Physics

Questioning and Predicting

• develop and evaluate inquiry questions and hypotheses to identify a concept that can be investigated scientifically, involving primary and secondary data (ACSPH001, ACSPH061, ACSPH096)ACSPH001 ACSPH061 ACSPH096
• modify questions and hypotheses to reflect new evidence

Planning Investigations

• assess risks, consider ethical issues and select appropriate materials and technologies when designing and planning an investigation (ACSPH031, ACSPH097)ACSPH031 ACSPH097
• justify and evaluate the use of variables and experimental controls to ensure that a valid procedure is developed that allows for the reliable collection of data (ACSPH002)ACSPH002
• evaluate and modify an investigation in response to new evidence

Conducting Investigations

• employ and evaluate safe work practices and manage risks (ACSPH031)ACSPH031
• use appropriate technologies to ensure and evaluate accuracy
• select and extract information from a wide range of reliable secondary sources and acknowledge them using an accepted referencing style

Processing Data and Information

• select qualitative and quantitative data and information and represent them using a range of formats, digital technologies and appropriate media (ACSPH004, ACSPH007, ACSPH064, ACSPH101)ACSPH004 ACSPH007 ACSPH064 ACSPH101
• apply quantitative processes where appropriate
• evaluate and improve the quality of data

Analysing Data and Information

• derive trends, patterns and relationships in data and information
• assess error, uncertainty and limitations in data (ACSPH004, ACSPH005, ACSPH033, ACSPH099)ACSPH004 ACSPH005 ACSPH033 ACSPH099
• assess the relevance, accuracy, validity and reliability of primary and secondary data and suggest improvements to investigations (ACSPH005)ACSPH005

Problem Solving

• use modelling (including mathematical examples) to explain phenomena, make predictions and solve problems using evidence from primary and secondary sources (ACSPH006, ACSPH010)ACSPH006 ACSPH010
• use scientific evidence and critical thinking skills to solve problems

Communicating

• select and use suitable forms of digital, visual, written and/or oral forms of communication
• select and apply appropriate scientific notations, nomenclature and scientific language to communicate in a variety of contexts (ACSPH008, ACSPH036, ACSPH067, ACSPH102)ACSPH008 ACSPH036 ACSPH067 ACSPH102
• construct evidence-based arguments and engage in peer feedback to evaluate an argument or conclusion (ACSPH034, ACSPH036)ACSPH034 ACSPH036

Projectile Motion

How can models that are used to explain projectile motion be used to analyse and make predictions?

• analyse the motion of projectiles by resolving the motion into horizontal and vertical components, making the following assumptions:
  • a constant vertical acceleration due to gravity
  • zero air resistance
• apply the modelling of projectile motion to quantitatively derive the relationships between the following variables:
  • initial velocity
  • launch angle
  • maximum height
  • time of flight
  • final velocity
  • launch height
  • horizontal range of the projectile (ACSPH099)ACSPH099
• conduct a practical investigation to collect primary data in order to validate the relationships derived above.
• solve problems, create models and make quantitative predictions by applying the equations of motion relationships for uniformly accelerated and constant rectilinear motion

Circular Motion

Why do objects move in circles?

• conduct investigations to explain and evaluate, for objects executing uniform circular motion, the relationships that exist between:
  • centripetal force
  • mass
  • speed
  • radius
• analyse the forces acting on an object executing uniform circular motion in a variety of situations, for example:
  • cars moving around horizontal circular bends
  • a mass on a string
  • objects on banked tracks (ACSPH100)ACSPH100
• solve problems, model and make quantitative predictions about objects executing uniform circular motion in a variety of situations, using the following relationships:
  • $a_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{v^2}{r}$
  • $v=\frac{2\pi r}{T}$
  • $F_{\mathrm{c}}=\frac{m{v}^2}{r}$
  • $\omega =\frac{\Delta \theta }{t}$
• investigate the relationship between the total energy and work done on an object executing uniform circular motion
• investigate the relationship between the rotation of mechanical systems and the applied torque
  • $\tau =r_{\perp }F=rF\sin \theta$

Motion in Gravitational Fields

How does the force of gravity determine the motion of planets and satellites?

