WACE ATAR Physics case studies
WACE ATAR Physics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Physics ATAR (also called WACE Physics) is a Western Australian senior-secondary course in the Years 11 and 12 curriculum administered by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). It sits within the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) framework, which governs senior-secondary study, assessment, moderation and certification of student achievement in Western Australia. The WACE ATAR Physics case studies are 5 cases and about 3,014 words.
1Trolley on a Compressed Spring: Energy Bookkeeping
A 0.60 kg dynamics trolley sits against a compressed spring of spring constant 240 N/m, held so the spring is compressed by 0.080 m. The trolley is released on a horizontal track.
702 words, about 4 min2Diffraction Grating: Choosing the Right Measurement
A student uses a diffraction grating labelled '300 lines per mm' with a red laser of wavelength 632.8 nm. A screen is placed 1.20 m from the grating.
560 words, about 3 min3Satellite Orbit: What the Data Actually Show
A small satellite of mass 420 kg is in a circular orbit at an altitude of 550 km above Earth's surface. Earth's radius is 6.37 × 10⁶ m and its mass is 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg.
571 words, about 3 min4Heating a Block: Specific Heat and Energy Transfer
A 2.0 kg aluminium block is heated by an electric heater rated at 48 W. The block's temperature rises from 20.0 °C to 45.0 °C in 12.0 minutes.
609 words, about 3 min5Interpreting a Velocity–Time Graph with a Changing Force
A 0.50 kg model car moves along a straight track. Its velocity–time graph is described in words: from t = 0 to 2.0 s the velocity rises steadily from 0 to 3.0 m/s; from 2.0 s to 5.0 s it stays at 3.0 m/s; from 5.0 s to 6.0 s it falls steadily to 0.
572 words, about 3 min