Physics Department

The Physics department has two teachers; Mr Farrell room 21 and Miss Easton room 23. Mr Hislop is the Physics technician who manages and repairs the departments equipment and gadgets.

Accommodation comprises of two laboratories with a staff base inter-linking them. In S1 and S2 an integrated Science course is offered for 4 periods per week. In S3 and S4 Standard Grade Physics course is offered for 4 periods per week. In S5 and S6 Higher Still courses at Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher are offered for 7 periods per week.

All Physics courses involve investigating phenomena in the natural world.

Standard Grade Physics has 7 units: Telecommunications, Electricity, Health Physics, Electronics, Transport, Energy and Space Physics. These include finding out about, e.g. rainbows, ultrasound images of babies in the womb, x-ray photographs of broken bones, physiotherapy heat treatment for damaged muscles, radiotherapy, satellites in space and much more. The objects around us are also investigated in order to find out how they work, e.g. tv’s, radios, electric motors, stethoscopes, electrical gadgets, house electrical wiring, crumple zones in a car.

Intermediate 2: Mechanics, Electricity & Electronics and Waves & Optoelectronics.

Higher Grade: Mechanics, Electricity & Electronics and Waves & Optoelectronics.

Advanced Higher has 3 units: Mechanics, Electric Fields & Forces and Wave Phenomena. Students also have to complete a project involving original research on a topic or area of their choice.

All courses are accompanied by end of unit assessments which are used to monitor progress through each course.

Regular homework is essential and this consolidates work completed in class.