Beaconhurst School

Senior School - Science - Physics

Staff

Mr McKenna BEng, PGCE

Iain McKenna is the Head of Science at Beaconhurst  He was educated relatively locally at Balfron High School and then went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Strathclyde University. He graduated in 1990 and shortly after that he signed the official secrets act and started working in the design office at British Aerospace Military Aircraft Division on the Typhoon project.

In 1997 he saw the light and attended Moray House in Edinburgh to complete his PGCE training to allow him to enter the privileged ranks of the teaching profession. Mr McKenna has now been at Beaconhurst for many years, and as well as teaching physics, he organises the outdoor education programme, helps with games, umpires hockey matches, and supervises the S5 enterprise class. He organises mountain biking trips to the cycling centres regularly throughout the year. His interests outside school are mountain biking, potholing, mountaineering and general adventuring.

S1-S2 Courses:

S1/S2 Physics
The main text used is “11 –14 Longmann Physics”

S1 Physics

1.0 Temperature and Expansion
1.1 Temperature and thermometers
1.2 The ‘Liquid in Glass’ thermometer
1.3 Mercury vs alcohol thermometers
1.4 The clinical thermometer
1.5 Expansion including advantages and disadvantages
1.6 Factors affecting expansion
1.7 The bi-metallic strip and its uses
1.8 Thermostats and their uses

2.0 The Transfer of Heat
2.1 Kinetic Theory
2.2 Conduction in solids, liquids and gases
2.3 Convection in solids, liquids and gases
2.4 Sea breezes
2.5 Domestic hot water
2.6 Radiation
2.7 Heat in the home
2.8 Good and poor absorbers
2.9 Good and poor emitters
2.10 Case study: the vacuum flask

3.0 Basic Electricity
3.1 Static Electricity
3.2 Charges in the atom
3.3 Moving charges
3.4 Cells and batteries
3.5 Conductors and insulators
3.6 Current and voltage
3.7 Series and parallel circuits
3.8 Resistance
3.9 Electrical components
3.10 Fuses
3.11 Plugs and safety in the home

4.0 Magnetism
4.1 The history of magnetism
4.2 Basic properties of a magnet
4.3 Making magnets
4.4 Domain Theory of magnetism
4.5 Induced magnetism
4.6 Electomagnets
4.7 Magnetic fields
 
5.0 Forces and Energy
5.1 Revision of forces
5.2 Effects of forces
5.3 Measurement and units associated with forces
5.4 Newton meters
5.5 Newton’s Laws
5.6 Newton II: F=ma
5.7 Turning Forces
5.8 The law of levers
5.9 Centre of gravity and stability
5.10 Force speed and acceleration – ticker timers

S2 Physics

1.0 Estimating and Measuring
1.1 SI Units
1.2 Meters
1.3 Area and Volume
1.4 Letting go of non standard units.

2.0 Density
2.1 Weight and mass
2.2 Units
2.3 Volume of a solid/liquid/gas
2.4 Density formula
2.5 Density of a regular solid
2.6 Density of an irregular solid
2.7 Density of a liquid
2.8 Density of a gas
2.9 Floating and sinking
2.10 Upthrust and Archimedes Law
2.11 Hydrometers
2.12 Submarines / Airships

3.0 Forces
3.1 Definitions of a force
3.2 Forces, energy (work) and power
3.3 Calculations
3.4 Using Forces
3.5 Lever Law, Pulleys
3.6 Newton’s Laws
3.7 Speed, velocity, acceleration
3.8 Pressure
3.9 Pressure in liquids and gases
3.10 Atmospheric pressure
3.11 Hydraulics and pneumatics

4.0 Energy
4.1 Introducing Energy
4.2 Types of Energy
4.3 Energy changes
4.4 Energy converters
4.5 Saving Energy
4.6 The law of conservation of energy
4.7 Measuring Energy
4.8 Energy from the Sun

5.0 Waves
5.1 Definitions of waves
5.2 Types of wave
5.3 Reflection
5.4 Refraction
5.5 Diffraction
5.6 Interference
5.7 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
5.8 Speed of Light
5.9 Making light waves work
5.10 The wave equation
5.11 Wave calculations
5.12 Sound waves
5.13 Sound in a vacuum
5.14 Speed of sound
5.15 Loudness
5.16 The Doppler Effect

S3-S6 Courses:

Standard Grade Physics is organised into the topics below

1. Telecommunications

2. Using Electricity
3. Health Physics

4. Electronics

5. Transport

6. Energy Matters

7. Space Physics

( Details are found in the S.E.B. Arrangements Document )

Higher Physics

This comprises three Units, each subdivided into sections as shown:

1. Mechanics and Properties of Matter:

  • Kinematics
  • Dynamics
  • Properties of Matter

2. Electricity and Electronics:

  • Resistors in Circuits
  • Alternating Current and Voltage
  • Capacitance
  • Analogue Electronics

3. Radiation and  Matter:

  • Waves and Light
  • Optoelectronics
  • Radiation

There are also Additional Learning Outcomes on Units , Prefixes and Scientific Notation and Errors and Uncertainties.

( More details are to be found in the S.E.B. Arrangements Document )

Advanced Higher Physics :

This is divided into the following four Units:

1. Mechanics (40 hr)
2. Electrical Phenomena (40 hr)
3. Wave Phenomena (20 hr)
4. Physics Investigation (20 hr)

Further details can be found in the Higher Still Arrangements Document produced by the S.Q.A.