrons are given out as the 'chain reaction' from the fuel has started. Obviously in the reactor the chain reaction should not be allowed to go out of control. |
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| 9 | 24.2 | Test | |||
| 11 | 10.3 | The Big Stuff | ppt8 galaxies, nebulae, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes, stars, planets, moons, satellites Distances in space Pale Blue Dot commentary Lesson notes | ||
| 12 | 17.3 | Stars are not forever | ppt 9 9A only - 9B did not have a lesson this week. Stars and their planetary systems Galaxy and star formation Orion Star life cycle Stellarium website/app -what's in the sky right now Lesson notes | ||
| 13 | 24.3 | Is there anybody out there? | ppt 10 Types of planets Factors needed for life Goldilocks/habitable zone The most terrifying planets 9A lesson notes 9B this week: Stars and their planetary systems Galaxy and star formation Orion Star life cycle Stellarium website/app -what's in the sky right now Lesson notes | ||
| 14 | 31.3 | Exoplanets | 9B lesson - intro to planets Lesson notes ppt 10 Types of planets Factors needed for life Goldilocks/habitable zone The most terrifying planets Resource page Project is done through teams | ||
| 15 | 7.4 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 16 | 14.4 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 17 | 21.4 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 18 | 28.4 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 19 | 5.5 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 20 | 12.5 | Exoplanets | Resource page Project is done through teams | 30 minutes homework on the project | |
| 21 22 | 19.5 26.5 |
