Physics is a Natural Sciences course tailored for students in grades 11 and 12, delving into the exploration of all phenomena, processes, and laws governing the natural world.
The Physics curriculum enables students to build on and enhance the fundamental knowledge and skills acquired from the Coordinated Science curriculum spanning grades 1 – 10.
It serves as a roadmap for students to explore potential career paths by delving deeper into the essence and significance of Physics, including its cutting-edge applications. This approach fosters students’ scientific mindset, sparks their interest, reinforces the practical application of Physics knowledge and techniques across various scenarios, and elevates academic proficiency in each knowledge unit through more advanced mathematical tools.
The topics in the Physics curriculum are well structured, progressing from the visual to the abstract, from simplicity to complexity, and from perceiving a system as a particle to understanding multiple particles. It introduces students to some advanced and contemporary scientific content.
Physics is divided into 5 relatively independent strands, including Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics. These strands are evenly distributed throughout the entire learning period in grades 11 and 12, providing students with opportunities for independent research.
By focusing on the fundamental aspects of nature, Physics highlights experiments and practical applications, which play a pivotal role in shaping students’ understanding of Physics concepts, rules, and principles. As students delve into Physics, they observe, describe, explain, and predict various phenomena and rules based on reliable evidence. Students’ ability to predict the outcomes of events and physical processes, grounded in a profound understanding of the rules, empowers them to create modern technologies that meet the needs of society.
Physics rests on five key ideas: Physical Systems; Experimentation and Predictions; Mathematical Physics (as a language and problem-solving tool); Matter, energy, and waves; Forces and magnetic fields. These interconnected concepts provide students with a multi-dimensional view of the same thing, fostering a deep understanding of the complexities of the natural world.
2. Course Objectives:
Equip students with a profound understanding of Physics and the ability to:
Enhance the quality of life through practical applications of Physics concepts.
Embrace the dynamic changes in the realm of science and technology, exhibiting confidence in addressing common Physics-related issues in everyday life.
Develop students’ essential attitudes for scientific research, specifically:
Focusing on safety in experiments
Paying attention to precision and error minimization
Cultivating objectivity and fairness in all measurements
Demonstrating respect for experimental results
Exercising attention to consistency when solving Physics problems
Raising questions about obtained results
Distinguishing between innovation and established knowledge
Empower students to apply scientific research methods to uncover new laws and refine existing Physics theories and models.
Cultivate students’ analytical skills, enabling them to evaluate data critically and draw well-founded conclusions.
Enhance students’ scientific communication skills and the capability of employing Physics terminology and conventions.
Instill in students a sense of care and responsibility for society and the environment in scientific research and technology development activities.
Provide students with comprehensive foundational and advanced Physics knowledge, preparing them for future pursuits in education and Physics research.
