Have you ever wondered how spacecraft launch into orbit, how renewable energy systems generate electricity, or how engineers design structures that can survive earthquakes and extreme weather?
Physics ATAR explores the laws that govern the universe and explains how science and technology shape the world around us. Students investigate motion, forces, energy, waves, electricity and nuclear physics, developing an understanding of how physics is applied in areas such as engineering, medicine, communication, transport and environmental sustainability.
Through practical investigations and real-world problem solving, students develop curiosity, resilience and analytical thinking skills while learning how scientific knowledge can be used responsibly to improve lives and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Why do seatbelts save lives? How do athletes use physics to improve performance? And how can engineers design safer transport systems and structures?
In Unit 1, students investigate how forces affect motion and how energy is transferred and transformed in everyday situations. Students apply Newton’s laws to analyse movement in contexts such as sport, vehicle safety, rollercoasters, aviation and space exploration.
Through experiments and data analysis, students explore concepts including speed, acceleration, momentum and energy conservation. They investigate how physics principles are applied in technologies such as airbags, crash testing, renewable energy systems and modern transport design.
Students also develop mathematical modelling and problem-solving skills, learning how physicists and engineers use evidence and calculations to predict outcomes and create innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
How do noise-cancelling headphones work? What allows mobile phones and Wi-Fi to communicate instantly? And how is radiation used safely to diagnose and treat disease?
In Unit 2, students investigate the behaviour and properties of waves, including sound, light and electromagnetic radiation. They explore how wave interactions are applied in communication technologies, acoustics, medical imaging and entertainment systems.
Students also examine electrical circuits and energy transfer, learning how electricity is generated, transmitted and used in homes, industries and renewable energy technologies such as solar power systems. In nuclear physics, students investigate the properties and uses of radiation in medicine, industry and energy production while evaluating the benefits, risks and ethical considerations associated with nuclear technologies.
Through hands-on practical investigations, students collect and analyse data, apply mathematical reasoning and deepen their understanding of how physics drives innovation and shapes the future of society.
Skills and Capabilities DevelopedA
Students will develop skills in:
Potential Careers
Physics provides a strong foundation for further study and careers in:
Post-School Study Options
Students may pursue university pathways including:
Pre-requisites
State A-Grade in Year 10 Science and eligibility for Maths ATAR
Ms Kerry-Anne Randall
Head of Science
Kerry.Randall@cewa.edu.au