Upper 6 Annual Teaching Plan for Physics

Topic Subtopic Objectives Week Notes

E. Electricity 17. Electrostatics a) state Coulombs law and use the formula 1 & 2 Topical test on
and 17.1 Coulombs law Qq thermal
Magnetism F= conduction on
4 0 r 2
17.2 Electric field Week 1
b) understand electric field as an example
of an inverse square field like the
gravitational field
F
c) define the electric field strength, E =
17.3 Gauss law q
d) describe quantitatively the motion of
charges in a uniform electrical field
17.4 Electrical e) state and use Gauss law
potential f) show the equivalence between Gauss
law and Coulombs law
dV
g) use the relationship E =
dr
h) define electrical potential and use the
17.5 Equipotential Q
surfaces formula V =
4 0 r 2
i) understand the relationship between
electrical potential and potential energy
j) understand equipotential surfaces
18. Capacitors a) define capacitance and use the formula 3
18.1 Capacitance Q
C=
18.2 Parallel plate V
capacitor b) describe qualitatively the mechanism of
charging a parallel plate capacitor
18.3 Uniform field A
between parallel c) derive and use the formula C = for
d
plates
parallel plate capacitors
18.4 Capacitors in
d) derive and use the formula for effective
series and in parallel
capacitance of capacitors in series and in
18.5 Energy stored in
parallel
a charged capacitor
1
e) use the formulae U = QV ,
2
1 Q2 1
, U = CV
2
U =
18.6 Charging and 2 C 2
discharging f) describe quantitatively the charging and
discharging of a capacitor through a 4
resistor
18.7 Dielectrics g) understand lightning as an example of
discharging
h) describe qualitatively the action of a
dielectric in a parallel plate capacitor
19. Electric current
19.1 Conduction of a) understand electric current as a flow of 6 Week 5 is CNY
electricity charged particles and use the equation holidays
dQ
I =
dt
b) explain qualitatively the mechanism of
conduction of electricity in metals and
19.2 Drift velocity semiconductors
 c) understand the concept of drift velocity
d) derive and use the equation I = Anev
e) know the typical orders of magnitude of
drift velocity of charge carriers in
19.3 Current density semiconductors and metals
19.4 Electrical f) define electric current density and 7
conductivity conductivity
g) understand and use the relationship
J = E
ne 2 t
h) derive and use the equation =
m
19.5 Resistivity
RA
i) define resistivity, =
l
19.6 Dependence of j) show the equivalence between Ohms
resistance on law and the relationship J = E
temperature k) understand the dependence of
resistance on temperature for metals and
semiconductors by using the equation
19.7 Energy and ne 2 t
=
electrical power m
l) know the phenomenon of
superconductivity
m) use the equations of energy and
electrical power
20. Direct current
circuits
20.1 Electromotive a) understand emf and electrical potential 8 First exam is on
force difference Week 10
20.2 Internal b) know that the sources of emf have
resistance of sources internal resistance and understand the
effect on external circuits
c) draw and interpret electric circuit
20.3 Kirchhoffs law diagrams
20.4 Potential divider d) understand and use Kirchhoffs law
20.5 Potentiometer e) understand how to use a potential 9
20.6 Wheatstone divider
bridge f) understand the working principles of a
20.7 Shunt and potentiometer and its use
multiplier g) understand the working principles of a
Wheatstone bridge and its use
h) understand the use of shunts and
multipliers
21. Magnetic fields
21.1 Magnetic field B a) understand the concept of magnetic field 11
21.2 Force on a b) use the formula for force on a moving
moving charge charge, F = q v B
c) use the equation F = qvB sin to define
magnetic field strength B
d) understand the magnetic force that acts
21.3 Force on a on a straight current-carrying conductor in
current-carrying a uniform magnetic field
conductor e) use the equation F = IlB sin
f) use the formulae for magnetic fields:
21.4 Magnetic fields
due to currents
 0 NI
circular loop, B =
2r
solenoid, B = 0 nI
0 I
straight wire, B =
2d
21.5 Force between g) derive and use the formula 12
current-carrying F I I
conductors = 0 1 2 for the force between two
l 2d
21.6 Definition of parallel current-carrying conductors
ampere: current h) define the unit of ampere and
balance understand that this definition fixes a value
for 0
i) understand the working principles of a
current balance and its physical
21.7 Torque on a coil significance as an absolute measurement
j) derive the formula = NIBA for torque
on a coil in a radial field
k) explain the working principles of a
moving-coil galvanometer and motor
21.8 Determination of l) understand the motion of charge in
q magnetic fields and electrical fields
the ratio m) understand the principles of
m
q
determination of the ratio for charged
21.9 Hall effect m
particles
n) explain the Hall effect and derive the
expression for Hall Voltage VH
o) describe the use of Hall effect
22. Electromagnetic
induction
22.1 Magnetic flux a) define magnetic flux = BA cos 13
22.2 Faradays law b) state and use Faradays law and Lenzs
and Lenzs law law
c) derive and use the equation for induced
22.3 Self-inductance emf in linear conductors, discs, and plane
L coils
d) explain the phenomenon of self-
inductance of a solenoid
dI
e) use the formulae E = L ,
dt
LI = N
f) derive and use the equation for self-
22.4 Energy stored in inductance of a solenoid
a inductor g) derive and use the formula for energy
22.5 Mutual induction that is stored in an inductor 14
h) explain the phenomenon of mutual
inductance between two coaxial coils
i) derive an expression for mutual
22.6 Transformer inductance between two coaxial coils
Vs N
j) derive and use the equation = s
22.7 Back emf in dc Vp Np
motors for a transformer
k) discuss eddy currents in a transformer
 l) understand the concept of back emf in dc
motors
23. Alternating
currents
23.1 Alternating a) understand the concept of rms value of 14
currents through an alternating current and calculate the
resistors I0
value; use the relationship I rms = for
2
sinusoidal cases
23.2 Power
b) understand the relationship of phase
23.3 Rms value
between current and voltage for pure
23.4 Alternating
resistors, pure capacitors, and pure
currents through
inductors separately
inductors
c) derive the reactance of a pure capacitor
23.5 Alternating
and a pure inductor
currents through 15
d) derive and use the formula for power in
capacitors
an alternating current circuit which consists
23.6 Rectification of
of a pure resistor, a pure capacitor, and a
alternating currents
pure inductor separately
23.7 Smoothing by
e) explain half-wave rectification and full-
capacitors
wave rectification with the use of diodes
f) explain smoothing of output voltages by
capacitors
24. Electronics
24.1 Operational a) understand the operational amplifier as a 15
amplifiers differential amplifier
b) describe ideal properties of an
24.2 Inverting and operational amplifier
non-inverting c) describe the inverting amplifier and non-
amplifiers inverting amplifier
24.3 Negative d) understand the principle of feedback in 16
feedback an amplifier especially negative feedback
24.4 Use of e) describe the use of operational
operational amplifiers amplifiers in the circuits of voltage
24.5 Oscillators amplifiers, ie inverting amplifiers and non-
inverting amplifiers, voltage comparators,
integrators, and oscillators
F. Optics 25. Electromagnetic
waves
25.1 Electromagnetic a) understand that electromagnetic waves 16
vibrations are made up of electrical vibrations,
E = E 0 sin( t kx ) , and magnetic
vibrations, B = B0 sin( t kx )
b) understand that E, B, and the direction
of propagation of electromagnetic waves
are always perpendicular to each other
c) compare electromagnetic waves with
mechanical waves
1
d) state the formula c = and
25.2 Relationship 0 0
between 0 , 0 and explain its significance
c
e) state the orders of magnitude of
25.3 Electromagnetic wavelengths and frequencies for each type
of electromagnetic wave
wave spectrum
26. Geometrical a) understand and use the relationship 17
optics r
f = for curved mirrors
26.1 Curved mirrors 2
b) draw ray diagrams to show the formation
of images by concave mirrors and convex
mirrors
1 1 1
c) derive and use the formula = +
f u v
for curved mirrors
d) derive and use the formula
26.2 Refraction at n1 n2 n 2 n1
+ = for refraction at spherical
curved surfaces u v r
surfaces
26.3 Thin lenses n1 n2 n 2 n1
e) use the formula + = to
u v r
derive:
1 1 1
thin lens formula = +
f u v
lens makers formula
1 1 1
= (n 1)
r r

