PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

S3 PHYSICS BGE

The course aims to develop:

• Demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and concepts of Physics
• Develop the skills of scientific inquiry and investigation using practical techniques
• Develop skills in the accurate use of scientific language, formulae and equations
• Recognise the impact science makes on their life, the lives of others in society
• Establish the foundation for more advanced learning and future careers in science and technology​.

 

The Topics covered are:

• Waves
• Dynamics
• Electricity
• Space
• Radiations
• Electronics

 

 

NATIONAL 4 COURSE

 

Science is vital to everyday life, and allows us to understand and shape the world in which we live and influence its future. Scientists play a key role in meeting society’s needs in areas such as medicine, energy, industry, material development, the environment and sustainability. As the importance and application of science continues to grow and develop, more trained scientists will be required. It is also important that everyone has an informed view of science. The Course is practical and experiential, and develops scientific understanding of issues relating to physics. It aims to generate interest and enthusiasm in physics.

The Course develops skills in a physics context. Learners will gain an understanding of physics, and develop this through a variety of approaches, including practical activities. The Course has four mandatory Units including the Added Value Unit. The first three Units listed below are designed to provide progression to the corresponding Units at National 5:

•  Electricity and Energy  
• Waves and Radiation
• Dynamics and

 

 

 

NATIONAL 5 COURSE

 

The purpose of the course is to develop learners’ interest and enthusiasm for physics in a range of contexts. The skills of scientific inquiry are integrated and developed, throughout the course, by investigating the applications of physics. This enables learners to become scientifically literate citizens, able to review the science-based claims they will meet. Physics gives learners an insight into the underlying nature of our world and its place in the universe. From the sources of the energy we use, to the exploration of space, it covers a range of applications of the relationships that have been discovered through experiment and calculation, including those used in modern technology. An experimental and investigative approach is used to develop knowledge and understanding of physics concepts. This course enables learners to develop a deeper understanding of physics concepts and the ability to describe and interpret physical phenomena using mathematical skills. They develop scientific methods of research in which issues in physics are explored and conclusions drawn.

 

Learners gain an understanding of physics and develop this through a variety of approaches, including practical activities, investigations and problem solving. Learners 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.

 

Course assessment structure:

Question paper

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 learners 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

 

Assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to assess the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related physics knowledge and understanding.

 

The assignment gives learners 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

 

 

 

HIGHER COURSE

 

The course develops learners’ interest and enthusiasm for physics in a range of contexts. The skills of scientific inquiry and investigation are developed throughout the course. The relevance of physics is highlighted by the study of the applications of physics in everyday contexts. The course develops scientific understanding of issues relating to physics. It enables learners to gain an in-depth knowledge of concepts in physics, and to develop confidence in the skills of scientific inquiry. Learners develop their ability to describe and interpret physical phenomena using mathematical skills, and practise scientific methods of investigation from which general relationships are derived and explored. Learners gain a deeper insight into the structure of the subject, and reinforce and extend their knowledge and understanding of the concepts of physics. Advances in physics mean that our view of what is possible is continually being updated. The course allows learners to deepen their understanding of the processes behind scientific advances, and thus promotes awareness that physics involves interaction between theory and practice.

 

The course aims to:

• Develop and apply knowledge and understanding of physics
• Develop an understanding of the role of physics in scientific issues and relevant applications of physics
• Develop scientific inquiry and investigative skills
• Develop scientific analytical thinking skills, including scientific evaluation, in a physics context
• Develop the skills to use technology, equipment and materials safely, in practical scientific activities
• Develop planning skills
• Develop problem-solving skills in a physics context
• Use and understand scientific literacy to communicate ideas and issues and to make scientifically informed choices
• Develop the knowledge and skills for more advanced learning in physics
• Develop skills of independent working

 

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

 

Course Assessment Structure

Question paper

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. A data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided.

 

Assignment

The assignment assesses the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related physics knowledge and understanding.

 

The assignment gives learners 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

 

 

ADVANCED HIGHER COURSE

 

In this course there is an emphasis on developing an understanding of physics concepts and applying this to familiar and unfamiliar contexts. The course also gives learners the opportunity to develop and apply skills of scientific inquiry. The course develops learners’ ability to think analytically, creatively and independently, and to make reasoned evaluations. It gives learners the opportunity to apply critical thinking to solve problems. The course also develops learners’ communication skills. As our understanding of physics and its potential applications is constantly evolving, our success as a technological society depends on the development of young people who are secure in their knowledge of physics, and who are resilient, adaptable, creative, and inventive.

 

The course content includes the following areas of physics:

Rotational motion and astrophysics

The topics covered are:

• Kinematic relationships
• Angular motion
• Rotational dynamics
• Gravitation
• General relativity
• Stellar physics

 

Quanta and waves

The topics covered are:

• Introduction to quantum theory
• Particles from space
• Simple harmonic motion
• Waves
• Interference
• Polarisation

 

Electromagnetism

The topics covered are:

• Fields
• Circuits
• Electromagnetic radiation

 

Units, prefixes and uncertainties

The topics covered are:

• Units, prefixes and scientific notation
• Uncertainties
• Data analysis
• Evaluation and significance of experimental uncertainties

 

Course assessment structure:

Question paper

The question paper contains restricted-response and extended-response questions. A data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided.

The question paper gives learners 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/investigations, including safety measures, to test given hypothesis or to illustrate given effects
• Selecting information from a variety of sources
• Presenting information appropriately, in a variety of forms
• Processing information/data (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• Making predictions based on evidence/information
• Drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
• Identifying sources of uncertainty and suggesting improvements to experiments

 

Project

The purpose of the project is to allow the learner to carry out an in-depth investigation of a physics topic and produce a project report. Learners are required to plan and carry out a physics investigation. Learners should keep a record of their work (daybook) as this will form the basis of their project report. This record should include details of their research, experiments and recorded data.

The project gives learners an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• Extending and applying knowledge of physics to new situations, interpreting and analysing information to solve more complex problems
• Planning and designing physics experiments/investigations, using reference material, to test a hypothesis or to illustrate particular effects
• Recording systematic detailed observations and collecting data
• Selecting information from a variety of sources
• Presenting detailed information appropriately in a variety of forms
• Processing and analysing physics data (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
• Making reasoned predictions from a range of evidence/information
• Drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
• Critically evaluating experimental procedures by identifying sources of uncertainty, and suggesting and implementing improvements
• Drawing on knowledge and understanding of physics to make accurate statements, describe complex information, provide detailed explanations, and integrate knowledge
• Communicating physics findings/information fully and effectively
• Analysing and evaluating scientific publications and media reports

 

Learners choose their topic and individually investigate/research its underlying physics. Learners must discuss potential topics with their teacher and/or lecturer to ensure that they do not waste time researching unsuitable topics.