21 replies to this topic

[Bobo_Balde]

Sitting the topic title this year, my teacher isnt very good at communicating the information over and his notes are basically ****. any1 help me? ie a web link, thanx

[$impl¥_®i¢h]

Sorry dont know of any, im looking for revision notes for Higher Physics, on the web as im on the same boat, as u say about the teacher.
Im always lookin so if i find 1 ill let u no.

P.S What is the advanced physics course like? Compared 2 higher, is it similar or much harder? As i was thinking of chosing, cuz i got my options form for S6.

[sparky]

Physics: Advanced Higher


Why Physics?

This course is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the nature of Physics and its applications. It builds on the skills, attitudes and abilities that you have developed at Higher level and provides a challenging experience for those who wish to study the subject in greater depth. The study of Advanced Higher Physics encourages an interest in current developments and applications of physics.



Entry to the course

This is at the discretion of the school/college but you would normally be expected to have attained the following

Higher Physics
and
Higher Mathematics


Course Outline

The course is made up of four compulsory units – two 40 hour units and two 20 hour units.

Mechanics (40hours)
Topics studied in this unit include

kinematic relationships and relatavistic motion
angular motion
rotational dynamics
gravitation
simple harmonic motion
wave - particle duality.

Electrical Phenomena (40 hours)

Topics studied in this unit include

electric fields
electromagnetism
motion in a magnetic field
self inductance
forces of nature.

Wave Phenomena (20 hours)

Topics studied in this unit include

waves
interference – division of amplitude
interference – division of wavefront
polarisation.

Physics Investigation (20 hours)

In this unit you are required to carry out an investigation and produce a report of your findings. This involves planning, organisation, designing experiments, collection and analysis of information.



Core Skills

H Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating)

H Numeracy (Using Graphical Information, Using Numbers)

Assessment
Units are assessed internally by your teacher/lecturer in accordance with SQA guidelines.

The course is assessed by

a written examination, set and marked by the SQA
external assessment of the Investigation Report by the SQA.

This gives some information on it, I am also curious about what the course is like, as I was considering doing it, I doubt I will but it depends if I get my first choices on my options.

[uddingstonbluenose]

the notes my teacher gave out are complex, to the fact it is university notes for the advanced higher course, try the heriot watt webpage and maybe they could send you the books out.

[werlop]

Get your teachers to have a look at this site:

Virtual Higher Physics / Advanced Physics

This company produces intereactive software for Int1 -> Advanced Higher Physics which is very good quality.

Our school bought each pupil a copy of it for Higher / Advanced Higher. It really helps to illustrate the points.

[sparky]

Yeah we got out a copy of the Higher disc this year. It seems very good, howver I have hardly ever used it. My type of revision is the traditional old fashioned way :-

Notes
Problems
Pen, Paper, Calculator

I just am not into this idea of looking at animations for a disc, although some of them were good.

[$impl¥_®i¢h]

Same here, i got a copy of virtual higher physics, and i got access to scholar, but i cant concentrate and take things in that well while looking at a PC screen i get distracted to easily. E.g. Scholar there lots and lots of reading involved, which i find hard to keep concentration on, so i printed off the notes, and used them as a study guide. They are very good though!
I like 2 use my own revision notes and books!

[mooncd]

i got acces 2 scholar as well, was good but as you say its hard 2 concentrate with all that reading.

[andy]

Are there past papers for Adv. Physics, or any other question books?

[werlop]

There are past papers, but since you only get 3 years worth it seems hardly worth it. You could just get papers from you school instead probably.

[Jas0n]

Do you get Scholar notes atm? I think the notes aren't that good. I'm lost from Angular Acceleration and Centripedal force. Thing with scholar is that the problem examples aren't up to exam standards.

[Dave]

i haven't used the website for Physics but i have used the book a few times and thought it was pretty good however i would like another revision book that was more condensed

[Infinite_Dreams]

Do you get Scholar notes atm? I think the notes aren't that good. I'm lost from Angular Acceleration and Centripedal force. Thing with scholar is that the problem examples aren't up to exam standards.

Angular acceleration is just like normal acceleration except in a circle.

Centripetal force is derived from the fact that there is a tangential velocity, v equal to rw. Supposing this velocity changes over an angle theta (will use x for the angle). The velocity vector will point towards the center of the circle. Differentiating to get the rate of change of velocity will give the centripetal acceleration.

If change in x is small, the change in velocity = v times the change in x if x is measured in radians, since:

2pi.v.dx/2pi = vdx

Thus we get vdx/dt. dx/dt = w so the centripetal acceleration is equal to vw.

Substituting in v=rw we get a = v^2 / r = rw^2.

Since there is an acceleration, there must be a centripetal force equal to ma.

Thus:

F = (mv^2)/r = mrw^2

Hope it helps.

I've been taking notes of scholar to learn all this since I'm not being taught the subject as a course (and the subject was on my Scholar account) - I just think it'd be useful to have notes and at least some knowledge of advanced higher if I'm going to do some physics at university.

[werlop]

I did my unit 3 nab (wave phenomena) on Friday, it didn't seem too difficult.
We are about to move onto unit 1 now, we did 3 first as it is supposed to be easier.

[andy]

Failed my Unit 1 NAB

I used scholar for revision but then once I seen the NAB the questions were set at a much higher standard. Anyone got any tips for revising, resit is soon

[werlop]

Well I passed my unit 3 nab. Also managed to get full marks on the A/B level test somehow.

[Silver]

I've got my first unit NAB on Monday

I'm totally terrified about it at the moment. I won't use Scholar if the standard is so low. I have PPQs in my class stuff I guess I'll use them...

[clueless]

Hi,

I've got my physics unit 2 nab soon. I was wondering if anyone had done it. My teacher was saying it was quite hard for C level. How has everyone else found it?

[Dave]

i found the nab at unit 1 awful hard for level C but somehow the past paper questions and the A/B test a lot easier

[clueless]

I thought that to. I've tried a couple of exam questions in school and they don't seem to be at all hard like the unit 1 nab. I'm kind of worried now about the unit 2 nab.