Standard Grade Physics is broken into 7 main topics of study. In each topic, your work will be partly practical and partly theoretical. You will borrow an activity booklet and homework booklet for each topic. At the end of each unit you will be given a Unit Test.
Towards the end of S3, you will sit a 'pre-prelim' exam.
In S4, usually in February or March, you will sit a prelim exam to prepare you for the final exam at the end of S4. This final exam counts for most of your final mark for Physics. (The rest of your mark is based on the quality of your practical work and will be assessed by your teacher throughout the course).
The seven topics are Telecommunications, Using Electricity, Health Physics, Electronics, Transport, Energy Matters and Space.
TOPThis first topic starts with a look at sound waves. One of the first activities of the class is to measure the speed of sound, and look at some properties of sound waves. The next area is radio and TV. How do radios and TVs work? How can we transmit and receive radio signals. Along the way you will learn about the wave equation and various properties of waves. Light signals are also used in modern communications systems. Laser light is sent along fibre optic cable to allow high speed data transfer (over the internet for example). You will study some basic properties of light waves (refraction, reflection and total internal reflection) and how these can be used in communication. Other kinds of wave will also be investigated - microwaves in mobile phone systems for example. The final part of this topic is satellite communications systems.
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This topic is concerned with how electricity is used in the home. You will discover how certain safety features like earth wires, circuit breakers and fuses are used. The differences between battery and mains electricity are an important part of this topic. You will study the meaning of electrical terms like 'charge', 'voltage' and the equations which relate these terms to each other. Rules and equations for different types of circuit (series and parallel) come up in the middle of the topic. A study of magnetism, motors, magnetic switches and dynamos will finish off the topic.
TOPThis is probably the biggest topic. It covers a lot of ground! Mostly it studies Medical Physics - how physics can help in modern medicine.
The
structure and function of the eye is an interesting topic which comes up. You
will understand how spectacles work to correct long and short sightedness as
well as finding out how mammalian eyes work. Infra-red and ultra-violet (UV)
radiation are used in medicine - as well as the uses of UV you will discover
that UV radiation poses ome dangers too!
The discovery of X-Rays, on the 8th of November 1895, marks the beginning of the modern age of physics. You will study how x-rays can be produced and how they allow doctors to look inside your body.
Nuclear physics is an extremely interesting area of modern physics. It affects us all, yet how many people know much about the subject. You will have the chance to learn about this. Radioactivity in medicine is a fascinating world, providing doctors and nurses with many powerful tools to diagnose and fight illnesses like cancer.
Many but not all of the topics in this section, fit into something called the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum includes, for example, radio waves, light waves and x-rays. You should have a fairly good grasp of the electromagnetic spectrum at the end of this unit.
TOPModern electronic systems, like stereos, TVs, computers, car suspension systems etc will be studied. You will learn how systems are constructed and study in detail how some of the component parts of these systems work. You will construct several systems yourself, like temperature controlled switches, counter circuits, time delays, light controlled switches.
Transistors can be viewed as electronic switches - you will learn about how to use them by building and testing practical circuits. The final part of Electronics is about logic gates. These are devices which allow electronic systems to respond to more than one event - e.g if an alarm is to be triggered if an engine overheats OR if it is over-revved.
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The physics of movement underpins all the activities of this topic. You will learn how to use a computer to measure speed and acceleration of a moving vehicle. You will explore the meaning of terms like force and mass and how they are related to each other and to acceleration. In the everyday world, this is important for understanding car performance and safety features, like seatbelts and stopping distances.
Gravity, weight and mass on Earth and other planets is an interesting area you will look into here. How about building your own rocket? You'll get the chance to do this in Transport
TOPEnergy is one of the most important issues of the modern world. The big questions are
How long will our reserves of coal, oil and gas last?
What damage does the burning of these fuels do to our planet?
How, and how soon, will these issues affect life on earth.
An unusual and impossible view of Earth.
Image:Malin Space Science Systems/NASA
These questions are difficult to answer, but most scientists do now agree that global warming is taking place. You will get the chance to learn about fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable energy (eg windpower). As well as looking at the issues , you will be learning about the underlying physics of energy, power and efficiency.
It was the industrial revolution's steam engines which started scientists studying energy in detail. Heating, boiling and condensing water are the basis of these machines. Your class will study the theory of specific and latent heat, which describe the warming and cooling of water (and other substances).
In this topic you will have another chance to look at nuclear physics, but this time from the point of view of nuclear chain reactions and nuclear power stations. Another chance also to practice your electromagnetism here with a look at electrical generators in power stations.
The distribution of electricity from the power station to the home involves the use of transformers. You will experiment with transformers and find out why they are used.
TOPThis is the last unit! You might like to read about the observing opportunities class members have. In it you will first revise the structure of the solar system, before looking at galaxies and the structure of the universe on larger scales. Time allowing, you have the option of studying the structure of the Sun and properties of various types of stars. How we gain information about stars is via a method called spectroscopy - a short exercise on this will be part of the course.
| Several groupings of sunspots are visible in this photo, taken in 1999 from Levenwick, Shetland by H.Rose and C.McGinlay. |  |
The school telescope makers provide the chance for you to see at first hand how refracting and reflecting telescopes work. You will see for yourself the purpose of the various parts of an optical telescope. A review of some other types of telescope in use, like radio and x-ray telescopes will let you see how the universe looks when seen via other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Making a 10 inch mirror. This photo shows the pitch lap being made, ready to polish a 10" mirror. |
