A2 OCR B Advancing Physics Coursework - Research and Report - The development of a Theory of Gravity

The development of a Theory of Gravity. What's behind it and where does it stand in relation to the other forces? Abstract: The Theory of Gravity has been transformed through the last century, from an original and important classical framework to more recent relativistic and then quantum interpretations, eventually culminating in a specific requirement to link it all together with the other forces and create a unified theory of everything. The search for unification is currently very much dependent upon experimentation and raises questions as to the scientific validity of String Theory and whether it exists as science or philosophy - or indeed just an elegant, but meaningless, example of mathematical aesthetics. . Introduction The ultimate goal for physicists is to devise a unified theory, which describes the universe all in one go. However, this proves difficult - there are partial theories which do not fit together, each predicting a limiting number of observations and neglecting others. Nevertheless the Standard Model exists as a framework for the coming together of partial theories. .1 The Basics of the Standard Model In matter there appears to be four basic forces at work. Gravity is the weakest of the four but acts over great distances, binding stars and galaxies together. The electromagnetic force is stronger and is responsible for holding atoms and molecules

  • Word count: 5526
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Refractometers visit report

Visit Report For my visit report I visited Aimia Foods, a company who specialise in producing soft drinks. I have chosen two pieces of equipment used by the company in the Quality Assurance / Research & Development Departments. Both are used to measure liquids. One of them is a polarimeter used to detect faults in essential oils and other solutions, the other is a refractometer, used to calculate the concentration of dissolved substances in water. The polarimeter is mainly used to check the quality and integrity of expensive essential oils such as lemon oil, used in the flavouring of soft drinks. It would be used on in-coming raw materials. The refractometer is much more widely used in the day-to-day measuring of syrup brix, a key quality attribute of all soft drinks. Polarimeter Polarization PHYSICS restrict vibration of light: to cause light to vibrate within particular planes, or vibrate in this way [Oxford dictionary of English] A polarimeter is a piece of equipment used in the food industry to measure the optical rotation of solutions. In this case to check for contamination/purity of essential oils, but also mixed sugar concentrations. Different solutions exhibit characteristic polarisation angles and can only pass through in two planes - 90o to one another. Light is made up of Electro-magnetic waves of many different waveforms (incoherent). When directed

  • Word count: 1165
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Charles wells brewery

Charles wells brewery course work This investigation will be into some physics aspects which occur at the Charles Wells brewery in Bedford. This brewery is the fifth largest in the UK and can hold up to 46,000 pints at one moment. The two aspects of physics I will be discussing in this piece of coursework are the x-rays used to detect how much beer there is in each can, the anti-vac valve and the pressure release valve. The x-ray is used to measure how much beer is in each can. The x-rays are simply sent through one side of the beer can and are collected on the other side which then shows how much of the x-rays have got through the can. The pressure release valve is used to release the pressure from within the tank to balance out the air pressures so that dents aren't formed on the tank. The anti-vac valve is used for the opposite, to stop the tank imploding. X-rays The reason that they choose to use x-rays to measure how much beer is in each can is that the beer in the can has the ability to partially absorb the x-rays so less get through to the other side. The way that the x-rays work is that if too much x-rays get through it shows that the can has too little beer contained within it. On the other hand if the can has just the right amount of beer within it only a few x-rays will be able to pass through. The reason that gamma rays weren't used is that the beer wouldn't

  • Word count: 1228
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

How temperature affects the viscosity of honey

HOW TEMPERATURE OF HONEY AFFECTS VISCOSITY Introduction Viscosity is a factor controlling resistance to flow and the speed that liquids flow is down to this. The lower the viscosity, the runnier the fluid is. Viscosity can be easily measured using the line spread test, how far and fast a fixed quantity of liquid spreads across a flat surface. Another way is by using George Gabriel Stokes' method of a falling ball, this method includes timing a ball falling at a constant rate (its terminal velocity) through a substance, the longer it takes for the ball to fall a measured distance the more viscous the substance. I am investigating how temperature affects the viscosity of honey, in order to do this I must use the falling ball viscometer method first conducting a preliminary experiment to find a suitable range of temperatures of honey to time a ball falling through. Archimedes stated: 'When a body is partially or totally immerse in a fluid, the upthrust is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.' When terminal velocity has been reached by the ball bearing the forces acting upon it will be balanced and the ball bearing will fall at a constants velocity. The magnitudes of these forces are related: Or: This equation can be rearranged by cancelling common factors of ? and r, multiplying by 3 and ten dividing by 2 to give: ? can then be made the subject: [Salters

