VCE Physics Summary of Changes - Victorian … · Web viewapplication of a vector field model to...

VCE PHYSICSSummary of proposed changes to the study design

This table provides detailed information about proposed changes to the VCE Physics study design.

General changes

Feature Current study design Proposal for revised study design

Detailed studies Students undertake two Detailed Studies from a set of six that are offered across Units 1 and 2

Students undertake one Detailed Study that is offered from a set of six across Units 3 and/or 4

Students undertake one Focus Study from a set of 11 in Unit 2 Area of Study 2, with a further aspect of a Focus Study being able to be undertaken in Unit 2 Area of Study 3 as a practical investigation

No Detailed Studies are offered across Units 3 and 4

Unit 4 Area of Study 3 is a skills-based area of study where students undertake a practical investigation related to content in Units 3 and/or 4

©VCAA, August 2014

VCE PHYSICS SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES

Specific changes

Section Current study design Proposal for revised study design

Scope of study A single Rationale covers both proposed Scope of study and Rationale

Explains aspects of the broad discipline of physics that is included in VCE Physics

Rationale Explains the importance of studying VCE Physics, including post-secondary pathways

Aims Includes a set of nine VCE Physics aims

Proposes set of two VCE Physics-specific aims and a set of seven generic aims which apply to all VCE sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics and Psychology)

Key science skills

A set of key skills is described under three general headings

A set of key science skills is described under seven general headings which apply to all VCE sciences, with elaborations specific to VCE Physics

Unit questions No unit titles or questions are included in the current study design

Unit questions are designed to link concepts and ideas across the unit and to reflect the inquiry nature of science Unit 1: How can the unseen be

explained? Unit 2: How do observations

shape knowledge? Unit 3: How does energy relate to

nature? Unit 4: Why are light and matter

so challenging to explain?

Area of study questions

Area of study has short phrases as titles

Area of study has questions as titles which are designed to enable exploration of the concepts and ideas related to the topics within the area of study

Key knowledge sub-headings

Key knowledge is listed as a set of dot points

Key knowledge dot points are listed under sets of sub-headings

©VCAA, August 20142



Unit 1 Area of Study 1

Nuclear physics and radioactivity nuclear stability radioactive decay origin, detection, penetration and

effects on humans of α, β and γ radiation

effects of ionising radiation on living things and the environment

nuclear transformations and decay series diagrams

natural and artificial isotopes neutron absorption and

production of artificial radioisotopes

risks in the use of nuclear reactions and radioactivity

Can the Universe be explained?Topics: the origin and fate of the Universe the composition of the Universe scientific exploration of the origin

and composition of the UniverseThis is a new area of study related to cosmology and including the Big Bang theory, the Standard Model and string theory. There is a focus on how we know what we know about the Universe.

Unit 1Area of Study 2

Electricity electric circuits resistance in series and parallel

circuits modelling of simple electric

circuits and household electricity connections

electric shock practical investigations of the

operation of simple circuits safe use of electricity

How can thermal effects be explained?Topics: Thermodynamics principles Thermodynamics and global

warmingThis is a new area of study. Students explore thermodynamics though one of more of three contexts: the car, the home and/or Earth


Detailed study (first selection from a choice of six)

How can electricity be explained?Topics: concepts used to model electricity circuit electricity using electricity electrical safetyContent is similar to current Unit 1 Area of Study 2





Motion vectors and scalars straight-line and non-uniform

motion in a straight line forces weight application of Newton’s three

laws of motion work Hooke’s law for an ideal spring energy transfers and

transformations momentum impulse

How can motion be described?Topics: concepts used to model motion forces and motion energy and motionContent is similar to current Unit 2 Area of Study 1: inclusion of g = 9.8 inclusion of the concept of torque

and analysis of structures, from the current Unit 3 and 4 Detailed Study of ‘Materials and their use in structures’

deletion of reference to ‘weight’


Wave-like properties of light transverse waves calculations of wavelength,

frequency, period, and speed of travel of light waves

reflection, refraction and total internal reflection

light as a wave and a particle polarisation visible light colour

Proposed set of 11 Focus Studies: What are stars? Is there intelligent life beyond

Earth’s solar system? How do forces act on the human

body? How can AC electricity charge a

DC mobile phone? How do heavy things fly? How do fusion and fission

compare as viable nuclear energy power sources?

