Physics
2 unit course
Course Summary
- The Year 11 Physics course develops students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills relevant to the study of motion, how we describe it, and its causes. The course also examines energy in its different forms and describes and measures electricity and magnetism and their interrelated effects.
- The Year 12 Physics course provides avenues for students to apply the concepts introduced in Year 11 and motion in two dimensions, electromagnetism, the nature of light, and the atomic properties of matter.
There is Depth Study in Year 11 that focuses on force and motion.
The Year 12 Depth Study is on Projectile Motion.
There is a strong relationship between experimentation, the development of mathematical, scientific models and problem-solving.
What, if any, skills are needed?
Physics is a conceptually difficult course. Even the best students find it highly challenging.
Year 11 Advanced Mathematics and Extension Mathematics is highly recommended as some topics overlap.
Students should have achieved an A or a B in Year 10 Science.
Course Units
| Year 11 Units | Year 12 Units |
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The Year 11 course consists of four modules:
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The Year 12 course consists of four modules:
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Module 1 Kinematics
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Module 5 Advanced Mechanics
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Module 2 Dynamics
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Module 6 Electromagnetism
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Module 3 Waves and Thermodynamics
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Module 7 The Nature of Light
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Module 4 Electricity and Magnetism
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Module 8 From the Universe to the Atom
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Learning Experiences
HSC Physics students complete a wide range of experiments and spend a lot of time solving Physics problems.
There is an excursion to the Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor in HSC Physics.
Career Options
HSC Physics helps lay a foundation for students planning to study engineering, medicine and other careers at the interface of science and technology.