Fisic na hArdteiste
Aidhmeanna
Is é an aidhm atá ag Fisic na hArdteistiméireachta taithí a chur ar fáil don scoláire a dhéanfaidh an tsuim agus an dúil atá acu san fhisic a fhorbairt. Agus seo a dhéanamh, déantar iarracht an t-eolas, na scileanna na luachanna agus na meonta atá de dhíth a thógáil chun saoránaigh atá eolach ar an eolaíocht a chothú, atá ullamh go maith do na dúshláin agus na deiseanna atá rompu, agus a bhfuil dúil acu i bhfoghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil agus i maireachtáil inbhuanaithe mar shaoránaigh i sochaí atá ag forbairt ó thaobh na teicneolaíochta de.
Go sonrach, is é an aidhm atá le Fisic na hArdteistiméireachta, ná an scoláire a chumasú chun:
- eolas agus tuiscint a fhorbairt ar phríomhchoincheapa sainithe agus ar bhunphrionsabail na fisice
- na scileanna, luachanna agus meonta a fhorbairt a theastaíonn leis an eolas seo a chur i bhfeidhm le fadhbanna a mhíniú, a anailísiú agus a réiteach agus le himeachtaí i réimse córais éagsúla agus imoibrithe sa saol fisiceach a thuar
- fiosracht agus scileanna praiticiúla a fhorbairt i gcomhréir le prionsabail agus cleachtais na fisice
- tuiscint a fhorbairt ar an gcaoi a bhfuil an tsochaí agus eolaíocht fite fuaite lena chéile, ar ábharthacht laethúil agus ar impleachtaí eiticiúla na fisice
Príomhinniúlachtaí
Is scáth-théarma é Príomhinniúlachtaí1 ina ndéantar tagairt don eolas, na scileanna, na luachanna agus na meonta a fhorbraíonn an scoláire ar bhealach imeasctha le linn na sraithe sinsearaí.
Fíor 1: Comhpháirteanna na bpríomhinniúlachtaí agus an tionchar a mianaítear leo
Leagtar amach an t-eolas a bhaineann go sonrach leis an ábhar seo thíos faoin teideal ‘snáitheanna staidéir agus torthaí foghlama’. Comhtháthaítear an t-eolas eipistéimeach ar fud na n-ábhar agus na modúl sna príomhinniúlachtaí.
Snáitheanna staidéir agus torthaí foghlama
Ceapadh an tsonraíocht seo d’Fhisic na hArdteistiméireachta le haghaidh 180 uair an chloig ar a laghad d’am ranga. Tá an fhoghlaim leagtha amach inti ina snáitheanna agus trí théamaí trasghearrtha a shainaithint. Tá cúig shnáithe ann; an snáithe aontach, Nádúr na hEolaíochta, agus na ceithre shnáithe chomhthéacsúla, Fórsaí agus Gluaisne, Tonnta agus Aistriú fuinnimh, Leictreachas agus Maighnéadas, agus an Fhisic Nua-Aimseartha.
Fíor 2: Achoimre ar Fhisic na hArdteistiméireachta
Tá Nádúr na hEolaíochta mar bhonn agus taca don fhisic agus mar sin meastar gur snáithe aontach é (Fíor 3); leathann sé ar fud shnáitheanna uile na sonraíochta. Sainaithnítear i dtorthaí foghlama an tsnáithe an t-eolas, na scileanna agus na luachanna a bhaineann le cleachtais eolaíochta agus atá ríthábhachtach d’fhoghlaim an scoláire faoin eolaíocht ar fud an chúrsa, rud a chuireann bonn eolais faoi na gníomhaíochtaí agus ábhar sna snáitheanna eile.
Sainaithnítear an t-eolas ar an bhfisic sna ceithre shnáithe chomhthéacsúla eile — Fórsaí agus Gluaisne, Gluaisne Tonnta agus Aistriú Fuinnimh, Réimsí Leictreacha agus Maighnéadacha agus a gcuid Idirghabhálacha agus an Fhisic Nua-aimseartha; .i. na croí-choincheapa, croí-shamlacha agus croí-theoiricí a chuireann síos ar, a mhíníonn agus a thuarann feiniméin fisice.
Tuilleadh eolais-
https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/242ad0e6-49bf-4f79-a5c4-f51d86d427ad/SC-PHYSICS-Spec-GA.pdf
Physics (New Specification, from 2025/26)
The updated Leaving Certificate Physics course begins for Fifth Year students in September 2025. This modernised specification aims to deepen students’ understanding of physical laws, raise their capacity to investigate scientifically, and link physics more directly to societal, technological, and ethical issues.
Aim
The aim of Leaving Certificate Physics is to provide students with an experience that develops their interest in and enthusiasm for physics. In doing so, it aims to build the knowledge, skills, values and dispositions necessary for students to become scientifically literate citizens who are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of their future, embracing life-long learning and sustainable living, as citizens in a technologically developing society.
More specifically Leaving Certificate Physics, aims to empower students to:
- build knowledge and understanding of specified core concepts and fundamental principles of physics
- develop the skills, values and dispositions needed to apply this knowledge to explain, analyse, solve problems and predict events in a variety of systems and interactions in the physical world
- demonstrate inquiry and practical skills consistent with the principles and practices of physics
- understand how society and science are interwoven, the everyday relevance and the ethical implications of physics.
Key competencies
Key competencies1 is an umbrella term which refers to the knowledge, skills, values and dispositions students develop in an integrated way during senior cycle.
Figure 1: The components of key competencies and their desired impact
Strands of study and learning outcomes
This Leaving Certificate Physics specification is designed for a minimum of 180 hours of class contact time. It sets out the learning in strands and through the identification of cross-cutting themes.
Physics is structured around a Unifying Strand plus four contextual strands:
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Unifying Strand: Nature of Science — Students develop scientific thinking: how knowledge in physics is developed; its use and limits; and how economic, social, ethical, and sustainability considerations influence scientific work.
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Strand 1: Forces & Motion (Kinematics & Dynamics) — Covers motion, forces, Newtonian mechanics and their applications in real-world contexts.
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Strand 2: Wave Motion & Energy Transfer — Explores how waves behave, how energy moves and transforms, and related phenomena in acoustics, light, etc.
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Strand 3: Electric & Magnetic Fields and their Interactions — Study of electricity, magnetism, fields, their interactions and applications, including how electromagnetic phenomena underlie modern technology.
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Strand 4: Modern Physics (Atomic & Nuclear) — Deals with atomic structure, radioactivity, nuclear processes, and more recent physics concepts.
Figure 2: Overview of Leaving Certificate Physics
Assessment & Course Features
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There will be an Additional Assessment Component (AAC) worth at least 40% of the total grade, externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission. This component will require students to undertake an extended investigation or practical research piece, linking physics theory with real-world application.
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The remaining 60% will come from a written examination.
Why the Changes Matter
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Students gain stronger investigative and practical skills through hands-on work and real-world investigations, not only in the lab but in contexts that relate to society and technology.
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The course emphasises scientific reasoning and critical thinking, including understanding how science operates, its limitations, and its broader impacts.
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The revision aligns Physics more clearly with current issues (sustainability, technological innovation, ethical dimensions), preparing students not just for exams, but for responsible citizenship and further study in STEM fields.
Further information-
https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/aec702a9-4818-45f1-917e-497c3a9a2466/SC-PHYSICS-Spec-EN.pdf