How is radiation used in medical imaging and diagnosis?

How do particle accelerators and colliders work?

How can human vision be extended?

How do instruments make music? How can physics be applied to

improve performance in ball sports?

Content contains new material in addition to content derived from current Areas of Study and Detailed Studies across Units 1 to 4





Detailed study (second selection from a choice of six)

Student-designed practical investigation related to waves, fields or motion new Area of Study with a skills

focus investigation question relates to

content in Unit 2 Areas of Study 1 and/or 2

student designed and conducted involves collection of primary

qualitative and/or quantitative data


Motion in one and two dimensions application of Newton’s three

laws of motion in one and two dimensions

uniform circular motion projectile motion momentum and impulse work energy transformations gravitational fields and forces weight, apparent weight,

weightlessness, apparent weightlessness

satellite motion

How do things move when there is no contact?Topics: fields and interactions effects of fields application of field conceptsContent relates to fields: derived from several areas of

study in the current study design related to electric, magnetic and gravitational fields

includes Coulomb’s law and the magnetic force on a moving charge


Electronics and photonics operation of electronic circuits parallel and series circuits opto-electronic devices transfer of information in

analogue form design, investigation and analysis

of circuits for particular purposes voltage characteristics of

amplifiers

How efficient is the delivery of electrical energy to homes?Topics: generation of electricity transmission of electricity impact of electricityContent is similar to current Unit 4 Area of Study 1





Not included Is there a limit to how fast things can go?Topics Newtonian theories of motion Einsteinian theories of motion relationships between force,

energy and mass relativityContent is similar to current Unit 3 Area of Study 1, but with the inclusion of relativity


Electric power application of a vector field model

to magnetic phenomena calculations related to current

carrying wires simple DC motors magnetic flux generation of emf DC motors, DC generators and

AC alternators transformer action power supply use of transformers in electricity

distribution system

How can waves explain the behaviour of light?Topics: properties of mechanical waves light as a wave changing direction polarisation of lightContent similar to content from current Unit 2 Area of Study 2 but includes: calculations of Brewster’s Angle applications of polarisation


Interactions of light and matter Young’s double slit experiment diffraction patterns photoelectric effect light as a wave and a particle de Broglie wavelength of matter momentum of photons and of

matter of the same wavelength atomic absorption and emission

spectra absorption of photons by atoms

How are light and matter similar?Topics: behaviour of light matter as particles or waves similarities between light and

matterContent: similar to current content in Unit 4

Area of Study 2 new content includes

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle





Detailed study (one from a choice of six)

Student-designed practical investigation related to waves, fields or motion new area of study with a skills

focus investigation question relates to

content in Unit 3 and/or 4 may be undertaken in either Unit

3, Unit 4 or across both Units 3 and 4

student designed and conducted involves collection of primary

quantitative data results presented as a scientific

poster

Units 3 and/or 4 scientific poster template

Not included Scientific poster template provided which includes identified sections and suggested marking scheme

Practical logbook

Practical logbook not mandated Students are required to maintain a practical logbook for record, authentication and assessment purposes

School-assessed Course

School-assessed Coursework is weighted across five outcomes

Proposed School-assessed Coursework is equally weighted across 6 outcomes



ASSESSMENTUnits 1 and 2Assessment tasks in the current and proposed study designs are similar although some have been updated to reflect current assessment practice and the nature of the discipline.

Current Unit 1 assessment tasks Proposed Unit 1 assessment tasks

Assessment tasks for this unit are:A practical investigation (student designed or adapted)andA selection from the following: an annotated folio of practical

activities a data analysis a multimedia or web page

presentation a response to a media article a summary report of selected

practical investigations including maintenance of a logbook

a written report a test (short answer and extended

response).

