HSC Physics
All courses are NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Stage 6 courses.
Learning and memorising the syllabus points is not going to sufficiently prepare a student for the HSC. The videos, lessons, questions and tutorials in the Radcliffe Academy program have been designed to deliver a deeper understanding of the physical concepts.
The goal is for students to obtain a more intuitive understanding and hopefully an appreciation for the underlying nature of our wonderful universe.
Year 11 Physics
This course provides the building blocks for all things physics. The importance of this foundational work is often undervalued.
Prior Knowledge Expected
- Numbers expressed in scientific notation
- The concept of speed as it relates to distance and time
- Rules around rounding numbers
Course Calendar
2025 Term 4
- Module 1
2026 Term 1
- Module 2
- Module 3
2026 Term 2
- Module 3
- Module 4
2026 Term 3
- Module 4
Module 1: Kinematics
- A quick overview of how we represent numbers in terms of significant figures
- Distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
- Introduction to vectors
- Graphing displacement and velocity with respect to time
- SUVAT equations
- Rectilinear motion
Module 3: Waves and Thermodynamics
- Longitudinal and transverse waves
- Simple harmonic motion and the unit circle
- Graphing wave motion
- Superposition and standing waves
- Beats and the doppler effect
- Ray model for light
- Geometric optics of reflection
- Geometric optics of refraction, intensity
- Thermodynamical equilibrium and temperature
- Specific heat
- The flow of heat
Module 2: Dynamics
- Force
- Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Normal force, tension
- Friction, motion on an inclined plane
- Energy and work
- Mechanical energy and power
- Momentum and impulse
- Vectors in a plane
Module 4: Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric charge
- Field lines
- Work, potential energy and voltage
- Electric currents
- Electric circuits
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetism
Year 12 Physics
This course builds on the Year 11 content to delve deep into the wonders of our Universe. NESA have created a wonderful curriculum which we will cover in great depth.
Prior Knowledge Expected
- Year 11 Physics
- Year 11 Mathematics (Advanced)
Course Calendar
2025 Term 4
- Module 5
- Module 6
2026 Term 1
- Module 6
- Module 7
2026 Term 2
- Module 7
- Module 8
2026 Term 3
- Module 8
Module 5: Advanced Mechanics
- Projectile motion
- Circular motion
- Banked curve, torque, energy
- Gravitation
- Gravitational fields
Module 7: The Nature of Light
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Spectroscopy and Astrophysics
- Maxwell
- Wave model of EMR
- Quantum model of EMR
- Special relativity
Module 6: Electromagnetism
- Charged particles in electric and magnetic fields
- The motor effect
- Induction
- Transformers
- Generators
- Motors
- Applications
Module 8: From the Universe to the Atom
- The birth of Quantum Theory
- Cosmology and Astrophysics
- Atomic structure
- Quantum nature
- Radioactive decay
- Nuclear fusion
- Standard Model
How to join
Radcliffe Academy is currently enrolling students who will be in Year 11 or Year 12 in 2026.
Please click the button below to enquire about enrolling your student in a course.
Radcliffe Academy of Maths and Physics 