Physics - Higher

Vale of Leven Academy

The course content includes the following areas of physics:

Our Dynamic Universe

The topics covered are:

• motion — equations and graphs
• forces, energy and power
• collisions, explosions, and impulse
• gravitation
• special relativity
• the expanding Universe

Particles and Waves

The topics covered are:

• forces on charged particles
• the Standard Model
• nuclear reactions
• inverse square law
• wave-particle duality
• interference
• spectra
• refraction of light

Electricity

The topics covered are:

• monitoring and measuring AC
• current, potential difference, power, and resistance
• electrical sources and internal resistance
• capacitors
• semiconductors and p-n junctions

Question Paper

Question paper 1 : multiple choice 25 marks

Question paper 2 : 130 marks

The question papers have a total mark allocation of 155 marks. This contributes 80% to the overall marks for the course assessment.

The question papers assess breadth, challenge and application of skills, knowledge and understanding from across the course. The question papers also assess scientific inquiry skills and analytical thinking skills.

Question paper 1 contains multiple-choice questions and has 25 marks. This is not scaled. Candidates have 45 minutes to complete question paper 1.

Question paper 2 contains restricted-response and extended-response questions and has 130 marks. This is scaled to 95 marks. Candidates have 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete question paper 2.

A data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided.

The majority of the marks are awarded for applying knowledge and understanding. The other marks are awarded for applying scientific inquiry, scientific analytical thinking and problem solving skills.

The question papers give candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• making accurate statements
• providing descriptions and explanations and integrating knowledge
• applying knowledge of physics to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems
• planning or designing experiments/practical investigations to test given hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects, including safety measures
• selecting information from a variety of sources
• presenting information appropriately in a variety of forms
• processing information (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• making predictions from evidence/information
• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
• evaluating experimental procedures, identifying sources of uncertainty and suggesting improvements, where appropriate

Assignment

The assignment has a total mark allocation of 20 marks.

This is scaled to 30 marks by SQA. This contributes 20% to the overall marks for the course assessment.

The assignment assesses the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related physics knowledge and understanding. It allows assessment of skills that cannot be assessed through the question paper, for example the handling and processing of data gathered from experimental work by the candidate.

Assignment overview

The assignment gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• applying physics knowledge to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems
• planning and designing experiments/practical investigations to test given hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects
• recording detailed observations and collecting data from experiments/practical investigations
• selecting information from a variety of sources
• presenting information appropriately in a variety of forms
• processing information (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
• quantifying sources of uncertainty
• evaluating experimental procedures and suggesting improvements
• communicating findings/information effectively

The assignment offers challenge by requiring candidates to apply skills, knowledge and understanding in a context that is one or more of the following:

• unfamiliar
• familiar but investigated in greater depth
• integrating a number of familiar contexts

Candidates research and report on a topic that allows them to apply skills and knowledge in physics at a level appropriate to Higher.

The topic must be chosen with guidance from teachers and/or lecturers and must involve experimental work.

The assignment has two stages:

• research
• report

The research stage must involve experimental work which allows measurements to be made. Candidates must also gather data/information from the internet, books or journals. Candidates must produce a report on their research.