Physics

2 units for each of Year 11 and Year 12 Board Developed Course

Course Description:

The Year 11 course develops students’ knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the study of motion, how we describe it and what causes it. The course also examines energy in its different forms, and how we describe and measure electricity and magnetism and their interrelated effects.

The Year 12 course provides avenues for students to apply the concepts introduced in Year 11 and to motion in two dimensions, electromagnetism, the nature of light, and the atomic properties of matter.

The problem-solving nature of physics further develops students’ Working Scientifically skills by focusing on the exploration of models and the analysis of theories and laws, which promotes an understanding of the connectedness of seemingly dissimilar phenomena. Students who study physics are encouraged to use observations to develop quantitative models of real-world problems and derive relationships between variables. They are required to engage in solving equations based on these models, make predictions, and analyse the interconnectedness of physical entities.

The Physics course builds on students’ knowledge and skills developed in the Science Stage 5 course and help them develop a greater understanding of Physics as a foundation for undertaking post-school studies in a wide range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. A knowledge and understanding of Physics often provides the unifying link between interdisciplinary studies.

Main Topics Covered:

Year 11 Course

The Year 11 Course modules include:

  • Module 1 – Kinematics

  • Module 2 – Dynamics

  • Module 3 – Waves and Thermodynamics

  • Module 4 – Electricity and Magnetism

Year 12 Course

The Year 12 course builds upon the knowledge from the Year 11 Course.

The Year 12 Course modules include:

  • Module 5 – Advanced Mechanics

  • Module 6 – Electromagnetism

  • Module 7 – The Nature of Light

  • Module 8 – From the Universe to the Atom

Particular Course Requirements:

  • 15 hours in Year 11 and 15 hours in Year 12 will be allocated to a depth study. During this time students may undertake an investigation/activity that allows for the further development of one or more scientific concepts. A depth study may be one investigation/activity or a series of investigations/activities. Depth studies may be included in one module or across several modules.

  • Practical investigations including both first-hand practical investigations and secondary-sources investigations are mandatory in Year 11 and Year 12. These must occupy a minimum of 35 hours of course time each year. Students are required to keep records of all scientific investigations.

  • All science courses have presumed knowledge requirements from Years 7 – 10.

  • Students selecting Physics will need to have achieved strong results in Year 10. Students also need to be proficient in Mathematics.

School Fees: Nil