Upload
vandat
View
221
Download
5
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
ZIMBABWE
MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
O- LEVEL PHYSICS SYLLABUS
FORMS 3 - 4
2015 - 2022
Curriculum Development and Technical ServicesP.O. Box MP 133Mount Pleasant
Harare© All Rights Reserved
2015
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education wishes to acknowledge the following for their valued contribution in the production of this syllabus:
• Panellists for ‘O’ level Physics syllabus.• Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).• Government departments.• Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). • UnitedNationsEducationalScientificandCulturalOrganisation(UNESCO).
i
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
ii
CONTENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................... i
CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................... ii
1.0 PREAMBLE .............................................................................................................................. 1
2.0 PRESENTATION OF THE SYLLABUS .................................................................................... 1
3.0 AIMS .......................................................................................................................................... 1
4.0 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 2
5.0 METHODOLOGY AND TIME ALLOCATION ............................................................................ 2
6.0 SCOPE AND SEQUENCE CHART .......................................................................................... 3
FORM 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 8
FORM 4...........................................................................................................................................22
9.0 ASSESSMENT..........................................................................................................................35
GLOSSARY OF TERMS.................................................................................................................39
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
1
1.0 PREAMBLE
1.1 Introduction
This syllabus is designed to put greater emphasis on the understanding and application of physical concepts and principles. It make learners identify, investigate and solve problems in a sustainable manner. This two - year learning phase will see learners being assessed through continuous assessment and national examination. The ‘O’ level Physics syllabus is designed to inclusively cater for all categories of learners.
1.2 Rationale
Modern day economies, Zimbabwe included, are driven by technology and Physics concepts form part of the basis. The study of Physics enables learners to be creative and innovative in industry and society can promote the application of physics in industrial processes for value addition is well known. The learning of Physics concepts promotes value creation, addition and beneficiationofnaturalresourcesandharnessavailableopportunities for entrepreneurship.
1.3 Summary of Content
‘O’ level Physics syllabus will cover theory and practical activities in the following areas: Newtonian Mechanics, Dynamics, Waves, Electricity and Electromagnetism, Thermal Physics and Modern Physics.
1.4 Assumptions
It is assumed that:
• thelearnerhassuccessfullycompletedForm1and 2 Science syllabus.
• Scienceclubsareexistingandoperationalinschools.
• useofICTforresearchandpresentationisknownby learners.
• useofmeasuringinstrumentssuchasrulers, balances, second-hand clocks, voltmeters, ammeters and thermometers is known by learners.• safetymeasuresareavailableandobserved.
1.5 Cross- Cutting Themes
This phase will develop an appreciation of:
• Inclusivity• Environmentalissues• Indigenousknowledgesystem• Financialliteracy• EnterpriseEducation• Gender• HIVandLifeskills• ChildProtection.• Teamwork• Foodsecurity• Safetyhealthissues• Disasterriskmanagement
2.0 PRESENTATION OF THE SYLLABUS
TheOrdinaryLevelPhysicssyllabusisasingledocu-ment covering Forms 3 - 4. It contains the Preamble, Aims, Syllabus Objectives, Syllabus Topics, Methodology and Time Allocation, Scope and Sequence, Competency Matrix and Assessment. The Scope and Sequence chart shows the progression of topics from Forms 3 - 4, while the syllabus matrix gives details of the content to be covered.
3.0 AIMS
The aims are to:
3.1 create opportunities for learners to acquire research, experimental and practical skills and attitudes in Physics.
3.2 enable learners to acquire basic principles of Physics for application in life and as a basis for further studies in Physics and related disci-plines.
3.3 recognise the usefulness and limitations of the scientificmethodinthestudyofPhysics.
3.4 inculcate in learners the desire to apply Phys-icsforthebenefitofsocietyasguidedbythe
principles of Unhu/Ubuntu and recognising the detrimental effects of misapplication of Phys-ics.
3.5 inculcate in learners the appreciation of the usefulness of ICT in the study and application of Physics.
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
2
3.6 develop, in learners the appreciation of the use of Physics in value creation, addition and beneficiationinminingandotherindustries.
3.7 inculcate in learners the regard for safety and protection of the environment in the study of Physics.
3.8 develop in learners an appreciation of gender, HIVandAIDSissues.
4.0 OBJECTIVES Learnersshouldbeableto:
4.1 follow instructions in practical work in order to manipulate record observations and analyse datatoconfirmorestablishrelationships
4.2 demonstrate knowledge about physical phenomena,facts,laws,definitionsandcon-
cepts of Physics.4.3 measure and express physical quantities in SI
units to a given level of accuracy and preci-sion.
4.4 solve problems using calculations4.5 generate and transform information in Physics, from one form to another for presen-
tation, interpretation and problem solving.4.6 design a practical solution through a Physics
project to solve a real life problem4.7 use ICT to simulate Physics phenomena, present and analyse Physics data4.8 apply safety measures in all practical work4.9 explain and apply procedures in Physics to
protect the environment
5.0 METHODOLOGY AND TIME ALLOCATION Suggested Methods
It is envisaged that teaching and learning programmes based on this Physics syllabus could feature a wide variety of learning experiences designed to promote acquisitionofscientificexpertiseandunderstanding,andto develop values and attitudes relevant to science and life. Teachers are encouraged to use a combination of appropriate strategies to effectively and equitably engage and challenge their learners through:
• Plannedexperiments
• Problemsolvingbasedlearning• Individualandgroupwork• Educationaltours
• Projectbasedlearning• Designbasedlearning• Learningbydiscovery• E-learningsuchassimulation• Resourceperson(s)
N.B. Ortho-didactic principles, such as visual tactile, simulation and self-activity, will be applied when need arises to cater for diverse needs of learners. Safety precautions must always be observed.
Time Allocation
A minimum of 8 periods of 35 minutes each in a week should be allocated as double periods for adequate cov-erage of the syllabus
6.0 TOPICS
1. Measurement and Physical Quantities2. Kinematics3. Forces4. Machines5. Mechanical Structures6. Work, Energy and Power7. Thermal Physics 8. Internal Combustion Engines9. Waves10. Optics11. Electricity12. Magnetism13. Electromagnetism14. Electronics15. Atomic and Nuclear Physics
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
3
6.0
SCO
PE A
ND
SEQ
UEN
CE
CH
AR
T
2 6.
0 SC
OPE
AN
D S
EQU
ENC
E C
HAR
T
TOPI
C FO
RM 3
FO
RM 4
1.0
MEA
SURE
MEN
T AN
D PH
YSIC
AL
QU
ANTI
TIES
1
.1 M
easu
rem
ents
M
easu
rem
ent o
f phy
sica
l qua
ntitie
s.
D
eriv
ed q
uant
ities
U
se o
f S.I.
uni
ts
D
efin
ition
of v
olta
ge, r
esist
ance
and
cur
rent
Expe
rimen
ts to
mea
sure
vol
tage
, cur
rent
and
de
term
ine
resi
stan
ce fo
r ohm
ic co
nduc
tors
1.2
Sca
lars
and
vec
tors
Def
initio
ns a
nd e
xam
ples
Res
ulta
nt o
f cop
lana
r vec
tors
usi
ng g
raph
ical
met
hod
Ap
plic
atio
ns
2.0
KINE
MAT
ICS
2.
1 Sp
eed,
vel
ocity
, dis
tanc
e, d
ispl
acem
ent
and
acce
lera
tion
D
efin
itions
of t
erm
s
Equa
tions
of l
inea
r mot
ion
and
appl
icatio
n
2.2
Gra
phs
of m
otio
n
Dra
win
g an
d in
terp
reta
tion
of g
raph
s
2.3
Mot
ion
unde
r gra
vity
Def
initio
n of
free
fall
C
alcu
latio
ns a
nd a
pplic
atio
ns
3.0
FORC
ES
3.1
Effe
ct o
f for
ce o
n m
ater
ials
Ty
pes
of fo
rces
Inte
rpre
tatio
n of
forc
e ex
tens
ion-
grap
hs
Ap
plic
atio
n of
forc
es o
n b
eam
s, tr
usse
s an
d m
echa
nica
l larg
e s
truct
ures
3.2
Effe
ct o
f for
ce o
n m
otio
n
Def
initio
ns o
f wei
ght,
mom
entu
m a
nd in
ertia
Stat
e an
d ap
ply
New
ton’
s la
ws
of m
otio
n
C
ircul
ar m
otio
n
3.3.
Fric
tion
and
circ
ular
mot
ion
Ef
fect
s of
frict
ion
M
etho
ds o
f fric
tion
C
entri
peta
l acc
eler
atio
n a
nd fo
rce
3.4
Turn
ing
effe
cts
of a
forc
e
Mom
ents
of a
forc
e
Turn
ing
effe
ct o
f a fo
rce
Pr
inci
ples
of m
omen
ts
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
4
3
Ap
plic
atio
n of
mom
ents
3.5
Cent
re o
f mas
s/ce
ntre
of g
ravi
ty
D
efin
itions
of t
erm
s
Det
erm
inat
ion
of c
entre
of m
as
St
abilit
y
3.6
Pres
sure
Def
initio
n
C
alcu
latio
ns
Pr
essu
re in
flui
ds a
nd a
pplic
atio
ns
4.0
MAC
HINE
S
Def
initio
n
Expe
rimen
ts in
volv
ing
incl
ined
pla
nes,
leve
rs a
nd
pulle
ys
4.1.
Sim
ple
mac
hine
s
D
efin
itions
Expe
rimen
ts in
volv
ing:
-
incl
ined
pla
ne
- le
vers
-
pulle
ys
- ca
lcula
tion
of v
eloc
ity ra
tio. M
echa
nica
l ad
vant
age
and
effic
ienc
y.
5.0.
MEC
HAN
ICAL
STR
UCTU
RES
5.1
Mec
hani
cal s
truct
ures
Beam
s, tr
usse
s, jo
inin
g m
ater
ials
and
larg
e st
ruct
ures
6.0
WO
RK, E
NERG
Y AN
D PO
WER
6.1
Wor
k
D
efin
ition
Cal
cula
tion
of w
ork
done
6.2
Ener
gy
D
efin
ition
Ty
pes
and
sour
ces
of e
nerg
y
Ener
gy c
onve
rsio
n
Law
of c
onse
rvat
ion
and
conv
ersi
on o
f ene
rgy
C
alcu
latio
ns in
volvi
ng e
nerg
y
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
5
4 6.
3 Po
wer
Def
initio
n
Cal
cula
tions
invo
lving
pow
er
.
7.0
THER
MAL
PHY
SICS
7.
1 Ki
netic
theo
ry o
f mat
ter
D
efin
ition
of m
atte
r
Stat
es o
f mat
ter a
nd th
eir p
hysi
cal p
rope
rties
7.2
Ther
mal
pro
perti
es
Si
mpl
e ex
perim
ents
to d
emon
stra
te th
erm
al
prop
ertie
s
Cal
cula
tion
of h
eat c
apac
ity a
nd la
tent
hea
t
Mea
sure
men
t of t
empe
ratu
re
7.3
Heat
tran
sfer
Mod
es a
nd m
echa
nism
s of
hea
t tra
nsfe
r and
thei
r ap
plica
tions
Expe
rimen
ts o
n m
odes
of h
eat t
rans
fer
8.0
INTE
RNAL
CO
MBU
STIO
N EN
GIN
ES
Des
crib
e th
e op
erat
ions
of a
four
stro
ke e
ngin
e
Expl
ain
the
role
of t
he c
arbu
retto
r
Stat
e th
e ad
vant
age
of m
ultip
le c
ylind
ers
in a
n en
gine
Com
pare
the
oper
atio
ns o
f a d
iese
l and
pet
rol e
ngin
e 9.
0 W
AVES
9.
