VCE INDUCTION PACKAGE 2024

UNITS 3 AND 4
PHYSICS

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 Welcome to Physics Unit 3 and 4
At Blackburn High School, we expect all our VCE students to follow the Learning Norms to ensure an enjoyable and
successful year in this Study. More importantly, you must comply with the VCAA guidelines and policies, which can
be found in the VCE Handbook.
For this study, we strongly suggest you:
1. Make the most of Step Up by getting to know your teacher and asking any questions you have about the
course or holiday homework.
2. Familiarise yourself with the detailed course outline provided in this package and the resources (prescribed
textbook, websites, notes, other textbooks and Edrolo)
3. Communicate with students who have studied the subject in previous years to get their perspective and
suggestions for success.
4. Ensure that you have a balanced life that consists of schoolwork, exercise, sport, leisure, rest and a healthy
diet.
If you have any queries about the course, please contact your classroom teacher.

TEACHER CONTACT DETAILS

NAME OF TEACHER EMAIL ADDRESS LOCATION
Emma Love emma.love@education.vic.gov.au Hollows Staffroom

Christian Smith christian.smith2@education.vic.gov.au Melba Staffroom

Learning Physics
You can watch a person riding a bike and describe what is happening pretty well, but you won't know if you can
actually ride a bike until you get on and try. You won't know if you can do Physics until you try. This means doing
problems. We ask students to complete problems and self-correct from the solutions given. This means you will be
able to show your teacher problems clearly corrected. This represents an efficient way of communicating with your
teacher about which problems you and the class need help with.
Your teacher may initiate some help by asking you to come in during lunch or before school, you can also take the
initiative by booking time to see your teacher outside of class time. Seeing a teacher for extra help is something you
may not have done in Years 7 to 10, but you will notice that this is commonplace in Years 11 and 12. Do not delay in
pursuing this kind of help.

Outline of Study
Unit 3: How do fields explain motion and electricity?
Area of Study 1: How do physicists explain motion in two dimensions?
In this area of study, students use Newton’s laws of motion to analyse linear motion, circular motion and projectile
motion. Newton’s laws of motion give important insights into a range of motion both on Earth and beyond through
the investigations of objects on land and in orbit. They explore the motion of objects under the influence of a
gravitational field on the surface of Earth, close to Earth and above Earth. They explore the relationships between
force, energy and mass.

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Area of Study 2: How do things move without contact?
Field models are used to explain the behaviour of objects when there is no apparent contact. In this area of study,
students examine the similarities and differences between three fields: gravitational, electric and magnetic. Students
explore how positions in fields determine the potential energy of, and the force on, an object. They investigate how
concepts related to field models can be applied to construct motors, maintain satellite orbits and to accelerate
particles including in a synchrotron.

Area of Study 3: How are fields used in electricity generation?

The production, distribution and use of electricity has had a major impact on the way that humans live. In this area
of study, students use empirical evidence and models of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic effects to explain
how electricity is produced and delivered to homes. They explore the transformer as critical to the performance of
electrical distribution systems in minimising power loss.

Unit 4: How have creative ideas and investigation revolutionised thinking in physics?
Area of Study 1: How has understanding about the physical world changed?
In this area of study, students learn how understanding of light, matter and motion have changed over time. They
explore how major experiments led to the development of theories to describe these fundamental aspects of the
physical world.
When light and matter are probed, they appear to have remarkable similarities. Light, previously described as an
electromagnetic wave, appears to exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. Findings that electrons behave
in a wave-like manner challenged thinking about the relationship between light and matter.
Students consider the limitations of classical mechanics as they explore Einstein’s view of the Universe. They
consider postulates as distinct from theories and explore ideas related to objects moving at speeds approaching the
speed of light. They use special relativity to explore length contraction and time dilation as observations are made by
observers in different frames of reference, and the interrelationship between matter and energy.

Area of Study 2: How is scientific inquiry used to investigate fields, motion or light?
Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4.
The investigation involves the generation of primary data relating to fields, motion or light. The investigation draws
on knowledge and related key science skills developed across Units 3 and 4 and is undertaken by students in the
laboratory and/or in the field.
When undertaking the investigation students are required to apply the key science skills to develop a question, state
an aim, formulate a hypothesis and plan a course of action to answer the question, while complying with safety and
ethical guidelines. Students then undertake an investigation to generate primary quantitative data, analyse and
evaluate the data, identify limitations of data and methods, link experimental results to scientific ideas, discuss
implications of the results, and draw and evaluate a conclusion in response to the question. Students are expected to
design and undertake an investigation involving one continuous independent variable. The presentation format for
the investigation is a scientific poster constructed according to the prescribed structure. A logbook is maintained by
the students for record, assessment and authentication purposes.

For more information, refer to the study design: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/physics/physicsindex.html

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 2024 TIMELINE
Key Dates/Timelines of Topics, Outcomes and Activities
An up-to-date version of the dates below is in the Lesson-by-Lesson Plan in Class Notebook.

