Ireland — Physics
NCCA — National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
In Ireland, Physics is part of the Junior Cycle Science course (1st–3rd Year), then becomes a separate Leaving Certificate subject (5th–6th Year). The LC Physics syllabus is examined at Higher (H) and Ordinary (O) level across two written papers.
32 topics — click any topic for a full virtual lesson with worked examples.
1st Year · 2nd Year · 3rd Year (Junior Cert)
Junior Cycle Science — Physical World
The Physical World strand of Junior Cert Science covers forces, energy, motion, light, sound, electricity and magnetism.
Forces & Motion
- 📖→Types of forceGravity, friction, normal force, tension · Contact vs non-contact forces
- 📖→Speed, velocity & accelerationDistance-time graphs · Speed-time graphs · Equations of motion (word-level)
- 📖→Newton's Laws of Motion1st law (inertia) · 2nd law (F = ma) · 3rd law (action-reaction)
- 📖→PressureP = F/A · Pressure in fluids · Atmospheric pressure
Energy
Waves, Light & Sound
5th Year · 6th Year (Leaving Cert)
Leaving Certificate Physics
Two-year course examined on two papers. Mandatory coursework (mandatory experiments). Higher level includes extra derivations and proofs.
Mechanics
- 📖→KinematicsEquations of motion: v=u+at, s=ut+½at², v²=u²+2as · Displacement-time & velocity-time graphs · Projectile motion (HL)
- 📖→Newton's Laws & momentumNewton's 1st, 2nd, 3rd laws · Momentum p = mv · Conservation of momentum · +1 more
- 📖→Work, energy & powerW = Fs cos θ · KE = ½mv², GPE = mgh · Conservation of mechanical energy · +1 more
- 📖→Circular motion & gravitationCentripetal force F = mv²/r · Angular velocity ω = v/r · Newton's Law of Gravitation F = Gm₁m₂/r² · +1 more
- 📖→Simple harmonic motion (HL)a = -ω²x · Period of pendulum & spring · Energy in SHM
Heat & Thermodynamics
Waves
Electricity & Magnetism
- 📖→ElectrostaticsCoulomb's Law F = kq₁q₂/r² · Electric field E = F/q · Electric potential (HL)
- 📖→Current electricityOhm's Law V = IR · Series & parallel circuits · EMF & internal resistance · +1 more
- 📖→Magnetism & electromagnetismMagnetic flux density B · Force on a conductor F = BIl sin θ · Electromagnetic induction, Faraday's & Lenz's laws · +1 more
- 📖→Capacitance (HL)C = Q/V · Energy stored ½CV² · Capacitor in DC circuits
Modern Physics
- 📖→Photoelectric effectE = hf · Work function & threshold frequency · Einstein's equation: hf = φ + ½mv²
- 📖→Atomic structure & spectraRutherford & Bohr models · Emission & absorption spectra · Energy levels
- 📖→Nuclear physicsRadioactive decay (α, β, γ) · Half-life · Nuclear fission & fusion · +1 more
- 📖→Particle physics (HL)Quarks, leptons, bosons · Standard model overview · Particle interactions
- 📖→Semiconductorsp-type & n-type · p-n junction diode · LED & photovoltaic cell
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