Course Layout

Units:

• Our Dynamic Universe

• Particles and Wave

• Electricity

Course Assessment:

The external examination (3 hours (75%)) and assignment (2 hours (25%) have to be completed under SQA examination conditions.

Unit awards can be gained through unit test passes and evidence of competence in practical work.

Course Details:

Pupils will be studying the underlying physics of a variety of which are less familiar than at N4 and N5. They will develop a deeper understanding of the physical processes governing everyday life and learn to perform problem solving tasks relating to that knowledge and understanding.

Pupils will learn through a number of different mediums: direct teaching, demonstration, experiment and research. The process of learning to ask good questions to find out answers to problems is at the heart of physics and is an excellent ability to carry through to later life. Similarly, learning to take a systematic approach to problem solving will be an important transferable skill to develop throughout the course.

The topics are varied, allowing the different skills to be developed through each of the three units. There is a greater conceptual demand than at N5 and this helps develop thinking skills. Different units have an emphasis on different skills areas.

The Assignment provides an opportunity for pupils to tackle a more in-depth piece of research and makes up for a less extensive range of course-work experiments. Pupils are encouraged to make use of software packages (e.g. Excel) to help process data, preparing them for the Advanced Higher project in S6.