Term 1
WEEK AoS CONTENT
STEP UP U3, AoS 2 Electric, Magnetic & Gravitational Fields & Forces
1 U3, AoS 2 Gravitational Forces, Energy, Satellites
2 U3, AoS 2 Energy in Electric Fields, Magnetic Forces

3 U3, AoS 2 DC motors, DC motor Practical, Particle accelerators

4 U3, AoS 2 Revision
U3, AoS 3 Flux and magnetic theory

5 U3, AoS 3 Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws

6 U3, AoS 3 Generators, Electricity transmission

7 U3, AoS 3 Electricity transmission

8 U3, AoS 3 Revision

9 U3, AoS 1 Projectile Motion

Term 2
WEEK AoS CONTENT
1 U3, AoS 1 Forces & Newton’s laws
2 U3, AoS 1 Circular motion
3 U3, AoS 1 Collisions and momentum

4 U3, AoS 1 Work, energy calculations and springs

5 U4, AoS 1 Revision
6 U4, AoS 1 Revision
7 U4, AoS 1 Light as a Wave: Wave theory, Interference, Standing
waves
8 U4, AoS 1 Light as a Wave: Diffraction, Electromagnetic spectrum
9 U4, AoS 1 EPI
10 U4, AoS 2 EPI
11 U4, AoS 2 EPI poster writeup

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Term 3
WEEK AoS CONTENT
1 U4, AoS 1 Light as a wave: Double slit experiment
2 U4, AoS 1 Special Rel
3 U4, AoS 1 Special Rel

4 U4, AoS 1 Photoelectric effect

5 U4, AoS 1 Electron Diffraction, deBroglie wavelength
6 U4, AoS 1 Photon Momentum, absorption and emission,
Spectroscope Prac
7 U4, AoS 1 Energy levels of atoms, Quantum Mechanics, Light
production
8 U4, AoS 1 Revision
9 ALL Exam Revision
10 ALL Practice Exams

Term 4
WEEK AoS CONTENT
1 ALL Revision
2 ALL Revision

All Internal SACs and redemptions to be completed prior to commencement of Term 4

Unit 3 & 4 Practice Examinations will be held in September.

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 Assessment: Tasks, Dates, Relative Weighting
Assessment of levels of achievement
The student’s level of achievement in Unit 3 and 4 will be determined by school-assessed coursework and an end-of-
year examination. Levels of achievement in each SAC are assessed against the Performance Descriptors for that
Outcome (https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/vce-study-designs/Physics/advice-for-teachers/Pages/
Units3and4PerformanceDescriptors.aspx)

Assessment Summary (dates are approximate)

Assessed Coursework (S/N) SAC (Scored Marks % of
assessment) Study
Score
Unit 3 120 30%
Term 1 Completion of Holiday Homework Booklet SAC 1: Fields 40
Textbook Exercises (Late February)
Edrolo Questions
Writeup of Practical Work
Term 1 Textbook Exercises SAC 2: Electric Power 40
Edrolo Questions (Late March)
Writeup of Practical Work
Term 2 Textbook Exercises SAC 3: Motion 40
Edrolo Questions (Late May)
Writeup of Practical Work
Special Relativity Test
Unit 4 80 20%
Term 2/3 Practical Logbook SAC 4: EPI 40
Poster (July)
Completion of practical work
Term 3 Textbook Exercises SAC 5: Light and matter 40
Edrolo Questions (August/ September)
Writeup of Practical Work
Exam 120 50%
*Note – Confirm assessment dates with your teacher. SAC dates are subject to possible changes.

Coursework
Completion of coursework is essential for you to attain the best mark that you possibly can. The following tasks are
all required coursework. You may be required to demonstrate completion of any of these tasks to demonstrate a
satisfactory outcome.
 Textbook exercises written up in your workbook
 Writeup of practical work
 Tasks assigned on Class Notebook
 Edrolo questions
 Checkpoints questions

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 Materials Required – Texts, Stationery, and other Resources
Course Texts Required Materials
The main resources used for this course are: To be brought to every class
 Edrolo Textbook and Online  Working device with OneNote and Microsoft
Teams installed.
 Microsoft OneNote
 Writing materials (pencil, blue and black pens)
 Colin Hopkin Notes
 Texts: Edrolo (new edition) and Checkpoints
 Scientific Calculator (not CAS)
 Workbook: A4 for notes/working

Sources of support for the Study, websites, documentation

VCAA Physics http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/physics/physicsindex.html
Australian Institute of Physics – Victorian Branch http://www.vicphysics.org/
PHET simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics
Hyperphysics: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.html
Edrolo: https://edrolo.com.au
Tracker Software: https://physlets.org/tracker/
Physics Classroom: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class

Summer Holiday Tasks

1. Complete the Learning Activities in the rest of this booklet. This booklet must be returned in Lesson 1 Term 1
for your teacher to check. Failure to return the completed booklet will result in a Notice of Concern being
sent home.
2. Ensure you have sourced all the required equipment and texts and a SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR (CAS is not
allowed in Physics).
3. Watch the following Edrolo videos (including embedded questions) from Unit 3 AOS 2: In the following order
 5A Gravitational fields and forces
 6A Electric fields
 6B Magnetic fields
 6C Magnetic forces on charged particles

 5B GPE in non-uniform fields

 5C Orbital motion

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 Edrolo 5A – Gravitational Fields & Forces
See last page for formulas and data

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 Edrolo 6A – Electric Fields

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 Edrolo 6B – Magnetic Fields

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 Edrolo 6C – Magnetic Forces on Charged Particles

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