1 Ty
pes
of w
aves
D
efin
ition
and
clas
sific
atio
n of
wav
es
9.2
Wav
e pr
oper
ties
Ex
perim
ents
to d
emon
stra
te w
ave
prop
ertie
s an
d ch
arac
teris
tics
9.3
Soun
d
Pr
oduc
tion
and
soun
d w
aves
Expe
rimen
ts to
det
erm
ine
spee
d of
sou
nd
9.4
Elec
trom
agne
tic w
aves
Elec
trom
agne
tic s
pect
rum
Appl
icat
ion
of e
lect
rom
agne
tic w
aves
10.0
OPT
ICS
Appl
icat
ion
of w
aves
: lig
ht
Lawsofreflection
Ex
perim
ents
usi
ng p
lane
mirr
or
R
ay d
iagr
ams
Lawsofrefraction
Ex
perim
ents
to d
emon
stra
te re
fract
ion
Sn
ell’s
law
and
app
licat
ion
Expe
rimen
ts o
n di
sper
sion
of l
ight
11.0
ELE
CTRI
CITY
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
6
5 11
.1 E
lect
rost
atic
s
C
harg
ing
In
tera
ctio
n be
twee
n ch
arge
s
Fiel
d lin
es
Ap
plic
atio
n of
ele
ctro
stat
ics
Sa
fety
and
haz
ards
11.2
Prim
ary
and
seco
ndar
y ce
lls
Def
initio
n of
term
s
Pow
er s
ourc
es
M
easu
rem
ent o
f ele
ctric
al e
ntitie
s
Ohm
’s la
w a
nd re
sist
ance
Safe
ty
11
.3 C
urre
nt e
lect
ricity
D
efin
ition
of te
rms
11.4
Ele
ctric
circ
uits
El
ectri
c co
mpo
nent
s
Con
stru
ctin
g si
mpl
e ci
rcui
ts
11.5
Ele
ctric
ity in
the
hom
e
Wiri
ng o
f thr
ee p
in p
lugs
Use
of t
wo
pin
plug
s
Safe
ty p
reca
utio
ns
12
.0 M
AGNE
TISM
12.1
Mag
netic
pro
perti
es
Prop
ertie
s an
d in
tera
ctio
n
12.2
App
licat
ion
13.0
ELE
CTRO
MAG
NETI
SM
13.1
Mag
netic
effe
cts
of a
n el
ectri
c cu
rren
t
Fi
eld
patte
rns
H
and
rule
s
13.2
For
ce o
n cu
rren
t car
ryin
g co
nduc
tor i
n m
agne
tic fi
eld
Fact
ors
H
and
rule
s
appl
icatio
ns
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
7
6 13
.3 E
lect
rom
agne
tic in
duct
ion
ge
nera
tor p
rinci
ple
Le
nz’s
law
Appl
icat
ions
13
.4 T
rans
form
ers
Tr
ansf
orm
er p
rinci
ple
Ef
ficie
ncy
AC
tran
smiss
ion
and
pow
er lo
ses
14.0
ELE
CTRO
NICS
14
.1El
ectro
nic
com
pone
nts
C
arbo
n re
sisto
rs a
nd c
olou
r cod
ing
R
eed
switc
h 14
.2 L
ogic
gat
es
Circ
uit s
ymbo
ls
C
onst
ruct
ion
of tr
uth
tabl
es
15.0
ATO
MIC
AND
NUC
LEAR
PHY
SICS
15.1
. Ato
mic
mod
el
Des
crip
tion
of a
n at
omic
mod
el
Is
otop
es
15.2
Rad
ioac
tivity
D
efin
ition
Ty
pes
of ra
dioa
ctive
em
issio
n an
d th
eir
char
acte
ristic
s
Use
sto
rage
han
dlin
g an
d im
pact
of r
adio
activ
e em
issio
n
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
8
8.0
CO
MPE
TEN
CY
MAT
RIX
FOR
M 3
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D
RES
OU
RC
ES
1.0
MEA
SUR
EMEN
TS A
ND
PH
YSIC
AL
QU
AN
TITI
ES1.
1 M
easu
rem
ents
•measurephysicalquantities;
read
an
inst
rum
ent s
cale
to
the
near
est f
ract
ion
of a
di
visi
on•
determinedensityofregular
and
irreg
ular
obj
ects
•
expressquantitiesinterms
ofS.I.units;
•Deriveotherunitsfrom
base
units
•Length,area,volum
e,
mas
s, ti
me,
tem
pera
ture
.
•Liquids,regular,irregular
obje
cts.
•S.I.units.
•New
ton,joulewatt,voltand
othe
rs.
•E
xperimentsonmeasur-
ing
leng
th, t
ime,
mas
s.
•Determiningareaand
volu
me.
•Determiningdensity
expe
rimen
tally
for l
iqui
ds,
regu
lar a
nd ir
regu
lar o
b-je
cts.
•
Relatingdensitytoflota-
tion
and
sink
ing.
•Derivingunitsfrom
base
units
.
•Aruler,Verniercallipers,
ther
mom
eter
, bal
ance
st
op-w
atch
, mic
ro m
eter
sc
rew
gau
ge, m
easu
ring
cylin
der,
forc
e m
eter
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
9
FOR
M 3
8
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S Le
arne
rs s
houl
d be
abl
e to
: U
NIT
CO
NTE
NT(S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)
SUG
GES
TED
LEA
RN
ING
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
S SU
GG
ESTE
D
RES
OU
RC
ES
2.0
KIN
EMAT
ICS
2.1
Spee
d, V
eloc
ity a
nd
Acce
lera
tion
de
fine
disp
lace
men
t, sp
eed,
vel
ocity
and
ac
cele
ratio
n
Dis
plac
emen
t, sp
eed,
ve
loci
ty a
nd a
ccel
erat
ion.
U
sing
of t
icke
r tap
e tim
er e
xper
imen
t or a
ny
othe
r met
hod.
Tick
er ta
pe ti
mer
and
tape
Elec
troni
c sp
eed
dete
ctor
2.2
Gra
phs
of m
otio
n
plot
, dra
w a
nd in
terp
ret
grap
hs o
f mot
ion
D
ista
nce
tim
e gr
aph
Det
erm
inin
g ve
loci
ty u
sing
di
stan
ce ti
me
grap
h.
Sp
eed
tim
e gr
aph.
Slop
e of
gra
phs.
Area
und
er g
raph
: di
stan
ce.
D
eter
min
ing
dist
ance
tra
velle
d us
ing
spee
d tim
e gr
aphs
of g
raph
.
D
eter
min
ing
acce
lera
tion,
spe
ed a
nd
dist
ance
from
gra
phs.
2.3
Mot
ion
unde
r gra
vity
defin
e fre
e-fall;
dete
rmin
e ac
cele
ratio
n of
fre
e fa
ll
Fr
ee-fa
ll.
Te
rmin
al v
eloc
ity.
Ex
perim
entin
g on
free
fa
ll.
D
escr
ibin
g qu
alita
tivel
y th
e m
otio
n of
bod
ies
fallin
g in
a u
nifo
rm
grav
itatio
nal f
ield
.
So
lvin
g pr
oble
ms.
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
10
9
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S L
earn
ers
shou
ld b
e ab
le to
:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
3.0
FOR
CES
3.
1 Ef
fect
s of
forc
e on
sha
pe
and
size
of m
ater
ials
ex
plai
n th
e e
ffect
s of
a
forc
e on
siz
e an
d sh
ape
of m
ater
ial
pl
ot, d
raw
and
inte
rpre
t ex
tens
ion
load
gra
phs
ex
plai
n H
ooke
’s L
aw
ca
lcul
ate
sprin
g co
nsta
nt
D
efor
mat
ion
of s
olid
s.
Te
nsio
n an
d
com
pres
sion
.
Hoo
ke’s
Law
and
Spr
ing
cons
tant
.
Expe
rimen
ts
dem
onst
ratin
g H
ooke
’s
Law.
D
eter
min
ing
sprin
g co
nsta
nt.
Si
mul
atin
g sp
ring-
mas
s sy
stem
s.
Fo
am ru
bber
, spr
ings
, m
odel
ling
putty
, pla
stic
ine
elas
tic b
ands
, mas
ses
and
mas
s ha
nger
s
C
ompu
ters
.
3.2
Effe
ct o
f for
ce o
n
mot
ion
de
fine
wei
ght,
mom
entu
m
and
iner
tia
ca
lcul
ate
mom
entu
m
ex
plai
n ea
ch o
f New
ton’
s th
ree
law
s of
mot
ion
use
rela
tion
betw
een
forc
e,
mas
s an
d ac
cele
ratio
n
W
eigh
t, m
omen
tum
, inertia;
p =
mv
F =
ma.
Lim
ited
to li
near
m
otio
n. (C
onse
rvat
ion
of m
omen
tum
is n
ot
requ
ired)
.
Expe
rimen
ting
on fo
rces
ch
angi
ng s
tate
of
mot
ion
Tr
olle
ys, i
nerti
a ca
r for
ce
met
ers,
mas
ses,
co
mpu
ters
, air
track
s,
polis
hed
surfa
ces
C
ompu
ter s
imul
atio
ns
3.3
Fric
tion
and
circ
ular
m
otio
n
expl
ain
the
effe
ct o
f fri
ctio
n on
the
mot
ion
of a
bod
y
de
scrib
e th
e w
ays
in w
hich
fo
rce
may
ch
ange
th
e m
otio
n of
a b
ody
de
scrib
e qu
alita
tivel
y m
otio
n in
a c
urve
d pa
th d
ue
to a
per
pend
icul
ar fo
rce
Fr
ictio
n
M
etho
ds o
f red
ucin
g fri
ctio
n.
C
entri
peta
l for
ce.
Cen
tripe
tal a
ccel
erat
ion.
Ex
perim
ents
de
mon
stra
ting
fric
tion.
(N
o re
fere
nce
to s
tatic
an
d dy
nam
ic c
o-ef
ficie
nt
of fr
ictio
n).
St
atin
g ad
vant
ages
and
di
sadv
anta
ges
of
frict
ion.
Expe
rimen
ting
on
circ
ular
mot
ion.
Tr
olle
ys, m
asse
s,
com
pute
rs, a
ir tra
cks,
po
lishe
d su
rface
s, ro
ugh
surfa
ces,
oil/
grea
se
surfa
ces
In
exte
nsib
le s
tring
s,
bobs
/plu
mb-
line
3.4
Turn
ing
effe
ct o
f a fo
rce
de
fine
mom
ent o
f a fo
rce
de
scrib
e th
e m
omen
t of a
fo
rce
in te
rms
of it
s tu
rnin
g
M
omen
ts.
pr
inci
ple
of m
omen
ts.
Ill
ustra
ting
usin
g ev
eryd
ay e
xam
ples
.
Doo
rs, l
ever
s,
whe
elba
rrow
s, c
row
bar,
strin
gs, m
asse
s,
FOR
M 3
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
11
FOR
M 3
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lea
rner
s sh
ould
be
able
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
3.4
Turn
ing
effe
ct o
f a fo
rce
effe
ct a
nd g
ive
ever
yday
exa
m-
ples
•performanexperim
entto
verif
y th
e pr
inci
ple
of m
o-m
ents
•makecalculationsinvolving
the
prin
cipl
e of
mom
ents
•Calculationinvolvingmo-
men
ts.
supp
orte
rs, s
tand
s, b
ars,
re
tort
stan
ds, b
eam
s
3.5
Cen
tre
of m
ass
•definecentreofm
ass
•definecentreofgravity
•determinethecentreofm
ass
of a
pla
ne la
min
a •
describequalitativelythe
effe
ct o
f the
pos
ition
of t
he
cent
re o
f mas
s on
the
stab
ili-ty
of o
bjec
ts
•Centreofm
ass.
•Centreofgravity.
•Regularandirregular
lam
ina
.
•Stable,unstableandneu-
tral e
quilib
ria.
•Experim
entsdetermining
posi
tion
of c
entre
of m
ass
of re
gula
r and
irre
gula
r la
min
a an
d ot
her o
bjec
ts.
