Experimental Sciences

In all studies of group 4 programmes, students should become aware of the way in which scientists work and communicate with each other throughout the world.   While, in practice, “the scientific method” may take on a wide variety of forms, it will generally involve the formation, testing and modification of hypotheses, through observation and measurement, under the controlled conditions of an experiment.  It is this approach, along with the falsifiability of scientific hypotheses, that distinguishes the sciences from other disciplines and characteristics each of the programmes within group 4.

It is in this context that all experimental sciences programmes should aim to:

1. provide opportunities for scientific study and creativity within global contexts which will stimulate and challenge students

2. provide a body of knowledge and methods/techniques which characterise science and technology

3. enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge and methods/techniques which characterise science and technology

4. develop an ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise scientific information

5. engender an awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities

6. develop experimental and investigative scientific skills

7. raise awareness of the moral/ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology

8. develop an appreciation of possibilities and limitations associated with science and scientists

9. encourage an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method.

The experimental sciences offered at Whitchurch are:

BIOLOGY

THE COURSE

IB Biology is a two year course, intended to give students a broad, general understanding of Biology in an international context.

It is possible to take the course at either higher or standard level, the higher level being a more rigorous development of every area of the standard level.   Students are required to do a lot of work on their own and a high degree of dedication and motivation is essential, for both the standard and higher levels.

The course consists of six major study areas at higher level and five at standard level, including Cells, Biochemistry, Genetics, Ecology and Classification, Human Physiology and Plant Science (at higher level only).   Our special study areas are “The Biology of the Nervous System and Behavioural Science” at both levels, plus “Higher Physiology” at higher level and “Food and Nutrition” at standard level.   There is a strong emphasis on practical work, which will include field studies and workshops out of the school.

ASSESSMENT

The course is assessed by three written examinations that are taken at the end of the two year course, and by continuous practical assessment.   All students must produce a portfolio of practical work that includes sixty hours of assessed exercises at higher level and forty hours at standard level.   Part of the practical work will consist of a group 4 investigation, which will cross the boundaries between the other Science subjects and will contain elements of both Physics and Chemistry.   The practical work will be internally assessed and moderated by the IB.   Written papers are worth 76% of the final mark, while teacher assessment provides the final 24%.

OPPORTUNITIES

The Biology course forms an excellent foundation for university studies in Medicine, Biochemistry, Food Science, Optometry, Agriculture, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Horticulture and a host of other subjects.   It should be noted, however, that some Biology based courses in Higher Education may require Chemistry as well.

If you require more information please see Ms Ceri Taylor or Mr K. Evans 

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry in many ways is a multidisciplinary science covering aspects of Physics, Biology and Earth sciences.   It is an essential Science (at the higher level) for any student wishing to follow a career in the Health/Medical fields and an important part of any Materials/Engineering course as well as a subject in its own right.

Chemistry is a science concerned with the study of the materials of our environment, their properties, and the way in which they react with each other.   As there is no other way of questioning a physical or chemical system but that of performing experiments on it, chemistry is a discipline which rests firmly on the practical.   The laboratory work will have a direct bearing, whenever possible, upon the students’ growing body of descriptive and theoretical chemistry.   Through such an approach the student should gain factual knowledge drawn from the world field of chemistry, and at the same time be able to correlate and unify this knowledge in terms of the most important underlying principles and concepts.   It is the continuing aim of the teacher to stimulate not only the students’ curiosity and desire to speculate about phenomena, but also to develop the students’ ability to think clearly when searching experimentally or otherwise, for any interpretation of these phenomena.

While sharing the general aims of group 4 subjects, the IB Chemistry programme also has the following specific aims: 

1. to familiarise the student with the principles of chemistry

2. to engage the student in the methods of chemical enquiry

3. to develop the ability to analyse chemical statements critically

4. to prepare the student for further study of pure and applied chemistry and other sciences in Higher Education (Higher Level course)

5. to develop those manipulative and experimental skills necessary to make the student increasingly competent and confident in the processes of chemical investigations

There is a basic core of work to study for the Standard Level course which is extended in the Higher Level course.   Both courses have additional options (2) to extend pupils knowledge of particular branches of Chemistry.

ASSESSMENT

Internal Assessment (20%)

External written exams

• multiple choice (1 paper) 30%

• Problems/Essays (2 papers) 50% 

PHYSICS

Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences in that is seeks to explain the basic features of the natural world primarily in terms of the interactions between matter and energy.   It presumes to describe the world using such elementary (but not always intuitive) concepts as mass, time, distance, charge, as well as more subtle constructions such as momentum, force, energy, field, waves, and the surprising aspects of relativity (special and general) and quantisation (of mass – atoms and particles, charge and energy).   There is the technological side of physics that complements this purely conceptual view, in which physical principles have been applied to construct various devices and machines that have affected the daily lives of all human beings, and also of course, to expand the boundaries of physical knowledge itself.

In physics there are three connected domains of knowledge and skills:

1. Laws of physics

2. Experimental skills

3. Social and historical aspects of physics as an evolving body of human knowledge about nature

SYLLABUS OUTLINE

Subject Specific Core:

Topic 1    Measurement

Topic 2   Mechanics

Topic 3   Thermal physics

Topic 4   Waves

Topic 5   Electricity and magnetism

Topic 6   Atomic and nuclear physics

Topic 7   Uncertainties

Additional Higher Level Topics:

Topic 8   Mechanics

Topic 9   Thermal Physics

Topic 10  Wave phenomena

Topic 11  Electro magnetism

Topic 12  Quantum physics and nuclear

OPTIONS

Astrophysics – the option on astrophysics traces a path from how data is gathered from stars and other celestial objects, to their classification, and then on to physical models of the evolution of individual stars and of the universe.   Astronomy and astrophysics have always been popular with teachers and students, and this option provides a good understanding of the relationship between observation and modelling of objects on a grand scale.

Optics – the optics option focuses on the production, imaging, transmission and storage characteristics of various sorts of electromagnetic waves.   It combines elements of classical ray, wave, electromagnetic, corpuscular and quantum optics.   This option gives insight into a large number of important technological applications.

ASSESSMENT OUTLINE

Assessment is carried out by a combination of external examinations, conducted at the end of the programme of study, and internal assessment, carried out by teachers.  These two key assessment structures are weighted 76% and 24% respectively.   The external examinations consist of three papers, occupying a total of 3 hours at standard level and 4·5 hours at higher level.