Physics: NSW

Senior Physics - NSW

The current syllabus in NSW is different in content and sequence to the Australian Curriculum however there is overlap with the national curriculum.

These are example schedules to demonstrate the content of the meriSTEM online course and how it maps to your syllabus.

Year 11, Modules 1 & 2

NSW Stage 6 Syllabus meriSTEM Module Sub-topic Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
(revision) Science Skills Revision sub-topics as needed
Module 1: Kinematics Mechanics 1. Motion ACSPH053, 54, 60, 63
Module 2: Dynamics Mechanics 2. Forces , 3. Momentum, 4. Energy and work ACSPH053, 54, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66

Year 11, Modules 3 & 4

NSW Stage 6 Syllabus NSW module sub-topic meriSTEM Module Sub-topic Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
Module 3: Waves and thermodynamics Waves topics Waves and Optics 1. Introduction, 1.2 Wave properties 2. Wave behaviour (including sound waves) 3. Refraction 4. Light , 5. Optics 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77,
Thermodynamics Thermal physics 1. Temperature 2. Heat 3. Heat transport 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Module 4: Electricity and magnetism Electrostatics Electromagnetism 1. Introduction to electromagnetism, 2. Electric fields, 3. Coulomb's law 102, 103, 104, 105
Electric circuits Electrical physics All [1. What are circuits? 2. Charge and current 3. Energy in a circuit 4. Voltage and current 5. Power 6. Resistance and Ohm's Law 7. Circuit analysis] 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44
Magnetism Electromagnetism 4. Magnetism, 5. Magnetic fields 106

Year 12, Modules 5 & 6

NSW Stage 6 Syllabus meriSTEM Module Sub-topic Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
Module 5: Advanced Mechanics Gravity and Motion All [1.Introduction, 2. Gravity in space and on earth, 3. Projectile motion, 3. Uniform Circular Motion, 4. Fields and energy, 5. Space old and new] ACSPH087, 93, 94, 95, 97, 99, 100, 101,
Module 6: Electromagnetism Electromagnetism 6. Magnetic forces , 7. Induction (Applications of the motor affect) ACSPH109, 110, 108,111

Year 12, Modules 7 & 8

NSW Stage 6 Syllabus NSW Sub-topic meriSTEM Module Sub-topic Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
Module 7: The Nature of Light 1. Electromagnetic Spectrum Electromagnetism 8. EM waves 112, 113
Quantum Mechanics 3. Atoms and spectra 138, 139
2. Light: Wave Model Waves and Optics 3. Refraction, 5.Optics 73, 75, 76
Quantum Mechanics 1. Double Slit experiment 135, 140
3. Light: Quantum Model 2. Origins of quantum mechanics, 4. Quantum mechanics describes everything 136, 137, 139, 140
4. Light and Special Relativity Special Relativity 4. The postulates of special relativity 5. Time dilation, 6. Relativity of simultaneity, 7. Length contraction, 8. Concluding remarks on postulates , 12. Relativistic momentum 130, 131,132, 129, 133, 134
Module 8: From the Universe to the atom 1. Origins of the elements Cosmology
2. Structure of the atom Nuclear Physics 1. Nuclear composition, 2. Nuclear stability, 3. Unstable nuclei and decay processes 26, 27
3. Quantum Mechanical nature of the atom Quantum Mechanics 3. Atoms and atomic spectra, 4.Quantum mechanics describes everything 123, 135 - 140
4. Properties of the nucleus Nuclear Physics 4. Nuclear halflives, 5. Nuclear energies and masses, 6. Nuclear reactions, 7. Nuclear power, 8. Binding energy, 9. Ionising radiation 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
5. Deep inside the atom The Standard Model 1. Introduction to sub-atomic particles, 2. Reactions, 3.Cosmology and the standard model 141- 147