•Experim
entsdem
onstrat-
ing
sta
ble,
uns
tabl
e an
d ne
utra
l equ
ilibria
.
•Irregularlaminas,plumb
line
/ bob
+ s
tring
, sup
port
stan
ds.
•Cones,cubes,chairs,
I
CT
tool
s
3.6
Pres
sure
•definepressure
•calculatepressure
•definitionofpressure.
•P=F/A.
•Experim
entsdem
on-
stra
ting
pres
sure
due
to
diffe
rent
sur
face
are
as•
Calculatingpressureof
solid
obj
ects
usi
ng a
ppro
-pr
iate
uni
ts.
•Cuboids,regularblocksof
woo
d, b
alan
ces,
met
re ru
le,
ICT
tool
s
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
12
FOR
M 3
12
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kn
owle
dge)
SUG
GES
TED
LEA
RN
ING
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
S SU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
SES
calc
ulat
e pr
essu
re in
flui
ds
d
escr
ibe
effe
ct o
f dep
th
on p
ress
ure
de
scrib
e at
mos
pher
ic
pres
sure
use
bar p
atte
rns
to p
redi
ct
type
of w
eath
er in
clud
ing
win
d st
reng
th a
nd
dire
ctio
n
de
scrib
e th
e co
nstru
ctio
n an
d us
e of
a b
arom
eter
desc
ribe
the
cons
truct
ion
and
use
of a
sim
ple
man
omet
er
Pr
essu
re in
flui
ds
P=
ρgh.
Atm
osph
eric
pre
ssur
e.
Pr
essu
re c
ooke
r.
Wea
ther
pat
tern
s.
Ap
plic
atio
ns a
nd
haza
rds.
Man
omet
er.
Ex
perim
ents
de
mon
stra
ting
varia
tion
of p
ress
ure
with
dep
th
D
emon
stra
ting
atm
osph
eric
pre
ssur
e
An
alys
ing
sim
ple
baro
met
er w
eath
er c
harts
Cal
cula
ting
the
man
omet
er
D
escr
ibin
g hy
drau
lic
syst
ems
D
escr
ibin
g w
ater
re
ticul
atio
n
M
anom
eter
and
liqu
id
cont
aine
rs
M
agde
bug
hem
isph
eres
Drin
king
stra
ws
R
ubbe
r suc
kers
Pres
sure
coo
ker
4.0
Mac
hine
s 4.
1 Si
mpl
e m
achi
nes
desc
ribe
the
use
and
appl
icat
ions
of m
achi
nes
calc
ulat
e m
echa
nica
l ad
vant
age,
vel
ocity
ratio
an
d ef
ficie
ncy
expl
ain
ener
gy lo
sses
in
mac
hine
s.
d
escr
ibe
met
hods
of
impr
ovin
g ef
ficie
ncy
Levers,singlestring
pulle
y sy
stem
s (a
t m
ost 6
pul
leys
), in
clin
ed p
lane
: MA=Load/Effort;VR=
D
ista
nce
mov
ed b
y th
e ef
fort
forc
e/di
stan
ce
mov
ed b
y th
e lo
ad.
Efficiency=MA/VR
x
100.
Fric
tion
and
mas
s of
th
e m
achi
ne.
(Cla
ssifi
catio
n of
leve
rs is
no
t req
uire
d).
C
alcu
latio
ns li
mite
d to
le
vers
, pul
ley
syst
ems
Expe
rimen
ts m
easu
ring
effic
ienc
y
Pulle
ys, i
nclin
ed p
lane
, le
vers
, for
ce m
etre
, m
etre
rule
, loa
ds a
nd
mas
ses
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
13
FOR
M 3
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lea
rner
s sh
ould
be
able
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
4.1
Sim
ple
mac
hine
s•
Lubricationandmass
redu
ctio
n.•
Ballbearings.
•Sm
oothsurfaces.
5.0
MEC
HA
NIC
AL
STR
UC
-TU
RES
5.1
Bea
ms
•defineabeam
•
describeabeam
byitscross
sect
iona
l are
a •
comparethestrengthof
beam
s
•explaintheeffectsofpush
and
pull
forc
es
•explainhowstressisdistrib-
uted
in a
load
ed b
eam
•Be
ams.
•Typesofbeams.
•Qualitativerelation
betw
een
stre
ngth
, cr
oss-
sect
iona
l sha
pe a
nd
dept
h.
•Com
pression,tension,
shea
r and
buc
kle.
•
Com
pression,tensionand
natu
ral z
ones
. In
tern
al
stre
ss, a
reas
of s
treng
th
and
wea
knes
s.
•Usingsupportedbar
whi
ch b
ears
a lo
ad.
•Nam
ingT,L,I,Z,O
and
H s
hape
d be
ams,
sol
id
and
hollo
w b
ox a
nd c
ylin
-dr
ical
bea
ms.
•
Carryingoutpractical
wor
k on
bea
ms
usin
g si
mila
r qua
ntiti
es (m
ass
per u
nit l
engt
h) o
f mat
eri-
al b
ut d
iffer
ent b
eam
s•
Experim
entsdem
on-
stra
ting
crus
hing
, com
-pr
essi
ng, b
uckl
ing
and
bend
ing,
stre
tchi
ng a
nd
snap
ping
•Be
ams,supports,loads,
•ICTtools
•Be
amsofdifferentareasec-
tions;T,L,I,W
etc.beams,
woo
den
split
s•
Differenttypesofbeams
•Metrerules,supports,loads
•Foam
rubber,elasticbands,
glas
s ro
ds, l
oad/
stre
ss•
Hollowstems,greentwigs,
foam
rubb
er•
ICTtools
•Plasticine
•Stikstuff
5.2
Tru
sses
•constructtrusses
•explaintheuseoftrianglesin
a tru
ss
•explaintheadvantagesof
truss
es o
ver b
eam
s
•Trusses.
Sta
bilit
y.
•Econom
y,strengthand
stre
ngth
/mas
s ra
tio.
•Definingatruss.
•Com
paringweightof
stru
ctur
es.
•Experim
entsillustrating
stre
ngth
/mas
s ra
tio o
f a
beam
and
trus
s.
•Be
ams,pins,nails,loads,
reto
rt st
ands
, piv
ot, m
etre
ru
le.
•Trussesonbuildings.
•Laboratorymodelsoftruss-
es u
sing
woo
den
splin
ts.
•ICTtools.
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
14
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lea
rner
s sh
ould
be
able
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
5.2
Trus
ses
•explainhowaloadcanbe
distributedthroughoutatruss;
•identifystrutsandtiesina
truss;
•explainthedesignofaroof
truss;
•Com
pressiveandtensile
forc
es.
•Transm
issionofforcesby
conn
ectin
g m
embe
rs.
•Distributionofload
•Experim
entsdetermining
whi
ch m
embe
rs a
re u
nder
te
nsio
n an
d w
hich
are
un
der c
ompr
essi
on.
•Constructingmodels
5.3
Join
ing
mat
eria
ls•
describemethodsofjoining
materials;
•comparethestrengthofjoints
•Joiningmechanism
s;-
Pinn
ing:
-
Surfa
ce c
onta
ct:
•Sizeofcontactarea,num
-be
r and
pos
ition
of p
ins.
•Makingandtesting
stre
ngth
s of
join
ts.
•Gluingwithorw
ithout
dowelsandtongue;
•So
ldering,brazingand
welding;P
lastics–weld-
ing
and
glui
ng.
•Wooden,metallicandplastic
mat
eria
ls•
Beam
s,screw
s,nailsbolts
andrivets;
•Glue
•Joints
5.4
Lar
ge s
truc
ture
s•
identifymaterialsusedin
larg
e st
ruct
ures
•
comparepropertiesofcon
-st
ruct
ion
mat
eria
ls•
explainthedesignandmate-
rials
use
d in
diff
eren
t typ
es o
f br
idge
s •
explaintheuseofarchesin
cons
truct
ion
of l
arge
stru
c-tu
res
•explaincompositionand
shap
e of
dam
wal
ls
•Wood,metal,reinforced
conc
rete
and
sto
nes.
•
Com
pressiveandtensile
stre
ngth
, mas
s an
d du
ra-
bilit
y.
•Pierbridge,beambridge,
arch
brid
ge a
nd S
uspe
n-si
on b
ridge
. •
Earthandconcrete;
stra
ight
and
arc
h da
ms
•Nam
ingmaterialsusedin
larg
e st
ruct
ures
.•
Com
paringpropertiesof
cons
truct
ion
of m
ater
ials
.•
Com
paringdurabilityin
rela
tion
to d
ecay
, cor
ro-
sion
and
rust
ing.
•
Constructingandloading
of m
odel
s.•
(Noknow
ledgeofmateri-
al c
ost i
s re
quire
d bu
t an
appr
ecia
tion
of b
oth
dura
-bi
lity
and
cost
as
fact
ors
in d
eter
min
ing
choi
ce).
•Identifyingmaterials
whi
ch m
ake
dam
wal
ls
•Metalsbeam
s,wooden
beam
s, c
emen
t, co
ncre
te,
rein
forc
e co
ncre
te b
eam
s,
quar
ry s
tone
s, g
rave
l, sa
nd•
ICTtools
•Woodensplints,sand,
ston
es, g
rave
l, cl
ay s
oil
FOR
M 3
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
15
FOR
M 3
17
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S L
earn
ers
shou
ld b
e ab
le to
: U
NIT
CO
NTE
NT S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)
SUG
GES
TED
LEA
RN
ING
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
S
SUG
GES
TED
R
ESO
UR
CES
6.
0 W
OR
K, E
NER
GY
AND
PO
WER
6
.1 W
ork
defin
e w
ork
done
calc
ulat
e w
ork
done
Workdone;
Expe
rimen
ts i
llust
ratin
g w
ork
done
Wor
k =
Forc
e x
d
ista
nce
Forc
e m
etre
s, w
oode
n bl
ock,
met
re ru
le, s
top
wat
ch, p
ulle
ys, a
nd
incl
ined
pla
nes.
6.2
Ener
gy
de
fine
ener
gy
de
scrib
e fo
rms
and
sour
ces
of e
nerg
y
rela
te e
nerg
y co
nver
sion
s an
d w
ork
done
En
ergy
Sou
rces
Law
ofconservationof
ener
gy
En
ergy
con
vers
ions
Cal
cula
tions
invo
lvin
g en
ergy
and
wor
k
Safe
dis
posa
l of b
atte
ries
and
accu
mul
ator
s
D
escr
ibin
g fo
rms
of
ener
gy s
uch
as c
hem
ical
, H
EP, s
un, n
ucle
ar, g
eo-
ther
mal
, win
d an
d tid
es.
(rene
wab
le a
nd n
on-
rene
wab
le s
ourc
es)
N
amin
g so
urce
s of
hea
t, lig
ht, s
ound
, ele
ctric
al,
kine
tic g
ravi
tatio
nal a
nd
pote
ntia
l ene
rgy.
Giv
ing
rela
tions
hip
betw
een
ener
gy a
nd
wor
k.
C
alcu
latin
g pr
oble
ms
on
ener
gy.
Sa
fe d
ispo
sing
of
batte
ries
and
accu
mul
ator
s
W
oode
n bl
ocks
Batte
ries,
cel
ls,
chem
ical
s, m
etal
s
Gen
erat
or/tu
rbin
es
So
lar c
ells
/pan
els,
sol
ar
char
gers
, sol
ar w
ater
he
ater
sys
tem
s
Acad
emic
trip
s to
hot
sp
rings
e.g
. C
him
anim
ani h
ot s
prin
gs
C
ompu
ter s
imul
atio
ns
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
16
FOR
M 3
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lea
rner
s sh
ould
be
able
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
6.3
Pow
er•
definepower
•relatepow
ertorateofener-
gy tr
ansf
erre
d •
performcalculationsinvolving
pow
er =
Fv
•Carryingouteexper
-im
ents
to d
eter
min
e po
wer
.
