For the detailled course description, click Phys-Higher-CourseDescription.
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
AWARD RECEIVED: HIGHER
ENTRY LEVEL
Students should ideally have N5 Physics, at A or B. It could be possible for a student without previous experience of Physics to follow this course, in which case they should speak with a Physics teacher for advice.
COURSE CONTENT
The Course is split up into 4 Units, with the Key Areas covered in each outlined below:
Unit 1 – Our Dynamic Universe
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- Motion — equations and graphs
- Forces, energy and power
- Collisions, explosions and impulse
- Gravitation
- Special relativity
- The Expanding Universe
Unit 2 – Particles and Waves
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- The Standard Model
- Forces on charged particles
- Nuclear reactions
- Wave particle duality
- Interference and diffraction
- Refraction of light
- Spectra
Unit 3 – Electricity
This Unit covers the Key Areas of:
- Monitoring and measuring a.c.
- Current, potential difference, power and resistance
- Electrical sources and internal resistance.
- Capacitors
- Conductors, semiconductors and insulators
- p-n junctions
Unit 4 – Researching Physics
This Unit covers the key skills necessary to undertake research in Physics. Learners will research the relevance of Physics theory to everyday life by exploring the physics behind a topical issue. Learners will develop the key skills associated with collecting and synthesising information from a number of different sources. Equipped with the knowledge of common Physics apparatus and techniques, they will plan and undertake a practical investigation related to a topical issue.
ASSESSMENT
To gain an overall Award for this Course, students need to pass the:
- Unit Assessment for each of the Units – these are marked internally in school;
- Course Assessment, which is marked by the SQA and includes an:
- Assignment (20 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. Homework will include practise problems, questions from a textbook and regular revision of all the material covered in the course.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
There are many very useful and valuable transferable skills gained by studying Higher Physics, including:
researching, ICT, reporting, numeracy, literacy, graphing, investigating, practical experimental skills, analysing, presentation, evaluating, to name a few.
PROGRESSION
There is very good progression from this Course on to Advanced Higher
