SQA Website - Physics

Key Links: Curriculum for Excellence - Sciences

During their first and second years in Science, pupils will study the following Physics topics:

• S1: Energy, Electricity
• S2: Forces & Space, Light & Sound

All topics are a skills based course encouraging the pupils to discover, investigate and develop the knowledge and skills for them to become confident young scientists. Literacy and numeracy tasks are included for pupils to be able to understand the widely scientific and technological world that they are living in.

During S3 pupils choosing Physics will cover a range of topics including Waves, Light, Nuclear Radiation and Electrical Circuits covering some level 4, National 4 and National 5 outcomes.

Science is vital to everyday life and allows us to understand and shape the world in which we live and influence its future. Scientists play a key role in meeting society’s needs in areas such as medicine, energy, industry, material development, the environment and sustainability.

The course contains the following units:

Science: Fragile Earth

Learners will focus on two choices from the following four:

• Energy
• Metals
• Water
• Food

They will investigate these resources through activities related to their source, origin, production and/or extraction. Learners will gain knowledge of how science is involved in environmental issues.

Science: Human Health

This Unit covers the individual’s immediate health, expanding to taking responsibility for the family’s health. It then looks at health within the community, and finally global issues affecting health.

Applications of Science

This Unit lets learners explore science’s contribution to communication technologies, new materials and how science helps the understanding of risk and how it can be reduced in modern life

Added Value Unit: Science Assignment

Learners will draw on and extend the skills they have learned from across the other Units.

This National Progression Award course provides an overview of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector. It develops knowledge and understanding of biology, chemistry and physics. It will also develop science practical skills. Pupils develop problem-solving skills in a scientific context and the practical skills needed to carry out experimental and investigative work. They will also develop important transferable skills in analysis, research and planning that will enhance their employment prospects.

There are four units:

1. Introduction to Biology
2. Introduction to Physics
3. Chemical changes and structure
4. Laboratory Science Practical Skills

There is no external exam for this course. Assessment is based on both performance and written evidence, through students performing a range of practical activities or through closed book internal assessment.

Pupils can progress to Nat 5 Health Sector (See Biology Department page) in S5 or Nat 5 Energy (See Physics Department page). 

NPA Applied Sciences SCQF level 5 - SQA

At National 5 level, pupils will draw on their knowledge, understanding and skills to investigate, through experimentation, the physics related to the following concepts:

• Electricity and Energy - This Unit covers the key areas involving: transformation of energy, electricity, heat energy calculations, matter is made of particles, and applications of electrical energy transfer.
• Waves and Radiations - This Unit covers the key areas involving: the physics of waves, sound and light, nuclear radioactivity, and motion application.
• Dynamics and Space - This Unit covers the key areas involving: how forces affect motion, transformation of energy and cosmology (the position of the Earth in our universe).

The purpose of the National 5 Physics course is to develop candidates’ interest and enthusiasm for physics in a range of contexts. The skills of scientific inquiry are integrated and developed, throughout the course, by investigating the applications of physics.

The National 5 Energy course is intended to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills which will enhance their prospects for employment in the wide range of opportunities within energy sectors. Learners will develop a range of employability skills which are of relevance to energy industries. The following units will be covered:

• Energy: An Introduction
• Domestic Wind Turbine Systems
• Domestic Solar Hot Water Systems
• Employability and Careers
• Energy and the Individual

There is no external exam for this course. Assessment is based on both performance and written evidence, through students performing a range of practical activities or through closed book internal assessment.

The Higher Physics course is divided into three units:

• Particles and Waves
• Electricity
• Our Dynamic Universe

The Higher Physics course has been designed to provide progression from the National 5 Physics course. Through a deeper insight into the structure of the subject, the course aims to provide an opportunity for reinforcing and extending the learners’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts of physics and developing problem solving skills and investigative work. The course will also provide those who wish to proceed beyond Higher Physics with a suitable basis for further study.

The course is divided into 3 units:

• Rotational Motion and Astrophysics
• Quanta and Waves
• Electromagnetism

The Advanced Higher Physics course has been designed provide a progression from the Higher Physics course. Through a deeper insight into the structure of the subject, the course aims to provide a challenging experience for those who wish to study the subject to a greater depth and to assist candidates towards an understanding of the use of mathematical models and techniques for describing the behaviour of nature.
The course can be seen as an ideal preparation for further study or a career in Physics both in terms of the topics covered by the course and by the development of student’s independent learning and investigative skills.