Leaving Certificate physics:Leaving Certificate students sitting the higher-level physics paper yesterday met with the unusual inclusion of a picture of Jimi Hendrix on the cover of a Rolling Stone magazine with accompanying questions on the workings of the electric guitar.
Prior to yesterday's three-hour exam, students had completed 24 mandatory practical experiments in school in preparation for section A of the higher-level paper, worth 30 per cent of the marks.
A total of 7,528 students sat yesterday's physics paper, with 6,344 taking the higher-level paper.
Questions on monochromatic light, measuring the speed of sound in the air and verifying Joule's law appeared in the practical section. However, Michael Gillespie, a subject representative with the TUI and teacher in St Brendan's Community School in Birr, Co Offaly, said the section proved longer than in previous years and would have required students to revise their time management.
In addition, 2½ questions on the paper centred on one syllabus topic, much to the surprise of teachers and students alike, according to Mr Gillespie.
Section B, which included questions on Newton's third law of motion and distinguishing fusion and fission, was deemed fair and appropriate by teachers.
Pat Doyle, a teacher in the Institute of Education in Dublin, described the paper as "fair but challenging". He commended the examiners on including a balance of maths and descriptive-material questions, and providing more references to physics in everyday contexts.
The ordinary-level paper was welcomed as a well laid-out and fair examination.
