PHYSICAL SCIENCE (bahan/materi 2010-2011)

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

TOPIC CORE SUPPLEMENT
All students should be able to: In addition to what is required in the
Core, students following the Extended
curriculum should be able to:
1. General Physics
1.1 Length and time
1.2 Speed, velocity and
acceleration
1.3 Mass and Weight
1.4 Density
1.5 Forces
(a) Effects of forces
-use and describe the use of rules and
measuring cylinders to determine a
length or a volume
-use and describe the use of clocks and
devices for measuring an interval of time
-define speed and calculate speed from
total time
total distance
-plot and interpret a speed/time graph
-recognise from the shape of a
speed/time graph when a body is
(i) at rest,
(ii) moving with constant speed,
(iii) moving with changing speed
-calculate the area under a speed/time
graph to determine the distance travelled
for motion with constant acceleration
-demonstrate some understanding that
acceleration is related to changing speed
-state that the acceleration of free fall for
a body near to the Earth is constant
-show familiarity with the idea of the
mass of a body
-state that weight is a force
-calculate the weight of a body from its
mass
-demonstrate understanding that weights
(and hence masses) may be compared
using a balance
-describe an experiment to determine the
density of a liquid and of a regularly
shaped solid and make the necessary
calculation
-state that a force may produce a change
in size and shape of a body
-plot extension-load graphs and describe
the associated experimental procedure
-describe the ways in which a force may
change the motion of a body
-use and describe the use of a
mechanical method for the measurement
of a small distance
-measure and describe how to measure a
short interval of time (including the period
of a pendulum)
-distinguish between speed and velocity
-recognise linear motion for which the
acceleration is constant and calculate the
acceleration
-recognise motion for which the
acceleration is not constant
-describe qualitatively the motion of
bodies falling in a uniform gravitational
field with and without air resistance
(including reference to terminal velocity)
-demonstrate an understanding that
mass is a property which 'resists' change
in motion
-describe, and use the concept of, weight
as the effect of a gravitational field on a
mass
-describe the determination of the density
of an irregularly shaped solid by the
method of displacement
-take readings from and interpret
extension-load graphs (Hooke's law, as
such, is not required)
-recognise the significance of the term
'limit of proportionality' for an extensionload
graph and use proportionality in
simple calculations
-recall and use the relation between
force, mass and acceleration (including
the direction)

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

TOPIC CORE SUPPLEMENT
(b) Turning effect
(c) Centre of mass
1.6 Energy, work and power
(a) Energy
(b) Major sources of
energy and alternative
sources of energy
(c) Work
(d) Power
-describe the moment of a force as a
measure of its turning effect and give
everyday examples
-calculate the moment of a force given
the necessary information
-perform and describe an experiment to
determine the position of the centre of
mass of a plane lamina
-describe qualitatively the effect of the
position of the centre of mass on the
stability of simple objects
-give examples of energy in different
forms, its conversion and conservation
and apply the principle of energy
conservation to simple examples
-show some understanding of energy of
motion and energy of position (i.e.
gravitational and strain)
-describe processes by which energy is
converted from one form to another,
including reference to
(i) chemical/fuel energy (a regrouping of
atoms)
(ii) energy from water – hydroelectric
energy, waves, tides
(iii) geothermal energy
(iv) nuclear energy (fission of heavy
atoms)
-relate, without calculation, work done to
the magnitude of a force and distance
moved
-relate, without calculation, power to work
done and time taken, using appropriate
examples
-perform and describe an experiment
(involving vertical forces) to verify that
there is no net moment on a body in
equilibrium
-describe energy transfer in terms of work
done and make calculations involving
F x d
-use the terms kinetic and potential
energy in context
-recall and use the expressions
k.e. = ½ mv2
p.e. = mgh
-express a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
(v) solar energy (fusion of nuclei of
atoms in the Sun)
-recall and use the mass/energy equation
E = mc2
-recall and use ΔW = F x d = ΔE
-recall and use the equation P = E/t in
simple systems
2. Thermal Physics
2.1 Thermal properties
(a) Thermal expansion of
solids, liquids and
gases
-describe qualitatively the thermal
expansion of solids, liquids and gases
-identify and explain some of the
everyday applications and consequences
of thermal expansion
-show an appreciation of the relative
order of magnitude of the expansion of
solids, liquids and gases
(b) Measurement of
temperature
-appreciate how a physical property
which varies with temperature may be
used for the measurement of temperature
and state examples of such properties
-recognise the need for and identify a
fixed point
-describe the structure and action of
liquid-in-glass thermometers
-apply a given property to the
measurement of temperature
-demonstrate understanding of
sensitivity, range and linearity
-describe the structure and action of a
thermocouple and show understanding of
its use for measuring high temperatures
and those which vary rapidly
(c) Melting and boiling -describe melting and boiling in terms of
energy input without a change in
temperature
-state the meaning of melting point and
boiling point
-distinguish between boiling and
evaporation