•Electricmotor,m
eterrule,
stop
wat
ch, l
oad,
stri
ng,
bloc
k of
woo
d, F
orce
met
er.
7.0
THER
MA
L PH
YSIC
S7.
1 Th
e ki
netic
theo
ry o
f m
atte
r•
theeffectofachangede
-sc
ribe
stat
es o
f mat
ter i
n te
rms
of k
inet
ic th
eory
•
explainthephysicalproper-
ties
of m
atte
r •
describequalitativelythe
ther
mal
exp
ansi
on o
f sol
ids,
liq
uids
and
gas
es
•explaintherelativeorderof
mag
nitu
de o
f exp
ansi
ons
of
solid
s, li
quid
s an
d ga
ses
•identifyandexplainsome
of th
e ev
eryd
ay a
pplic
atio
ns
and
c
onse
quen
ces
of•
thermalexpansion
•describequalitativelyoftem
-pe
ratu
re o
n th
e vo
lum
e of
a
gas
at c
onst
ant p
ress
ure
•So
lids,liquidsandgases.
•Brow
nianmotion.
•Charles’slaw.
•Bo
yle’slaw.
•Eq
uationofstate.
P
1V1/T1=P
2V2/T2
•Carryingoutpractical
activ
ities
to d
emon
stra
te
chan
ge o
f sta
te in
clud
ing
S
ublim
atio
n.
•Carryingoutexperiments
to i
llust
rate
the
pro
per-
ties.
•
Meltingboilin
gandevap
-or
atin
g.
•Diffusion–mixingdueto
mol
ecul
ar m
otio
n.
•Experim
entsonCharles’s
and
Boyl
e’s
law.
•Kinetictheorym
odelkit.
•Brow
nianmotionmodelkit
•So
lids,liquidsandgases
•So
urcesofheat
•Chalk/dust.
•2largesyringescommu-
nica
ted
by ru
bber
tubi
ng,
war
m w
ater
, the
rmom
eter
, m
anom
eter
.•
Icewaterinabeaker,source
of h
eat,
ther
mom
eter
.•
Perfume,bromine,smoke.
•Charles’lawapparatus.
•Bo
yle’slawapparatus
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
17
FOR
M 3
19
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S L
earn
ers
shou
ld b
e ab
le
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
7.2
Ther
mal
Pro
pert
ies
co
mpa
re
qual
itativ
ely
orde
r of
m
agni
tude
of
ex
pans
ion
of s
olid
s
li
quid
s an
d ga
ses
ex
plai
n ap
plic
atio
ns a
nd
cons
eque
nces
of
ther
mal
exp
ansi
on
and
cont
ract
ion
de
scrib
e ho
w a
phy
sica
l pr
oper
ty w
hich
var
ies
with
tem
pera
ture
may
be
used
for m
easu
rem
ent
of te
mpe
ratu
re
st
ate
such
pro
perti
es
Th
erm
al e
xpan
sion
and
co
ntra
ctio
n.
Th
erm
osta
ts,
ther
mom
eter
s, b
ridge
s,
railw
ay li
nes
and
elec
trica
l cab
les,
etc
.
Mea
sure
men
t of
tem
pera
ture
, fix
ed p
oint
s liq
uid
in g
lass
th
erm
omet
er (l
abor
ator
y an
d cl
inic
al),
ther
moc
oupl
e th
erm
omet
er,
adva
ntag
es a
nd
disa
dvan
tage
s of
eac
h ty
pe o
f the
rmom
eter
.
C
arry
ing
expe
rimen
ts to
co
mpa
re e
xpan
sion
and
co
ntra
ctio
n in
sol
ids,
liq
uids
and
gas
es.
Car
ryin
g ou
t exp
erim
ents
w
ith d
iffer
ent
ther
mom
eter
s.
Ba
ll an
d rin
g ex
perim
ent,
goug
e an
d ba
r, em
pty
flask
fitte
d w
ith a
rubb
er
stop
per w
ith a
gla
ss
tubi
ng, w
arm
wat
er, c
old
clot
h.
Fl
ask
fille
d w
ith w
ater
fit
ted
with
a ru
bber
st
oppe
r with
a g
lass
tu
bing
and
war
m w
ater
an
d ic
e w
ater
in a
bow
l.
Ther
mos
tats
, th
erm
omet
ers,
bim
etal
lic
strip
s.
stat
e th
e ne
ed fo
r and
id
entif
y fix
ed p
oint
s
de
scrib
e se
nsiti
vity
ra
nge
and
linea
rity
de
scrib
e di
ffere
nt ty
pes
of
ther
mom
eter
s
de
fine
and
desc
ribe
mel
ting
and
boilin
g in
te
rms
of e
nerg
y tra
nsfe
r w
ithou
t cha
nge
of
tem
pera
ture
desc
ribe
the
effe
ct
of
impu
ritie
s an
d pr
essu
re
on
mel
ting
poin
ts
and
M
eltin
g an
d bo
iling.
Latentheat.
Im
purit
ies
and
pres
sure
.
C
arry
ing
out e
xper
imen
ts
on e
xpan
sion
and
co
ntra
ctio
n of
mat
ter.
Det
erm
inin
g m
eltin
g po
int
and
boilin
g po
int
expe
rimen
tally
and
gr
aphi
cally
. Con
side
r bo
th h
eatin
g an
d co
olin
g cu
rves
.
Car
ry o
ut e
xper
imen
ts o
n th
e in
fluen
ce o
f at
mos
pher
ic p
ress
ure
and
impu
ritie
s on
mel
ting
poin
ts a
nd b
oilin
g po
ints
to
be
disc
usse
d in
term
s
C
alor
imet
er, e
lem
ents
, so
lids,
wat
er,
ther
mom
eter
s, b
alan
ce
Fl
at b
otto
med
flas
ks,
tong
s
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
18
20
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S L
earn
ers
shou
ld b
e ab
le
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
boilin
g po
ints
of
su
bsta
nces
of
kin
etic
theo
ry
dem
onst
rate
.
dete
rmin
e th
e sp
ecifi
c he
at c
apac
ity
of a
liqu
id a
nd a
sol
id
ca
lcul
ate
the
heat
tra
nsfe
r fro
m
expe
rimen
tal d
ata
expl
ain
why
diff
eren
t m
ater
ials
hav
e di
ffere
nt
heat
cap
aciti
es
de
fine
spec
ific
late
nt
heat
calc
ulat
e sp
ecifi
c la
tent
he
at
D
efin
ition
of h
eat
capa
city
and
spe
cific
he
at c
apac
ity(c
).
∆Q
=mc(ϑ f−ϑ
i) =IVt.
H
eat s
uppl
ied
= he
at
gain
ed
Qlo
ss =
Qga
ined
=
Q
supp
lied.
Expl
anat
ion
base
d on
pa
rticl
es.
Fu
sion
, vap
oriz
atio
n
H
eat s
uppl
ied
=
h
eat g
aine
d.
∆Q
= m
l.
D
eter
min
ing
spec
ific
heat
ca
paci
ty b
y ex
perim
ents
.
Car
ryin
g ou
t cal
cula
tions
on
spe
cific
hea
t cap
acity
.
Expl
aini
ng d
iffer
ence
s in
he
at c
apac
ities
.
Det
erm
inin
g sp
ecifi
c la
tent
hea
t ex
perim
enta
lly.
C
alcu
latin
g sp
ecifi
c la
tent
he
at.
(Ass
umpt
ion:
No
heat
is
lost
or g
aine
d to
su
rrou
ndin
g).
C
alor
imet
er, h
eatin
g el
emen
ts, s
olid
s, w
ater
, th
erm
omet
ers,
bal
ance
, cl
ock,
vol
tmet
er,
amm
eter
, con
nect
ing
lead
s, p
ower
, fun
nel,
ice
7.3
Hea
t Tra
nsfe
r
id
entif
y go
od
and
bad
cond
ucto
rs o
f hea
t
give
a m
olec
ular
acc
ount
of
hea
t tra
nsfe
r in
solid
s
re
late
con
vect
ion
to
dens
ity c
hang
es in
liq
uids
and
gas
es
M
etal
s, n
on-m
etal
s an
d
liqui
ds.
C
ondu
ctio
n.
C
onve
ctio
n.
C
arry
ing
out e
xper
imen
ts
to d
istin
guis
h. b
etw
een
good
and
bad
con
duct
ors
of h
eat.
Car
ryin
g ou
t exp
erim
ents
to
dem
onst
rate
co
nduc
tion
and
conv
ectio
n.
Ex
perim
ents
to
dem
onst
rate
con
vect
ion.
Lesleycube/wax
C
ondu
ctor
met
er
Be
aker
with
wat
er +
a
colo
rant
i.e.
pot
assi
um
perm
anga
nate
.
Con
vect
ion
cham
ber
FOR
M 3
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
19
FOR
M 3
21
TO
PIC
O
BJE
CTI
VES
Le
arne
rs s
houl
d be
abl
e to
:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
desc
ribe
expe
rimen
ts to
di
stin
guis
h be
twee
n go
od a
nd b
ad
emitt
ers/
abso
rber
s of
in
fra-re
d ra
diat
ion
de
duce
th
at
good
ab
sorb
ers
are
also
goo
d em
itter
s
ex
plai
n ap
plic
atio
ns o
f co
nduc
tion,
con
vect
ion
and
radi
atio
n
desc
ribe
the
func
tion
and
desi
gn o
f a s
olar
w
ater
hea
ter
R
adia
tion.
Goo
d an
d ba
d em
itter
s/ab
sorb
er.
So
lar c
ooke
r and
va
cuum
flas
k, e
tc.
So
lar w
ater
hea
ter.
Se
a br
eeze
s.
Ai
r ven
ts.
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
ts w
ith d
ull
and
brig
ht s
urfa
ces.
Car
ryin
g ou
t ex
perim
ents
with
pa
rabo
lic re
flect
ors.
Car
ryin
g ou
t Ex
perim
ents
to
dem
onst
rate
sol
ar w
ater
he
atin
g.
R
efle
ctor
s, v
acuu
m fl
ask
and
diffe
rent
sur
face
s.
Pa
rabo
lic d
ish,
sol
ar w
ater
he
ater
.
W
ax
Th
erm
omet
er
Hea
ter
Air c
ondi
tione
r
8.0
INTE
RN
AL C
OM
BU
STIO
N
ENG
INES
8.
1 Fo
ur s
trok
e en
gine
desc
ribe
the
oper
atio
ns
ofafourstro
keengine;
expl
ain
the
role
of t
he
carb
uret
tor
stat
e th
e ad
vant
age
of
mul
tiple
cyl
inde
rs in
an
engi
ne
co
mpa
re th
e op
erat
ions
of
a d
iese
l and
pet
rol
engi
ne
Com
pres
sion
, pow
er,
exha
ust a
nd in
let
stro
kes.
Fuel
and
air
supp
ly.
Ev
en fi
ring
and
pow
er
dist
ribut
ion.
Igni
tion
met
hods
, re
leva
nt e
ffici
ency
and
ca
rbon
mon
oxid
e (s
oot)
prod
uctio
n.
Size
of p
arts
.
Ex
plai
ning
impo
rtanc
e of
a
clea
n fu
el s
uppl
y,
effe
cts
of li
mita
tion
of a
ir su
pply
(cho
ke c
ontro
l, bl
ocke
d fil
ters
) and
fuel
su
pply
(wor
n ou
t jet
s).
Usi
ng a
mod
el to
de
mon
stra
te s
troke
s.
Ex
plai
ning
e ff
icie
ncy
as
mea
sure
d by
fuel
ec
onom
y (k
ilom
etre
s pe
r lit
re).