f 1 2

f) use the thin lens formula and lens

makers formula
27. Physical optics
27.1 Huygens a) understand and use the Huygens 18
principle principle to explain interference and
diffraction phenomena
27.2 Interference b) understand the concept of coherence
c) understand the concept of optical path
difference
27.3 Two-slit d) know the conditions for constructive
interference pattern interference and destructive interference
e) know Youngs two-slit interference
pattern
27.4 Air wedge D
f) derive and use the formula y = for
a
the first minimum in the diffraction pattern
27.5 Thin film for a single slit
g) understand the formation of air wedge 19
interference pattern and solve related
problems
27.6 Diffraction at h) understand the phenomena of thin film
single slit interference for nearly normal incident light
and non-normal incident light, and solve
related problems
27.7 Diffraction i) know the diffraction pattern for a single
gratings slit

j) derive and use the formula sin = for
a
the first minimum in the diffraction pattern
Second exam
for a single slit
on Week 20
k) know the diffraction pattern for diffraction
27.8 Polarisation
gratings
 l) use the formula d sin = n for
diffraction gratings
m) describe the use of diffraction gratings
to form the spectrum of white light and
measure the wavelength of monochromatic
light
n) understand that polarisation is a property
of transverse waves
o) understand the production of polarised
light by polaroid and by reflection
p) understand polarisation planes
q) use the formula I = I 0 cos
2

