Science
Port Hacking High School has six fully equipped laboratories to enable the delivery of Science.
Through the study of science, students investigate phenomena that occur over a range of scales, from subatomic to cosmological, from events that take place almost instantaneously to processes occurring over billions of years, form the origins of the universe to contemporary phenomena.
The study of science provides opportunities for students to develop the skills of working scientifically by engaging them in thinking critically and creatively problem-solving processes.
Stages 4 and 5 (Years 7-10)
The study of science in year 7 to 10 is compulsory and to achieve the aims of the Science syllabus each year looks at topics across the various fields of Science.
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
How scientists work Being particular Let's separate things Basic building blocks The night sky Pushes and pulls Getting a charge Groups and more groups Planet Earth |
Research techniques Microbes Ecology Heat Chemical substances Wealth from the Earth It's not easy being green The functioning human |
Cells -working for themselves and us Our active Earth Atoms and the periodic table What a reaction Electrical energy Resources - how can we use them properly Keeping it together New Generations Research techniques |
The code of life On the move Life from the past Waves-visible and invisible Maintaining the balance Nucleus-friend or foe The next frontier |
In the past four year Science results in the School Certificate have been significantly above the state average.
Stage 6 (Years 11-12)
Each year the Science Faculty offers to the incoming year 11 the following options for study in the senior school:
Biology
This course investigates how life forms started on the Earth and how Australia's unique flora and fauna came to be. There is a close examination of the ways in which our various organs function and interact together; the diseases we suffer from and also our human ancestors.
Chemistry
This course includes the study the classification, separation and properties of elements, compounds and mixtures; the periodic table; the special properties of water related to its structure and bonding; variety and use of carbon compounds as energy sources; study of energy changes in reactions and rates of reactions; the importance of fossil fuels as raw materials; oxidation and reduction reactions; uses of nuclear chemistry; pH of natural and man-made acids; and chemical monitoring of the environment.
Earth & Environmental Science
This course studies the history of the evolution of the Earth; the evolution of life through time; the local environment from the biotic and abiotic viewpoints including biodiversity; the impact of humans on the environment with special reference to the Australian environment; the role of water in the environment; evidence of the development of the Australian continent including patterns of plate movements and the natural disasters associated with plate movement.
Physics
This course involves the study of waves, their behaviour and how they can be used in communication; analysis of the factors influencing moving objects; examination of space exploration and space travel; investigation of simple electric circuits and circuit components; investigation and understanding of the development of electronic devices; and the investigation of the development of understanding of the atom.
Senior Science
This course covers topics that are relevant to today's world, with practical applications and technology. The topics in year 11 include a study of water, the human body, plants and the local environment. For the HSC year topics include a study of the chemistry of foods and everyday chemicals and how they affect the body; information systems, communication and technology; bionics and medical technology with relation to the human body.
There is an emphasis on experiments and practical work using a wide range of practical skills.
