§-Physics syllabus

SA · SACE Board← Physics

Physics syllabus, dot point by dot point

Every dot point in the SA Physics subject outline, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.

Topic 1: Motion and Relativity

Topic overview →

How do Einstein's two postulates lead to the conclusion that time itself depends on relative motion?

State Einstein's postulates of special relativity and apply time dilation and length contraction to objects moving at relativistic speeds.

Why does an object moving at constant speed in a circle still accelerate, and what force keeps it on the circular path?

Describe uniform circular motion using centripetal acceleration and force, relating them to speed, radius and period.

How does the impulse of a force change the momentum of an object?

Relate impulse to the change in momentum of an object using

\vec{J} = \vec{F}\Delta t = \Delta \vec{p}

, and interpret force-time graphs.

Why is the total momentum of an isolated system the same before and after a collision, even when kinetic energy is lost?

Apply conservation of momentum to elastic and inelastic collisions in one dimension, and distinguish them using kinetic energy.

What does Einstein's equation $E = mc^2$ tell us about the relationship between mass and energy?

Apply mass-energy equivalence to rest energy and to the mass defect and energy release in nuclear processes.

How can the motion of a projectile be predicted by treating its horizontal and vertical motions independently?

Resolve projectile motion into independent horizontal (constant velocity) and vertical (constant acceleration) components to predict range, time of flight and maximum height.

How do work, kinetic energy and power describe the transfer and rate of transfer of energy in mechanical systems?

Calculate work done by a force, relate net work to change in kinetic energy via the work-energy theorem, and define power as the rate of doing work.

How does the gravitational attraction between two masses depend on their masses and separation?

Apply Newton's law of universal gravitation and the concept of gravitational field strength to interactions between masses.

How do Newton's three laws relate the forces on an object to its motion?

Apply Newton's three laws of motion, drawing free-body diagrams and resolving forces to determine the acceleration of objects and the forces in interacting systems.

What determines the speed and period of a satellite, and why does the same gravitational force produce a stable orbit?

Analyse the orbital motion of satellites by equating gravitational force to the centripetal force requirement, deriving orbital speed and period.

Topic 2: Electricity and Magnetism

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How do generators produce alternating voltage, and how do transformers change voltage for efficient transmission?

Explain the operation of an AC generator and apply the transformer equation to step voltage up or down.

What determines the direction of an induced current, and how does this follow from conservation of energy?

Use Lenz's law to determine the direction of an induced current and explain it in terms of conservation of energy.

Why does a magnetic field only exert a force on a charge that is moving, and what determines the direction of that force?

Calculate the magnetic force on a moving charge and determine its direction using the right-hand rule.

How does a changing magnetic field generate a voltage, and what determines its size?

Apply Faraday's law to relate induced EMF to the rate of change of magnetic flux through a coil.

Why does a current-carrying wire experience a force in a magnetic field, and how is this used in motors?

Calculate the force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field and explain its role in the operation of a motor.

How does the electric force between charges depend on their size and separation, and what is meant by an electric field?

Apply Coulomb's law to the force between point charges and describe the electric field around a charge.

Why does a charged particle follow a circular path in a uniform magnetic field, and what sets the radius?

Analyse the circular motion of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field, relating radius to mass, charge, speed and field strength.

How does a charged particle move when it is released in the uniform electric field between two parallel plates?

Analyse the motion of charged particles in the uniform electric field between parallel plates, using field strength, force and energy.

Topic 3: Light and Atoms

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Why do atoms emit and absorb light only at specific wavelengths, and how does the Bohr model explain this?

Explain atomic emission and absorption spectra using the Bohr model and the relationship between photon energy and energy-level differences.

Why can't the wave model explain the photoelectric effect, and what does it reveal about the nature of light?

Explain the photoelectric effect using the photon model, including threshold frequency, work function and maximum kinetic energy.

What are the fundamental building blocks of matter, and how does the Standard Model organise them?

Describe the Standard Model classification of fundamental particles into quarks, leptons and force-carrying bosons.

What evidence shows that light behaves as a wave, and how do waves combine when they overlap?

Describe the wave model of light and apply the principle of superposition to constructive and destructive interference.

Why are some nuclei unstable, and how do they decay and change over time?

Describe alpha, beta and gamma decay, balance nuclear equations, and apply the concept of half-life.

What is a photon, how is its energy related to frequency, and what does this mean for the dual nature of light?

Apply the photon model to calculate photon energy and explain wave-particle duality.

How does Young's double-slit experiment confirm the wave nature of light and let us measure its wavelength?

Analyse the double-slit interference pattern and use the fringe-spacing relationship to determine wavelength.