For Outcomes 1 and 2:Assessment tasks for this unit should be selected from the following: report of a practical investigation (student-

designed or adapted) using an appropriate format, for example, a scientific poster, practical report, oral communication or digital presentation.

andA selection from the following: annotated folio of practical activities data analysis media response summary report of selected practical

investigations including maintenance of a logbook

modelling activity reflective learning journal/blog related to

selected activities or in response to an issue test comprising multiple choice and/or short

answer and/or extended response.The assessment tasks may be written, oral or multi-modal.



Current Unit 2 assessment tasks Proposed Unit 2 assessment tasks

Assessment tasks for this unit are:A practical investigation (student designed, adapted or extended)andA selection from the following: an annotated folio of practical

activities a data analysis a multimedia or web page

presentation a response to a media article a summary report of selected

practical investigations including maintenance of a logbook

a written report a test (short answer and extended

response).

Assessment tasks for this unit should be selected from the following:For Outcomes 1 and 2:A selection from the following: annotated folio of practical activities data analysis media response summary report of selected practical

investigations including maintenance of a logbook

modelling activity reflective learning journal/blog related to

selected activities or in response to an issue test comprising multiple choice and/or short

answer and/or extended response.The assessment tasks may be written, oral or multi-modal.

andFor Outcome 3: report of a practical investigation (student-

designed or adapted) using an appropriate format, for example, a scientific poster, practical report, oral communication or digital presentation.



Proposed Unit 3 assessmentThe nature of assessment tasks in the current and proposed study designs are similar although only two Outcomes exist currently for Unit 3 and three Outcomes are included in the proposed study design. Some assessment tasks have been updated to reflect current assessment practice and the nature of the discipline. An indication of time for the task is intended to provide greater comparability in the scope of the tasks across classes and schools, and to reduce School-assessed Coursework load for teachers and students.

Outcomes Marks allocated* Assessment tasks

Outcome 1Analyse gravitational, electrical and magnetic fields, and use these to explain the operation of motors and particle accelerators

30For Outcomes 1, 2 and 3:At least one different task for each Outcome selected from: annotations of at least two practical

activities from a practical logbook report of a student investigation analysis of data including

generalisations and conclusions media analysis/response extended response questions reflective blog A test (short answer and extended

response)(approximately 50 minutes per task)

Outcome 2Analyse and evaluate an electricity generation and distribution system.

30

Outcome 3Investigate motion and related energy transformations experimentally, analyse motion using the Newtonian model in one and two dimensions, and describe the motion of objects moving at very large speeds using Einsteinian models.

30

Total marks 90

*School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3 contributes 20 per cent.



Proposed Unit 4 assessmentAssessment tasks in the current and proposed study designs are similar for Outcomes 1, 2 and 3 although some have been updated to reflect current assessment practice and the nature of the discipline. An indication of time for the task is intended to provide greater comparability in the scope of the task across classes and schools, and to reduce School-assessed Coursework load for teachers and students.

The proposed Outcome 3 task may be undertaken in Unit 3, Unit 4, or across Unit 3 and Unit 4, but will be reported as part of Unit 4 School-assessed Coursework and mirrors the current assessment task for Unit 4 Outcome 3. A template has been constructed for production of the associated scientific poster task to assist in staged completion and authentication of student work.

Outcomes Marks allocated* Assessment tasks

Outcome 1Apply wave principles to analyse, interpret and explain wave phenomena.

30For Outcomes 1 and 2:At least one different task for each Outcome selected from: annotations of at least two

practical activities from a practical logbook

report of a student investigation analysis of data including

generalisations and conclusions media analysis/response extended response questions reflective blog

(approximately 50 minutes)

Outcome 2Provide evidence for the nature of light and matter, and analyse the data from experiments that provide this evidence.

30

Outcome 3Undertake an investigation related to the motion of particles or matter, and present methodologies, findings and conclusions as a scientific poster.

30 Structured scientific poster according to VCAA template

(maximum 1000 words)

Total marks 90

*School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 contributes 20 per cent.


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