Waves
This topic area is covered in KS4 science at a very similar level to that expected here. Students are likely to remember the electromagnetic spectrum waves and have recently used the wave equation as a calculation. The difference between GCSE and the T level specification is likely to be the examples and contexts of using waves in medical and science settings to bring the concepts to life and allow students to be able to how properties and equations are applied. There are also opportunities to link to the sections on converting units and comparing gamma radiation to other waves on the same spectrum.
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Making Waves
An introduction to waves and the electromagnetic spectrum that could be used as background understanding before moving on to look at medical uses of different waves. A quiz is included that could also be done to recap ideas from GCSE or as a team activity to start discussion. There is also a link here to analogue and digital signals that could be integrated into this context for teaching.
Episode 309: Generating Waves
Teacher notes and activities here are designed to develop the idea of longitudinal and transverse waves and their properties with students. Demonstrations include using springs and the ripple tank to illustrate this idea and explain what is happening. They would be ideal resources for non-specialists teachers to investigate best practice in the teaching of this topic and how to link the practical applications to the theory.
Waves Equation
Teacher notes and student worksheets on the wave equation that could be used to practise and rearrange the equation further after an initial introduction. There are a variety of scales used and students will also be able to deal with converting these e.g. mm to m, KHz to Hz.
Medical Uses of Ultrasound
A comprehensive set of resources to use at waves in medicine that includes interesting images produced by different methods e.g. ultrasound of an artery, a gamma knife and lung scans using radioactive Kyrpton. This includes teacher notes to give context and background for each slide and so could easily be adapted, chunked down or separated into parts for classroom teaching.
Investigating X-rays
A set of student activities and worksheets aimed at A2 Applied Science students that look at the density of different tissues as a reason for the images produced by X-rays and helps model this to aid student understanding. This does move beyond what students need to know in the T level specification, but the models used and examples of density will be of interest and give helpful background for some students and could be incorporated into lessons.
Heating Effect of Infra-red
Although the resource is aimed at younger students, this experiment to look at the heating effect of different infra-red (IR) sources could be adapted to allow students to test that some IR devices like a toaster have a heating effect whereas others like a computer mouse do not. It could link to other teaching on why this might happen and the wave equation, but would be a good introduction activity.
Pulse Oximeters
This resource from the Institute of Physics (IOP), describes how light can be used in pulse oximetry to measure pulse rate and oxygen levels in the body. The video, taken from an IOP Schools and Colleges lecture, describes how shining red and infra-red light through the body can be used to measure pulse rate and oxygen levels in the blood. The reason why visible light cannot be used to image the body is also discussed. The video has teachers notes and student worksheet with answers to accompany it.
Ultrasound *suitable for home teaching*
This set of resources from the Institute of Physics (IoP), describes how ultrasound can be used to image the body. The video shows how ultrasound can be used to look at a professional footballer's knee to investigate the cause of pain and the collection also includes an animated powerpoint about pre-natal scanning with teacher notes and a student worksheet with answers.