For the detailled course description, click Phys-AH-CourseDescription.
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
AWARD RECEIVED: ADVANCED HIGHER
ENTRY LEVEL
Students will normally have Higher Physics, preferably at A or B.
COURSE CONTENT
The Course is split up into 4 Units, with the Key Areas covered in each outlined below:
Unit 1 – Rotational Motion and Astrophysics
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- Kinematic relationships
- Angular motion
- Rotational dynamics
- Gravitation
- General relativity
- Stellar physics
Unit 2 – Quanta and Waves
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- Introduction to quantum theory
- Particles from space
- Simple harmonic motion
- Waves
- Interference
- Polarisation
Unit 3 – Electromagnetism
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- Fields
- Circuits
- Electromagnetic radiation
Unit 4 – Investigating Physics
In this Unit, learners will develop key investigative skills. The Unit offers opportunities for independent learning set within the context of experimental Physics. Learners will identify, research, plan and carry out a Physics investigation of their choice.
Project
As part of their Advanced Higher Physics Course, students need to carry out a practical Investigation/Project. This could be on any related topic they choose, or it could be on a theme suggested by their teacher. Students will be supported through their Project, but they will also be expected to make progress independently for some of the time. They need to keep a ‘log-book’ of their on-going work and then produce a Report of their Investigation. The ‘log-book’ gets checked and marked internally by their teacher and the Report is externally marked by the SQA, which then counts towards their final, overall Grade, along with their Exam score.
ASSESSMENT
To gain an overall Award for this Course, students need to pass the:
- Unit Assessments for each of the Units – these are marked internally in school;
- Course Assessment, which is marked by the SQA and includes an:
- Project (30 marks)
- Exam (100 marks)
The Course assessment is graded A–D. The grade is determined on the basis of the total mark for all Course assessments together.
HOMEWORK
Homework is an essential part of the course. It helps prepare students for unit tests, prelim and final examinations. Homework will take the form of: write up of course lab work; extended answer questions; data handling questions; practise problems; regular revision of all the material covered in the course and preparation of the Investigation Report.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
There are many very useful and valuable transferable skills gained by studying Advanced Higher Physics, including: researching, ICT, reporting, numeracy, literacy, graphing, investigating, practical experimental skills, analysing, presentation, evaluating, to name a few.
PROGRESSION
There is good progression from this Course on to further study at University as well as providing an excellent advantage to those seeking employment in a wide range of professions.
