STANDARD GRADE

Standard Grade Physics is an application led course which deals with much of the theory and technology that enables the modern world to function - if it's not alive and not a chemical, then it’s physics that makes it work! Physics is not maths, but it does help if you are good with numbers!

Course Content
Seven units are studied over the two year course:-

Telecommunications:
I.T., radio, TV, communications satellites and fibre optics.

Using Electricity:
Electricity in the home, including appliances, wiring and safety.

Health Physics:
Optics, ultrasonics, electromagnetic radiation and radioactivity. .

Electronics:
Digital and analogue electronics.

Transport:
The basic ideas of Newtonian mechanics.

Energy Matters:
Sources of energy, the generation and transmission of
electricity, heat energy and conservation of energy.

Space Physics:
Is there anybody out there?!

Folio/Project Work
Students have to carry out individually two investigations. These have to be written up and submitted for internal assessment. Eight practical techniques must also be completed and assessed internally.

Course Assessment
Knowledge and Understanding and Problem Solving are assessed by two external exams at the end of the two-year course.  One exam is at General level and the other at Credit level.  Pupils sit both exams. There is no Foundation Level for Physics. Practical Abilities is assessed internally.  Pupils carry out practical techniques throughout the course and submit two investigations.  Each element is awarded a grade and there is an overall grade for the course.