2PHY

NCEA Level 2 Physics

Although next year's timetables have yet to be finalised, course selection has now finished. Please contact Ms Saunders if you wish to make changes to your 2025 selections.

Course Description

Teacher in Charge: Ms H. Dixon.

This course builds upon Physics studied in Level 1 Science. It extends your fundamental knowledge further, looking at two-dimensional applications, modern physics (non-newtonian), and waves.

It's an exciting course as the students start to realise the knowledge and skills gained have direct applications to their current lives and gain an in-site as to the possibilities available worldwide based upon this foundation course.

The course is essential for a variety of vocational pathways, especially for those seeking to continue with a variety of courses at University or entering the more technical trades.



Why study physics?

Physics lies at the heart of the natural sciences

Almost any scientific problem can be approached using the ideas and methods of physics.

Physics explains how the world works

Physics helps us understand why things in the natural world happen the way they do. It enables us to explain, for example, how buildings move in an earthquake, why a car takes as long as it does to come to a stop when the brakes are applied, why the sky is blue and grass green, and why the supports of a bridge have to be of certain dimensions.

Physicists – and students studying physics – are able to use their understanding to predict how an object will behave under particular conditions, improve the functioning of everyday objects, and envisage totally new developments.

Physics is useful and exciting

The knowledge and processes used by physics have produced new and exciting technologies that are in everyday use. Almost any example of modern technology has its origins in mechanics, optics, electronics, thermodynamics, nuclear physics, or some other branch of physics. Physicists are challenged to discover how nature works; along the way, they get to know the excitement of explaining, seeing, or doing something that no one has understood or done before.

Learning in physics opens up career opportunities

Learning in physics will come in useful no matter what you go on to do. Employers value the kinds of skills that studying physics develops: the ability to grasp things quickly, focused solution finding, plus problem-solving, analytical, mathematical, and IT skills.

People with a background in physics are found in all these areas and more: telecommunications, space, medicine, finance, law, music, television, environment, architecture, civil engineering, sports, gaming, energy, and education.

Pathway

Career Pathways

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

Total Credits Available: 20
Internal Assessed Credits: 10
External Assessed Credits: 10
Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91168 v2
NZQA Info

Physics 2.1 - Carry out a practical physics investigation that leads to a non-linear mathematical relationship


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91169 v2
NZQA Info

Physics 2.2 - Demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91170 v2
NZQA Info

Physics 2.3 - Demonstrate understanding of waves


Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91171 v2
NZQA Info

Physics 2.4 - Demonstrate understanding of mechanics


Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 6
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91172 v2
NZQA Info

Physics 2.5 - Demonstrate understanding of atomic and nuclear physics


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 20
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Total Numeracy Credits: 0