Physics-Related NCEA Science Achievement Standards

Many of the demonstrations on this web site support physics-related New Zealand NCEA Achievement Standards for science. The supported Achievement Standards are listed in this column, and notes about how particular demos support NCEA Achievement Standards are included in the discussions of many of the demonstration. Some demonstrations also support the Junior Science Curriculum. These are labeled with JNR SCI instead of or in addition to the NCEA Achievement Standards for Science.

NCEA on the NZQA Web Site

 

Science 1.1 AS90940
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of mechanics

Science 1.2 AS90941
Investigate implications of electricity and magnetism for everyday life

Science 1.3 AS90942
Investigate implications of wave behaviour for everyday life

Science 1.4 AS90943
Investigate implications of heat for everyday life

Physics 1.1 AS90935
Carry out a practical physics investigation that leads to a linear mathematical relationship, with direction

Physics 1.2 AS90936
Demonstrate understanding of the physics of an application

Physics 1.3 AS90937
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of electricity and magnetism

Physics 1.4 AS90938
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of wave behaviour

Physics 1.5 AS90939
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of heat

 

Science 2.9 AS90768

Use physics concepts and principles to describe the behaviour of light:

• the way light travels in straight lines
• reflection from plane and spherical mirrors
• refraction, where one medium is air, at straight boundaries and spherical lenses
• total internal reflection
• critical angle (qualitative)
• visible spectrum as part of electromagnetic radiation, speed = frequency x wavelength
• refraction of light through a prism to form a spectrum
• absorption, reflection, and transmission of colour
• primary colours and colour mixing.

Contexts could include mirrors, cameras, microscopes, optical glasses, binoculars, telescopes, and the eye.

 

Science 3.4 AS90764

Describe the nature and life cycle of stars

• The nature of stars includes types of stars and their characteristics.
• Characteristics of star types refers to colour, temperature, size, mass, luminosity, spectral type and the relationships between the characteristics as shown by the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
• Life cycle of stars will be based on the currently accepted scientific theories on life cycles and formation of stars.

 

Science 3.6 AS90732

Describe selected properties and applications of EMR, radioactive decay, sound and ultrasound

• Properties will be selected from
• for EMR: wave propagation, wave type, wavelength, frequency, period, wave velocity, amplitude, two point source interference, reflection, refraction, diffraction, EMR spectrum, absorption
• for radioactive decay: alpha and beta particles, gamma rays, conservation of atomic and mass number in alpha, beta and gamma decay, half life, isotopes, ionisation, penetration
• for sound and ultrasound: wave propagation, wave type, wavelength, frequency, period, wave velocity in different media, amplitude, pitch, loudness, reflection, diffraction, transmission, absorption.
  
• Examples of applications could include:
• for EMR: shadows and eclipses; radio wave transmission; radio receivers; microwave oven; optical, radio and infrared telescopes; photographic imaging in different parts of the spectrum; medical diagnosis and treatment; radar; speed guns
• for radioactive decay: Geiger counters, radiometric dating, irradiation of food, sterilisation, medical diagnosis and treatment, smoke detectors, density and thickness measurements
• for sound and ultrasound: acoustics, ultrasound scanning, Doppler effect, animal communication.