  • Word count: 3609
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Prove or conversely disprove the inverse square law.

Introduction My aim of this experiment is to prove or conversely disprove the inverse square law, which simply states that the intensity of any point source, which spreads its influence equally in all directions without a limit to its range, will decrease in intensity inversely proportional to the square of the distance. Background information Research As first proposed by Isaac Newton when proposing his universal law of gravitation it became clear to him that the intensity of gravity would decrease according to the inverse of the square of the distance. This is the heart of the inverse square, which states for any point source, which spreads its influence equally in all directions without a limit to its range, will obey the inverse square law. Quite simply the inverse square law states that for sources emitted from a point the intensity will be deduced as the inverse of the square of the distance. You double the distance you reduce the intensity by a factor of 1/4. This has applications in electric fields, light, sound, gamma radiation, and gravity. All of these are expressed in the medium of a field. To explain the properties involved in a field it is useful to use the idea of flux. When water flows form a 'source' to a sink it is transferred at a certain rate, or flux. The flux density will be the mass of water per second crossing a unit area

  • Word count: 5182
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Properties of cathode rays

AIM To determine some of the properties of the rays which come from the cathode of a discharge tube. APPARATUS * two power packs * two plug-plug leads * one pair of magnets * induction coil * four plug-clip leads * discharge tubes (maltese cross, electric plates, rotating wheel, screen display) METHOD . Connect the power pack to the induction coil and set it at 6 volts. Adjust the points on the induction coil so that a strong steady spark is being produced. 2. Connect the terminals of the induction coil to the discharge tube containing the maltese cross (Crooke's tube). Observe the end of the tube containing the cross when the cross is down and when it is up. 3. Replace the Crookes' tube with the tube containing the electric plates and connect the terminals of the plate to its high DC voltage supply. Observe the effects of the electric field on the cathode rays. 4. Connect the tube with the fluorescent screen display to the induction coil and record the effect of placing a set of bar magnets around the cathode rays. 5. Finally, attach the tube containing the paddle wheel on tracks to the induction coil and observe the effects that the cathode rays have on the wheel when the tube is horizontal. RESULTS * In Crookes' tube, the upright cross produced a shadow in the green glow on the end of the tube opposite the cathode, showing the path of the beam was blocked by

  • Word count: 582
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

physics making sense of data

Making sense of data coursework The experiment A ball bearing of mass 28.82 g was rolled down a smooth ramp, which was set at a fixed angle of 5°. The time was measured and recorded using a stop clock of accuracy 0.01 s. Three times were recorded to improve accuracy. Results Distance from bottom of slope/ m Time 1/ s Time 2/ s Time 3/ s Average time/ s 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.46 0.47 0.51 0.48 0.10 0.73 0.70 0.73 0.72 0.15 0.98 0.96 .00 0.98 0.20 .10 .10 .10 .10 0.25 .19 .30 .26 .25 0.30 .33 .39 .33 .35 0.35 .49 .59 .57 .55 0.40 .61 .64 .64 .63 0.45 .67 .65 .72 .68 0.50 .88 .88 .79 .85 0.55 .88 .95 .93 .92 0.60 .97 2.01 .99 .99 0.65 2.07 2.09 2.11 2.09 0.70 2.16 2.13 2.16 2.15 0.75 2.18 2.28 2.23 2.23 0.80 2.21 2.29 2.25 2.25 0.85 2.32 2.30 2.34 2.32 0.90 2.36 2.36 2.39 2.37 0.95 2.48 2.54 2.51 2.51 .00 2.56 2.52 2.54 2.54 Analysis The graph above tells us that as the distance of the ball bearing from the bottom of the slope increases, the time it takes for the ball to reach the bottom will also increase. However, we can also see that the gradient of the graph changes constantly, indicating that this is a non-linear relationship. At the start of the graph, there is a gradient of 9.6 s m-1, but when the distance is approximately 0.8 m, the gradient becomes

