The HSC Physics syllabus, dot point by dot point

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:… Projectile Motion Fundamentals
• apply the modelling of projectile motion to quantitatively derive the relationships between the following variables:… Launch Angle and Range Equation
• conduct a practical investigation to collect primary data in order to validate the relationships derived above. Practical: Validating Projectile Motion — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• solve problems, create models and make quantitative predictions by applying the equations of motion relationships for uniformly accelerated and constant rectilinear motion Solving Projectile Motion Problems — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics Projectile Motion Consolidation — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics

Why do objects move in circles?

• conduct investigations to explain and evaluate, for objects executing uniform circular motion, the relationships that exist between:… Uniform Circular Motion — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• analyse the forces acting on an object executing uniform circular motion in a variety of situations, for example:… Horizontal Circular Motion and Banked Tracks — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics Vertical Circular Motion Extension — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics beyond
• solve problems, model and make quantitative predictions about objects executing uniform circular motion in a variety of situations, using the following relationships:… Circular Motion and Orbits Consolidation — HSC Physics
• investigate the relationship between the total energy and work done on an object executing uniform circular motion No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• investigate the relationship between the rotation of mechanical systems and the applied torque Torque and Rotational Equilibrium — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics beyond

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

• apply qualitatively and quantitatively Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to:… Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• determine the force of gravity between two objects F= GMm/r² Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• investigate the factors that affect the gravitational field strength g=GM/r² Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• predict the gravitational field strength at any point in a gravitational field, including at the surface of a planet (ACSPH094, ACSPH095, ACSPH097) Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics Gravitational Potential and Field Strength — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics beyond
• investigate the orbital motion of planets and artificial satellites when applying the relationships between the following quantities:… Gravitational Orbits — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics
• 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) Kepler's Laws Gravitational Fields Consolidation — HSC Physics Module 5
• 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) Kepler's Laws
• 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:… Energy in Gravitational Orbits — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics Gravitational Potential Energy — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics Escape Velocity — HSC Physics Advanced Mechanics beyond

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) Uniform Electric Fields, HSC Physics Electromagnetism Work, Energy and Electric Potential
• model qualitatively and quantitatively the trajectories of charged particles in electric fields and compare them with the trajectories of projectiles in a gravitational field Charged Particle Trajectories in Electric Fields, HSC Physics Electromagnetism
• analyse the interaction between charged particles and uniform magnetic fields, including: (ACSPH083) Magnetic Fields and the Lorentz Force Circular Motion of Charges in Magnetic Fields beyond Mass Spectrometers beyond
• compare the interaction of charged particles moving in magnetic fields to:… Electric vs Magnetic Fields and Velocity Selection beyond

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=lI_⊥B=lIBsinθ to establish: (ACSPH080, ACSPH081) The Motor Effect
• conduct a quantitative investigation to demonstrate the interaction between two parallel current-carrying wires Forces Between Parallel Conductors
• analyse the interaction between two parallel current-carrying wires F/l=(μ₀/2π)I₁I₂/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) Forces Between Parallel Conductors

How are electric and magnetic fields related?

• describe how magnetic flux can change, with reference to the relationship Φ=B_∥A=BAcosθ (ACSPH083, ACSPH107, ACSPH109) Magnetic Flux Explained
• analyse qualitatively and quantitatively, with reference to energy transfers and transformations, examples of Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law ε= -NΔΦ/Δt, including but not limited to: (ACSPH081, ACSPH110) Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction — HSC Physics Electromagnetism Eddy Currents
• analyse quantitatively the operation of ideal transformers through the application of: (ACSPH110) Transformers, Theory and Operation — HSC Physics Electromagnetism Module 6 Revision and Exam Strategies — HSC Physics Electromagnetism
• evaluate qualitatively the limitations of the ideal transformer model and the strategies used to improve transformer efficiency, including but not limited to:… No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• analyse applications of step-up and step-down transformers, including but not limited to:… Power Transmission and Distribution — HSC Physics Electromagnetism

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

• investigate the operation of a simple DC motor to analyse:… Torque on a Current-Carrying Coil DC and AC Motors Compared DC Motors in Depth, Back EMF and Torque-Speed — HSC Physics Electromagnetism
• analyse the operation of simple DC and AC generators and AC induction motors (ACSPH110) DC and AC Motors Compared AC Generators and Changing Flux beyond AC Induction Motors and Generators beyond
• relate Lenz’s Law to the law of conservation of energy and apply the law of conservation of energy to:… Lenz's Law and Induced Current Direction — HSC Physics Electromagnetism

What is light?

