National 5 Physics 

Vale of Leven Academy

Candidates gain an understanding of physics and develop this through a variety of approaches, including practical activities, investigations and problem solving. Candidates research topics, apply scientific skills and communicate information related to their findings, which develops skills of scientific literacy.

The course content includes the following areas of physics: 

Dynamics 

In this area, the topics covered are: vectors and scalars; velocity–time graphs; acceleration; Newton’s laws; energy; projectile motion. 

Space

In this area, the topics covered are: space exploration; cosmology.

Electricity 

In this area, the topics covered are: electrical charge carriers; potential difference (voltage); Ohm’s law; practical electrical and electronic circuits; electrical power. 

Properties of matter 

In this area, the topics covered are: specific heat capacity; specific latent heat; gas laws and the kinetic model. 

Waves 

In this area, the topics covered are: wave parameters and behaviours; electromagnetic spectrum; refraction of light. 

Radiation

In this area, the topic covered is nuclear radiation. 

Question paper 135 marks 

The purpose of the question paper is to assess breadth, challenge and application of skills, knowledge and understanding from across the course. The question paper also assesses scientific inquiry skills and analytical thinking skills.

The question paper gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding by: 

• making accurate statements

• providing descriptions and explanations 

• applying knowledge of physics to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems 

• planning or designing experiments to test given hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects, including safety measures 

• selecting information

• presenting information appropriately in a variety of forms

• processing information (using calculations and units, where appropriate) 

• making predictions based on evidence/information 

• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification 

• evaluating experimental procedures 

The question paper has a total of 135 marks and is worth 80% of the overall marks for external assessment. 

The question paper has two sections. 

Section 1 (objective test) has 25 marks. 

Section 2 contains restricted and extended response questions and has 110 marks. This is scaled to 75 marks. 

The majority of marks are awarded for demonstrating and applying knowledge and understanding. The other marks are awarded for applying scientific inquiry and analytical thinking skills. 

A data sheet containing relevant data and a relationships sheet are provided.

Assignment 20 marks 

The purpose of the assignment is to assess the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related physics knowledge and understanding. This component allows assessment of skills which cannot be assessed through the question paper, for example the handling and processing of data gathered as a result of experimental and research skills. 

Assignment overview 

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

• applying knowledge of physics to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems 

• planning, designing and safely carrying out experiments/practical investigations to test given hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects 

• selecting information from a variety of sources 

• presenting information appropriately in a variety of forms 

• processing the information (using calculations and units, where appropriate) 

• making predictions based on evidence/information 

• drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification 

• suggesting improvements to experiments/practical investigations

• communicating findings/information 

The assignment offers challenge by requiring skills, knowledge and understanding to be applied in a context that is one or more of the following: unfamiliar, familiar but investigated in greater depth or familiar but integrates a number of concepts. 

Candidates will research and report on a topic that allows them to apply skills and knowledge in physics at a level appropriate to National 5. 

The topic must be chosen with guidance from the teacher/lecturer and must involve experimental work. 

The assignment has two stages: 

• research 

• report 

The research stage must involve an experiment that allows measurements to be made. Candidates must also gather data from the internet, books or journals to compare against their experimental results. The candidate’s research may also involve gathering extracts from internet/literature sources to support their descriptions and/or explanations of the underlying physics. Candidates must produce a report on their research.