G. Quantum 28. Photons

Physics 28.1 Photoelectric a) describe important observations in 21
effect photoelectric emission experiments
28.2 Concept of light b) recognise features of photoelectric
quantisation emission that cannot be explained by wave
theory and explain these features using the
concept of quantisation of light
c) use the equation E = hf for a photon
d) understand the meaning of work function
and threshold frequency
e) use Einsteins equation for photoelectric
1
effect, hf = W + mv
2

2
f) understand the meaning of stopping
1
potential and use eV s = mv
2

2
29. Wave-particle
duality h
29.1 De Broglies a) use the equation = to calculate de 22
p
relation Broglies wavelength
b) describe observations in electron
29.2 Electron diffraction experiments
diffraction c) explain briefly the advantages of electron
microscopes
H. Atomic 30. Atomic structure
Physics 30.1 Bohrs postulate a) state Bohrs postulate for an atom 22
30.2 Energy levels in b) derive an expression for radii of orbits in
atoms Bohrs model
Z 2e 4m
c) derive the equation E n = for
8 0 h 2 n 2
2

30.3 Line spectra Bohrs model

d) explain the production of line spectra
with reference to transitions between
energy levels
e) understand the concept of excitation
energy and ionisation energy
31. X-ray
31.1 X-ray spectra a) interpret X-ray spectra obtained from X- 22
ray tubes
b) explain the characteristic line spectrum
and continuous spectrum including min in
X-ray
 hc
31.2 X-ray diffraction c) derive and use the equation min =
eV
d) describe Bragg diffraction by crystals
e) derive and use 2d sin = n
32. Laser
32.1 Principles of a) describe briefly the principles of laser 22
production production
32.2 Characteristics b) describe the main characteristics of laser
32.3 Uses and advantages of laser
c) describe a few examples of uses of laser
I. Nuclear 33. Nucleus
Physics 33.1 Discovery of a) describe the discovery of neutrons 23
neutrons b) understand the symbol ZA X
33.2 Atomic number c) understand and use the units u and eV
and mass number d) explain mass defect and binding energy
33.3 Mass defect and e) understand the equivalence of mass with
binding energy
energy and use the formula E = mc 2
f) understand the variation of binding
33.4 Isotopes energy per nucleon with nucleon number
33.5 Mass g) understand the existence of isotopes
spectrometry h) understand the working principles of
mass spectrometers
34. Radioactivity
34.1 Radioactive a) understand radioactive decay as a 23
decay spontaneous and random process
34.2 Decay constant b) state and use the exponential law
and half-life dN
= N for radioactive decay
dt
c) define activity and decay constant
t
d) derive and use the formula N = N 0 e
e) define half-life and derive the relation
ln 2
=
34.3 Use of t1
2
radioisotopes
f) explain the use of radioisotopes as
tracers
35. Nuclear reaction
35.1 Nuclear reaction a) understand that charge and nucleon 24
number are conserved in nuclear reactions
b) write and complete equations for nuclear
reactions
c) understand the principle of conservation
of energy to calculate the energy released
in a nuclear reaction
35.2 Nuclear fission d) understand the processes of nuclear
35.3 Nuclear fusion fission and fusion
e) understand the occurrence of fission and
fusion in terms of binding energy per
nucleon
f) explain the conditions for a chain reaction
to occur
g) understand a controlled fission process
in a reactor
h) describe a nuclear fusion process which
occurs in the sun
 36. Elementary
particles
36.1 Basic forces a) know the existence of four basic forces: 24
gravitational force, electromagnetic force,
nuclear strong force, and nuclear weak
force
b) know the classification of elementary
particles into leptons and hadrons based
36.2 Quarks on the action of basic forces
c) understand quarks as constituents of
protons and neutrons
36.3 Neutrinos d) know that quarks have fractional charge
e) describe the existence of neutrinos in
beta decay
Revision Mechanics 25 First Trial Exam
on Week 29
Waves & 26 and Week 30
Properties of matter

Thermodynamics 27 Second Trial

Exam on Week
Electricity & 28 34 and Week
magnetism 35

Optics & Quantum 31

Physics

Atomic & Nuclear 32

Physics

Practice on model 37-40

papers