No products in the cart.
A Physics Major?
Thinking about a career in Physics? As you prepare for University you may be thinking:
“What can you do with a physics major?”
For someone who completes a physics major, salary can vary widely. It all depends on your level of education and the nature of your specific job.
Complete the activity by filling in the blanks to complete the job description of the images you see below. Can you guess how much you could earn in each of the following great jobs in physics? Be sure to use the 
icon to reveal that information before you type in your answer and click the [check] button.
Physics: Show Me The Money!
Try to guess which careers they are describing. When you guess incorrectly, do some brief research about that career to help you understand what they do
If you can analyze atmospheric conditions and prepare accurate weather forecasts, you can find opportunities in the broadcasting, agriculture, aviation, and aerospace industries. Some __________ focus on researching the causes of hurricanes or tornado
How much do they make in Canada?
An entry level posistion make an average of $47,000 per year in Canada. With several years of education and experience, meteorologists make between $58,000 and $72,000 per year.
Correct Answer
meteorologists
As an ______________________ your job would be to study the universe, collecting data from global satellites and spacecraft and operating radio and optical telescopes. Investigation and research of new materials, tech and problem-solving too.
The average salary in Canada is $81,623 per year or $41.86 per hour. Entry level positions start at $24,403 per year while most experienced workers make up to $138,759 per year.
Correct Answer
Astronomer
A ________ use scientific techniques and equipment to measure and monitor radiation, assess risks and ensure the safety of the workplace, the general public and the environment, working within both nuclear & non-nuclear industries.
The highest average salary is $134,545 per year, belongs to those with a Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering. The minimum annual pay for such eduation is $98,750 and the maximum is $180,000. A Ph.D in Health Physics gets a mean $125,066 per year
The average Radiologist salary in Canada is $363,000 per year or $186.15 per hour. Entry level posistions starts at $30,000 per year while most experienced workers make up $611,250 per year.
Correct Answer
radiologist
As a ____________________ you’ll study the physical aspects of the earth using a range of methods, including gravity, magnetic, electrical and seismic. You’ll play a vital role in the oil and gas industries understand what lies below the earth.
The average salary in Canada is $77,554 per year or $39.77 per hour. Entry level positions start at $31,200 per year while most experienced workers make up to $131,842 per year.
Correct Answer
Geophysicist
_________ _____________provide acoustics, noise and vibrations services, such as noise surveys, noise assessments, acoustic design advice and building acoustics. Help cellphone developers manipulate sound through digital signals, design concert halls.
The average salary is $87,500 per year or $44.87 per hour. Entry level positions start at $38,813 per year while most experienced workers make up to $100,000 per year.
Correct Answer
Acoustic consultants
Researching and developing safer or more efficient ways to generate nuclear power is one of the main responsibilities of a _______ ________. This is among the highest-paying careers in physics.
How much do they make in Canada?
The average salary in Canada ia $97,500 per year or $50 per hour. Entry level positions start at $60,698 per year while most exoerienced workers make up to $165,750 per year.
Correct Answer
Nuclear Physicist
Now that you can identify and describe some of the careers related to the field of physics, this course will help give you the baseline knowledge to be able to demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills: initiating and planning, performing and recording, analyzing and interpreting, and communicating
Let’s start with initiating and planning when it comes to setting you up for success in this online course.
Review of Vectors
The prerequisite for this course is SPH3U – there you learned about waves and their frequency, motion, acceleration, position and velocity.
Watch This!
What’s in this course?
Watch the video, “Vectors and 2D Motion” as an introduction to SPH4U. These are some of the concepts you will be learning about in this course. Alternatively, search for other online resources to support your learning.
Mechanics is the branch of Physics dealing with the study of motion. No matter what your interest in science or engineering, mechanics will be important for you – motion is a fundamental idea in all of science. As we continue our investigation into the physics of motion, avoid memorizing the information. Instead contemplate the information by thinking about its meaning and its applications. The hope is that you gain a comfortable foundation with the language that is used throughout the study of mechanics.
Scalars, vectors, distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration – these words are used with regularity to describe the motion of objects.
Your goal should be to become very familiar with their meanings.
So, what is a vector and how are they used in everyday life?
A vector is a quantity which has both ‘magnitude’ as well as ‘direction’. It is a term used in mathematics, engineering, and most importantly physics; whereas a scalar quantity is a value that is only described by its magnitude.
Notebook
Let’s check your understanding of this distinction. Using your notebook recreate the table below and consider the following quantities. Categorize each quantity as being either a vector or a scalar. Then click the button to see the answer – how many did you get correct?
Quantity
Scalar OR Vector
Student answer
a. 5 m
b. 30 m/sec, East
c. 5km, North
d. 20 degrees Celsius
e. 256 bytes
Answers
Quantity
Scalar OR Vector
Student answer
a. 5 m
This is a scalar; there is no direction listed for it.
b. 30 m/sec, East
This is a vector; a direction is listed for it.
c. 5km, North
This is a vector; a direction is listed for it.
d. 20 degrees Celsius
This is a scalar; there is no direction listed for it.
e. 256 bytes
This is a scalar; there is no direction listed for it.
Notebook
Some examples of vectors include various quantities such as the displacement, force, velocity, momentum, acceleration and many more. Knowing this, think about what everyday activities involve vectors?
Suggested Answer
You use vectors in almost every activity you do. A vector is a quantity that has a magnitude (size) and direction.
Examples of everyday activities that involve vectors include:
- Breathing → your diaphragm muscles exert a force that has a magnitude and direction
- Walking → you walk at a velocity of around 6 km/h in the direction of the bathroom
- Leaving for Lunch → the displacement from your classroom to the cafeteria is about 40 m in a northerly direction
Each vector quantity has a magnitude and a direction. You may want to make a note of this in your Notebook.
In your studies of physics your ability to represent physical concepts in a visual manner becomes very important. The world that we study in physics is a physical world – a world that we can see.
Therefore, our ability to visualize and create visual representations in the study of physics helps solidify concepts into a deeper understanding.
Begin cultivating your visualization skills early in this course. Let’s focus on the use of diagrams to describe the motion of objects.
For example, a vector diagram could be used to represent the motion of a car moving down the road.
Try it!
Let’s review what we already know about vectors. Examine vectors A through I on the grid below. Classify the vectors as having the same magnitude only, the same direction only, or the same magnitude and direction using the vector letters (A, B, etc.).
Same Magntitude Only
C and D
Same Direction Only
C and G
Same Direction and Magnitude
A and H