Engi
ne m
odel
s,
C
ompu
ter m
odel
s,
ca
rbur
etto
r
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
20
FOR
M 3
22
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
8. 1
Soc
ial a
nd e
cono
mic
co
nsid
erat
ions
of u
sing
fu
els
id
entif
y re
new
able
an
d no
n-renewablere
sources;
fuel
s
desc
ribe
the
soci
al a
nd
econ
omic
impl
icat
ion
of
usingfuels;
R
enew
able
and
non
-re
new
able
fuel
s.
D
efor
esta
tion,
effe
cts
of
the
by-p
rodu
cts,
pol
lutio
n.
Sa
fe h
andl
ing
of fu
els.
Id
entif
ying
rene
wab
le
and
non-
rene
wab
le
reso
urce
s.
fu
els
W
ood,
cha
rcoa
l, co
al,
petro
leum
, bio
gas
, et
hano
l
Can
dles
9.0
WAV
ES
9.1
Mec
hani
cal w
ave
prop
ertie
s
desc
ribe
wav
e m
otio
n
de
scrib
e ch
arac
teris
tics
of
a w
ave
calc
ulat
e ve
loci
ty,
fre
quen
cy a
nd w
avel
engt
h
de
scrib
e pr
opag
atio
n of
w
aves
in te
rms
of w
ave
front
s an
d ra
ys.
Tran
sver
se a
nd
long
itudi
nal w
aves
.
Ampl
itude
, wav
elen
gth,
fre
quen
cy a
nd p
erio
d
T= 1
/f, V
=fλ
M
edia
for m
echa
nica
l w
aves
.
Ref
lect
ion
and
refra
ctio
n w
ave
front
s an
d ra
ys
Dem
onst
ratin
g re
flect
ion
and
refra
ctio
n of
wav
e fro
nts
prac
tical
ly.
C
alcu
latin
g th
e pe
riod,
ve
loci
ty ,f
requ
ency
and
w
avel
engt
h of
wav
es
C
arry
ing
expe
rimen
ts to
de
mon
stra
te w
aves
.
Sprin
gs/s
linky
, rop
es
rope
s, ri
pple
tank
s
9.2
Soun
d•
describehowsoundispro
-du
ced
•describethelongitudinal
natu
re o
f sou
nd w
aves
•
statetheapproximaterange
of a
udib
le fr
eque
ncy
•Vibrations
•Com
pressionsandrarefac-
tions
. •
Transm
issionofsoundin
diffe
rent
med
ia
•Carryingexperim
entson
soun
d pr
oduc
tion
•Carryingoutexperiments
invo
lvin
g tra
nsm
issi
on in
di
ffere
nt m
edia
. •
Determiningspeedof
soun
d pr
actic
ally.
•Fixedruler/hacksaw
blade
•Tuningforksandsimple
mus
ical
inst
rum
ents
•
ICTtools
•vacuum
pum
pandelectric
bell
wat
ch
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
21
FOR
M 3
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
9.2
Soun
d•
explaintheneedofame-
dium
in th
e tra
nsm
issi
on o
f so
und
wav
es
•describeexperim
entstode-
term
ine
the
spee
d of
sou
nd
inair;
•relatepitch,loudnessand
qual
ity o
f sou
nd w
aves
to
ampl
itude
and
freq
uenc
y•
describeechoesandappli-
catio
n
•Sp
eedofsound.
•Pitch,loudnessandquality.
•Reflectionofsound.
•Ap
plicationsofechoes.
•Fishingindustries
•Depthdetermination
•Carryingoutexperiments
on p
itch,
loud
ness
and
qu
ality
(No
treat
men
t of
over
tone
s.)
•Carryingoutsimpleexper-
imen
ts to
dem
onst
rate
ec
hoes
•startergun/woodenblock
wal
l sha
llow
wel
l
•C.R.O,m
icrophone,signal
gene
rato
r
9.3
Elec
trom
agne
ticw
aves
•identifytheregionsofthe
elec
trom
agne
tic s
pect
rum
( or
der o
f wav
elen
gth
or fr
e-qu
ency
)•
statethedifferencesand
sim
ilarit
ies
b
etw
een
electromagneticwaves;
•statetheusesofthedif-
fere
nt c
ompo
nent
s of
the
elec
trom
agne
tic s
pect
rum
•Electromagneticspectrum
•Wavelength,frequency,
spee
d an
d tra
nsm
issi
on
•Usesofthedifferentcom
-po
nent
s
•Norecallofactualw
ave-
leng
ths
or fr
eque
ncie
s is
re
quire
d•
Discussingdifferences
and
sim
ilarit
ies
betw
een
elec
trom
agne
tic w
aves
. •
Discussingapplicationsof
elec
trom
agne
tic w
aves
in
com
mun
icat
ion
cook
ing,
medicalfieldremotesens
-in
g
•Mirror,ICTtools,Oilysur
-faceswithlight,LaptoporTV
screenswithDVD
withlight
•UVandinfraredsources,
filters,com
puter
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
22
FOR
M 4
8.0
CO
MPE
TEN
CY
MAT
RIX
25
FORM
4
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
R
ESO
UR
CES
10.0
O
PTIC
S
10
.1
Ref
lect
ion
of li
ght
desc
ribe
an e
xper
imen
t to
illust
rate
th
e la
ws
of
refle
ctio
n
us
e th
e la
w: I
= r,
in
reflection;
de
scrib
e th
e po
sitio
n an
d ch
arac
teris
tics
of a
n op
tical
imag
e
form
ed b
y pl
ane
mirr
or
perfo
rm s
impl
e co
nstru
ctio
ns,
mea
sure
men
ts a
nd
calculations;
Lawsofre
flection,
Fo
rmat
ion
of im
ages
by
plan
e m
irror
s.
Ray
dia
gram
s
Car
ryin
g ou
t ex
perim
ents
on
refle
ctio
n
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
t to
find
the
imag
e of
an
obje
ct
C
onst
ruct
ing
imag
es
form
ed b
y pl
ane
mirr
or
O
ptic
kit
IC
T to
ols
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
23
FOR
M 4
26
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
CTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
10.2
R
efra
ctio
n of
ligh
t
statelawsofre
fraction;
de
scrib
e re
fract
ion
usin
g
raydiagrams;
desc
ribe
refra
ctio
n of
ligh
t th
roug
h tra
nspa
rent
blo
cks
andliquids;
definerefra
ctiveindex;
definecriticalangle;
de
scrib
e to
tal i
nter
nal
reflection;
de
scrib
e ap
plic
atio
ns o
f to
tal i
nter
nal r
efle
ctio
n.
O
ptic
ally
den
se a
nd
optic
ally
less
den
se
med
ia
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑠𝑠=𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑠𝑠𝑐𝑐
R
efra
ctio
n at
pla
ne
surfa
ces
Ap
pare
nt d
epth
Ray
dia
gram
s
To
tal i
nter
nal r
efle
ctio
n an
d cr
itica
l ang
le.
Fi
bre
optic
s
G
lass
pris
ms
inst
rum
ents
Mira
ge
St
raig
ht o
bjec
t in
wat
er
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
ts to
inve
stig
ate
refra
ctio
n.
D
raw
ing
ray
diag
ram
s to
illu
stra
te v
ario
us
situ
atio
ns o
f ref
ract
ion
Ex
perim
ents
to
dem
onst
rate
app
aren
t de
pth
Expe
rimen
ts to
de
term
ine
refra
ctiv
e in
dex.
Expe
rimen
ts to
de
mon
stra
te to
tal
inte
rnal
refle
ctio
n.
D
emon
stra
ting
appl
icat
ion
of to
tal
inte
rnal
refle
ctio
n in
fibr
e optics;
O
ptic
kit
IC
T to
ols
Bi
nocu
lars
,mic
rosc
ope
an
d pe
risco
pe
27
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
10.3
Len
ses
de
scrib
e th
e ac
tion
of
a co
nver
ging
le
ns
and
dive
rgin
g le
ns o
n a
beam
of
light;
draw
ray
diag
ram
s to
illu
stra
te th
e fo
rmat
ion
of
real
and
virt
ual i
mag
es
C
onve
rgin
g an
d di
verg
ing
lens
es, f
ocal
poi
nt
N
atur
e an
d po
sitio
n of
im
ages
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
ts to
sho
w
conv
erge
nce
and
dive
rgen
ce
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
ts o
n fo
rmat
ion
of re
al a
nd
virtu
al im
ages
by
conv
ergi
ng le
ns.
(N
o tre
atm
ent o
f im
ages
fo
rmed
by
dive
rgin
g le
nses
is re
quire
d)
O
ptic
kit,
cam
era
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
24
FOR
M 4
28
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITI
ES A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
Expl
ain
how
to m
easu
re
the
foca
l len
gth
of a
co
nver
ging
lens
desc
ribe
mag
nific
atio
n of
a
c
onve
rgin
g le
ns
de
scrib
e th
e us
e of
a
sing
le le
ns a
s a
mag
nify
ing
glas
s
des
crib
e th
e us
e of
a
sing
le l
ens
to f
orm
a r
eal
imag
e
ex
plai
n th
e us
e of
lens
es
in th
e co
rrect
ion
of s
hort
and
long
sig
ht
Fo
cal l
engt
h
M
agni
ficat
ion
𝑚𝑚
=𝑣𝑣 𝑢𝑢=ℎ𝑖𝑖/ℎ𝑜𝑜
Im
age
char
acte
ristic
s.
Sh
ort a
nd lo
ng s
ight
s.
C
arry
ing
out
dem
onst
ratio
ns.
(N
o ca
lcul
atio
ns
requ
ired)
Expe
rimen
ts to
mea
sure
th
e fo
cal l
engt
h of
a
conv
ergi
ng le
ns.
D
emon
stra
ting
the
actio
n of
a m
agni
fyin
g gl
ass.
Opt
ical
kit
Met
re ru
le
Cam
era
and
proj
ecto
r IC
T to
ols
10.4
Dis
pers
ion
of li
ght
defin
e di
sper
sion
of l
ight
desc
ribe
the
disp
ersi
on o
f lig
ht
Visiblespectru
m.
C
arry
ing
out
expe
rimen
ts o
n di
sper
sion
of l
ight
usi
ng
a gl
ass
pris
m. O
rder
of
colo
urs
to b
e sp
ecifi
ed.
Opt
ic k
it an
d gl
ass
pris
m
ICT
tool
s
11.0
EL
ECTR
ICIT
Y 11
.1
Elec
tros
tatic
s•
describeexperim
ents
to s
how
ele
ctro
stat
ic
ch
argi
ng
•describeforcesbetween
char
ges
of s
tatic
ele
ctric
ity•
describeanelectricfield
•Theelectron,andpositive
char
ges.
•Unitofcharges.
•TheCoulomb.
•Likeandunlike
•C
harges.
•Forceandelectriccharges.
•Carryingoutexperiments
to s
how
ele
ctro
stat
ic
char
ging
. C
arry
ing
expe
rimen
ts to
de
mon
stra
te a
ttrac
tion
repu
lsio
n of
cha
rges
.
•VandeGraafgenerator,
gold
leaf
ele
ctro
scop
e,
Pers
pex,
ebo
nite
, cel
lulo
se•
Rods/plates,cotton,fur,
glas
s ro
ds•
Polythene
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
25
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
•stateanddescribethe
directionoffieldlinesand
simplefieldpatterns;
•distinguishbetweenelectric
conductorsandinsulators;
•explainseparationof
chargebyinduction;
•describenaturalphenome-
na o
f sta
tic e
lect
ricity
•Fieldlinesandfieldpat-
tern
s •
Conductorsandinsulators
•Inducedchargeinconduc-
tors
•
Lightningconductors
•Qualitativetreatmentonly
•Drawingdiagramtoshow
field-patterns.
•Dem
onstratinginductive
char
ging
usi
ng e
lect
ro-
scop
es.
•Discussinglightning,
safe
ty p
reca
utio
ns A
ppli-
catio
ns a
nd h
azar
ds•
Formation,dangers,
earth
ing,
shi
eldi
ng.
