§-Physics syllabus

WA · SCSA← Physics

Physics syllabus, dot point by dot point

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

Unit 3: Gravity and Electromagnetism

Unit overview →

How do gravitational field strength and gravitational potential energy describe a field?

Define gravitational field strength and analyse changes in gravitational potential energy in a field

How does a gravitational field govern projectile, circular and orbital motion?

Model gravitation as a field and apply it to projectile motion, uniform circular motion and satellite orbits

How does gravity supply the centripetal force that keeps a satellite in orbit?

Model satellite motion as uniform circular motion and derive Kepler's third law

How do electric fields and potential describe the force and energy of charges?

Describe electric fields and potential and apply them to point charges and uniform fields between parallel plates

How does rotating a coil in a magnetic field generate alternating and direct current?

Explain the operation of AC and DC generators using electromagnetic induction

How does the inverse-square law govern the gravitational force between two masses?

Apply Newton's law of universal gravitation to calculate the force between masses

How does Coulomb's law describe the force between two point charges?

Apply Coulomb's law to calculate the electrostatic force between point charges

How does a magnetic field exert a force on a current-carrying conductor?

Apply the motor effect to forces on current-carrying conductors and the operation of DC motors

How does a magnetic field exert a force on moving charges and currents?

Apply the magnetic force on a moving charge and on a current-carrying conductor, including the motor effect

Why does an object moving in a circle at constant speed still accelerate?

Apply centripetal force and acceleration to horizontal, banked and vertical circular motion

Why is electrical energy transmitted at high voltage and stepped down with transformers?

Apply the transformer equation and explain high-voltage transmission of electrical power

How does a changing magnetic flux induce an emf in a circuit?

Apply Faraday's and Lenz's laws to magnetic flux, generators and transformers

How can the independence of horizontal and vertical motion describe a projectile's flight?

Analyse projectile motion quantitatively by treating the horizontal and vertical components independently

How does a uniform electric field accelerate and deflect a charged particle?

Analyse the motion of charged particles in uniform electric fields between parallel plates

Unit 4: Wave Models and Quantum Physics

Unit overview →

How do atomic energy levels and nuclear reactions release and reveal energy?

Explain atomic energy levels and spectra, the Standard Model, mass-energy equivalence and nuclear reactions

How do fission and fusion release energy, and how do they differ?

Compare nuclear fission and fusion and explain the energy released using binding energy

Why are some nuclei more stable than others, and what holds a nucleus together?

Explain nuclear binding energy and the stability of nuclei using the binding-energy curve

How does polarisation show that light is a transverse wave?

Explain polarisation of light and how it provides evidence that light is a transverse wave

How do reflected waves superpose to form standing waves and resonance?

Explain standing waves on strings and in pipes and relate harmonics to resonance

How can both light and matter show wave and particle behaviour?

Explain wave-particle duality and apply the de Broglie wavelength to matter

How do particle accelerators probe matter and support the Big Bang theory?

Explain how particle accelerators reveal fundamental particles and support the Big Bang model

How does the photoelectric effect reveal the particle nature of light?

Explain the photoelectric effect using photons, work function, threshold frequency and Einstein's equation

How are the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum related and produced?

Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and relate frequency, wavelength and the speed of light

How does the Standard Model classify the fundamental particles and forces?

Describe the Standard Model of particles, including quarks, leptons and the fundamental forces

How did the Bohr model explain quantised atomic energy levels?

Describe the development of atomic models and explain quantised electron energy levels

Why does each element produce a unique pattern of spectral lines?

Explain how emission and absorption line spectra arise from atomic energy levels

How do unstable nuclei decay, and how does half-life describe the rate?

Describe alpha, beta and gamma decay and apply the concept of half-life to radioactive decay

How does light behave as a wave through diffraction and interference?

Explain diffraction, two-slit interference and the electromagnetic spectrum as evidence for the wave model of light

How does Einstein's mass-energy equivalence explain energy released in nuclear reactions?

Apply mass-energy equivalence to calculate energy changes in nuclear reactions

How do time and length change for observers in relative motion at high speed?

Apply special relativity to time dilation and length contraction at high relative speeds

How does a diffraction grating separate light into sharp, well-resolved spectral lines?

Apply the diffraction grating equation to analyse the dispersion of light into spectra

How does the wave model describe motion, superposition and standing waves?

Apply the wave model to the wave equation, superposition, standing waves, resonance and beats

How does Young's double-slit experiment provide evidence for the wave model of light?

Apply path difference and the double-slit equation to analyse two-source interference of light