• apply qualitatively and quantitatively Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to:
  • determine the force of gravity between two objects $F=\frac{GMm}{r^2}$
  • investigate the factors that affect the gravitational field strength $g=\frac{GM}{r^2}$
  • predict the gravitational field strength at any point in a gravitational field, including at the surface of a planet (ACSPH094, ACSPH095, ACSPH097)ACSPH094 ACSPH095 ACSPH097
• investigate the orbital motion of planets and artificial satellites when applying the relationships between the following quantities:
  • gravitational force
  • centripetal force
  • centripetal acceleration
  • mass
  • orbital radius
  • orbital velocity
  • orbital period
• predict quantitatively the orbital properties of planets and satellites in a variety of situations, including near the Earth and geostationary orbits, and relate these to their uses (ACSPH101)ACSPH101
• investigate the relationship of Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion to the forces acting on, and the total energy of, planets in circular and non-circular orbits using: (ACSPH101)ACSPH101
  • $v=\frac{2\pi r}{T}$
  • $\frac{r^3}{T^2}=\frac{GM}{4{\pi }^2}$
• derive quantitatively and apply the concepts of gravitational force and gravitational potential energy in radial gravitational fields to a variety of situations, including but not limited to:
  • the concept of escape velocity $v_{\mathrm{esc}}=\sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}$
  • total potential energy of a planet or satellite in its orbit $\mathrm{U}=-\frac{GMm}{r}$
  • total energy of a planet or satellite in its orbit $\mathrm{U}+\mathrm{K}=-\frac{GMm}{2r}$
  • energy changes that occur when satellites move between orbits (ACSPH096)ACSPH096
  • Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion (ACSPH101)ACSPH101

Charged Particles, Conductors and Electric and Magnetic Fields

What happens to stationary and moving charged particles when they interact with an electric or magnetic field?

• investigate and quantitatively derive and analyse the interaction between charged particles and uniform electric fields, including: (ACSPH083)ACSPH083
  • electric field between parallel charged plates $E=\frac{V}{d}$
  • acceleration of charged particles by the electric field ${\vec{F}}_{\mathrm{net}}=m\vec{a},\vec{F}=q\vec{E}$
  • work done on the charge $W=qV,W=qEd,K=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2$
• model qualitatively and quantitatively the trajectories of charged particles in electric fields and compare them with the trajectories of projectiles in a gravitational field
• analyse the interaction between charged particles and uniform magnetic fields, including: (ACSPH083)ACSPH083
  • acceleration, perpendicular to the field, of charged particles
  • the force on the charge $F=q{v}_{\perp }B=qvB\sin \theta$
• compare the interaction of charged particles moving in magnetic fields to:
  • the interaction of charged particles with electric fields
  • other examples of uniform circular motion (ACSPH108)ACSPH108

The Motor Effect

Under what circumstances is a force produced on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field?

• investigate qualitatively and quantitatively the interaction between a current-carrying conductor and a uniform magnetic field $F=l{I}_{\perp }B=lIB\sin \theta$ to establish: (ACSPH080, ACSPH081)ACSPH080 ACSPH081
  • conditions under which the maximum force is produced
  • the relationship between the directions of the force, magnetic field strength and current
  • conditions under which no force is produced on the conductor
• conduct a quantitative investigation to demonstrate the interaction between two parallel current-carrying wires
• analyse the interaction between two parallel current-carrying wires $\frac{F}{l}=\frac{{\mu }_0}{2\pi }\frac{I_1{I}_2}{r}$ and determine the relationship between the International System of Units (SI) definition of an ampere and Newton’s Third Law of Motion (ACSPH081, ACSPH106)ACSPH081 ACSPH106

Electromagnetic Induction

How are electric and magnetic fields related?

• describe how magnetic flux can change, with reference to the relationship $\Phi =B_{\parallel }A=BAcos\theta$ (ACSPH083, ACSPH107, ACSPH109)ACSPH083 ACSPH107 ACSPH109
• analyse qualitatively and quantitatively, with reference to energy transfers and transformations, examples of Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law $\epsilon =-N\frac{\Delta \Phi }{\Delta t}$, including but not limited to: (ACSPH081, ACSPH110)ACSPH081 ACSPH110
  • the generation of an electromotive force (emf) and evidence for Lenz’s Law produced by the relative movement between a magnet, straight conductors, metal plates and solenoids
  • the generation of an emf produced by the relative movement or changes in current in one solenoid in the vicinity of another solenoid
• analyse quantitatively the operation of ideal transformers through the application of: (ACSPH110)ACSPH110
  • $\frac{V_{\mathrm{p}}}{V_{\mathrm{s}}}=\frac{N_{\mathrm{p}}}{N_{\mathrm{s}}}$
  • $V_{\mathrm{p}}{I}_{\mathrm{p}}=V_{\mathrm{s}}{I}_{\mathrm{s}}$
• evaluate qualitatively the limitations of the ideal transformer model and the strategies used to improve transformer efficiency, including but not limited to:
  • incomplete flux linkage
  • resistive heat production and eddy currents
• analyse applications of step-up and step-down transformers, including but not limited to:
  • the distribution of energy using high-voltage transmission lines

Applications of the Motor Effect

How has knowledge about the Motor Effect been applied to technological advances?

