Physics 12

Unit 1: Force, Motion, Work, and Energy

Advanced mechanics: 2D vectors and momentum, projectile and circular motion, simple harmonic motion and its energy, and universal gravitation with Kepler's laws.

• 2D vector analysis
• Conservation of momentum (2D)
• Choosing conservation laws (2D)
• Projectile motion
• Construct and evaluate a device

• Uniform circular motion
• Circular motion and Newton's laws
• Simple harmonic motion (qualitative)
• Energy in simple harmonic motion
• Organizing motion data
• Investigating a technology over time

• Kepler's laws
• Universal gravitation and orbits
• Scientific vs technological (orbits)

Unit 2: Fields

Electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields: field concepts and lines, Coulomb's and Ohm's laws, the magnetic field of currents, forces on moving charges, electromagnetic induction, motors and generators, and AC/DC.

• Fields as regions of influence
• Field lines
• Charges and poles
• Gravitation vs Coulomb's law
• Ohm's law and circuits
• Defining problems and relationships

• Magnetic field of a current
• Force on a moving charge
• Electromagnetic induction
• Motors and generators
• Direct and alternating current

• Designing a fields experiment
• Controlled procedures (fields)
• Prediction and hypothesis (fields)
• Evidence, paradigms, and peer review
• Communicating physics ideas

Unit 3: Waves and Modern Physics

The quantum revolution: mass-energy equivalence, the birth of quantum physics, black-body radiation and the photoelectric effect, photon momentum and the Compton effect, wave-particle duality, and the Bohr atomic model.

• Mass-energy equivalence
• Evolution of quantum physics
• Quantum energy: black-body and photoelectric
• Photoelectric effect formula

• Photon momentum
• Compton effect and de Broglie
• Wave and particle models of light
• Alternative theoretical models
• Bohr atomic model
• Energy levels and photons
• Quantum-mechanical luminous phenomena

Unit 4: Radioactivity

Nuclear physics: sources of radioactivity, mass-energy in nuclear reactions, types of radiation, half-life, fission and fusion, safe handling, and the technologies, careers, and societal issues of nuclear science.

• Sources of radioactivity
• Mass-energy in nuclear reactions
• Types of radiation
• Half-life
• Fission and fusion

• Sampling procedures (radioactivity)
• Apparatus and materials safety
• WHMIS handling and disposal (radioactivity)
• Integrating radioactivity information
• Radioactivity technologies and careers
• Canadian contributions
• Defending a position (radioactivity)
• Risks and benefits of nuclear technology