2026
Science Inquiry Skills
Building upon the scientific method covered in lower school, ATAR Physics has a focus on evaluating uncertainty and using graphical analysis to support or confirm theoretical relationships.
- SIS 1 Rearranging Equations
- SIS 2 Scientific Notation and Units
- SIS 3 Uncertainty of Measurements
- SIS 4 Uncertainty of Calculated Values
- SIS 5 Graphing with Uncertainty
Unit 3
Gravity and Relativity
Students extend their understanding of motion by applying Newton’s laws and gravitational field models to analyse projectile and circular motion. They investigate contexts such as satellites, navigation, and sports science to explore theories of gravity and relativity.
*2.4 Relativistic Energy and Momentum is technically in Unit 4 of the syllabus, under particle accelerators. I have chosen to cover all relativistic effects together, which can be applied, when relevant, to remaining topics in the course. For example, understanding energy-mass equivalence benefits general relativity.
Unit 4
Electromagnetism and Modern Physics
Students explore electromagnetic interactions to understand the operation of motors, generators, transformers, and power systems, as well as the production of electromagnetic waves. They investigate how unexplained observations of light and matter led to quantum theory, applying concepts such as black body radiation, wave–particle duality, and atomic structure to phenomena like spectra, the photoelectric effect, and lasers.
I’m hard at work updating content to match the new syllabus for 2026, expected to be done with Unit 4 midway through Term 1. The chapter list below can assist teachers with their programming. This is a draft outline and is subject to change.
Any one who has access to our Physics Unit 3 and 4 content will see the revised content appear here as it becomes available. I’m keeping outdated 2025 content up until a replacement chapter for 2026 is ready.
Damien Patterson.
3. Electromagnetism
3.1 Electric Fields and Forces
3.2 Work and Energy in Electric Fields
3.3 Magnetic Fields
3.4 Magnetic Forces on Moving Charges
3.5 Particle Accelerators
3.6 Electric Motors
3.7 Electromagnetic Induction
3.8 Generators
3.9 Transformers and Power Distribution
3.10 Further Applications of Induction
4. Wave-Particle Duality
4.1 A Wave Model of Light
4.2 Black Body Spectra and the Quantization of Light Energy
4.3 Photoelectric Effect
4.4 Bohr’s Model and Spectral Lines
4.5 Applications of Atomic Energy Levels
4.6 Matter Waves
6. Cosmology
6.1 Hubble’s Law
6.2 Big Bang Theory
2025
This content is now outdated. Although most chapters are still relevant, apart from the Standard Model.
Building upon the scientific method covered in lower school, ATAR Physics has a focus on evaluating uncertainty and using graphical analysis to support or confirm theoretical relationships.
- SIS 1 Rearranging Equations
- SIS 2 Scientific Notation and Units
- SIS 3 Uncertainty of Measurements
- SIS 4 Uncertainty of Calculated Values
- SIS 5 Graphing with Uncertainty
Unit 3
Gravity and Electromagnetism
In this unit the current understanding of field theories for gravity and electromagnetism are studied. This includes using force lines to represent vector fields as well as applying calculations and theoretical concepts to the interaction of these fields in two and three dimensional space.
Unit 4
Revolutions in Modern Physics
In this unit the shortcomings of previous theories and models are used as a stepping stone to leap into modern views of the atom, light, space and time. This unit also looks deep into the past, at the early formation of the Universe and how modern technology allows us to gather evidence of what transpired billions of years ago.