Aims of the Subject
The broad aims of the curriculum are to enable students to:
- develop interest in the physical world and maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity about it;
- construct and apply knowledge of physics, and appreciate the relationship between physical science and other disciplines;
- appreciate and understand the nature of science in physics-related contexts;
- develop skills for making scientific inquiries;
- develop the ability to think scientifically, critically and creatively, and to solve problems individually or collaboratively in physics-related contexts;
- understand the language of science and communicate ideas and views on physics-related issues;
- make informed decisions and judgments on physics-related issues; and
- be aware of the social, ethical, economic, environmental and technological implications of physics, and develop an attitude of responsible citizenship.
PHYSICS (Science Education KLA)
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the public assessment of Physics are to evaluate candidates' ability to:
- recall and show understanding of the facts, concepts, models and principles of physics, and the relationships between different topic areas in the curriculum framework;
- apply knowledge, concepts and principles of physics to explain phenomena and observations, and to solve problems;
- show an understanding of the use of apparatus in performing experiments;
- demonstrate an understanding of the method used in the study of physics;
- present data in various forms, such as tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, and transpose them from one form into another;
- analyse and interpret data, and draw appropriate conclusions;
- show an understanding of the treatment of errors;
- select, organize, and communicate information clearly, precisely and logically;
- demonstrate understanding of the applications of physics to daily life and its contributions to the modern world;
- show awareness of the ethical, moral, social, economic and technological implications of physics, and critically evaluate physics-related issues; and
- make suggestions, choices and judgments based on the examination of evidence using knowledge and principles of physics.
MODE OF ASSESSMENT
The public assessment of Physics consists of a public examination component and a school-based assessment component as outlined in the following table:
|
Component
|
Weighting
|
Duration
|
|
Public Examination
|
Paper 1 Questions set on Compulsory Part Paper 2 Questions set on Elective Part
|
60%
20%
|
2½ hours
1 hour
|
|
School-based Assessment (SBA)
|
20%
|
|
The suggested content for the compulsory and elective parts:
Compulsory part
I. Heat and Gases
- Temperature, heat and internal energy*
- Transfer processes*
- Change of state*
- Gases
II. Force and Motion
- Position and movement*
- Force and motion*
- Projectile motion*
- Work, energy and power*
- Momentum*
- Uniform circular motion
- Gravitation
III. Wave Motion
- Nature and properties of waves*
- Light*
- Sound*
IV. Electricity and Magnetism
- Electrostatics*
- Circuits and domestic electricity*
- Electromagnetism*
V. Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy
- Radiation and radioactivity
- Atomic model
- Nuclear energy
Elective part:
VI. Astronomy and Space Science
- The universe as seen in different scales
- Astronomy through history
- Orbital motions under gravity
- Stars and the universe
VII. Atomic World
- Rutherford's atomic model
- Photoelectric effect
- Bohr's atomic model of hydrogen
- Particles or waves
- Probing into nano scale
VIII. Energy and Use of Energy
- Electricity at home
- Energy efficiency in building and transportation
- Renewable and non-renewable energy sources
IX. Medical Physics
- Making sense of the eye and the ear
- Medical imaging using non-ionizing radiation
- Medical imaging using ionizing radiation
Investigative Study
X. Investigative Study in Physics
Students should conduct an investigation with a view to solving an authentic problem.
Physics (S4-6)
Physics is one of the most fundamental natural sciences. It involves the study of universal laws, and of the behaviours and relationships among a wide range of physical phenomena. Through the learning of physics, students will acquire conceptual and procedural knowledge relevant to their daily lives. In addition to the relevance and intrinsic beauty of physics, the study of physics will enable students to develop an understanding of its practical applications in a wide variety of fields. With a solid foundation in physics, students should be able to appreciate both the intrinsic beauty and quantitative nature of physical phenomena, and the role of physics in many important developments in engineering, medicine, economics and other fields of science and technology. Study of the contributions, issues and problems related to innovations in physics will enable students to develop an integrative view of the relationships that hold between science, technology, society and the environment (STSE).
Students are expected to
- understand phenomena, facts and patterns, principles, concepts, laws, theories and models in physics;
- learn the vocabulary, terminology and conventions used in physics;
- acquire knowledge of techniques and skills specific to the study of physics; and
- develop an understanding of technological applications of physics and of their social implications.