GOALS FOR PHYSICAL
SCIENCE
Objective: To involve the
student in a
systematic study of physics and chemistry in order to develop their
skills in
critical reasoning and problem solving.
1. Be able to state the goal of physical science
2. Understand the usage and importance of units in measurements
3. Be able to perform unit conversions from one system to another
4. Be able to solve and evaluate simple algebraic equations
5. Be able to recognize when and how information being displayed graphically is or could be misleading
1. Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities and be able to give examples of each
2. Be able to add vectors algebraically and graphically in order to determine the single resultant vector
3. Distinguish between instantaneous and average quantities
4. Be able to identify the 3 main types of motion
5. Distinguish between distance and displacement and be able to give an example of each
6. Distinguish between speed, velocity and acceleration and be able to give an example of each
7. Be able to solve problems involving motion for constant acceleration to find unknown quantities
using the kinematic equations
8. Define force
9.
Be able to state and explain
10.
Be able to solve problems involving
11. State
12. Explain what is meant by statements ‘the acceleration due to gravity’ and ‘a gravitational field’
13. Distinguish between mass and weight and be able to calculate the one from the other.
14. Be able to define and calculate linear momentum
15. State the conservation of linear momentum and use it (in mathematical and in vector form) to analyze
the motion of objects
1. Explain what is meant by work, power and energy
2. State and explain the meaning of conservation of energy
3. Distinguish between kinetic energy and potential energy
4. State the conservation of mechanical energy and use it to analyze the motion of objects
5. Be able to solve problems involving work, power and energy (namely, kinetic and potential energy)
6. Be familiar with the various forms of energy, types of energy transformations and the types of
resistances’ there are to the motion of an object
1. Discuss the 4 properties of charge
2. Be
able to distinguish between conductors, insulators and semiconductors
and give
examples of each
3. State Coulombs Law and be able to calculate the electric force between any 2 objects of charge
4. Distinguish
between
electric
current,
voltage
and resistance
5. Distinguish between direct and alternating current and give examples of each
6. State Ohm’s Law and be able to use it to solve simple electronic problems
7. Be familiar with the procedures of electrical and lightning safety
8. Define
magnetism and state
the Law of Poles
1. Define
wave
2. Distinguish between mechanical and electromagnetic waves and how each is produced
3. State the 3 types of mediums, what properties determine how fast a mechanical wave will move through them & which types
of mechanical waves (longitudinal / transverse) can be transmitted through each
4. Be able to identify and label the various parts of a wave model diagram
5. Be able to solve problems using the wave equation
6. Define standing waves, resonance and superposition
7. Be able to calculate the harmonic frequencies of standing waves on a string/spring, in an open pipe and a closed pipe
8. Be familiar with the characteristics of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum
9. Be able to calculate the energy of an electromagnetic wave
10. Distinguish between reflection and refraction, state the laws associated with each and explain how they affect the motion of a wave
11. Define index of refraction and use it to calculate the refractive properties of a material
12. Distinguish between Converging and Diverging Lenses (as well as Convex and Concave) including the shapes associated with each
13.
Be
able to draw ray diagrams depicting how light passes through
Converging
and Diverging Lenses
14. Discuss
the
various
characteristics of wave interference and waves in motion
a) Spatial and Temporal Interference
b) Doppler effect
1. Be able to identify the 3 main particles found in an atom, where they are located, who discovered them and when
2. Be able to explain how you produce spectral and absorption lines of an atom
3. Be able to state the 4 assumptions of the Bohr model of hydrogen
4. Be able to explain how light is produced.
5. Be able to determine if energy is gained for lost by an hydrogen atom and the frequency of the emitted/absorbed radiation
by calculating the energy change in its electrons
6. Distinguish between shell (n) and sub-shell (l) in the quantum model of the atom
7. Be able to calculate and order electron sub-shells according to their energy rank
8. Be able to write out detailed electron configurations for neutral atoms
1. Define atomic number, mass number and isotope
2. Be able to identify key features of the periodic table (including special group names)
3. Use the periodic table to write down electron configuration information about the main element group
4. Be familiar with the names, symbols, atomic numbers and natural state of the 27 most common elements
5. Be able to calculate the mass of a sample given the fractional abundance of all the isotopes
1. Explain what it means for an atomic nucleus to be radioactive
2.
Define
binding
energy
3. Describe the 4 types of radioactive decay for an unstable nucleus and be able to write out a simple nuclear equation for decay
4.
Know
what
is
meant
by the term half-life and when a radioactive sample is
considered safe
5.
Distinguish
between
nuclear
fission
and fusion and the pros and cons of
each as an energy source
1. Distinguish between the 3 phases of matter
2.
Be able to define element, compound and
mixture
3. State the law of definite proportions
4. Explain the meanings of the symbols, numbers and parentheses in the chemical formula of a compound
5. Be able to calculate the molecular masses of compounds
6. Distinguish between the different types of chemical reactions
7. Explain the 3 processes that always occur in every chemical reaction
8. Be able
to explain the significance of a balanced equation
9.
Be able to balance simple chemical equations
10. Be able to name simple binary ionic and covalent compounds given a chemical formula and vice versa
11. Be able to draw the Lewis Dot representation for simple ionic and covalent compounds
12. Explain the differences between covalent and ionic bonding
13. Distinguish between endothermic and exothermic reactions
1. Be familiar with the unique properties of water
2.
Distinguish
between
solvent
and
solute
3.
Define solubility as it pertains to a substance
4.
Define
acid
and
base
5. Describe the pH scale and how acids and bases are classified
6. Distinguish between the concentration and the strength/weakness of an acid or base
7. Explain what happens when acids and bases are mixed and what the products are
1.
Define
hydrocarbon
and
distinguish
between saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons
2.
Be familiar with the 4 main classes of
hydrocarbons,
including their general chemical formulas and the key structural
distinction of
each
3.
Define
isomer
and
be
able to construct an isomer from a suitable hydorcarbon
4.
Be familiar with the 4 main functional
groups, including the
key structural distinction of each
5.
Distinguish
between
monomers
and
polymers
6. Be able to list several natural and synthetic polymers and their uses