•Constructingalightning
cond
ucto
r
•Goldleafelectroscope
•Lightningconductors/
shie
lds
•ICTtools
11.2
Pr
imar
y an
d se
cond
ary
cells
El
ectr
omot
ive
forc
e
•usetheconceptthatthe
e.m
.f is
mea
sure
d by
ene
r-gy
dis
sipa
ted
by a
sou
rce
in d
rivin
g a
char
ge ro
und
a
com
plet
e ci
rcui
t•
show
anunderstandingthat
thevoltisgivenbyJ/C
•e.m.fofacell/battery.
•unitsofe.m.f.
•So
urcesofe.m.f.
•Listsourcesofe.m.f.
•Explainingtheterms
e.m
.f. a
nd c
alcu
latin
g cu
rrent
. I =
Q/t.
•Po
wersupplies,cells,
batte
ries,
acc
umul
ator
s,
voltm
eter
,(pho
to v
olta
ic
cells
)
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
26
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D
RES
OU
RC
ES
11.3
Cur
rent
ele
ctric
ityexplaintheflowofcurrentin
a ci
rcui
t
u
se th
e eq
uatio
n I=
Q/t
mea
sure
cur
rent
and
vol
t-ag
e definepotentialdifferences
•usetheconceptthatthe
sum
of t
he p
oten
tial d
iffer
-en
ces
in a
ser
ies
circ
uit i
s th
e sa
me
as th
e po
tent
ial
diffe
renc
e ac
ross
the
who
le
circ
uit
•stateandapplyOhm
’slaw
•describeanexperimentto
dete
rmin
e re
sist
ance
usi
ng
a vo
ltmet
er a
nd a
n am
met
er
•statethelim
itationsof
Ohm
’s la
w
•sketchandinterpretthe
V/Icharacteristicsgraphs
for m
etal
lic (o
hmic
) and
no
n-oh
mic
con
duct
ors
•Usetherelationshipbe
-tw
een
the
resi
stan
ce, l
engt
h an
d cr
oss-
sect
iona
l are
a of
a
wire
•Electricchargeflow
.•
Ammeter,ampere.
•Conventionaldirectionof
curre
nt.
•Differentrangesofvoltage
and
curre
nt.
V
oltageinaseriescircuit.
V
T=V1
+V2+-------
Law
ofconservationof
ener
gy
Res
ista
nce
R
=V/I
E
xper
imen
tal d
eter
min
atio
n of
resi
stan
ce.
T
hick
ness
and
leng
th o
f a
cond
ucto
rs.
T
empe
ratu
re
R
=ρl/A
•Am
pere,thevolt,milliam
-pe
re ra
nge.
•
Usingavoltmetertomea
-su
re p
.d.
•Usinganam
metertomea
-su
re c
urre
nt.
•Carryingoutexperiments
usin
g vo
ltmet
er in
a s
erie
s ci
rcui
t. •
Carryingoutexperimentsto
verifyOhm
’sLaw
andcal
-cu
latio
ns in
volv
ing
Ohm
’s
law.
•
Carryingputexperimentsto
dete
rmin
e re
sist
ance
. •
Carryingoutsimpleexper-
imen
ts to
inve
stig
ate
the
limita
tions
. •
Sketchingandinterpret-
ingtheV/Icharacteristics
grap
hs.
•Variationsofresistanceof
cond
ucto
r with
tem
pera
ture
(e
.g. i
n a
bulb
), te
nsio
n or
if
plac
ed in
a s
trong
mag
netic
field.
•Carryingoutexperiments
to in
vest
igat
e th
e re
latio
n-sh
ips.
•Am
meter,voltmeter,
mul
timet
ers
•CarbonResistors
Am
met
er, v
oltm
eter
s,
mul
timet
ers,
pow
er s
ourc
es, l
eads
, sw
itche
s.
•Colourcodechart
•Differentswgwiresof
e.g.
Con
stan
tine,
ni-
chro
me,
cop
per,
mi-
crom
etre
scr
ew g
auge
, m
etre
rule
FOR
M 4
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
27
FOR
M 4
33
TOPI
C
OB
JEC
TIVE
S
Le
arne
rs s
houl
d be
abl
e to
UN
IT C
ON
TENT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
ACTI
VITE
S AN
D N
OTE
S
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
11.4
El
ectr
ic c
ircui
ts
se
t up
sim
ple
elec
tric
circ
uits
draw
and
inte
rpre
t circ
uit
diag
ram
s
us
e th
e fa
ct th
at th
e cu
rrent
from
the
sour
ce
is th
e su
m o
f cur
rent
s in
th
e se
para
te b
ranc
hes
of
a pa
ralle
l circ
uit
ca
lcul
ate
resi
stan
ce in
si
mpl
e ci
rcui
ts
si
mpl
e ci
rcui
ts.
dr
aw a
nd in
terp
ret c
ircui
t di
agra
ms.
I=
I1+I
2+I3
.
R=R
1+R
2+R
3.
Serie
s an
d pa
ralle
l re
sist
ors.
1 𝑅𝑅=
1 𝑅𝑅1+1 𝑅𝑅2+−−
M
ount
ing
circ
uits
and
m
easu
ring
curre
nt
thro
ugh
resi
stor
s in
pa
ralle
l.
Car
ryin
g ou
t pra
ctic
al
activ
ities
on
elec
tric
circ
uits
.
Dra
win
g an
d in
terp
retin
g ci
rcui
t dia
gram
s.
C
alcu
latin
g re
sist
ance
for
serie
s an
d pa
ralle
l re
sist
ors.
C
ells
, sw
itche
s, re
sist
ors
varia
ble
resi
stor
s, b
ulbs
, am
met
ers,
vol
tmet
ers
and
fuse
s, c
onne
ctin
g le
ads.
Circ
uit b
oard
s, fu
ses,
sw
itche
s, c
ompu
ter
11.5
Ele
ctric
ity in
the
hom
e•
describeusesofelectricity
in th
e ho
me
•calculateelectricalpow
er,
ener
gy a
nd th
e co
st o
f el
ectri
city
•describeelectricalhaz
-ar
ds a
nd s
afet
y pr
ecau
-tio
ns
•describethewiringofa
thre
e-pi
n pl
ug
•Heating,lightingandmo-
tors
, lam
ps in
par
alle
l. •
Thekilowatt-hour
P=
VIE=
Vlt.
•Hazards.
•Sa
fetyprecautions.
•Discussingandlistinguses
of e
lect
ricity
in th
e ho
me.
•
Readingofelectricityme-
ters
and
cos
ting.
•
Discussingdamagedinsu
-la
tion,
ove
rhea
ting
cabl
es
and
dam
p co
nditi
ons.
•Three-pinplug,two-pin
plug
, fus
es, b
reak
ers,
he
atin
g el
emen
ts, i
ron,
fan,
el
ectri
c m
eter
s, m
otor
s,
ICT
tool
s
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
28
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
toU
NIT
CO
NTE
NT
(Ski
lls,
attit
udes
and
kno
wle
dge)
SUG
GES
TED
LEA
RN
ING
A
CTI
VITE
S A
ND
NO
TES
SUG
GES
TED
RES
OU
RC
ES
11.5
Ele
ctric
ity in
the
hom
e•
explaintheuseoffuses,
fuse
ratin
gs a
nd s
witc
hes
•Live,neutralandearth.
•Doubleinsulationofappli-
ance
.
•Experim
entsdem
onstrat-
ing
elec
trica
l haz
ards
m
ust N
OT
be d
one.
•
Wiringofaplug.
•Exam
iningappliances
with
dou
ble
insu
latio
n•
Dem
onstratingtheop
-er
atio
n of
a fu
se a
nd a
sw
itch.
•
Explainingwhyfuses
and
switc
hes
are
alw
ays
on li
ve w
ire.
•Fuses,switchesonlive
wire
•Insulatedcables,electricity
met
ers
12.0
M
AG
NET
ISM
12.1
M
agne
tic p
rope
rtie
s •statethepropertiesof
mag
nets
•
describemagneticfield
lines
aro
und
mag
nets
•
explaininducedmagne
-tism;
•describemethodsofm
ag-
netisation;
•describemethodsof
dem
agnetisation;
•Po
larity.
•Attractionandrepulsion.
•Magneticfieldlines.
•Patternanddirection.
•Induction.
•Singleanddoublestroking,
usin
g a
sole
noid
•Dem
agnetisationbyham
-m
erin
g, h
eatin
g an
d el
ectri
-ca
l met
hods
. •
Relativeeaseofm
agneti-
satio
n an
d de
mag
netiz
atio
n te
mpo
rary
and
per
man
ent
mag
nets
•Carryingoutexperiments
to in
vest
igat
e pr
oper
ties
of m
agne
ts.
•Carryingoutexperiments
to d
emon
stra
te in
duce
d m
agne
tism
. •
Carryingoutexperiments
to d
emon
stra
te m
agne
ti-sa
tion.
•Magnets,pocketcom
pass,
cell,
sol
enoi
d/co
ils, d
iffer
ent
mat
eria
ls b
oth
mag
netic
andnon-magnetic,ironfil
-in
gs, p
aper
, hea
t, ha
mm
er.
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
29
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
•distinguishbetweenmag
-ne
tic a
nd
•non-magneticmaterials
•distinguishbetweenthe
mag
netic
pro
perti
es o
f iro
n an
d st
eel
tem
pora
ry a
nd p
erm
anen
t m
agne
ts•
Magnetisinganddemag
-ne
tisin
g pi
eces
of i
ron
and
stee
l.
•Ironandsteelrods/cores
12.2
App
licat
ion
of
mag
netis
m•
describeusesoftem
porary
mag
nets
•describeusesandapplica-
tion
of p
erm
anen
t mag
nets
•Temporarymagnetsand
thei
r use
s.•
Permanentm
agnetsand
thei
r use
s.
•Discussingusesoftem
po-
rary
mag
nets
.•
Discussingusesofperma-
nent
mag
nets
•Videoandaudiotapes,com
-pu
ter
dis
cs, e
lect
ric b
ell,
•Electricmotors,loudspeak-
ers,
gen
erat
ors,
tele
phon
e re
ceiv
ers
13.0
ELE
CTR
OM
AG
NET
ISM
13
.1 M
agne
tic e
ffect
of a
n
elec
tric
cur
rent
•describeanexperimentto
dem
onst
rate
that
a c
ur-
rent
-car
ryin
g co
nduc
tor h
as
amagneticfieldaroundit
•describeanexperimentto
plotmagneticfieldpatterns
due
to a
cur
rent
-car
ryin
g so
leno
id•
predictthedirectionof
magneticfieldofstraight
cond
ucto
r and
of a
sol
e-no
id
•Magneticfieldpatterns.
•Magneticfieldpatterns
of s
olen
oid.
•Directionofmagnetic
field.
•Righthandgriprule.
•Dem
onstratingfieldaround
curre
nt•
Carryingconductorusing
ironfillingsandplotting
com
pass
. •
Plottingmagneticfieldlines
due
to a
sol
enoi
d.
•Predictingdirectionoffield
lines
.
•Longstraightconductor,so-
leno
ids,
sw
itch,
lead
s, p
ocke
t /p
lotti
ng c
ampu
s, (c
ell),
DC
so
urce
, IC
T to
ols
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
30
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, atti
-tu
des
and
know
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
13.2
For
ce o
n cu
rren
t car
ryin
g co
nduc
tor
mag
netic
in a
m
agne
tic fi
eld
•describeanexperimenttoshow
th
at a
cur
rent
-car
ryin
g co
nduc
tor
inamagneticfieldexperiencesa
forc
e •
describethefieldpatternsbe
-tw
een
para
llel c
urre
nts
and
rela
te
thes
e to
the
forc
es w
hich
exi
st
betw
een
the
curre
nts
•predictthedirectionofmotionof
a cu
rrent
-car
ryin
g co
nduc
tor i
n a
mag
netic
•
describetheapplicationofthe
mag
netic
effe
ct o
f a c
urre
nt•
describetheoperationofad.c.
mot
or
•Flem
ing’slefthandrule.
