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DESCRIPTION

Physicists are scientists who study the interaction of matter and energy. Presents a general overview of physics, and discusses the contributions of Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and others in the historical progression of this science. Reviews some of the phenomena of physics, such as motion, light, and gravity. Explains how lasers work and touches on nuclear energy, as modern physicists discuss their work.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Subject Area: Science

• Standard: Understands motion and the principles that explain it

§ Benchmark: Knows the relationship between the strength of a force and its effect on an object (e.g., the greater the force, the greater the change in motion; the more massive the object, the smaller the effect of a given force) (See Instructional Goal #3)

§ Benchmark: Knows ways in which light interacts with matter (e.g., transmission, including refraction; absorption; scattering, including reflection (See Instructional Goal #4)

§ Benchmark: Knows the range of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, gamma rays); electromagnetic waves result when a charged object is accelerated or decelerated, and the energy of electromagnetic waves is carried in packets whose magnitude is inversely proportional to the wavelength (See Instructional Goal #5)

• Standard: Understands Energy types, sources, and conversions, and their relationship to heat and temperature

§ Benchmark: Knows that nuclear reactions convert a fraction of the mass of interacting particles into energy (fission involves the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller pieces; fusion is the joining of two nuclei at extremely high temperature and pressure) and release much greater amounts of energy than atomic interactions (See Instructional Goal #7)

• Standard: Knows the kinds of forces that exist between objects and within atoms

§ Benchmark: Knows that nuclear forces are much stronger than electromagnetic forces, which are vastly stronger than gravitational forces; the strength of nuclear forces explains why great amounts of energy are released from the nuclear reactions in atomic or hydrogen bombs, and in the Sun and other stars (See Instructional Goal #6)

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

1. To name key historical physicists and their accomplishments. 2. To define the work of physicists. 3. To depict the effects of gravity on objects on earth or in a vacuum. 4. To explain the nature of light. 5. To explain the concept of electromagnetic waves. 6. To list the benefits and challenges of nuclear energy. 7. To distinguish between fission and fusion.

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VOCABULARY

1. chaos theory 2. electromagnetic waves 3. fission 4. fusion 5. grand unifying theories 6. infrared lasers 7. photon 8. spectrum 9. ultraviolet

10. visible light

BEFORE SHOWING

1. Use a graphic organizer to include the various branches of science. Discuss the focus of physics. 2. Discuss why a list of physicists could include Aristotle and other ancients who were interested in learning

about the world. 3. Display items or pictures of items that were invented as a result of research in the field of physics,

including a laser pen, microscope, and an atom smasher. 4. Display these statements from Aristotle and Galileo and discuss which is closer to the truth as we know it

today: a. An object will remain at rest until a force is applied to it. The more force applied to an object, the

greater its velocity. If no additional force is applied to a moving object, it will return to a resting state. (Aristotle)

b. In a world with no gravity or friction, an object that is set in motion by a force will stay in motion until another force acts upon it. (Galileo)

5. Complete a pretest on the achievements of scientists mentioned in the video. (See INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS.)

DURING SHOWING

Discussion Items and Questions

1. View the video more than once, with one showing uninterrupted. 2. Point out the scientific inventions shown in the video that are a result of the efforts of physicists. 3. Pause at the scene explaining Aristotle’s idea of natural and forced motion. Discuss possible reasons for

his assumptions. 4. Pause at the section showing the earlier versions of x-ray machines. Compare with today’s machines. 5. Pause at the section explaining Einstein’s special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity.

Clarify the difference between the two theories. 6. Pause at the section showing the formula E=mc2. Discuss the meaning of each term and the significance

of the formula itself.

AFTER SHOWING

Discussion Items and Questions

1. The work of physicists can be summarized as the study of the interaction of what two things?

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2. How did Galileo disprove Aristotle’s theory that the rate an object falls is proportionate to its mass? 3. Why did Newton’s new ideas about gravity create a revolution in physics? 4. How do scientists know that planets are orbiting the star 51 Pegasi even though they cannot be seen? 5. Anton van Leeuwenhoek developed a microscope to examine the quality of fabrics. What kind of

organisms did he see with his microscope? 6. Who first proposed that light travels in waves and why was his theory largely ignored for years? 7. What are electromagnetic waves? 8. Besides visible light, what are two other forms of electromagnetic waves? 9. What two discoveries helped lead to the beginning of modern physics?

10. What discovery of Einstein’s led to the production of lasers? 11. What area did Einstein’s work on gravity and motion approach that Newton’s did not? 12. How does nuclear fission work? 13. What is the nuclear energy-producing process in which certain elements are joined instead of split? 14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of fusion? 15. What other events besides atomic weapons have created negative impressions about nuclear energy? 16. Many physicists are now working on grand unifying theories, while others propose conflicting chaos

theories. What is the difference between the two kinds of theories?

Applications and Activities

1. Draw a timeline depicting discoveries in the field of physics. 2. Complete a crossword puzzle about physics. (See INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS.) 3. Report on the scientists mentioned in the video using a computer-generated slide presentation. 4. Research the history of calculus. 5. Draw a visual representation of the electromagnetic spectrum and label each part. 6. Report on uses of laser lights in medicine, industry, communications, science, and entertainment. 7. Report on the nuclear incidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. 8. Research how the speed of light was determined.

INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS

• TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE • CROSSWORD PUZZLE ABOUT PHYSICS

RELATED RESOURCES

Captioned Media Program

• Albert Einstein #2249 • Exploring Gravity #3121 • Lasers #2084 • Lasers—The Science of Light Amplification #3369 • Let’s Move It: Newton’s Laws of Motion #2405 • What Is Light? #2587

World Wide Web

The following Web sites complement the contents of this guide; they were selected by professionals who have experience in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students. Every effort was made to select accurate, educationally

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relevant, and “kid-safe” sites. However, teachers should preview them before use. The U.S. Department of Education, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Captioned Media Program do not endorse the sites and are not responsible for their content.

• EMILIO SEGRE VISUAL ARCHIVES http://www.aip.org/history/esva/

Contains a collection of historical photographs, slides, lithographs, engravings and other visual materials. Focuses mainly on American physicists and astronomers of the 20th century.

• PHYSICS TIME-LINE http://www.weburbia.com/pg/historia.htm

Contains a chronology of discoveries in physics and cosmology from 585 B.C. to the end of the present century. Includes some photographs of famous scientists.

• VISUALIZE SCIENCE http://www.explorescience.com/

Includes many interactive sites for teaching science concepts, including those related to physics.

• AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS: EXHIBITS AND ONLINE SOURCE MATERIAL http://www.aip.org/history/exhibit.htm

Contains hyperlinks to sites on Albert Einstein, the discovery of the electron, biographies of many physicists, the discovery of radiology, and laser history.