Physics

Unit 1: what ideas explain the physical world?

Students explore how physics explains phenomena, at various scales, which are not always visible to the unaided human eye. They examine some of the fundamental ideas and models used by physicists in an attempt to understand and expain the world.

Outcome 1: Apply thermodynamic principles to analyse, interpret and explain change in thermal energy and describe the environmental impact of human activities with reference to thermal affects and climate science concepts.

Outcome 2: Investigate and apply a basic DC circuit model to simple battery operated devices and household electrical systems, apply mathematical models to analyse circuits and describe the safe use of electricity.

Outcome 3: Explore the nature of matter, and consider the origins of atoms, time and space. Examine the theory of what constitutes the nucleus, the forces within the nucleus and nuclear energy.

Unit 2: What do experiments reveal about the physical world?

Students explore the power of experiments in developing models and theories. They Investigate a variety of phenomena by making their own observations and generating questions that can be investigated experimentally. students make direst observations of physics phenomena and examine the ways indirect observations enables exploration of phenomena that may not be directly observable.

Outcome 1: students investigate, analyse and mathematically model the motion of particles and bodies.

Outcome 2: Twelve options are available for selection in Area of Study 2. Each option is based on a different observation of the physical world. On completion of this unit students explain and apply key concepts of the chosen option.

Outcome 3: Students design and undertake an investigation of a physics question related to the scientific inquiry process of data collection and analysis , and draw conclusions based on evidence from collected data

Unit 3: How do fields explain motion and electricity?

Students explore the importance of energy in explaining and describing the physical world. They examine the production and delivery of electricity.They explore the interactions, effects and applications of gravitational, electric and magnetic fields. students use newton's law to investigate motion in one and two dimensions and Einstein's theories to explain the motion of very fast objects.

Outcome 1: Analyse gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, and use these to explain the operation of motors and particle accelerators and the orbits of satellites.

Outcome 2: Use empirical evidence and models of electromagnetic effects to explain how electricity is produced and delivered to homes, while exploring magnetic fields and the transformer as critical to electrical distribution systems.

Outcome 3: Investigate motion and related energy transformations experimentally, analyse motion using Newton's Laws of Motion, and explain the motion of objects at very large speeds using Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity.

Unit 4: How can two contradictory models explain both light and matter

Students explore the use of wave and particle theories to the properties of light matter. Students investigate light using a particle model to explain its behavior. A wave model is used to explain the behavior of matter, enabling students to consider the relationship between light and matter.

Outcome 1: Investigate the properties of mechanical waves, examine evidence suggesting that light is a wave, and apply quantitative models to explore how light changes direction, including reflection, refraction, dispersion and polarization.

Outcome 2: Explore the design of major experiments that have led to the development of theories to describe the most fundamental aspects of the physical world - light and matter.

Outcome 3: Design and undertake a practical investigation related to waves or fields or motion, and involving two continuous independent variables. Present methodologies, findings and conclusions in a scientific poster.