• investigate the operation of a simple DC motor to analyse:
  • the functions of its components
  • production of a torque $\tau =nI{A}_{\perp }B=nIAB\sin \theta$
  • effects of back emf (ACSPH108)ACSPH108
• analyse the operation of simple DC and AC generators and AC induction motors (ACSPH110)ACSPH110
• relate Lenz’s Law to the law of conservation of energy and apply the law of conservation of energy to:
  • DC motors and
  • magnetic braking

Electromagnetic Spectrum

What is light?

• investigate Maxwell’s contribution to the classical theory of electromagnetism, including:
  • unification of electricity and magnetism
  • prediction of electromagnetic waves
  • prediction of velocity (ACSPH113)ACSPH113
• describe the production and propagation of electromagnetic waves and relate these processes qualitatively to the predictions made by Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory (ACSPH112, ACSPH113)ACSPH112 ACSPH113
• conduct investigations of historical and contemporary methods used to determine the speed of light and its current relationship to the measurement of time and distance (ACSPH082)ACSPH082
• conduct an investigation to examine a variety of spectra produced by discharge tubes, reflected sunlight or incandescent filaments
• investigate how spectroscopy can be used to provide information about:
  • the identification of elements
• investigate how the spectra of stars can provide information on:
  • surface temperature
  • rotational and translational velocity
  • density
  • chemical composition

Light: Wave Model

What evidence supports the classical wave model of light and what predictions can be made using this model?

• conduct investigations to analyse qualitatively the diffraction of light (ACSPH048, ACSPH076)ACSPH048 ACSPH076
• conduct investigations to analyse quantitatively the interference of light using double slit apparatus and diffraction gratings $d\sin \theta =m\lambda$ (ACSPH116, ACSPH117, ACSPH140)ACSPH116 ACSPH117 ACSPH140
• analyse the experimental evidence that supported the models of light that were proposed by Newton and Huygens (ACSPH050, ACSPH118, ACSPH123)ACSPH050 ACSPH118 ACSPH123
• conduct investigations quantitatively using the relationship of Malus’ Law $I=I_{\max }{\cos }^2\theta$ for plane polarisation of light, to evaluate the significance of polarisation in developing a model for light (ACSPH050, ACSPH076, ACSPH120)ACSPH050 ACSPH076 ACSPH120

Light: Quantum Model

What evidence supports the particle model of light and what are the implications of this evidence for the development of the quantum model of light?

• analyse the experimental evidence gathered about black body radiation, including Wien’s Law related to Planck's contribution to a changed model of light (ACSPH137)ACSPH137
  • ${\lambda }_{\max }=\frac{\mathrm{b}}{\mathrm{T}}$
• investigate the evidence from photoelectric effect investigations that demonstrated inconsistency with the wave model for light (ACSPH087, ACSPH123, ACSPH137)ACSPH087 ACSPH123 ACSPH137
• analyse the photoelectric effect $K_{\max }=hf-\varphi$ as it occurs in metallic elements by applying the law of conservation of energy and the photon model of light, (ACSPH119)ACSPH119

Light and Special Relativity

How does the behaviour of light affect concepts of time, space and matter?

• analyse and evaluate the evidence confirming or denying Einstein’s two postulates:
  • the speed of light in a vacuum is an absolute constant
  • all inertial frames of reference are equivalent (ACSPH131)ACSPH131
• investigate the evidence, from Einstein’s thought experiments and subsequent experimental validation, for time dilation $t=\frac{t_0}{\sqrt{\left(1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}\right)}}$ and length contraction $l=l_0\sqrt{\left(1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}\right)}$, and analyse quantitatively situations in which these are observed, for example:
  • observations of cosmic-origin muons at the Earth’s surface
  • atomic clocks (Hafele–Keating experiment)
  • evidence from particle accelerators
  • evidence from cosmological studies
• describe the consequences and applications of relativistic momentum with reference to:
  • $p_v=\frac{m_{0}v}{\sqrt{\left(1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}\right)}}$
  • the limitation on the maximum velocity of a particle imposed by special relativity (ACSPH133)ACSPH133
• Use Einstein’s mass–energy equivalence relationship $E=m{c}^2$ to calculate the energy released by processes in which mass is converted to energy, for example: (ACSPH134)ACSPH134
  • production of energy by the sun
  • particle–antiparticle interactions, eg positron–electron annihilation
  • combustion of conventional fuel

Origins of the Elements

What evidence is there for the origins of the elements?

