VCE Physics

This book is (will be – it will be ready for the 2020 Australian academic year, by the latest) a reliable free textbook for students studying physics as part of the Victorian Certificate of Education. It's also a useful resource for anyone helping those students (e.g. teachers, parents), and for anyone studying physics at a similar level.

The VCE Physics curriculum is detailed in the VCE Physics Study Design. The curriculum for all VCE subjects (including physics) is administered by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).

For further information about this book, read the Foreword.

Safety First: If you carry out any experiments in relation to the VCE course, you must consider safety first. While this textbook will provide suggested experiments, and reminders about key points of safety, it is NOT intended to be a comprehensive resource in relation to carrying out experiments safely. You MUST use other resources. In deciding whether to carry out an experiment, or when carrying out an experiment, you must ensure you are supervised by someone with suitable expertise (e.g. an experienced and qualified teacher) as well as ensure you are aware of any relevant safety information from reliable sources. If you are not sure how to carry out a particular experiment safely, DO NOT DO IT.

Unit 1 : What ideas explain the physical world?

Area of Study 1 : How can thermal effects be explained?

• Temperature, and how we measure it
• Temperature, energy, heat and work
• Applying thermal physics to climate science
• An investigation related to thermal physics

Area of Study 2 : How do electric circuits work?

• Sub sections to be determined

Area of Study 3 : What is matter and how is it formed?

• Sub sections to be determined

Unit 2 : What do experiments reveal about the physical world?

Area of Study 1 : How can motion be described and explained?

• Kinematics (how things move)
• Forces
• Dynamics (how forces affect motion)
• Energy and momentum

Area of Study 2 : Options

• 2.1 : What are stars?
• 2.2 : Is there life beyond Earth’s Solar System?
• 2.3 : How do forces act on the human body?
• 2.4 : How can AC electricity charge a DC device?
• 2.5 : How do heavy things fly?
• 2.6 : How do fusion and fission compare as viable nuclear energy power sources?
• 2.7 : How is radiation used to maintain human health?
• 2.8 : How do particle accelerators work?
• 2.9 : How can human vision be enhanced?
• 2.10 : How do instruments make music?
• 2.11 : How can performance in ball sports be improved?
• 2.12 : How does the human body use electricity?

Area of Study 3 : Practical investigation

• Sub sections to be determined

Unit 3 : How do fields explain motion and electricity?

Area of Study 3 : How fast can things go?

• Newton's laws
• Circular motion
• Energy and momentum
• Special relativity

Unit 4 : How can two contradictory models explain both light and matter?

Appendices