  • Word count: 2007
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Geophysics case study - I will explore techniques used by people (primarily archeologists), to explore the areas of ground prior to archaeological research and excavation occurring

GEOPHYSICS CASE STUDY In this Case Study, I will explore techniques used by people (primarily archeologists), to explore the areas of ground prior to archaeological research and excavation occurring; the techniques, subsequently help archaeologists determine if the site is of archaeological value, which would improve our knowledge concerning may aspects of science, including human civilization. METHODS: ) One method that is used to explore the area of ground for archeological research is ground - penetrating radar. This method entails geophysics and uses radar pulses to construct a 3D image of the sub surfaces of the designated archaeological site. The penetrative power of GPR is up to 15m within the ground, ultimately providing archaeologists with a fair understanding of the type of ground that is going to be explored and probably some data of what lies buried in the ground: The above diagram, displays the GPR's radargram; the radargram is used to show the pulse reflections of different media. In this case, the radargram has been used on a site in Alabama, USA and the hyperbolic (curve shaped) lines show reflections off media, possibly hinting at a human burial site.i 2) Another method of determining the condition of area for archaeological research is the use of a range of survey methods; different survey methods respond to different physical properties. For instance

  • Word count: 976
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

Physics Course work 'What is the Higgs Boson'

Jack Lie What is Higgs Boson ________________ the Understanding of ________________ higgs boson ________________ What is higgs boson physic course work 2012 the understanding of higgs boson ________________ . What is higgs boson ________________ For centuries, the standard model of elementary particle has always been known of “the theory of everything”. However, some questions are still not answered. Dr. Peter Ware Higgs, one of the founders of the Higgs Boson, hence the reason why the Higgs Boson is named after him, asked the question ‘Where did mass came from?’ Many people have never thought about it before and assume the mass is just a property that particles have. The fundamental particle, the Higgs Boson is the particle that he believes that would solve the question. Physicists have been looking for proves of the mysterious particle of Higgs’ theory, the Higgs Boson, the particle that theoretically gives all particle in existence their masses. If the particle is proven to exist, lots of other theories could be explained, hence the importance of this particle. Higgs Boson is a very unstable particle and will decay almost immediately after being created. To describe what a Higgs Boson is, first we need to know what a Boson is. Boson is one of the most important classes of sub-atomic particles, in the standard model of elementary particles. There

  • Word count: 2247
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay

There are many ways in which scientists from all around the world discuss and finally tell the public about the results that they have produced. Three ways will be outlined in this assignment.

.4 – Scientific Communication Task 1 – How to publicise your results When a scientist finishes an experiment and analyses the results produces, they often need to communicate the results to others so that that the experiment and results re described. However this is done, it will need to be peer reviewed. This is when communications such as reports and papers are analysed by other scientists to see if the methods used are correct, if there are any errors or if there is any ideas that will conflict with the results. There are many ways in which scientists from all around the world discuss and finally tell the public about the results that they have produced. Three ways will be outlined in this assignment. One way that scientists communicate their findings is by writing up a scientific paper. Scientists do this to inform the reader about research that they have conducted clearly and to make sure that the experiment can be repeated by someone else. The usual format of a scientific report is: . Title 2. Author: The scientists that wrote the paper 3. Abstract: A summary of the aim or hypothesis, results and conclusion 4. Introduction: Other information about the field and the aim of the study 5. Materials and Methods: All resources used and how the experiment done 6. Results: Descriptions of observations with figures and data 7. Discussion: Contains a conclusion

  • Word count: 1225
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
Access this essay