| Physics | 1. Linear Motion • Use scalar and vector quantities, displacement, distance, speed, velocity, acceleration, equations of motion, motion graphs, uniform motion, uniformly accelerated motion, and motion investigation data.• For harder questions, include displacement-time and velocity-time graphs, multi-step kinematics, experimental data, uncertainty, and model assumptions.2. Forces and Newton's Laws • Use force, net force, Newton's laws, mass and weight, friction, normal force, tension, free-body diagrams, acceleration due to net force, and force applications in real systems.• For harder questions, include free-body diagrams, multi-step force calculations, interpreting force-motion data, evaluating assumptions, and explaining motion using Newton's laws.3. Momentum, Work, Energy and Power • Use momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum, work, kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy, power, efficiency, and energy transfer in mechanical systems.• For harder questions, include collision/impulse scenarios, energy bar or graph interpretation, multi-step energy calculations, and evaluating conservation assumptions.4. Thermal Energy • Use thermal energy, temperature, heat transfer, specific heat capacity, energy conservation in heating/cooling, and thermal energy transformations at WACE Unit 1 level.• For harder questions, include heating/cooling data, energy calculations, graph interpretation, experimental uncertainty, and comparing thermal models.5. Science Inquiry Skills • Use WACE Physics science inquiry skills: research question, hypothesis, variables, risk, method design, data collection, uncertainty, graphing, analysis, conclusion, validity, reliability, and improvements.• For harder questions, include experimental scenarios related to motion, force or energy, interpreting uncertainty, judging method validity, identifying limitations, and evidence-based conclusions. | 1. Waves • Use transverse and longitudinal waves, sound, wavelength, frequency, period, amplitude, wave speed, reflection, refraction, superposition, interference, standing waves, resonance, and energy transfer by waves.• For harder questions, include wave diagrams, wave graphs, wave-speed calculations, interference/resonance reasoning, experimental data, and graph interpretation.2. Nuclear Physics • Use atomic and nuclear structure, ionising radiation, alpha/beta/gamma radiation, radioactive decay, half-life, activity, binding energy, fission, fusion, reactors, radiation safety, and nuclear applications.• For harder questions, include decay graphs, half-life calculations, nuclear equations, binding energy reasoning, radiation shielding, risk-benefit analysis, and experimental data interpretation.3. Electrical Physics • Use charge, current, potential difference, resistance, Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, electrical power, electrical energy, circuit protection, and practical electrical systems.• For harder questions, include circuit diagrams, I-V graphs, multi-step power/energy calculations, experimental circuit data, uncertainty, and evaluating circuit behaviour.4. Science Inquiry Skills • Use WACE Physics science inquiry skills related to waves, nuclear or electrical physics: variables, controls, method design, data collection, uncertainty, graphing, analysis, conclusion, validity, reliability, and improvements.• For harder questions, include experimental scenarios, interpreting uncertainty, judging method validity, identifying limitations, improving investigations, and evidence-based conclusions. | 1. Gravity and Orbital Motion • Use gravitational fields, Newton's law of universal gravitation, gravitational field strength, circular motion, satellite/orbital motion, energy in gravitational fields, and applications of gravitational models.• For harder questions, include orbital calculations, gravitational-field graphs, force/energy reasoning, satellite scenarios, model assumptions, and multi-step analysis.2. Special Relativity • Use inertial frames, postulates of special relativity, time dilation, length contraction, simultaneity where appropriate, relativistic effects, and mass-energy equivalence at WACE senior level.• For harder questions, include relativity calculations, interpreting scenarios from different frames, graph/table data, conceptual model comparison, and avoiding university-level derivations.3. Electric and Magnetic Fields • Use electric fields, magnetic fields, field strength, forces on charges and current-carrying conductors, charged-particle motion in fields, particle accelerators, and field diagrams.• For harder questions, include field diagrams, charged-particle paths, force/energy reasoning, multi-step field calculations, and practical electromagnetic applications.4. Electromagnetic Induction • Use electromagnetic induction, induced emf/current, motors, generators, transformers, AC electricity, power transmission, efficiency, and electromagnetic systems.• For harder questions, include motor/generator/transformer diagrams, induced-current reasoning, multi-step electromagnetic calculations, power-loss analysis, and system evaluation.5. Science Inquiry Skills • Use WACE Physics science inquiry skills related to gravity, relativity or electromagnetism: variables, controls, method design, data collection, uncertainty, graphing, analysis, conclusion, validity, reliability, and improvements.• For harder questions, include experimental scenarios, uncertainty bars, graph analysis, method critique, data interpretation, and evidence-based conclusions. | 1. Electromagnetic Waves • Use production and propagation of electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic spectrum, wave model of light, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, polarisation where appropriate, and evidence for wave behaviour.• For harder questions, include interference/diffraction diagrams, wave calculations, evidence comparison, graph/data interpretation, and model evaluation.2. Quantum Theory • Use photons, photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality, de Broglie wavelength, atomic energy levels, emission/absorption spectra, quantum models of light and matter, and evidence for quantum theory.• For harder questions, include photoelectric-effect graphs, photon-energy calculations, spectra interpretation, model comparison, evidence evaluation, and unfamiliar experimental contexts.3. Nuclear and Particle Physics • Use nuclear structure, radioactivity, decay, mass-energy equivalence, binding energy, fission/fusion links where appropriate, elementary particles, quarks, leptons, bosons, interactions, and Standard Model overview.• For harder questions, include nuclear equations, mass-energy calculations, particle classification, interaction diagrams, conservation reasoning, and evidence-based model evaluation.4. Cosmology • Use evidence for cosmological models, redshift, expansion of the universe, stellar evidence, cosmic background radiation where appropriate, and model evaluation at WACE senior level.• For harder questions, include spectral/redshift data, model comparison, graph interpretation, evidence evaluation, and bounded cosmology reasoning.5. Science Inquiry Skills • Use WACE Physics science inquiry skills related to modern physics: analysing primary or secondary data, uncertainty, source evaluation, model evaluation, graphing, conclusion validity, reliability, limitations, and improvements.• For harder questions, include secondary data, competing claims, source limitations, evidence comparison, model evaluation, and evidence-based conclusions. |
