Topic outline
- General
General
Welcome to Physics 20!
The learning model used in Physics 20 is designed to be engaging and to have you participate in inquiry and problem solving. You will actively interpret and critically reflect on your learning process. Learning begins within a community setting at the centre of a larger process of teaching and learning. You will be encouraged to share your knowledge and experiences by interaction, feedback, debate, and negotiation.
Your grades will come from self checks, projects, unit tests, midterm & final. You have to hand in projects.
So what does the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro towering over the Serengeti plains have to do with Physics? You'll see as you progress through this course!
You will use the link for the Physics 20 Full Course NEW to access all your lessons.
- Topic 1
Topic 1
Unit A Kinematics
Together, these modules will explain how motion can be describe in terms of displacement, time, velocity, and acceleration.
Specifically, you will learn to
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explain how changes in position, velocity, and acceleration allow you to predict the paths of moving objects and systems
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explain how the principles of kinematics have influenced the development of new mechanical technologies
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- Topic 2
Topic 2
Unit B Dynamics
You will investigate the causes of changes in the velocity of objects and systems. You will be introduced to the concepts of gravitational fields to explain gravitational effects. You will be able to explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on velocity and explain that gravitational effects extend throughout the universe.
Think about the following questions as you complete this unit:
- How does the understanding of forces help humans to improve or change their environment?
- How do the principles of dynamics influence the development of new mechanical technologies?
- What role do gravitational effects play in the universe?
- How does the understanding of forces help humans to improve or change their environment?
- Topic 3
Topic 3
Unit C Circular Motion, Work & Energy
This unit will extend your study of kinematics and dynamics to uniform circular motion, mechanical energy, work, and power. This will prepare you for further study of circular motion, conservation laws, and moving particles in magnetic fields in Physics 30.
The major concepts developed in this unit will allow you to
- explain circular motion using Newton’s laws of motion
- explain that work is a transfer of energy and that conservation of energy in an isolated system is a fundamental physical concept
Think about the following questions as you complete this module:
- What conditions are necessary to maintain circular motion?
- How does an understanding of conservation laws contribute to an understanding of the universe?
- How can mechanical energy be transferred and transformed?
- Topic 4
Topic 4
Unit D Oscillatory Motion and Mechanical Waves
In this unit you will investigate simple harmonic motion and mechanical waves. This will prepare you for further study of simple harmonic motion and wave phenomena in other physics courses.
By the end of this unit, you to be able to:
- describe the conditions that produce oscillatory motion
- describe the properties of mechanical waves and explain how they transmit energy
Think about the following questions as you complete this unit:
- What are examples of oscillatory motion in the world around you?
- How do mechanical waves transmit energy?
- How is structural design and development of technologies influenced by the understanding of wave properties?