Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
6th Year Principles of Physics: Exploring the Physical World
A comprehensive introduction to the fundamental laws governing the universe, from the mechanics of motion to the nature of light and energy. Students engage in hands-on inquiry to understand how physical principles drive modern engineering and technology.
Mechanics and the Laws of Motion
Investigation of how forces influence the movement of objects and the mathematical relationships between mass, acceleration, and gravity.
Exploring how balanced and unbalanced forces dictate the state of motion for any given object.
Analyzing the constant acceleration of gravity and its effect on objects in a vacuum versus air resistance.
Defining the relationship between force applied over a distance and the rate at which work is completed.
Waves, Sound, and Light
Study of wave phenomena including reflection, refraction, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Examining longitudinal and transverse waves and their characteristic behaviors in different media.
The study of light behavior through lenses and mirrors using ray diagrams.
Categorizing radiation by frequency and exploring the practical applications of different EM bands.
Electricity and Magnetism
Understanding charge, current, and the fundamental link between electrical circuits and magnetic fields.
Investigating the behavior of stationary charges and the forces between them.
Analyzing series and parallel circuits using Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's rules.
Exploring how electric currents create magnetic fields and how moving magnets induce current.
Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
The study of thermal energy, temperature scales, and the laws governing heat exchange.
Relating the macroscopic measurement of temperature to the microscopic motion of particles.
Analyzing conduction, convection, and radiation in various physical systems.
Introduction to energy conservation and entropy within thermal systems.
Modern Physics and Nuclear Energy
An exploration of atomic structure, radioactivity, and the basics of quantum mechanics.
Investigating the dual nature of light and the quantized energy levels of atoms.
Studying the decay of unstable nuclei and the mathematical prediction of decay rates.
Analyzing the energy released during the splitting or joining of atomic nuclei.
Particle Physics and Cosmology
Examining the fundamental building blocks of matter and the origins of the universe.
Classification of elementary particles including quarks, leptons, and bosons.
Evidence for the expansion of the universe and the cosmic microwave background.
Investigating the unknown components that influence the structure and expansion of the cosmos.