Unit 1: How is energy useful to society?

Electrical quantities and Ohm's law. Defines $I = Q/t$, $V = W/Q$ and $R = V/I$, distinguishes ohmic and non-ohmic conductors, and works the VCAA SAC-style I-V characteristic problem.

Heat transfer. Defines conduction, convection and radiation, applies Wien's displacement law ($\lambda_{\max} T = b$), and treats the Stefan-Boltzmann law ($P/A = \sigma T^4$) as an extension, with a SAC-style problem on Earth-Sun radiation balance.

Nuclear structure and decay. Describes the strong nuclear force, the neutron-proton ratio for stability, and the four classical decay modes ($\alpha$, $\beta^-$, $\beta^+$, $\gamma$). Works the VCAA SAC-style balanced-equation problem.

Kinetic theory of temperature. Defines temperature as proportional to the average translational kinetic energy of particles, applies $\bar{E}_k = \frac{3}{2}k_B T$ in kelvin, and works the VCAA SAC-style problem on doubling absolute temperature and predicting molecular speeds.

VCE Physics Unit 1 key knowledge point on electric circuits. Charge, current, voltage, resistance and Ohm's law $V = IR$; series and parallel resistance combinations; electric power $P = VI = I^2 R = V^2/R$; energy use and household electricity ($E = Pt$, billing in kWh).

The Unit 1 key knowledge on refraction. Snell's law and refractive index, total internal reflection and the critical angle, dispersion of white light, rainbows, mirages and optical fibres, with a worked example and short practice questions.

Half-life and applications. Applies the integer half-life formula $N = N_0 (1/2)^n$ and the continuous form $N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$ with $\lambda = \ln 2 / T_{1/2}$, and works the VCAA SAC-style carbon-14 dating and Tc-99m medical-isotope problems.

VCE Physics Unit 1 key knowledge point on Earth's energy balance and climate. The solar constant, planetary albedo, Stefan-Boltzmann radiation law, natural and enhanced greenhouse effects, climate feedbacks, and the physics of renewable energy alternatives.

VCE Physics Unit 1 key knowledge point on thermodynamics and heat transfer. Temperature vs internal energy, conduction, convection and radiation, specific heat capacity and latent heat, and the application to atmospheric energy balance and the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse effect. Explains the Earth-atmosphere energy balance, the natural greenhouse mechanism (water vapour, CO$_2$, methane), the enhanced greenhouse effect from anthropogenic emissions, the radiative forcing concept, and works the VCAA SAC-style problem on equilibrium temperature shift.

Specific heat capacity and latent heat. Applies $Q = mc\Delta T$ and $Q = mL$, identifies typical values for water, ice, aluminium, and works the VCAA SAC-style multi-stage problem (ice to steam).

VCE Physics Unit 1 key knowledge point on nuclear physics. Atomic structure (Z, N, A), alpha, beta and gamma decay, half-life $N = N_0 (1/2)^{t/T_{1/2}}$, nuclear stability, fission, fusion, and applications in nuclear power and medicine.

DC circuits. Applies current and voltage rules (Kirchhoff's laws as an extension), derives equivalent resistance for series and parallel combinations, and works the VCAA SAC-style mixed-circuit problem with power dissipation.