This document outlines the internal and external assessments for NCEA Level 2 Physics. It provides details on 3 internal achievement standards related to practical investigations, physics concepts, and nuclear/atomic physics. It also provides details on 3 external achievement standards related to waves, mechanics, and electricity/electromagnetism. For each standard, it lists the topics covered in the assessments and describes the requirements for demonstrating understanding.

1. NCEA LEVEL 2
PHYSICS
Outline for Internal and External
Assessments

2. NCEA LEVEL 2 - PHYSICS
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Level 2 Achievement Standards Credits Assessment
91168 Carry out a practical investigation that leads to a
non-linear mathematical relationship
4 Internal
91169 Demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to
a selected context
3 Internal
91172 Demonstrate understanding of nuclear and atomic
physics
3 Internal

3. 91168
Carry Out a Practical Investigation that Leads to a Non-linear
Mathematical Relationship
This achievement standard is aligned to the achievement objectives physical inquiry and physics concepts in the physical
world strand and investigating in science in the nature of science strand.
• Carry out a practical physics investigation involves:
-collecting data relevant to the aim based on the manipulation of the independent variable over a reasonable range and
number of values
-drawing a graph that shows the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
-writing a conclusion which describes the type of mathematical relationship that exists between the variables.
• Carry out an in-depth practical physics investigation involves:
-controlling the variable(s) that could have a significant effect on the results
-using technique(s) that increase the accuracy of the measured values of the dependent (and independent, if appropriate)
variable
-writing a conclusion that describes the mathematical relationship obtained from the experimental data.

4. • Carry out a comprehensive practical physics investigation involves writing a discussion that addresses critical issues
such as:
-a reason why there is a limit to either end of the value chosen for the independent variable
-a justification for why a variable needs to be controlled
-a description of any difficulties encountered when making measurements and how these difficulties were overcome
-the relationship between the findings and physics ideas
-a description of any unexpected results and a suggestion of how they could have been caused and/or the effect they had
on the validity of the conclusion.
• A practical physics investigation is an activity that includes gathering, processing and interpreting data.
• Conditions of assessment related to this achievement standard can be found at
91168
Carry Out a Practical Investigation that Leads to a Non-linear
Mathematical Relationship

5. 91169
Demonstrate Understanding of Physics Relevant to a Selected Context
• This assessment is a directed research assignment – students perform research and prepare a report.
• Students do their own research and write their reports individually. It is suggested that they be given a week time
for the research.
• Confirm the format of the report with students. it could be, but is not limited to:
• Written report (including illustrations, diagrams and graphs, if appropriate)
• Poster presentation (including annotations or supporting notes)
• Oral presentation (with written references)
• Project booklet
• Multi-media (for example, a recorded video presentation or web page with embedded video, graphics, and text)
• Computer presentation software file.
• All sources of information, images, diagrams, and data must be acknowledged and referenced in a format that
enables them to be easily traced.

6. 91172
Demonstrate Understanding of Nuclear and Atomic Physics
• This achievement standard is aligned to the achievement objectives physical inquiry and physics concepts in the
physical world strand and communicating in science in the nature of science strand.
• Demonstrate understanding involves writing statements that show an awareness of how simple facets of phenomena,
concepts or principles relate to a described situation.
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding involves writing statements that give reasons why phenomena, concepts or
principles relate to a described situation. for mathematical solutions, the information may not be directly usable or
immediately obvious.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding involves writing statements that demonstrate understanding of connections
between concepts.
• Written statements include mathematical solutions and/or descriptions. Descriptions may include graphs or diagrams.

7. Assessment typically includes:
-Models of the atom (Thomson and Rutherford), gold foil experiment
-nuclear transformations: radioactive decay (half life), fission and fusion reactions
-conservation of atomic and mass number
-products of nuclear transformation: power generation, E = mc2, P = E/t,
-properties of nuclear emissions (ionising ability, penetration ability).
• Conditions of assessment related to this achievement standard can be found at
91172
Demonstrate Understanding Of Nuclear and Atomic Physics

8. NCEA LEVEL 2 – PHYSICS
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Level 2 Achievement Standards Credits Assessment
91170 Demonstrate understanding of waves 4 External
91171 Demonstrate understanding of mechanics 6 External
91173 Demonstrate understanding of electricity and
electromagnetism
6 External

9. NCEA LEVEL 2 – PHYSICS - EXTERNALASSESSMENT
91170 – 91171 - 91173
• This achievement standard is derived from the New Zealand curriculum, learning media, ministry of education, 2007,
level 7; and is related to the material in the teaching and learning guide for physics, ministry of education, 2010 at
the standard is aligned to the achievement objectives physical inquiry and physics
concepts in the physical world strand and communicating in science in the nature of science strand.
• Demonstrate understanding involves writing statements that show an awareness of how simple facets of phenomena,
concepts or principles relate to a described situation.
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding involves writing statements that give reasons why phenomena, concepts or
principles relate to a described situation. For mathematical solutions, the information may not be directly usable or
immediately obvious.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding involves writing statements that demonstrate understanding of connections
between concepts.
• Written statements include mathematical solutions and/or descriptions. Descriptions may include graphs or diagrams.

10. 91170
Demonstrate Understanding of Waves
• Assessment is limited to a selection from the following:
• LIGHT:
-Reflection in curved mirrors
-Refraction through lenses
-Refraction and Dispersion
-Total internal reflection
-Critical angle at a plane boundary
• WAVES:
-Wavefronts, wave model of Light
-Sound waves, speed of sound
-Reflection and refraction at a plane boundary including phase and wave parameter changes if applicable
-Superposition of pulses
-Diffraction of light through a slit
-2 point source interference (qualitative)

11. 91171
Demonstrate Understanding of Mechanics
• Assessment is limited to a selection from the following:
• MOTION:
-Constant acceleration in a straight line
-Free fall under gravity, Projectile motion
-Circular motion (constant speed with one force only providing centripetal force)
• FORCE:
-Force components
-Vector addition of forces
-Unbalanced force and acceleration
-Equilibrium (balanced forces and torques)
-Centripetal force
-Force and extension of a spring
• MOMENTUM AND ENERGY:
-Momentum, change in momentum in one dimension and impulse
-Impulse and force
-Conservation of momentum in one dimension
-Work, power and conservation of energy
-Elastic potential energy

12. 91173
Demonstrate Understanding of Electricity and Electromagnetism
• Assessment is limited to a selection from the following:
• STATIC ELECTRICITY:
-Uniform electric field, electric field strength
-Force on a charge in an electric field
-Electric potential energy
-Work done on a charge moving in an electric field
• DC ELECTRICITY:
-Parallel circuits with resistive component(s) in series with the source
-Circuit diagrams
-Voltage, current, resistance
-Energy, power
• ELECTROMAGNETISM:
-Force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field
-Force on charged particles moving in a magnetic field
-Induced voltage generated across a straight conductor moving in a uniform magnetic field

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