Programme Junior School Intermediate School Senior School Subjects Art Classical Studies Business Studies C.S.P.E EFL Lessons English Geography History Home Economics Mathematics Modern Languages Music Physical Education Science Biology Ecology Trip Chemistry Physics Young Scientist Technical Graphics Transition Year Senior Sports Guidance Learning Resource Library        Search Site Map        Academics / Science Physics          Physics can be chosen as a Transition Year Science subject and also in Fifth Year as a Leaving Certificate Science subject. Students follow a two year programme to Leaving Certificate. It is useful but not essential to have followed the Transition Year Physics programme. Physics is a very useful subject to have taken for Leaving Certificate for 3rd Level degree courses in Science particularly for Engineering and Computer Science Degree courses. Raymond Russell Teacher of Physics          Transition Year Cycle Curriculum Rationale The physics transition year programme is a link between the Junior Cert science programme and the Leaving Cert Physics programme. It introduces students to the world of physics and aims to interest them in proceeding with further studies in physics or the technical areas of engineering. Vision Aims The topics covered during transition year aim: To reinforce and give greater understanding of some important principals in physics and to provide background material for the Leaving Certificate physics course | To encourage students to work as part of a team. Students will be encouraged to carry out scientific investigations aimed at encouraging the development of the skills and abilities that scientists use to solve real-life problems. | To introduce the student to a new range of experiences beyond the scope of the traditional curriculum | To enable students to develop positive attitudes towards science | To devise and alter our own modules to the interests and ability of each group. Curriculum Content ELECTRONICS Circuits and their components – how resistors, diodes capacitors are used in electronic circuits | Simple electronic circuits - Workshops on how to create simple electronic circuits | The following circuits will be created - Series and Parallel Circuits Circuit with two-way switch | Water detector - Water level detector using a transistor Light dependent circuit | Heat dependent circuit - Examination of the application of integrated circuits in technology: Ipods, mobile phones, computers and radios. | Design/building project – Simple radio receiver ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM •Electromagnets and their uses •Electric motors •Electric meters – creating a moving coil galvanometer •Generators – Electromagnetic induction / Faradays law •Design/building project to make simple generator MECHANICS •SI units •Newton’s laws of motion – looking at mass and inertia. •Acceleration due to gravity •The effect of force and mass on acceleration and terminal velocity in falling objects •Momentum – looking at how momentum is conserved in explosions and sport and momentum •Circular motion – investigation of centripetal force in fair ground attractions •Kinetic energy and potential energy - looking at kinetic and potential energy in relation to driving and car safety Approaches And Methodologies A wide range of teaching approaches are used to teach the transition year curriculum from the use of power point presentations to data logging, practical teacher demonstrations, student experiments, note giving, problem solving and using ICT simulations. Particular emphasis is laid on the everyday applications of science in the student’s life and environment and appropriate reference is made to the work of prominent scientists and to the modern scientific developments. These represent the points of transition from school based learning to general experience in the real world. As the practical element forms a large part of the course, students are encouraged to think and learn for themselves. This leads to a clearer understanding of the facts or underlying principle Cross-Curricular Links •Applied math’s •Junior Cert Science •Leaving cert physics and chemistry •Technical graphics Homework •To assess daily class work homework is assigned at the conclusion of each lesson. •Homework is in the form assignments, problem solving, completion of worksheets or completion of an account of an experiment. •A homework journal allows teachers and parents to communicate regarding their work. Resources •ICT – Graphing calculators •Apparatus for demonstrations and experiments •Internet – Youtube, examinations.ie •Interactive Whiteboard ICT The use of ICT is encouraged in the teaching of physics. The use of ICT tools provides a much more hands on experience for the students and helps bring science into the real world in a way that was not possible before. The equipment is easy to use and provides fast results often in the form of graphs, which are easy for the students to read. A big area is the use of data logging equipment, which can be used to facilitate the teaching of a range of topics, for example •The use of motion detectors in the teaching of mechanics. •The use of temperature probes in the teaching of thermodynamics. Other ICT tool used to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom are PowerPoint presentations CD – ROMs and Internet applets. Planning And Reporting Schemes of work renewed annually. Class plans are completed on a monthly basis to follow scheme of work. Reports sent out monthly and exam reports after Christmas and summer exams. Parental Involvement/ Home-School Links •Regular Parent / Teacher meetings •Parents contacted with any concerns Senior Cycle Curriculum Physics is the study of the Laws of the Physical World Rationale This course links with the Junior Certificate Course and the Transition year Programme Vision And Aims Principles of physics and their application to everyday life and technology • to develop an appreciation of physics as a human endeavour, thereby enriching the students’ experience of life • to provide a reasonably broad perspective of physics, thus developing an understanding of the physical environment and of how human beings interact with it • to provide a general education in physics for all students, whether or not they proceed to further studies in physics • to develop the ability to observe, to think logically, and to communicate effectively • to develop an understanding of the scientific method • to develop an appreciation of physics as a creative activity, using informed intuition and imagination to create an understanding of the beauty, simplicity and symmetry in nature. Curriculum Content Motion, Newton’s laws, waves, light, sound, electricity and magnetism, atomic physics, nuclear and particle physics Approaches And Methodologies Practical teacher demonstrations, student experiments, note giving, problem solving Simulations using ICT Cross Curricular Links Overlap with Applied Maths course (motion and Newton’s laws) and Chemistry (atomic and nuclear), biology, maths Homework Practical reports on experiments, solving problems from textbook Resources Apparatus for demonstrations and experiments Student textbook: Real World Physics by Dan O’Regan ICT Computer Applets Department of Education Syallabus for Physics (DOE Website June 09) DOE Syllabus - Leaving Certificate Curriculum Syllabus - Pdf Doc        "One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have." Albert Einstein        All content © 2009 Sutton Park School tel: +353 (0)1 839 9400 For more information on how to contact Sutton Park School, click here. All rights reserved.