MATSEC AM Physics case studies
MATSEC AM Physics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
MATSEC Advanced Matriculation (AM) Physics is the advanced-level physics subject offered within the MATSEC examination system of the University of Malta. The MATSEC Examinations Board publishes subject syllabi for four levels - SEC (Secondary Education Certificate), SEAC (Secondary Education Applied Certificate), IM (Intermediate Matriculation) and AM (Advanced Matriculation) - and a syllabus' year is defined as the year in which the final assessment is scheduled. The MATSEC AM Physics case studies are 5 cases and about 2,982 words.
1Flywheel Run-Down and Rim Stress
A workshop plans to use a steel flywheel as a short-term energy store for a small elevator. The flywheel is a solid disc of radius 0.35 m and mass 42 kg, mounted on a horizontal shaft and connected to a generator through a gearbox.
617 words, about 3 min2Halogen Lamp Inrush and Fuse Selection
A 12 V, 60 W halogen lamp is installed at the end of a two-core copper cable whose two conductors together have a total length of 16 m and cross-sectional area 1.5 mm². It is supplied by a 12.6 V lead-acid battery of internal resistance 0.080 Ω and protected by a 5 A fast-blow fuse.
614 words, about 3 min3Grating Thermals and Laser Wavelength Drift
A student uses a transmission diffraction grating with a nominal 600 lines per millimetre to measure the wavelength of a laser pointer. The grating is mounted in an aluminium holder in a laboratory whose temperature rises by 8.0 K during the experiment.
550 words, about 3 min4LED Turn-On Voltage and Planck’s Constant
A student determines Planck’s constant using the turn-on voltage of five LEDs. The LEDs have peak wavelengths 470, 525, 590, 630 and 660 nm.
593 words, about 3 min5Resonance Tube, End Correction and Temperature
A resonance tube is used to measure the speed of sound in air. A tuning fork marked 512 Hz is held over the open end of a tube whose water level can be adjusted.
608 words, about 3 min