Physics Olympiad preparation (HSC+Olympiad)
Enrolment in the HSC+Olympiad course is by invitation (or application). The course focuses on developing a deep conceptual understanding of physics and sophisticated practical skills to prepare for the Australian Physics Olympiad exam. The course includes the HSC syllabus as well as content beyond the HSC syllabus.
This course begins in Term 3 each year. It is designed for younger students (in year 10) who have completed the year 11 course to a very high standard, and have a genuine interest in learning physics beyond the syllabus to prepare for the Physics Olympiad exam. It is an invitation (or application) only course in order to ensure that the students undertaking the course are highly engaged in learning physics, and have the self-discipline to complete revision work at home in order to manage the faster pace and more sophisticated material covered in the class.
The majority of students taking the course have the dual aims of preparing for the Physics Olympiad as well as preparing for well for their HSC physics exam. Taking this into account, the course covers the HSC syllabus in addition to extension content.
There are three components to performing at the highest level in HSC physics (as discussed in on the HSC course page):
- Developing the strongest possible conceptual understanding of the physics in the course,
- Mastering “working scientifically” skills, and
- Perfecting students’ interpretation and written responses to HSC exam questions.
The HSC+Olympiad course is designed to cover the first two components. By building a strong understanding of the physics underlying the syllabus in year 11, students can then focus on the details involved in polishing their exam responses when they are in year 12.
Practical work is embedded throughout the course and most lessons will involve some hands-on, demonstration or practical component. Students in the course will develop their working scientifically skills to a level commensurate with that required for the Physics Olympiad Summer School, ensuring that their skills exceed those required for HSC physics.
It is highly desirable that students have some facility with calculus when they begin the course.
Term 3:
- Module 5 (Advanced Mechanics: Gravitational forces) of the HSC course
- Fluids (pressure, bouyancy and Bernoulli),
- Rotational mechanics (torque, moment of inertia, rolling)
Term 4:
- Module 6 (Electromagnetism) of the HSC course
- Extension material on Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism
- Practical work in electromagnetism
Term 1:
- Module 7 (Light) of the HSC course
- Extension topics in light and waves (including more advanced diffraction, thin film interference, the wave equation, optics, and extension material for Special Relativity, including space-time diagrams)
- Conduct practical work relating to light and waves
- Students can choose to sit the US Physics Bowl exam in late term 1 to test their physics knowledge (supervision for the exam is provided in class time)
Term 2:
- Module 8 (The Universe to the Atom) of the HSC course
- Practice Physics Olympiad past paper questions to prepare for the Physics Olympiad exam in August
Address
94B Baker St. Carlingford 2118
tammy@fathomingphysics.nsw.edu.au
Phone
0473645857
FATHOMING PHYSICS
