VCE Education

Mathematics

The structure of VCE mathematics subjects and units can be summerised as below:

• Mathematical Methods CAS (Unit 1 & 2): Linear Functions and Equations, Quadratics, Cubic and Quartic Functions, Relations/Functions and Transformations, Hyperbolic, Truncus, Square-Root Functions, Circles and Semi-Circles, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Circular Functions, Matrices and Applications, Fundamentals of Probability, Conditional Probability, Discrete Probability Distributions, Counting Methods (Combinations and Permutations), Rate of Change, Differentiation of Polynomial Functions and Applications, Differentiation Techniques, Antidifferentiation. [PDF-MM12 Topic List]

• Mathematical Methods CAS (Unit 3 & 4): Functions and Relations, Families of Functions, Polynomial Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Circular Functions, Differentiation and Applications of Differentiation, Antidifferentiation and Applications of Antidifferentiation, Discrete Random Variables, Binomial Distribution, Markov Chains, Continuous Random Variables, Normal Distribution, sampling and estimation, statistics of sample proportion, confidence intervals. [PDF-MM34 Topic List]

• Specialist Mathematics (Units 1 & 2) [General Mathematics (Advanced) GMA]: Matrices, Number Systems and Sets, Algebra, Variation, Sequences and Series, Transformations, Ratios and Similarity, Number and Proof, Geometry and Proofs, Circular Functions, Trigonometry and Applications, Circle Theorems, Vectors, Polar Coordinates and Complex Numbers, Loci, Kinematics, Statics of an Object. [PDF-SM12 Topic List]

• Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4): Reciprocal Circular Functions, Ellipses and Hyperbolas, Vectors, Circular Functions, Complex Numbers, Differentiation and Rational Functions, Anti-differentiation (Integration), Applications of Integration, Differential Equations, Kinematics, Vector Functions and Vector Calculus, Dynamics and Mechanics, Sampling and Estimation, Statistics of Sample Mean, Confidence Intervals, Hypothesis Testing [PDF-SM34 Topic List]

*computer algebra system (CAS)

HyperMaths - An exploration environment for concepts in mathematics!

Physics

The contents of the 4 physics units are:

• Units 1: Heat and Thermodynamics: Heat energy and temperature measurements, specific heat capacity and latent heat of materials, heat transfer and laws of Thermodynamics, heat energy/internal energy/work done, thermal equilibrium, conduction, convection and radiation, black-body radiation, issue of global warming, green house gasses and green house effect. Electricity: Electrical charges, Coulombs law, current, voltage and power, Ohm's law, linear/non-linear devices, series/parallel circuits, total resistance calculations, circuit analysis, safety and electrical power calculations. Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity: Alpha/Beta/Gamma radiations, decay equations, half-life time, radiation dose calculations and safety, Birth of universe and subatomic particles.

• Unit 2: Motion and Forces: One dimensional motion, displacement/velocity/acceleration and graphs, forces, net force and Newton's Laws of Motion, momentum and impulse, gravitational/kinetic/elastic energies, conservation of momentum/energy. Breath Topics of Study: Choose one out of a list of 12. Practical Investigation.

The curriculum, past exam papers, and assessment information for VCE subjects can be obtained from VCAA web site.

HyperPhysics -An exploration environment for concepts in physics!

• Unit 3: Motion in One and Two Dimensions Revision of one dimensional motion from Unit 2, projectile motion under gravity, circular motion, centripetal acceleration and centripetal force, horizontal/vertical circular motion, universal law of gravitation, gravitational fields, planetary and satellite motion, orbital speed and period, energy transformation in gravitational fields, absolute and apparent weightlessness. Einstein’s special theory of relativity. Electricity: Electrical charges, Coulomb's Law, electric fields and electrostatic forces, energy in electrical fields, particle accelerator and electron gun, uniform electric fields between charged plates, electric field as the voltage gradient. Magnetism and Electric Power Permanent magnets and magnetic poles, magnetic fields, magnetic fields due to currents, force on a conductor inside a field, electro-magnetic induction, Faraday's law and Lenz's law, motors and generators, commutators, electrical power generation and distribution, line loss and transformers, AC power calculations.

• Unit 4: Waves and Light: Mechanical wave propagation, transversal/longitudinal waves, wave length, period, frequency, speed and amplitude, wave equation, electromagnetic spectrum and waves, light, mirrors and reflection laws, refraction and Snell's law, ray diagrams, color dispersion, sources of light (LED, LASER, stars etc). etc. Interaction of Light and Matter: Wave-particle duality of light, photon model of light, reflection, refraction and diffraction, diffraction patterns and Young's two-slit experiment, photo-electricity, matter waves and De Broglie's wavelength, particle diffraction. Practical Investigation.