•Forcebetweenparallelcur
-rents,fieldpatterns.
•Factorsaffectingmagnitudeof
forc
e.
•Actionofanelectricbelland
a si
mpl
e re
lay
Elec
trica
l to
mec
hani
cal e
nerg
y.
•Experim
entsonfield
patte
rns
betw
een
para
llel
curre
nts.
•Dem
onstratingtheeffect
ofamagneticfieldona
curre
nt c
arry
ing
cond
ucto
r.
•Experim
entstoshowrela
-tio
nshi
p be
twee
n di
rect
ion
ofcurrent,fieldandmotion
Con
stru
ctin
g a
sim
ple
d.c.
m
otor
•
Field,currentandmotion,
turn
ing
effe
ct c
omm
utat
or
•Tw
oLongstraightconduc-
tors
, sw
itch,
lead
s, p
ocke
t /pl
ottin
g ca
mpu
s, c
ell.
•Electricbell,relay,reed
switc
h, m
icro
phon
e, s
peak
-er
etc
.•
DCmotormodel,insulated
wire
, blo
ck o
f woo
d, le
ads
13.3
El
ectr
omag
netic
in
duct
ion
•describeanexperimentw
hich
show
s th
at a
cha
ngin
g m
agne
tic
fieldcaninduceane.m.f.ina
circ
uit o
r con
duct
or•
statethefactorsaffectingthe
mag
nitu
de o
f ind
uced
e.m
.f.
•usethefactthatdirectionof
an in
duce
d e.
m.f
oppo
ses
the
chan
ge p
rodu
cing
it
•Thegeneratorprinciple.
•Strengthofm
agnet,relative
mot
ion,
num
ber o
f tur
ns, a
rea
of c
oil.
•Lenz’slaw.
•Carryingoutexperiments
to s
how
gen
erat
or p
rinci
-pl
e. •
Carryingoutexperiments
to in
vest
igat
e fa
ctor
s w
hich
af
fect
e.m
.f.
•Carryingoutexperimentto
show
Lenz’slaw.
•Coilswithdifferentnum
ber
of tu
rns
and
cros
s se
ctio
nal
area
of c
oils
, sol
enoi
ds, b
ar
mag
nets
, gal
vano
met
er,
CR
O.
•ICTtools
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
31
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, atti
-tu
des
and
know
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
•predictthedirectionofinduced
curre
nt in
a c
ondu
ctor
•
describetheoperationofana.c.
and
d.c.
gen
erat
ors
•Flem
ing’srighthandrule.
•mechanicaltoelectricalener-
gy.
•differencesbetweena.c.and
d.c.
•UsingFlemming’sright
hand
rule
to m
ake
pred
ic-
tions
. •
Identifyingsliprings,com
-m
utat
or, b
rush
, coi
l and
m
agne
ts.
•Sketchingvelocitytime
grap
hs.
•Discussingthefactors
affe
ctin
g ou
tput
vol
tage
.
•Com
paringa.c.andd.c.
gene
rato
rs.
13.4
Tra
nsfo
rmer
s•
describethestructureand
prin
cipl
e of
ope
ratio
n of
a b
asic
iro
n-co
red
trans
form
er•
usetransformerequations
•describetheuseoftransformer
in h
igh-
volta
ge tr
ansm
issi
on
•discusstheenergylossincables
•giveadvantagesofhighvoltage
trans
mis
sion
•Primaryandsecondarycoils,
lam
inat
ed c
ore,
vol
tage
.•
Transformerefficiency,cooling
and
eddy
cur
rent
s.
•Magneticflaxheating.
•Jouleheating.
Vp/N
s=Np/NsandVp
Ip=V
sIs
•Currentandpotentialdiffer
-en
ce in
ste
p-up
and
ste
p-do
wn
trans
form
ers
•Dem
onstratingtheopera-
tion
of a
sim
ple
trans
form
er.
•So
lvingproblemsusingthe
trans
form
er e
quat
ion
•Discussingefficiency(ener-
gy lo
ss).
•Discussingtheadvantages
of h
igh-
volta
ge tr
ansm
is-
sion
.
•Coilswithmultipletapings,
iron
core
s, v
oltm
eter
s,
mul
ti-m
etre
s, C
.R.O
, ac
sour
ces,
Hal
l pr
obe
•ICTtools
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
32
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
14.0
ELE
CTR
ON
ICS
14.1
Ther
mio
nic
e
mis
sion
•explainthatahotfilament
emits
ele
ctro
ns
•describehowtheseelec
-tro
ns c
an b
e di
rect
ed in
to
an e
lect
ron
beam
des
crib
e th
e ef
fect
of a
mag
netic
or
electricfieldonanelectron
beam
•Em
issionofelectrons
from
hot
met
als.
•
Accelerationandcollim
a-tio
n of
ele
ctro
ns.
•Reflectingofelectron
beam
.
•Dem
onstratingthermionic
emis
sion
. •
Discussingacceleration
and
collim
atio
n of
ele
c-tro
ns.
NOTE
:Directionofdeflection
of e
lect
ron
beam
. •
RelatingtoTVtubesand
CR
O.
•CRT,tubesandkits,com
put-
er,m
agneticfieldsource
•ICTtools
14.2
Dio
des
•describethefunctionof
diod
es•
Functionofdiodes
•Sw
itchandrectification
•Circuitsym
bol/LE
Ds
•Carryingoutexperiments
to d
emon
stra
te th
e fu
nc-
tion
of a
dio
de.
•LE
Dcells,diodes,circuit
boar
ds, e
lect
roni
c ki
ts
14.3
Rec
tifica
tion
•definerectification
•explainhalfandfullwave
rectification
•Conversionofa.c.tod.c.
•Useofdiodes,voltage–
time
grap
hs.
•Carryingoutexperiments
onrectificationand
smoo
then
ing.
•Voltagtimegraphs
•Electronickit,diodes,A
C
sour
ce, c
apac
itor,
CR
O•
Powersupplies
14.4
Ele
ctro
nic
Com
pone
nts
•describethebehaviourof
resi
stor
•
useagivencolourcode
for r
esis
tanc
e va
lues
•
choosecom
ponentswith
suita
ble
pow
er ra
tings
•describetheactionofa
varia
ble
pote
ntia
l div
ider
•describetheactionofther
-m
osta
ts a
nd li
ght d
epen
-de
nt re
sist
ors
•describetheactionofa
capa
cito
r •
explaintheuseofreed
switc
hes
in c
ircui
ts
•Colourandcoding.
Pote
ntio
met
er u
se a
s in
put
trans
duce
rs
Ener
gy s
tore
•
Timedelaycircuits
•Readingcolourcodesand
tole
ranc
e.•
Measuringresistance
•Carryingoutexperiments
with
resi
stor
s ca
paci
tors
, thermistors,LED
,potenti-
omet
er
•Codedcarbonresistorsof
vario
us ra
tings
and
rang
es•
Potentialdividers/rheostat,
ther
mos
tats
/ther
mis
tor
•capacitors,bulbs,reed
switc
hes,
stra
in-g
auge
, po-
tent
iom
eter
s, b
uzze
rs
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
33
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
14.5
Lo
gic
Gat
es
•describelogicgates
•Logicgates:OR,AND,
NO
T, N
AND
and
NO
R
Trut
h Ta
bles
•Com
binationoflogic
of n
ot m
ore
than
thre
e in
puts
.
•ConstructingTruthTables.
•Electronickits,logicgate
tuto
r, c
ompu
ter
•(2inputgate)
15.0
ATO
MIC
AN
DN
UC
LEA
R P
HYS
ICS
15.
1 R
uthe
rfor
d’s
Ato
mic
M
odel
•describethestructureof
an a
tom
in te
rms
of n
ucle
-us
and
ele
ctro
ns
•explainprotonandnucle
-on
num
bers
•
explainisotopes
•Nucleusandelectrons.
•Com
positionofnucleus.
•Protonnum
berZ
and
nucl
eon
num
ber A
. •
A=Zn
•NuclidenotationAZX
.•
Isotopes.
•Drawingdiagramsofthe
atom
ic s
truct
ure.
•
Calculatingprotonand
nucl
eon
num
bers
. •
Givingexam
plesofiso
-to
pes
•Com
puter,atom
icmodels
•ICTtools
•Pe
riodictable
15.2
Rad
ioac
tivity
•describeradioactivity
•statetypesofradioactive
emis
sion
•
describethenatureand
prop
ertie
s of
radi
atio
n
•Radioactivity.
•Stabilityofnuclei,and
parti
cles
and
ray
s, d
etec
-tio
n .
•Natureofradiation
•Describingdetectionof
radi
atio
n.
Car
ryin
g ou
t exp
erim
ents
of
cha
nces
of r
adio
-act
ive
deca
y.•
Discussingnatureand
prop
ertie
s of
radi
atio
n.
•Discussingionisingef-
fect
s, p
enet
ratin
g po
wer
anddeflectionbymagnet-
ic a
nd
•Com
puter,radiationdetec-
tors
•ICTtools,simulationsoft-
war
e
•Dice.Coins
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
34
FOR
M 4
TOPI
CO
BJE
CTI
VES
Lear
ners
sho
uld
be a
ble
to:
UN
IT C
ON
TEN
T (S
kills
, at
titud
es a
nd k
now
ledg
e)SU
GG
ESTE
D L
EAR
NIN
G
AC
TIVI
TIES
AN
D N
OTE
SSU
GG
ESTE
D R
ESO
UR
CES
•describethemechanism
of
radi
o-ac
tive
dec
ay
•explainthemeaningof
half-
life
•distinguishbetweenfusion
andfission
•describetheusesofradio
-ac
tive
isot
opes
•Nucleardecay;decay
radi
atio
n.
•Decaycurve.
•Half-life.
Fusionandfission,nuclear
reac
tions
. i)
carbon–14dating
ii) B
ioch
emic
al tr
acer
s iii)
Rad
ioth
erap
y.
electricfields.
•Plottingdecaycares.
•Carryingoutcalculations
on h
alf l
ife.
•Calculatingnucleonand
prot
on n
umbe
rs o
f bal
-an
ced
equa
tions
. •
Drawingandinterpreting
deca
y cu
rves
.
•Writingnuclearequations.
•Discussingusesofradio
-ac
tive
mat
eria
ls.
•Conductingeducational
tour
s.
•C.Tscans.
•ICTtools
15.2
Rad
ioac
tivity
•Describehowradioactive
mat
eria
ls a
re h
andl
ed,
used
and
sto
red
in a
saf
e w
ay.
•describetheeffectsofra
-di
oact
ive
emis
sion
on
the
envi
ronm
ent
•Detectionofleaksinpipes
•Determinationof
thic
knes
s of
mat
eria
ls
•Po
wergeneration
•Sterilisation
•Use,storage,handling
•So
il,water,air,plantand
anim
al li
fe
•Sa
fedisposalofradio-ac-
tive
was
te
•Useofphotographicfilm
badg
es fo
r exp
osur
e de
-te
ctio
n.
•Theimpactofradioactive
emis
sion
on
the
envi
ron-
men
t
•Ph
otographicfilms,com
put-
ers
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
35
9.0 ASSESSMENT
9.1 ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
The scheme of assessment is grounded in the principle of inclusivity and equalisation of opportunities hence does not condone direct or indirect discrimination of learners.
Modificationsofarrangementstoaccommodatecandidateswithspecialneedsmustbeputinplaceinbothcontinuousandsummativeassessments.Thesemodificationsmustneithergivethesecandidatesanundueadvantageoverothers nor compromise the standards being assessed.
