Safety, Ethical & Environmental Issues in Physics (DP IB Physics): Revision Note

Safety, ethical & environmental issues in physics

• Throughout the course, you will perform a variety of different experiments

• You need to be aware of the safety considerations that accompany practical investigations and be able to suggest ways to minimise these risks 

• Some investigations may have ethical and environmental implications

Safety considerations

• When carrying out investigations, safety hazards and risks must be identified and managed

• A risk assessment during any practical work should identify possible hazards, assess the level of risk, and make alterations to the procedure to minimise the risk

• General lab risks

  • Protective wear: Goggles and gloves if handling hot equipment, glass, or chemicals.

  • Glassware: Risk of breakage; handle carefully and avoid over-tightening stoppers.

• Radioactive sources

  • Radioactive sources must be:

    • stored in lead-lined boxes, clearly labelled

    • used for the shortest time possible

    • handled with tongs, never pointed at anyone

    • demonstrations should be supervised by a trained teacher

    • students must stand at a safe distance

• Electron diffraction apparatus

  • Operates at high voltages - only qualified staff should set up

  • Ensure the apparatus is earthed and regularly checked

  • Do not touch live connections

• Lasers

  • Risk to eyes: Never direct beams towards people or reflective surfaces

  • Keep the beam horizontal and below eye level

  • Laser goggles should be worn if available

  • Turn off the laser as soon as observations are complete

• Electrical circuits

  • Use low voltages (e.g., 1.5 V batteries, up to 9 V typically)

  • Large numbers of batteries have an environmental cost due to disposal

  • For mains-powered equipment (12–15 V supplies), check for earthing and regular safety inspections

  • Avoid bare wires or using circuits near water

• Gas pressure & temperature experiments

  • Hot water hazards: keep apparatus away from table edges and never leave it unattended

  • Use gloves when sealing bungs firmly into flasks (glass may break)

  • Glass tubes under pressure should be shielded (e.g., with clear plastic screens)

  • Avoid sitting directly beside beakers of hot water in case of spillage

• Boyle’s law apparatus

  • Equipment under pressure (gas syringes, foot pumps) should not be overfilled

  • Surround glass tubes with protective shields in case of explosion

  • Avoid careless handling - most lab accidents are due to inattention

Ethical issues

• Physics experiments rarely involve major ethical concerns compared to subjects such as biology or psychology

• However, think carefully if your research uses equipment or methods that could pose ethical dilemmas

  • For example, if an investigation involves human subjects, consent from the participants needs to be obtained

  • For investigations involving animal testing, ethical guidelines and protocols for animal experimentation must be followed

• If you cannot identify any ethical concern, it is acceptable to state this, but you should justify why

Environmental issues

• Physics experiments usually have a low environmental impact, but you should consider the following:

  • Electricity use

    • Many pieces of apparatus (e.g., electrical circuits, immersion heaters, electron diffraction) require a continuous power supply

    • Using mains electricity has an environmental cost because power generation often relies on fossil fuels, producing greenhouse gases

    • Good practice: minimise energy use by switching off equipment when not in use, using low-voltage supplies where possible, and choosing energy-efficient devices

  • Water use

    • Many physics experiments require the use of water (e.g., pressure law investigations, ripple tank for investigating wave properties)

    • Environmental concerns include waste (using fresh water repeatedly instead of reusing) and disposal (contaminated water must not be poured down drains if it contains oils or chemicals)

    • Good practice: recycle the same water across multiple trials, and dispose of any contaminated water following lab guidelines

  • Battery use

    • Disposable batteries are often used in circuit experiments

    • Improper disposal of batteries causes environmental harm due to the risk of fire and the release of toxic chemicals when sent to a landfill

    • Good practice: recycle batteries at designated locations, and consider using rechargeable batteries or mains-powered equipment where possible

  • Waste reduction and disposal

    • Whenever possible, find a meaningful way to reuse or recycle materials rather than discarding

    • Follow proper disposal methods to avoid harm to the environment or lab facilities

• If you identify an environmental concern, you must explain how you intend to reduce the impact of your investigation on the environment