• investigate Maxwell’s contribution to the classical theory of electromagnetism, including:… Properties of Electromagnetic Waves
• describe the production and propagation of electromagnetic waves and relate these processes qualitatively to the predictions made by Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory (ACSPH112, ACSPH113) The Electromagnetic Spectrum Properties of Electromagnetic Waves
• 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) No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• conduct an investigation to examine a variety of spectra produced by discharge tubes, reflected sunlight or incandescent filaments No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• investigate how spectroscopy can be used to provide information about:… Spectroscopy and Astronomical Applications beyond
• investigate how the spectra of stars can provide information on:… Spectroscopy and Astronomical Applications beyond

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) Diffraction and Diffraction Gratings
• conduct investigations to analyse quantitatively the interference of light using double slit apparatus and diffraction gratings dsinθ=mλ (ACSPH116, ACSPH117, ACSPH140) Interference and Young's Double Slit Experiment
• analyse the experimental evidence that supported the models of light that were proposed by Newton and Huygens (ACSPH050, ACSPH118, ACSPH123) Synthesis: Evidence for the Wave Model of Light beyond
• conduct investigations quantitatively using the relationship of Malus’ Law I=I_maxcos²θ for plane polarisation of light, to evaluate the significance of polarisation in developing a model for light (ACSPH050, ACSPH076, ACSPH120) Polarisation of Light and Malus's Law beyond

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) Quantum Model and Wave-Particle Duality Synthesis beyond
• investigate the evidence from photoelectric effect investigations that demonstrated inconsistency with the wave model for light (ACSPH087, ACSPH123, ACSPH137) The Photoelectric Effect
• analyse the photoelectric effect K_max=hf-ϕ as it occurs in metallic elements by applying the law of conservation of energy and the photon model of light, (ACSPH119) The Photoelectric Effect

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:… Special Relativity, Inertial Frames and Postulates Simultaneity and Relativistic Paradoxes beyond
• investigate the evidence, from Einstein’s thought experiments and subsequent experimental validation, for time dilation t=t₀/√(1- v²/c²) and length contraction l=l₀√(1-v²/c²), and analyse quantitatively situations in which these are observed, for example:… Time Dilation Length Contraction Simultaneity and Relativistic Paradoxes beyond
• describe the consequences and applications of relativistic momentum with reference to:… Relativistic Momentum and Energy beyond
• Use Einstein’s mass–energy equivalence relationship E=mc² to calculate the energy released by processes in which mass is converted to energy, for example: (ACSPH134) Relativistic Momentum and Energy beyond

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’ The Big Bang Theory beyond
• investigate the evidence that led to the discovery of the expansion of the Universe by Hubble (ACSPH138) Evidence for the Big Bang Hubble's Law
• 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) No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• account for the production of emission and absorption spectra and compare these with a continuous black body spectrum (ACSPH137) Spectroscopy and Stellar Classification
• investigate the key features of stellar spectra and describe how these are used to classify stars Spectroscopy and Stellar Classification
• investigate the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and how it can be used to determine the following about a star:… The Stellar Life Cycle beyond The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram beyond
• investigate the types of nucleosynthesis reactions involved in Main Sequence and Post-Main Sequence stars, including but not limited to:… The Stellar Life Cycle beyond Nucleosynthesis and the Origin of Elements Supernovae and Neutron Stars beyond

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:… The Nuclear Model of the Atom beyond
• investigate, assess and model the experimental evidence supporting the nuclear model of the atom, including:… The Nuclear Model of the Atom beyond

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

• assess the limitations of the Rutherford and Bohr atomic models No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• investigate the line emission spectra to examine the Balmer series in hydrogen (ACSPH138) Bohr's Model of the Hydrogen Atom
• 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:… Bohr's Model of the Hydrogen Atom
• investigate de Broglie’s matter waves, and the experimental evidence that developed the following formula:… Quantum Mechanics and the Atom beyond
• analyse the contribution of Schrödinger to the current model of the atom Quantum Mechanics and the Atom beyond

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) The Strong Nuclear Force beyond Radioactive Decay
• 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:… Radioactive Decay
• 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) The Strong Nuclear Force beyond
• 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) Radioactive Decay
• account for the release of energy in the process of nuclear fusion (ACSPH035, ACSPH036) The Strong Nuclear Force beyond
• predict quantitatively the energy released in nuclear decays or transmutations, including nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, by applying: (ACSPH031, ACSPH035, ACSPH036) Radioactive Decay

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

• analyse the evidence that suggests:… Particles and Antiparticles
• investigate the Standard Model of matter, including:… Quarks and the Standard Model beyond The Fundamental Forces beyond
• 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) Particle Accelerators and Detectors beyond