What is ATAR Physics all about?
Physics is a fundamental science that explains the amazing natural phenomena that occur in the universe. In this course, you will collect, analyse and interpret primary data through some interesting experiments and investigations and use it together with secondary data to learn about models, laws and theories. These include the kinetic theory model, the atomic model, electromagnetic theory and the laws of classical mechanics.
You will learn about the unifying concept of energy in preparation for the study of more sophisticated phenomena including Quantum Theory, Theory of Relativity and the Standard model and how old theories and models are refined and new exciting ones are developed.
Who should select these units in Year 11?
- You enjoy working with simple Geometry and Algebra.
- You would like to have a career in including engineering, renewable energy generation, communication, development of new materials, transport and vehicle safety, medical science, climate change and exploration of the universe.
Students wanting to select ATAR Physics will need to have successfully passed the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) in Year 10 or prequalified by achieving Band 8 or higher in the Year 9 NAPLAN.
Pathway
Upon successful completion of these units, students would progress to ATAR Physics in Year 12 and complete Units 3 and Unit 4. They can use the skills gained to work towards a range of careers that directly require physics or where logical skills learn in Physics are required such as science, engineering, medicine and technology.
Areas of Study
UNIT 1 – Thermal, Nuclear and Electrical Physics
Investigate energy production by considering heating processes, radioactivity and nuclear processes, and investigate energy transfer and transformation in electrical circuits.
UNIT 2 – Linear Motion and Waves
- Describe, explain, predict linear motion and investigate the application of wave models to sound phenomena.
To provide for different learning styles a variety of assessment tasks are used. For each course of study tasks are selected from:
- Experiments
- Investigations
- Evaluation and Analysis
- Tests
- Examinations
What is ATAR Physics all about?
Physics is a fundamental science that explains the amazing natural phenomena that occur in the universe. In this course, you will collect, analyse and interpret primary data through some interesting experiments and investigations and use it together with secondary data to learn about models, laws and theories. These include the kinetic theory model, the atomic model, electromagnetic theory, the laws of classical mechanics, quantum theory, theory of relativity and the standard model.
You will learn how the unifying concept of energy is used to explain sophisticated phenomena including Quantum Theory, Theory of Relativity and the Standard model and how old theories and models are refined and new exciting ones are developed.
Who should select these units in Year 12?
- You enjoy working with Geometry and Algebra.
- You would like to study Physics at university.
- You would like to have a career in including engineering, renewable energy generation, communication, development of new materials, transport and vehicle safety, medical science, climate change and exploration of the universe.
To study year 12 Physics it is recommended that students should be achieving a B grade or better in Unit 1 and 2 ATAR Physics course and continuing to study Mathematics, preferably Applications or Methods.
Pathway
Upon successful completion of these units, students can use the course as a stepping stone going into university and studying a range of science related courses. They can use the skills gained to work towards a range of careers that directly require physics or where logical skills learned in Physics are required.
Areas of Study
UNIT 3 – Gravity and Electromagnetism
- Newton’s Laws of Motion.
- Newton’s law of gravitation
- Energy
- Linear and circular motion
- Gravitational, Electric and Magnetic fields & forces
- Electromagnetism
UNIT 4 – Revolutions in Modern Physics
- Electromagnetic waves
- Wave phenomena e.g. reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, dispersion, polarisation.
- Quantum physics e.g. photoelectric effect
- Wave-particle duality
- Special relativity
To provide for different learning styles a variety of assessment tasks are used. For each course of study tasks are selected from:
- Experiments
- Investigations
- Evaluation and Analysis
- Tests
- Examinations
