QCAA Physics case studies
QCAA Physics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Physics General is a Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA) senior syllabus for students in Years 11–12 working towards the Queensland Certificate of Education, with results contributing to tertiary entrance rankings. The current syllabus is Physics General senior syllabus 2025 v1.3, for implementation with students who will complete their study of the course in 2026 or beyond. Assessment combines school-based internal assessment with external assessment. Published past papers show the external assessment has two papers: Paper 1, which includes a multiple choice question book plus a question and response book, and Paper 2, a question and response book. The QCAA Physics case studies are 4 cases and about 1,694 words.
1Tension in a Rotating Horizontal String
A 0.60 kg mass is tied to a 0.90 m string and swung in a horizontal circle on a frictionless table, so the string stays horizontal. A student measures the period as 0.75 s using a stopwatch over 10 revolutions.
411 words, about 2 min2Interpreting a Projectile Data Set with Air Resistance
Students fire a ball horizontally from a 1.20 m bench and record horizontal range for five launch speeds. Their data: at 4.0 m/s range 1.98 m; 6.0 m/s range 2.95 m; 8.0 m/s range 3.86 m; 10.0 m/s range 4.70 m; 12.0 m/s range 5.45 m.
429 words, about 2 min3Designing a Fair Test for Pendulum Period
A student investigates whether pendulum period depends on amplitude. They have a 1.00 m string, brass and plastic bobs of similar size but different mass, a protractor, a stopwatch, and a retort stand.
411 words, about 2 min4Evaluating a Secondary-Source Claim on Solar Panels
A student researches whether rooftop solar panels reduce household carbon emissions. They find a blog stating 'solar panels produce zero emissions, so any installation is a net win.' They also find a manufacturer datasheet giving panel embodied energy as 1.2 MWh per kW of capacity and a government report giving grid emission factor 0.79 kg CO₂ per kWh.
443 words, about 2 min