Materials and Mechanics
Year 10
Subject Information
Materials and Mechanics is an option Science subject in the second semester of Year 10. Students must study 1 science in each semester of year 10 and may wish to study up to 4 semesters of science in total.
Level 5 or better in Year 9 Science with a Level 4 in Criteria A “Knowing and Understanding”. Entry into this course without achieving this grade will only occur by way of teacher recommendation.
Subject Description
Materials and Mechanics is a second semester science subject that focusses on the Chemistry and Physics specialisations of the Year 10 curriculum while preparing students with introductory knowledge from both the Stage 1 Chemistry and Physics curriculum. Students who wish to study SACE Stage 1 Chemistry and/or Physics must study this subject at Year 10. Students will study the use of chemistry in the industrial world, explaining how chemical reactions are used to produce particular products and how different factors influence the rate of reactions. Students learn about how energy conservation in a system can be explained by describing energy transfers and transformations and explore the universe including galaxies, stars and solar systems, and how the Big Bang theory can be used to explain the origin of the universe.
Chemistry Topics
Investigate how chemistry can be used to produce a range of useful substances such as fuels, metals and pharmaceuticals
Predict the products of different types of simple chemical reactions
Using word or symbol equations to represent balanced chemical reactions
Investigate the effect of a range of factors, such as temperature and catalysts, on the rate of chemical reactions
Physics Topics
The Law of Conservation of Energy, energy transfers and transformations and the determination of energy efficiency
Comparing energy changes in interactions such as car crashes, pendulums, lifting and dropping
Modelling how energy is transferred and transformed within systems
Identifying the evidence supporting the Big Bang theory, such as Edwin Hubble’s observations and the detection of the cosmic microwave background radiation
Exploring the evolution of the universe, including the formation of galaxies and stars
Introduction to Senior Science
SI Units
Science Inquiry Skills
Mathematical representation of Science
Deconstruction of scientific problems
Trends in the periodic table of elements
Atomic Structure
Course Fees
All students are encouraged to participate in a number of Science competitions, (approximately $8.00 each)
Additional Costs
Nil.
Criterion A:
Knowing & Understanding
Criterion C:
Processing and Evaluating
Criterion B:
Inquiring & Designing
Criterion D:
Reflecting on the impacts of Science
Learning Area Map
