Physics

• The law of gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
• Energy is useful to society in various ways, including:
• Single-celled organisms have a short distance for substances to enter the cell, while multicellular organisms have a larger distance due to a higher surface area to volume ratio
• Due to their higher surface area to volume ratio, multicellular organisms require specialised exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen
• In society, energy is utilized for:
• Understanding light and heat
• Utilizing energy from the nucleus
• Transferring energy through electricity
• Key knowledge and skills related to electromagnetic radiation:
• Identifying all electromagnetic waves as transverse waves traveling at the same speed in a vacuum
• Calculating wavelength, frequency, period, and speed of travel of waves
• Describing electromagnetic radiation emitted from the Sun as mainly ultraviolet, visible, and infrared
• Comparing the wavelength and frequencies of different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
• Investigating and analyzing behavior of waves, including refraction, total internal reflection, and color dispersion
• Explaining the formation of optical phenomena like rainbows and mirages
• Understanding thermal energy:
• Converting between Celsius and Kelvin scales
• Describing conduction, convection, and radiation with reference to heat transfers
• Investigating energy required to raise the temperature of a substance and change the state of a substance
• Calculating the peak wavelength of radiated electromagnetic radiation using Wien’s Law
• Applying concepts of energy transfer, transformation, temperature change, and change of state to climate change and global warming
• Explaining nuclear stability, radioactive decay, and properties of radiation from the nucleus
• Analyzing the effects of radiation on humans and the use of medical radioisotopes in therapy
• Explaining nuclear energy, fission chain reactions, and comparing nuclear fusion and fission
• Modeling resistance in series and parallel circuits, calculating equivalent resistance, and analyzing power transfers
• Investigating and applying concepts of current, resistance, potential difference, and power in electronic circuits
• Modeling household electricity connections and describing electrical safety in the home
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Concepts used to model motion

  • Parameters of motion identified as vectors or scalars
  • Straight-line motion under constant acceleration analyzed graphically, numerically, and algebraically using equations like v=u+at, v2=u2+2as, s=1/2(u+v)t, s=ut+1/2 at2, s=vt-1/2 at2
  • Non-uniform motion in a straight line analyzed graphically
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Forces and motion

  • Changes in momentum explained by a net force: Δp=FnetΔt
  • Force of gravity (Fg) modeled as force of gravity on COM of a body
  • Newton’s 3 laws of motion applied to bodies on which forces act
  • Vector model of forces applied, including forces due to gravity, friction, and normal forces
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Energy and motion

  • Work done by a force calculated using different formulas
  • Hooke’s Law for an ideal spring investigated and analyzed
  • Mechanical energy transfers and transformations modeled using energy conservation
  • Kinetic energy and rate of energy transfer analyzed
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Energy and motion

  • Efficiency of an energy transfer system calculated
  • Impulse in an isolated system analyzed
  • Momentum conservation in one dimension investigated and analyzed
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Equilibrium

  • Torque calculated
  • Translational and rotational forces (torques) analyzed in simple structures in equilibrium
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Application of motion

  • Motion concepts applied through case studies like motion in sport, vehicle safety, devices, or structures
• Energy usage in society:

  • Single-celled organisms have a short distance for substances to enter the cell
  • Multicellular organisms have a larger distance due to a higher surface area to volume ratio
  • Multicellular organisms require specialised exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Communicating physics

  • Validity of sources of information evaluated
  • Physics concepts specific to the investigation applied
  • Data representations, models, and theories used to explain observed phenomena
  • Influence of sociocultural, economic, legal, and political factors discussed
• Topics for Contemporary Issues & Applications in Society:

  • Climate change
  • Fusion and fission as nuclear energy sources
  • Forces on structures and materials
  • Forces on the human body
  • Use of radiation in maintaining human health
  • Use of electricity in the human body
  • Physics in photography
  • Particle accelerators
  • Origins of matter
• Light & Heat Explanation:

  • Electromagnetic radiation is explained, including identifying all electromagnetic waves as transverse waves traveling at the same speed in a vacuum
  • Describing electromagnetic radiation emitted from the Sun as mainly ultraviolet, visible, and infrared
  • Investigating and analyzing the behavior of waves, including refraction, total internal reflection, and critical angle
• Light & Heat Explanation:

  • Comparing the wavelength and frequencies of different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Investigating and explaining color dispersion in prisms and lenses
  • Explaining the formation of optical phenomena like rainbows and mirages
• Key Knowledge & Skills: Investigation design

  • Physics concepts applied to selected investigations
  • Characteristics of scientific methodology evaluated
  • Techniques of data generation applied
  • Concepts of accuracy, precision, and validity of data identified and applied
  • Health, safety, and ethical guidelines followed
• Light & Heat Explanation:

  • Thermal energy is explained, including conduction, convection, and radiation
  • Investigating the energy required to raise the temperature of a substance and change the state of a substance