PHYSICS - FIRST LESSON

1. PHYSICS - FIRST LESSON For 3D (Pure Physics)

2. Overview Part 1 • O Level Physics Topics • Assessment Weightage • O Level Examination Format • Admin for Practical Lessons • What is SPA? • Homework Policy • Physics Rep Part 2 • How to Study For Physics • 5059 Syllabus • How Physics will be tested • Implication • Final thoughts

3. PART 1 – ADMIN INFO

4. O Level Physics Topics • Sec 3 • Light / EM Spectrum (7 weeks) • Measurement (2 weeks) • Mechanics (11 weeks) • Thermal Physics (8 weeks) • Sec 4 • Waves (2 weeks) • Electricity (10 weeks) • Electromagnetism (4 weeks)

5. Phs Assessment weightage

6. CA weightage for physics CA1 CA2

7. O level exam format (Syllabus 5059) Note: Paper 2 will have both compulsory as well as choice questions (3 choose 2)

8. Requirements for physics lessons • You will need to prepare and maintain 2 files: • Dark Blue File – SPA (Practical) • Black File – Worksheets / Assignments / Tests • I will email you my slides AFTER the topic is taught • Textbook is not necessary for my Physics class • You will need to buy a Topical Ten Year Series (TYS) • Recommended but NOT COMPULSORY for you to have a Physics notebook. • Notebook is for writing things which I say during class but is not in my slides, or for writing questions/thoughts

9. Practical lessons • Please bring the following for all Physics practical lessons (may want to put in a bag): • Scientific Calculator (model approved by MOE) • Graph Paper • 30 cm Plastic Ruler • Protractor • Writing Materials (i.e. pens, pencils& eraser) • Do NOT need to bring • French Curve / Flexible Rule • Compass

10. Practical lessons • If you fail to bring the required materials for science practical • First time – allow you to borrow from friend • Second time onwards – Stand outside the lab and observe the class from there. You may or may not have opportunity to re-do the practical. • Reason for discipline • Inculcate the virtue being responsible for your own learning • Not to affect your friends’ learning due to your own irresponsibility • You will need to bring materials for your actual O level SPA assessment. • For the actual assessment, you will NOT be allowed to borrow from your friend • Develop the good habit of bringing correct materials for prac lessons

11. What exactly is spa (School based practical assessment)? • It is part of your O levels, but will be examined during the school term instead of at the end of 2014. • There will be a total of 3 SPA assessments, 2 lab-based and 1 classroom based. • All 3 assessments will be done in Sec 4. • We will be training you for the lab-based SPA during your regular practical lessons. • Refer to the SPA Generic Mark Scheme for some general information on how SPA is scored.

12. Homework policy – COPYING & Plagiarism • You should have realized that all HW is not part of your CA grade (except for ICT day HW) • Please do NOT copy • Copying HW only prevents me from helping you • Copying is also a matter of integrity • Copying is deceit – trying to gain credit from a piece of work which you did not do • For projects – please acknowledge your research resources (including images) • Acknowledging is giving people recognition and credit for the work that they have done • Failing to acknowledge is known as plagiarism, and is also deceit.

13. Homework policy – late work • If you are absent from school during HW submission deadline, please submit to me in class (or in place in my cubicle) the next day you are in school. • If you are unable to submit HW due to any other reason, you are to write a short note on a piece of paper, saying: • An apology for not being able to submit piece of work • Explain reason for not submitting piece of work • Propose to me a date by which you will turn in the work to me • Give this short note to the Physics rep when he/she is collecting the homework

14. Responsibilities of Physics rep • Assist to collect HW on due date and pass it to be either during lesson, or put in my cubicle by 5 pm (Lvl 2 science staffroom, top right corner) • Add a slip of paper indicating who hasn’t handed in HW, and if that person is absent from school • Physics rep is NOT REPONSIBLE for chasing people to hand in HW, but remind classmate to write apology note if they cannot hand in on time • At times, I may go through Physics rep to make announcements to the class • Physics rep to help collect or give out materials during Physics lesson

15. Choosing a Physics rep • The Physics rep MUST volunteer himself / herself; I will NOT assign a Physics rep • Reason • A Physics rep is a servant leader – you lead your class by serving your class • You can only be a servant leader if you are willing and happy to serve • If you are forced to serve, it cannot be called service • If nobody volunteers today, I will ask again next lesson and every lesson until someone volunteers. • In the meantime we will have temporary Physics rep by register number (starting from the back)

16. First task for physics rep

17. PART 2 – HOW TO STUDY FOR PHYSICS? Mr Wong’s method of

18. How to study for physics • Before the lesson – no need to prepare. • During the lesson – pay attention and participate, take notes. • After the lesson (do in order) • Do any assigned homework • If you are stuck, consult textbook. • If still stuck, ask your friends to teach you. • If ALL your friends dunno how to do, please inform me in class • Read the textbook • Check to see if the textbook agrees with what I’ve taught you • Create your own revision sheet • Do practice questions in TYS

19. 5059 Physics syllabus • Question – Where can I find the Physics syllabus? • Download the 5059 syllabus from SEAB.gov.sg • Especially important if you are having outside tuition • Note: for your class, I will often talk about interesting things which are outside the syllabus. I will let you know when that happens. Please ask me if you are unsure whether in syllabus or not (or download and check yourself)

20. How physics (theory) will be tested • Approximately: • 10% Definitions • Sheer Memorization • 30% Simple Factual Recall • Understand and recall Physics concepts or formulae • 50% Higher Order Application • Applying Physics concepts into complex questions • 10% Critical Analysis of Data • Requires you to think critically on the spot, likely to be situation never practiced before. Some luck required.

21. implication • Sheer memorization alone will not help you to pass Physics! • You need a deep understanding of Physics concepts – such that you can apply Physics concepts in questions you have not seen before. • How to get deep understanding of Physics? • Most important is to pay attention in class; it is harder to get deep understanding when you self study • Need to practice difficult questions to test whether your understanding is deep or shallow; not enough just to read textbook or notes

22. Finally • I am here to help you • When you think need help, please come talk to me (or leave a note in my cubicle) • There is no shame in admitting you need help. • Situations where you think you need help: • When everybody else in class appears to understand but I cannot understand • When I have difficulty disciplining myself to do homework • When I am too busy with other commitments and is unable to keep up with the pace of lessons • Please do NOT wait until Common Tests / Exams before you approach me for help. I will actually have less time to help you closer to Common Tests / Exams.