Physics: VIC

Senior Physics – Victoria

meriSTEM Physics

The current syllabus in Victoria 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 as it might map to the Victorian curriculum.

Unit 1

VIC Area of study VIC sub-topic Use meriSTEM Module Use meriSTEM sub-topics Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
1.1 Thermodynamics principles (all) Thermal Physics 1. Temperature 2. Heat 3. Heat transport 4. Kinetic Theory 5. Using Energy 22, 23, 24, 25, 39, 60, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77,
1.2 Electricity (all) 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
1.3 Matter Origins of atoms Cosmology 1. Introduction to electromagnetism, 2. Electric fields, 3. Coulomb’s law NA
Science Skills Units, Measurement, Significant Figures, Scaling and Estimates
Particles in the nucleus Nuclear Physics 1. Nuclear composition , 2. Nuclear stability, 3. Unstable nuclei and decay processes, 4. Nuclear half lives 26, 27, 29
The Standard Model 1.Introduction to sub-atomic particles, 2. Leptons, Hadrons and Quarks, 3. Reactions 141- 147
Energy from the atom Nuclear Physics 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
The Standard Model 4. Sub-atomic interactions and fields, 5. Cosmology and the standard model, 6. Modern particle physics 141-147

Note. As this course was designed around the Australian Curriculum, currently the course does not yet explicitly cover:

  • Thermodynamics and climate science
  • Issues related to thermodynamics
  • Classroom investigations
  • Electrical safety

    Unit 2

    VIC Area of study VIC sub-topic Use meriSTEM Module Use meriSTEM sub-topics Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
    Motion (all) Mechanics All [1. Motion (ACSPH053, 54, 60, 63), 2. Forces and motion (ACSPH053, 54, 61, 62, 63), 3. Momentum (ACSPH054, 63, 64), 4. Energy and work (ACSPH063, 65, 66) ACSPH053, 54, 60, 63, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66
    Study Area option 2.1: What are stars? Waves and Optics 1. Introduction to waves 67, 68, 69, 70
    Electromagnetism 8. Electromagnetic waves 112,113
    2.2: Is there life beyond Earth’s Solar System? Electromagnetism 8. Electromagnetic waves 112,113
    Quantum Mechanics 3. Atoms and atomic spectra 123, 135, 138, 139
    2.6: How do fusion and fission compare as viable nuclear energy power sources? Nuclear Physics 7. Nuclear power 33, 34
    2.7: How is radiation used to maintain human health? Nuclear Physics 3. Unstable nuclei and decay 26, 27, (Chemistry 22)
    2.8: How do particle accelerators work? The Standard Model 3. Modern particle physics 146, 147
    2.9: How can human vision be enhanced? Waves and Optics 5. Optics 75, 76
    2.10: How do instruments make music? Waves and Optics 2. Wave properties 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73

    Note. As this course was designed around the Australian Curriculum, currently the course does not yet cover:

    • Torque
    • Springs
    • Impulse

    Unit 3

    VIC Area of study Use meriSTEM Module Use meriSTEM sub-topics Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
    Fields Gravity and Motion 1.Introduction 2. Gravity in space and on earth , 4. Fields and energy 87,93,94,95,97
    Electromagnetism 1. Introduction to electromagnetism, 2. Electric fields , 3. Coulomb’s law , 4. Magnetism 5. Magnetic fields 102, 103, 104, 104, 106
    Electrical energy Electromagnetism 6. Magnetic forces, 7. Induction (Applications of the motor affect) 108, 109, 110, 111
    Motion Gravity and Motion 3. Projectile motion, 4. Uniform Circular Motion , 5. Space old and new 97, 99, 100, 101
    Special Relativity All [1. Galilean relativity, 2. Galilean relativity on a train, 3. Frame transformations, 4. The postulates of special relativity, 5. Time dilation, 6. Relativity of simultaneity , 7. Length contraction, 8. Concluding remarks, 9.Paradoxes: Muons, 10. Paradoxes: Bell’s spaceships, 11. Paradoxes: The relativistic limo, 12. Relativistic momentum 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134

    Unit 4

    VIC Area of study Use meriSTEM Module Use meriSTEM sub-topics Australian Curriculum Physics Science Understandings
    1.1 Properties of mechanical waves Waves and Optics 1. Introduction, 1.2 Wave properties, 2. Wave properties 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73
    1.2 Light as a wave Waves and Optics 6. Magnetic forces, 7. Induction (Applications of the motor affect) 108, 109, 110, 111
    2. Light and matter Quantum Mechanics 1. Double Slit experiment 2. Origins of quantum mechanics, 3. Atoms and atomic spectra, 4. Quantum mechanics describes everything 135, 136, 137, 139, 140
    Note. As this course was designed around the Australian Curriculum, currently the course does not yet cover:

    • Doppler effect
    • Colour dispersion in prisms
    • Analysing experimental data
    • production of light in lasers, synchrotrons, LEDs and incandescent lights

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    meriSTEM is an initiative of The Australian National University and all meriSTEM resources are Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0 licensed.