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
TOPIC CORE SUPPLEMENT
2.2 Transfer of thermal
energy
(a) Conduction
-describe experiments to demonstrate the
properties of good and bad conductors of
heat
-give a simple molecular account of the
heat transfer in solids
(b) Convection -relate convection in fluids to density
changes and describe experiments to
illustrate convection
(c) Radiation -identify infra-red radiation as part of the
electromagnetic spectrum
-describe experiments to show the
properties of good and bad emitters and
good and bad absorbers of infra-red
radiation
(d) Consequences of
energy transfer
-identify and explain some of the
everyday applications and consequences
of conduction, convection and radiation
3. Properties of Waves,
including Light and
Sound
3.1 General wave properties -describe what is meant by wave motion
as illustrated by vibration in ropes,
springs and by experiments using water
waves
-use the term wavefront
-give the meaning of speed, frequency,
wavelength and amplitude
-describe the use of water waves to show
(i) reflection at a plane surface
(ii) refraction due to a change of speed
-recall and use the equation c = f λ
-interpret reflection, refraction and
diffraction using wave theory
3.2 Light
(a) Reflection of light
-describe the formation, and give the
characteristics, of an optical image
formed by a plane mirror
-use the law angle of incidence = angle of
reflection
-perform simple constructions,
measurements and calculations
(b) Refraction of light -describe the refraction, including angle
of refraction, in terms of the passage of
light through a parallel sided glass block
-determine and calculate refractive index
using n = sin i / sin r
(c) Thin converging lens -describe the action of a thin converging
lens on a beam of light
-use the term focal length
-use and describe the use of a single lens
as a magnifying glass
(d) Electromagnetic
spectrum
-describe the main features of the
electromagnetic spectrum and state that
all e.m. waves travel with the same high
speed in vacuo
-state the approximate value of the speed
of electromagnetic waves
-use the term monochromatic
3.3 Sound -describe the production of sound by
vibrating sources
-state the approximate range of audible
frequencies
-show an understanding that a medium is
required in order to transmit sound waves
4. Electricity and magnetism
4.1 Simple phenomena of
magnetism
-state the properties of magnets
-give an account of induced magnetism
-distinguish between ferrous and nonferrous
materials

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
TOPIC CORE SUPPLEMENT
-describe an experiment to identify the
pattern of field lines round a bar magnet
-distinguish between the magnetic
properties of iron and steel
-distinguish between the design and use
of permanent magnets and electromagnets
4.2 Electrostatics
Electric charge
-describe simple experiments to show the
production and detection of electrostatic
charges
-state that there are positive and negative
charges
-state that unlike charges attract and that
like charges repel
-state that charge is measured in
coulombs
4.3 Electricity
(a) Current
-state that current is related to the flow of
charge
-use and describe the use of an ammeter
-show understanding that a current is a
rate of flow of charge and recall and use
the equation I = Q/t
(b) Electro-motive force -state that the e.m.f. of a source of
electrical energy is measured in volts
-show understanding that e.m.f. is
defined in terms of energy supplied by a
source in driving charge round a
complete circuit
(c) Potential difference -state that the potential difference across
a circuit component is measured in volts
-use and describe the use of a voltmeter
(d) Resistance - recall and use the equation V = IR
-describe an experiment to determine
resistance using a voltmeter and an
ammeter
-relate (without calculation) the resistance
of a wire to its length and to its diameter
-recall and use quantitatively the
proportionality between resistance and
the length and the inverse proportionality
between resistance and cross-sectional
area of a wire
(e) V/I characteristic
graphs
-sketch the V/I characteristic graphs for
metallic (ohmic) conductors
4.4 Electric circuits -draw and interpret circuit diagrams
containing sources, switches, resistors
(fixed and variable), ammeters;
voltmeters, magnetising coils, bells,
fuses, relays
-understand that the current at every
point in a series circuit is the same
-give the combined resistance of two or
more resistors in series
-state that, for a parallel circuit, the
current from the source is larger than the
current in each branch
-state that the combined resistance of
two resistors in parallel is less than that
of either resistor by itself
-draw and interpret circuit diagrams
containing diodes as rectifiers
-recall and use the fact that the sum of
the p.d.'s across the components in a
series circuit is equal to the total p.d.
across the supply
-recall and use the fact that the current
from the source is the sum of the currents
in the separate branches of a parallel
circuit
-calculate the effective resistance of two
resistors in parallel
4.5 Practical electric circuitry
(a) Uses of electricity
(b) Safety considerations
-describe the uses of electricity in
heating, lighting (including lamps in
parallel), motors
-state the hazards of
(i) damaged insulation
(ii) overheating of cables
(iii) damp conditions
-recall and use the equations P = I V,
E = I V t and their alternative forms

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
TOPIC CORE SUPPLEMENT
4.6 Electromagnetic effects
(a) Electromagnetic
induction
-describe an experiment which shows
that a changing magnetic field can induce
an e.m.f. in a circuit
-state the factors affecting the magnitude
of the induced e.m.f.
-show understanding that the direction of
an induced e.m.f. opposes the change
causing it
(b) a.c. generator -describe a rotating-coil generator and
the use of slip rings
-sketch a graph of voltage output against
time for a simple a.c. generator
(c) d.c. motor -state that a current-carrying coil in a
magnetic field experiences a turning
effect and that the effect is increased by
increasing the number of turns on the coil
-relate this turning effect to the action
of an electric motor
-describe the effect of increasing the
current
(d) Transformer -describe the construction of a basic ironcored
transformer as used for voltage
transformations
-show an understanding of the principle
of operation of a transformer
-use the equation (Vp / Vs) = (Np / Ns)
-recall and use the equation Vp Ip = Vs Is
(for 100% efficiency)
-show understanding of energy loss in
cables (calculation not required)
-describe the use of the transformer in
high-voltage transmission of electricity
-advantages of high voltage transmission