• investigate the processes that led to the transformation of radiation into matter that followed the ‘Big Bang’
• investigate the evidence that led to the discovery of the expansion of the Universe by Hubble (ACSPH138)ACSPH138
• analyse and apply Einstein’s description of the equivalence of energy and mass and relate this to the nuclear reactions that occur in stars (ACSPH031)ACSPH031
• account for the production of emission and absorption spectra and compare these with a continuous black body spectrum (ACSPH137)ACSPH137
• investigate the key features of stellar spectra and describe how these are used to classify stars
• investigate the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and how it can be used to determine the following about a star:
  • characteristics and evolutionary stage
  • surface temperature
  • colour
  • luminosity
• investigate the types of nucleosynthesis reactions involved in Main Sequence and Post-Main Sequence stars, including but not limited to:
  • proton–proton chain
  • CNO (carbon-nitrogen-oxygen) cycle

Structure of the Atom

How is it known that atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons?

• investigate, assess and model the experimental evidence supporting the existence and properties of the electron, including:
  • early experiments examining the nature of cathode rays
  • Thomson’s charge-to-mass experiment
  • Millikan's oil drop experiment (ACSPH026)ACSPH026
• investigate, assess and model the experimental evidence supporting the nuclear model of the atom, including:
  • the Geiger-Marsden experiment
  • Rutherford’s atomic model
  • Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron (ACSPH026)ACSPH026

Quantum Mechanical Nature of the Atom

How is it known that classical physics cannot explain the properties of the atom?

• assess the limitations of the Rutherford and Bohr atomic models
• investigate the line emission spectra to examine the Balmer series in hydrogen (ACSPH138)ACSPH138
• relate qualitatively and quantitatively the quantised energy levels of the hydrogen atom and the law of conservation of energy to the line emission spectrum of hydrogen using:
  • $E=hf$
  • $E=\frac{hc}{\lambda }$
  • $\frac{1}{\lambda }=R\left[\frac{1}{n_f^2}-\frac{1}{n_i^2}\right]$ (ACSPH136)ACSPH136
• investigate de Broglie’s matter waves, and the experimental evidence that developed the following formula:
  • $\lambda =\frac{h}{mv}$ (ACSPH140)ACSPH140
• analyse the contribution of Schrödinger to the current model of the atom

Properties of the Nucleus

How can the energy of the atomic nucleus be harnessed?

• analyse the spontaneous decay of unstable nuclei, and the properties of the alpha, beta and gamma radiation emitted (ACSPH028, ACSPH030)ACSPH028 ACSPH030
• examine the model of half-life in radioactive decay and make quantitative predictions about the activity or amount of a radioactive sample using the following relationships:
  • $N_{\mathrm{t}}=N_{\mathrm{o}}{e}^{-\lambda t}$
  • $\lambda =\frac{\ln 2}{t_{1/2}}$
• model and explain the process of nuclear fission, including the concepts of controlled and uncontrolled chain reactions, and account for the release of energy in the process (ACSPH033, ACSPH034)ACSPH033 ACSPH034
• analyse relationships that represent conservation of mass-energy in spontaneous and artificial nuclear transmutations, including alpha decay, beta decay, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion (ACSPH032)ACSPH032
• account for the release of energy in the process of nuclear fusion (ACSPH035, ACSPH036)ACSPH035 ACSPH036
• predict quantitatively the energy released in nuclear decays or transmutations, including nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, by applying: (ACSPH031, ACSPH035, ACSPH036)ACSPH031 ACSPH035 ACSPH036
  • the law of conservation of energy
  • mass defect
  • binding energy
  • Einstein’s mass–energy equivalence relationship $E=m{c}^2$

Deep inside the Atom

How is it known that human understanding of matter is still incomplete?

• analyse the evidence that suggests:
  • that protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles
  • the existence of subatomic particles other than protons, neutrons and electrons
• investigate the Standard Model of matter, including:
  • quarks, and the quark composition hadrons
  • leptons
  • fundamental forces (ACSPH141, ACSPH142)ACSPH141 ACSPH142
• investigate the operation and role of particle accelerators in obtaining evidence that tests and/or validates aspects of theories, including the Standard Model of matter (ACSPH120, ACSPH121, ACSPH122, ACSPH146)ACSPH120 ACSPH121 ACSPH122 ACSPH146