The Course is split up into 4 Units, with the Key Areas covered in each outlined below:

Unit 1 – Our Dynamic Universe

This Unit covers the Key Areas of:

• Motion — equations and graphs
• Forces, energy and power
• Collisions, explosions and impulse
• Gravitation
• Special relativity
• The Expanding Universe

Unit 2 – Particles and Waves

This Unit covers the Key Areas of:

• The Standard Model
• Forces on charged particles
• Nuclear reactions
• Wave particle duality
• Interference and diffraction
• Refraction of light
• Spectra

Unit 3 – Electricity

This Unit covers the Key Areas of:

• Monitoring and measuring a.c.
• Current, potential difference, power and resistance
• Electrical sources and internal resistance.
• Capacitors
• Conductors, semiconductors and insulators
• p-n junctions

Unit 4 – Researching Physics

This Unit covers the key skills necessary to undertake research in Physics. Learners will research the relevance of Physics theory to everyday life by exploring the physics behind a topical issue. Learners will develop the key skills associated with collecting and synthesising information from a number of different sources. Equipped with the knowledge of common Physics apparatus and techniques, they will plan and undertake a practical investigation related to a topical issue.

ASSESSMENT

To gain an overall Award for this Course, students need to pass the:

• Unit Assessment for each of the Units – these are marked internally in school;
• Course Assessment, which is marked by the SQA and includes an:  
  1. Assignment (20 marks)
  2. Exam (100 marks)

 The Course assessment is graded A–D. The grade is determined on the basis of the total mark for all Course assessments together.

 

HOMEWORK

Homework is an essential part of the course. Homework will include practise problems, questions from a textbook and regular revision of all the material covered in the course.