Science - Physical Science

In Years 9 and 10, in line with the Australian Curriculum, the study of Science at The Friends’ School is compulsory. The goals of science education are:

• To encourage wonder, exploration and engagement with the wider world
• To develop skills in evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking
• To encourage intellectual curiosity through practical investigations and student guided inquiry
• To develop scientific literacy skills, in order to:
  • explain phenomena scientifically
  • evaluate and design scientific enquiry
  • interpret data and evidence scientifically.

All units are studied as three interrelated and integrated strands: Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills.  

The topics cover the following sub-strands of Science:

• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Earth and Space Sciences.

In Year 9 students study two semesters of Physical Science and one semester of Biological Science. 

In Year 10 students study two semesters of Physical Science (Core or Analytical) and one semester of Biological Science. Students who have difficulty accessing the mainstream curriculum can enrol in Modified Science for two semesters.

All science courses offered in Years 9 and 10 equip students to undertake further science studies at Clemes, whether they are following a TCE or an IB pathway.

Year 9 - Physical Science

In Semester one, all students will study the following content areas:

• Energy changes and transformations and heat convection, conduction and radiation
• Light and sound energy, wave motion and the EMR spectrum, basic circuits
• Plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, geological time and global patterns of geological activity.

In Semester 2, all students will study the following content areas:

• History of atomic structure, electron configuration, physical and chemical change, acids and bases, nuclear reactions and radioactivity
• Introduction to reactions, formula and equations, types of reactions including reactions of acids.

Science inquiry and the role and nature of science will be embedded within these content strands. 

In addition, students will study Biological Science 1 in Semester 1 or 2 of Year 9. This may be determined by other timetabling considerations.

Year 10

Three courses operate in Year 10: Modified Science, Physical Science (Core) and Physical Science (Analytical).

Students will be counselled during the Year 9 course selection process as to which Science pathway is best suited  to them in Year 10. Enrolment in the Modified course will be made in consultation with the Head of Faculty, the class teacher, tutor and parents.

All other students will enrol in either Physical Sciences (Core) or Physical Sciences (Analytical). In addition, students not enrolled in Modified Science will study Biological Science 2 in Semester 1 or 2 of Year 10. This may be determined by other timetabling considerations.

Pathways

Students who intend to study a science at pre-tertiary level are strongly recommended to enrol in either Physical Science (Core) or Physical Sciences (Analytical). Physical Sciences (Analytical) provides stronger preparation for students planning on enrolling in TCE Physical Science or IB Chemistry or Physics, however it is not an essential requirement.

Year 10 Modified Science

Topics are combined into units with each unit lasting one semester. Both units are compulsory. Students will enrol in Modified Science for a full year and will be unable to change pathways part way through, unless exceptional circumstances arise. Enrolments in the Modified Science course are based on recommendations made by class teachers in consultation with the Head of Faculty. Students enrolled in Modified Science do not need to enrol in Physical Science in Year 10, as the concepts covered are incorporated into the Modified Science programme.

Modified Science has a strong focus on student inquiry and science as a human endeavour. This will be embedded within the following science understanding topics:

Modified Science: Semester 1

• Inheritance and genetics
• The Theory of Evolution
• The Universe

Modified Science: Semester 2

• Energy and power
• Motion and Newton’s Laws
• The periodic table trends and properties, reactions and factors affecting the rates of reactions
• Industrial processes in chemistry.

Year 10 Physical Science 

Physical Science may be studied as Physical Science (Core) or Physical Science (Analytical). The topics covered in each course are the same, with the Physical Science (Analytical) students using a more mathematical and analytical approach to help prepare for further studies in pre-tertiary Physical Sciences (Physics & Chemistry) . Students study Physical Science (Core) or Physical Science (Analytical) for the full year. 

Physical Science (Core) provides students with a solid foundation for further studies in all sciences  at pre-tertiary level. Students will gain an appreciation of aspects of Physics, Chemistry and Astronomy and will design and carry out a range of practical tasks to investigate phenomena. This course provides a very good introduction to all sciences taught at Clemes and is a good choice for students who require a structured program. 

Physical Science: Semester 1

• The Periodic table trends and properties, classification of substances and bonding types
• Experiment design
• Mathematical modelling, Motion, Forces, equations of motion, Newton’s Laws
• Cosmology, use of technologies to explore the universe and astronomical measurements.

Physical Science: Semester 2

• Chemical reaction types, formula writing and balancing equations, rates of reaction
• Energy, energy conservation and power
• Quantitative chemistry.

Year 10 Physical Science (Analytical)

Physical Science (Analytical) consolidates the application of mathematical skills to the sciences and is also aimed at students who are intending to study Physical Sciences in their pre-tertiary studies. This course supports students in developing skills in analysis and evaluation of scientific processes and investigations. Students should be motivated and have sound mathematical skills in order to enrol in this course. This course will benefit students intending to study Physics or Chemistry in the IB or TCE. 

Physical Science (Analytical): Semester 1

• The Periodic table trends and properties, classifications of substances and reactions of metals
• Experiment design
• Mathematical modelling, Motion, Newton’s Laws, equations of motion, introduction to mathematical methods of error analysis and applications of graphical analysis
• Cosmology, use of technology to explore the universe and astronomical measurement.

Physical Science (Analytical): Semester 2

• Chemical reaction types, formula writing and balancing equations, rates of chemical reaction, advanced experiment design and evaluation
• Energy, energy conservation and power, mathematical analysis of scientific data, additional use of graphs
• Quantitative chemistry, advanced experiment design and evaluation.