Physics: Provincial Level
Core Topics
A. Measurement & Mathematics Skills
- Review problems involving SI units, significant figures and uncertainties in measurement.
- Resolve, add and subtract vectors using trigonometry
B. Kinematics in Two Dimensions
- Use the language and concepts of kinematics to describe motion in two dimensions
- Analyze and solve kinematics in two dimensions
C. Dynamics in Two Dimensions
- Use the language and concepts of dynamics to describe forces, energy and momentum
- Analyze and solve dynamics in two dimensions using free body diagrams:
- Newton’s Laws
- Torque, Translational and Rotational Equilibrium
- Momentum
- Energy Conservation
- Uniform circular motion
D. Electrostatics
- Use the language and concepts of physics to describe electrostatic phenomena
- Analyze and solve electrostatic forces and electric fields in two dimensions
- Analyze and solve electric potential and electric potential energy
E. Electromagnetism
- Use the language and concepts of physics to describe electromagnetic phenomena
- Analyze and solve problems involving magnetic forces and magnetic fields in two dimensions
- Analyze and solve problems involving electromagnetic induction; includes Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law
- Describe devices that operate using electromagnetic induction
Options:
The following topics may be useful to students going on to further physics courses:
- AC circuits
- Astronomy
- Electronics
- Fluids
- Kirchhoff’s laws
- Nuclear physics
- Quantum physics
- Relativity
Laboratories:
There should be one laboratory from each topic and a minimum of seven laboratories. Laboratory skills must include:
- Collecting data through observation:
- Record a measurement to the appropriate level of precision
- Recognize that all measured values have an uncertainty
- Constructing graphs:
- Choose appropriate scales
- Determine line of best fit
- Label correctly
- Drawing conclusions from observations and data:
- Identify and discuss sources of error
- Calculate and interpret the slope of a line
- Relate conclusion to objectives
- Calculating experimental error:
- Determine % error and % difference where appropriate
- Writing formal laboratory reports
- Participate in experimental design