PHYSICS - HIGHER LEVEL

PHYSICS - HIGHER LEVEL

Aims:

• To continue and extend students’ appreciation of the subject which will already have been developed from study in earlier years. • To approach Physics as the most fundamental of the Natural Sciences, which is based upon the fundamental forces and the energy transfers they produce. • To deal with modern day Physics as an international subject, in which scientists from around the world collaborate using internationally agreed terms and conventions. Modern centres of cutting-edge Physics, such as CERN, pool the collective expertise of Physicists from all continents. • To base learning in practical investigation, where students will further develop the skills required to formulate, test and evaluate hypotheses.

The Physics course, like all the Group 4 subjects, has recently been comprehensively rewritten, with additional emphasis placed on the following fundamental issues regarding the nature of science itself.

• What science ’is’ and the nature of scientific endeavour. • The understanding of science. • The objectivity of science. • The human face of science. • Scientific literacy and the public understanding of science. • Science and the international dimension. • Science and its connection to Theory of Knowledge.

Hence, a student in an IB Physics class, as well as gaining a thorough understanding of, for example, planetary orbits, might also address questions such as: What empirical evidence led to the formulation of the heliocentric theory of the solar system? What barriers were there to the acceptance of this theory? What does it take to overturn an ‘accepted’ theory or ‘conventional wisdom’?

Course Description:

The Higher-level course has the same foundations as the standard level, presenting the best aspects of traditional Physics along with modern concepts in an exciting and flexible way. You will be studying methods of mathematical analysis of laboratory data, kinematics, Newton's laws, momentum, work and energy, gravitation, thermodynamics, wave motion, electromagnetism, atomic and nuclear physics as with standard level. However, within the higher-level course, a greater depth of study will be involved, including higher level concepts such as electromagnetic induction, Doppler shifting, projectile motion and entropy. A greater range of option topics will also be available. Approximately 25% of class time is allotted to laboratory investigations.

Requirements

To take Physics at Higher Level, you should have the POP in HL Physics plus a good track record at (I)GCSE Mathematics. It would also be an advantage to combine IB Physics with IB HL Maths or SL Analysis and Approaches. You should be naturally curious and tenacious in your pursuit

of a fuller understanding of how our universe works. You should be motivated, enthusiastic and willing to become well organised in your working habits. As the course involves some complex ideas and emphasizes the application of concepts in real life contexts, you should be ready to read around the subject independently outside of lesson time.

Career Path

The successful Physics student will find a wide range of careers open up. Skills acquired on the course, along with the discipline and rigour of the core material, will allow pupils to consider just about any future pathway, from university courses in pure science, engineering, to business, humanities or languages.

5 TERM OVERVIEW

Core Content: Term 1

• Measurements and uncertainties • Mechanics Term 1 will involve the study of forces and motion, including momentum, Newton’s laws, uniform acceleration, vectors and scalars, inertia, freefall and circular motion.

Term 2

• Thermal Physics • Waves and wave phenomena • Electricity and Magnetism, Fields and Electromagnetic Induction • Group 4 Project

Term 2 will extend students’ knowledge of wave characteristics and properties.

Also, thermal physics electrical circuits, voltage, current and resistance will be covered. Magnetic and electric fields will link this to Term 3.

Term 3

• Atomic, nuclear and particle physics • Quantum Physics

In Term 3, students will study the atom, radioactive decay, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, they will also collaborate on their Group 4 Project.

Term 4

• Circular motion and gravitation

Gravitational and orbital motion will be studied at the start of Term 4.

Term 5

• Energy Production • Option The final compulsory topic will cover world energy requirements and the associated potential environmental impacts. Option Topics: Relativity, Engineering physics, Imaging, Astrophysics

Internal Assessment:

20% of Practical Work with a minimum requirement of 60 hours. 40 hours on the practical programme – a series of experiments illustrating the key concepts of the course.

External Assessment:

10 hours on the Group 4 Project: an interdisciplinary project carried out in teams. 10 hours on the Internal Assessment investigation – an individual research project on a topic chosen by the student. 80% Examination • Paper 1: 40 multiple choice questions (20%) • Paper 2: Structured and extended response questions on core and AHL topics (36%) • Paper 3: Structured and extended response questions on one option topic (24%)

Comparison between this course and A-Level:

Higher level Physics is as conceptually demanding as A2 Physics. The range of topics covered is similar as is the depth to which they are studied. Since the A-Level exam is unit based, candidates can target revision on certain topics for certain papers. By virtue of the assessment structure, IB candidates cannot do this and so must be in command of all areas of the subject in every exam.

IB students are required to complete a “Group 4” project, during which they collaborate with other scientists from the full range of subjects. Throughout the programme, their personal skills, ability to work independently and awareness of wider ethical aspects of the subject are assessed. The IB course places a great deal of emphasis on practical work. The students complete several activities over the two years which are written up formally. These help to prepare them for a single large piece of assessed coursework which contributes 20% of their overall mark. There is no practical exam. In the A-Level course, practical skills are assessed in written papers at the end of each year along with continued monitoring through the CPAC qualification.

Contact for further information:

Mr Nicholas Hulbert: nicholas.hulbert@tts.edu.sg