NB:Forfurtherdetailsforarrangements,accommodationsandmodificationsrefertotheassessmentprocedurebooklet.Thethreeassessmentobjectivesin‘O’LevelPhysicsare:
1: Knowledge with understanding2: Handling information and problem solving3: Experimental skills and investigations
1: Knowledge with understanding
Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
•scientificphenomena,facts,laws,definitions,concepts,theories•scientificvocabulary,terminology,conventions(includingsymbols,quantitiesandunits)•scientificinstrumentsandapparatus,includingtechniquesofoperationandaspectsofsafety•scientificquantitiesandtheirdetermination•scientificandtechnologicalapplicationswiththeirsocial,economicandenvironmentalimplications.
2: Handling information, problem solving, synthesis, analysis and evaluation
In words or using other written forms of presentation (e.g. symbolic, graphical and numerical), candidates should be able to:
•locate,select,organiseandpresentinformationfromavarietyofsources•translateinformationfromoneformtoanother•manipulatenumericalandotherdata•useinformationtoidentifypatterns,reporttrendsanddrawinferences•presentreasonedexplanationsofphenomena,patternsandrelationships•makepredictionsandhypotheses•solveproblems,includingsomeofaquantitativenature.
3: Experimental skills and investigations
Candidates should be able to:
•knowhowtousetechniques,apparatus,andmaterials(includingfollowingasequenceofinstructions,whereappropriate)
•makeandrecordobservationsandmeasurements•interpretandevaluateexperimentalobservationsanddata•planinvestigations,evaluatemethodsandsuggestpossibleimprovements(includingtheselectionoftechniques,
apparatus and materials).
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
36
9.2 SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
The assessment scheme for Physics comprises ofa) Continuous assessment, andb) Summative assessment.
ThefinalgradeinPhysicsis20%continuousassessmentand80%summativeassessment.The assessment shall be administered as follows:
Paper 1: Multiple choice questionsPaper 2: Structured theory questionsPaper 3: Practical TestPaper 4: Continuous AssessmentLearnersarerequiredtoenterforallthe4papers
Paper Tye of Paper Duartion Marks Paper Weighting
1 Multiple choice 1 hr 40 19
2 Theory 2 hrs 15 min 100 483 Practical Test 2 hrs 30 14
4 Continuous Assessment ....... 40 19
SKILL Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3 Paper 41.0 KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
15% 15% 15%
2.1 COMPREHENSION, PROBLEM SOLVING
40% 50% 40%
2.2 ANALYSIS, SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION
45% 45% 45%
3.0 PRACTICAL 100%TOTAL 100% 100% 100% 100%
Paper 1: Theory : the paper consists of 40 compulsory multiple choice items of the direct choice type.Each question shall have 4 response items.
Paper 2: Theory. The paper has 2 sections.Section A will carry 40 marks and will consists of a number of compulsory structured questions of variable mark value.Section B carries 60 marks and will consist of 4 structured questions .Each question will carry 20 marks. Candidates will be required to answer any 3 questions.
Paper 3: Practical TestThis paper will consist of 2 compulsory questions each carrying 20 marks
Paper 4: Continuous AssessmentThis paper will consist of standardised tests in Practical, Theory and a Project during the 5 terms.
9,3 SPECIFICATION GRID
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
37
APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS
Learnersshouldbeabletostatethesymbolsforthefollowingphysicalquantitiesand,whereindicated,statetheunitsinwhichtheyaremeasured.Learnersshouldbeabletodefinethoseitemsindicatedbyanasterisk(*).Quantity Symbol Unit
4
APPENDIX SUMMARY OF KEY QUANTITIES, SYMBOLS AND UNITS Learnersshouldbeable to state the symbols for the following physical quantities and, where indicated, state the units in which they are measured. Learnersshouldbeabletodefinethoseitemsindicatedbyanasterisk(*).
Quantity Symbol Unit
QUANTITY SYMBOL UNIT
Length L,h Km.m,cm,mm
Area A M2,cm2
Volume V M3,cm3
Weight W N
Mass M Tones, Kg, g, mg
Time T h, mini,
Period T S
Density p Kg/m3, g/m3
Speed U,v Km/h, m/s,cm/s
Acceleration A m/s2
Force F N
Acceleration of free fall g m/s2, N/kg
Moment of a force M N/m
Work done W, E J
1
Energy E J, kWh
Power P W
Pressure P Pa, n/m2, mmHg
Temperature Θ, T ᶿC, K
Heat capacity C J/⁰C, J/k
Specific heat capacity C J/(g⁰), J/(gk)
Latent heat L J
Specific latent heat l J/kg, j/g
Frequency F Hz
Wave length λ m,cm
Angle of incidents I Degree(⁰)
Angle of reflection, refraction r Degree(⁰)
Critical angle c Degree(⁰)
Potential difference/voltage V V,mV
Current I A,mA
Charge Q Q/C,As
e.m.f. E V
Resistance R Ω
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
38
1
Energy E J, kWh
Power P W
Pressure P Pa, n/m2, mmHg
Temperature Θ, T ᶿC, K
Heat capacity C J/⁰C, J/k
Specific heat capacity C J/(g⁰), J/(gk)
Latent heat L J
Specific latent heat l J/kg, j/g
Frequency F Hz
Wave length λ m,cm
Angle of incidents I Degree(⁰)
Angle of reflection, refraction r Degree(⁰)
Critical angle c Degree(⁰)
Potential difference/voltage V V,mV
Current I A,mA
Charge Q Q/C,As
e.m.f. E V
Resistance R Ω
MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS
ArithmeticLearnersshouldbeableto:(a)recogniseanduseexpressionsindecimalandstandardform(scientific)notation(b) use appropriate calculating aids (electronic calculator or tables) for addition, subtraction,multiplication and division. Find arithmetic means, powers (including reciprocals and square roots),sines, cosines and tangents (and the inverse functions)(c)takeaccountofaccuracyinnumericalworkandhandlecalculationssothatsignificantfiguresareneitherlostunnecessarilynorcarriedbeyondwhatisjustified,roundinganswerscorrectlywhennecessary(d) make approximations and estimates to obtain reasonable answers
AlgebraLearnersshouldbeableto:(a) change the subject of an equation(b) solve simple algebraic equations, including linear simultaneous equations(c) use direct and inverse proportion(d) substitute physical quantities into physical equations using consistent units(e) formulate simple algebraic equations as mathematical models of physical situations and to represent information given in words
Geometry and trigonometryLearnersshouldbeableto:(a) understand the meaning of angle, curve, circle, radius, diameter, square, parallelogram, rectangleand diagonal(b) calculate areas of right-angled triangles and circles, areas and volumes of rectangular blocks,volumes of cylinders(c) use the angle sum of a right angle and adjacent angles on a straight line(d) use sines, cosines and tangents(e) use usual mathematical instruments (rules, compasses, protractor, set square)(f) recognise and use points of the compass (N, S, E, W)
GraphsLearnersshouldbeableto:(a) translate information between graphical, numerical, algebraic and verbal forms
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
39
(b) select appropriate variables and scales for graph plotting(c) for linear graphs, determine the slope and state the intercept and intersection(d) choose, by inspection, a straight line which will serve as the best straight line through a set of datapoints presented graphically(e) recall standard linear form y = mx + c and rearrange relationships into linear form where appropriate(f) understand, draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a means to obtain the gradient
GLOSSARY OF TERMSIt is hoped that the glossary will prove helpful to learners as a guide, although it is not exhaustive. The glossary has been deliberately kept brief not only with respect to the number of terms included but also to the descriptions of their meanings.Learnersshouldappreciatethatthemeaningofatermmustdependinpartonitscontext.Theyshouldalso note that the number of marks allocated for any part of a question is a guide to the depth of treatment required for the answer.
1.Define(theterm(s)...)isintendedliterally.Onlyaformalstatementorequivalentparaphrase,suchasthedefiningequationwithsymbolsidentified,beingrequired.
2.Explain/Whatismeantby...normallyimpliesthatadefinitionshouldbegiven,togetherwithsomerelevantcommentonthesignificanceorcontextoftheterm(s)concerned,especiallywheretwoormoretermsareincludedinthe question. The amount of supplementary comment intended should be interpreted in the light of the indicated mark value.
3. State implies a concise answer with little or no supporting argument, e.g. a numerical answer that can be obtained ‘by inspection’.
4.Listrequiresanumberofpointswithnoelaboration.Whereagivennumberofpointsisspecified,thisshouldnotbeexceeded.
5. Describe requires learners to state in words (using diagrams where appropriate) the main points of the topic. It is often used with reference either to particular phenomena or to particular experiments. In the former instance, the term usually implies that the answer should include reference to (visual) observations associated with the phenomena. The amount of description intended should be interpreted in the light of the indicated mark value.
6. Discuss requires learners to give a critical account of the points involved in the topic.
7. Predict or deduce implies that candidates are not expected to produce the required answer by recall but by making a logical connection between other pieces of information. Such information may be wholly given in the question or may depend on answers extracted in an earlier part of the question.
8. Suggest is used in two main contexts. It may either imply that there is no unique answer or that learners are expect-ed to apply their general knowledge to a ‘novel’ situation, one that formally may not be ‘in the syllabus’.
9. Calculate is used when a numerical answer is required. In general, working should be shown.
10. Measure implies that the quantity concerned can be directly obtained from a suitable measuring instrument, e.g. length, using a rule, or angle, using a protractor.
11. Determine often implies that the quantity concerned cannot be measured directly but is obtained by calculation, substituting measured or known values of other quantities into a standard formula.
12. Show is used when an algebraic deduction has to be made to prove a given equation. It is important that the terms
O Level Physics Syllabus Forms 3 - 4
40
being used by learners are stated explicitly.
13.Estimateimpliesareasonedorderofmagnitudestatementorcalculationofthequantityconcerned.Learnersshould make such simplifying assumptions as may be necessary about points of principle and about the values of quantities not otherwise included in the question.
14. Sketch, when applied to graph work, implies that the shape and/or position of the curve need only be qualitatively correct. However, learners should be aware that, depending on the context, some quantitative aspects may be looked for, e.g. passing through the origin, having an intercept, asymptote or discontinuity at a particular value. On a sketch graph it is essential that candidates clearly indicate what is being plotted on each axis.Sketch, when applied to diagrams, implies that a simple, freehand drawing is acceptable:nevertheless, care should be taken over proportions and the clear exposition of important details
.SPECIAL NOTE
NomenclatureThe proposals in ‘Signs, Symbols and Systematics (The Association for Science Education Companion to 16–19Science,2000)’willgenerallybeadopted.Units,significantfiguresLearnersshouldbeawarethatmisuseofunitsand/orsignificantfigures,i.e.failuretoquoteunitswhere necessary, the inclusion of units in quantities definedasratiosorquotinganswerstoaninappropriatenumberofsignificantfigures,isliabletobe penalised.CalculatorsAn approved calculator may be used in all papers.Geometrical InstrumentsLearnersshouldhavegeometricalinstrumentswiththem for Paper 1 and Paper 2.Apparatus listThis list below details the apparatus expected to be generally available for examination purposes. Thelist is not exhaustive: in particular, items that are commonly regarded as standard equipment in a physics laboratory are not included. The apparatus listed should be available for each candidate:•ammeterFSD1Aor1.5A•voltmeterFSD1V,5V•cellsandholderstoenableseveralcellstobejoined•connectingleadsandcrocodileclips
•d.c.powersupply–variableto12V•metrerule•converginglenswithafocallengthf=15cm•lowvoltagefilamentbulbsinholders•asupplyofmassesandholders•newtonmeter/forcemeter•plasticorpolystyrenecup•modellingclay(Plasticine)•variousresistors,includingavariableresistor
(rheostat)•switch•thermometer,–10°Cto+110°Cat1°Cgradua-
tions•woodenboard•glassorperspexblock,rectangularandsemi-cir-
cular•measuringcylinder,25cm3,100cm3•beaker,250cm3•springs•stopwatch•raybox.