Science

Overview 

This course is designed to provide students with a depth of science knowledge, skills and techniques to allow them to relate science to their lives and to succeed in the VCE Science Courses.

This course covers the following main areas of study: 

• Research, relationships and experimental design.
• Exploration of key concepts which are pivotal to Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Sciences. 
• Biology topics include the study of Genetics which involves the function of DNA, chromosomes, genes and alleles, and the roles of mitosis and meiosis in passing on genetic information to the next generation. Students will also study the theory of evolution by natural selection and the evidence that supports this theory. 
• Chemistry topics include the Periodic Table related to the organisation of the elements in the periodic table and the structure and properties of atoms. Chemical reactions are also studied and classified as exothermic or endothermic and factors that affect the reaction rate such as temperature, concentration, surface area of solid reactants, and catalysts.
• Physics topics includes the study of energy which includes energy transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) and the Law of Conservation of Energy and Newton’s Laws.
• Environmental Science topics include the study of the carbon cycle and the dynamics of global climate change. Students will also explore the origins and structure of the universe including galaxies, stars, solar systems and black holes. 

Assessment includes: Practical work, research tasks and topic tests.

Year 10 students can elect to study Unit 1 & 2 of the following Science subjects. The VCE Curriculum Handbook has full details of the area of study and content of each unit.

VCE Biology

VCE Environmental Science

VCE Physics

VCE Psychology