Physics A
Semester 1 Topics/Homework/Activities
 Waves
 Sound
 Light
 Electricity
 Magnetism
 Programming

Ch. 14 Waves and Energy Transfer
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Topics
Two things are needed for a wave.

Four types of waves.

Anatomy of a wave and wave characteristics.(f, l, A, v, T)

Boundary conditions

v = fl

Interference and superposition

Standing waves (nodes & antinodes)

Reflection 

Refraction

Diffraction

 Homework
Vocabulary Review
RC 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15
AC 2, 3, 6, 7
P 1-16
 
 

Activities
Speed of sound activity

Slinky, spring, and wave machine activity

Ripple tank observations
 
 

Lab #1
Find the speed of a water wave by two methods.


Ch. 15 Sound
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Topics
What type of wave is sound ?

Doppler Effect

v=331 m/s + (0.6 m/(SC))temp

Fundamental , overtones

Modes of vibration for a string
Modes of vibration for an open pipe
Modes of vibration for a closed pipe

Resonance

Beats

Music

Pitch and loudness
Decibel scale (dB)

Wave forms - quality and overtone structure

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 RC 3, 4, 8
 AC 1-5, 8-11
 P 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20-23
 Using Lab Skills 
 
 
 
 

Activities
 Musical Instruments
 Computer sound analysis
 
 
 
 
 

Lab #2
Find the speed of sound.


Ch. 16 Light
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Topics
What type of wave is light ?

Spectrum of light

Speed of light c=

Galileo, Roemer, Michelson, Jupiter, California, Nobel Prize

Luminous, Illuminated

Inverse squared law

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

Color- primary, secondary, complementary

Pigments- primary, secondary

Thin film interference

Polarized filters

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 Problems:   1, 2, 3, 5, 7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Ch. 17 Reflection and Refraction
Topics
Law of reflection  (normal)

Diffuse, regular

Optically dense

Refraction

Snell’s Law  n1 sin q1 = n2 sin q2

Index of refraction n=c/v

Total internal reflection   -  critical angle

Mirage - rainbows

Dispersion

 Homework
Vocabulary Review
AC: 2, 6-9
P: 1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 20, 21, 25, 27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Activities
Mirrors
Index of refraction

Ch. 18 Mirrors and Lenses
Topics
Plane Mirrors

Object, real image, virtual image, principal axis 
spherical aberration, chromatic aberration
convex, concave, converging, diverging
center of curvature, magnification

Right angle mirrors

Ray diagrams

1 + 1 = 1
do  di    f

hi = di
ho   do

  Homework
 Vocabularies Review
 AC: 10, 11
 P:   4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
 

Lab #3
Find the focal length of 5 lenses.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


Ch. 20 Static Electricity
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Topics
Electroscope 

Charging by conduction and induction

Conductor, semiconductor, insulator

electron = -1.6 x 10-19 C
proton = +1.6 x 10-19 C
-1 coulomb = 6.25 x 1018 electrons

F = K Q1 Q2  Coulomb’s Law
           d2

K = 9 x 109 Nm2
                    C2

Finding the net force

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 AC  2, 5, 10
 P  1, 2, 6, 7, 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Ch. 21 Electric Fields
Topics
Electric field lines  (pages 428-429)

Lightning rods   (page 441)

Ch. 22 Electric Current
Topics
q charge coulomb C

t time  seconds s

I current ampere A  (charge/time) 1 A = 1 C/s

V voltage volt  V  (energy/charge) 1 V = 1 J/C

R resistance ohm  W

Q energy Joule  J

P power watt  W  (energy/time) 1 W = 1 J/s

V = IR
P = IV
P = I2R
Q = I2Rt

kilowatt hour kWh

Schematic Diagrams

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 RC 2, 5, 8
 AC 3, 6, 7
 P 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25,27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lab #4
Ohm’s Law- Finding the resistance 

Ch. 23 Series and Parallel circuits
Topics
Series: IT = I1 = I2 = I3 ..... 
            VT = V1 + V2 + V3 ..... 
            RT = R1 + R2 + R3 ..... 

Parallel:  IT = I1 + I2 + I3 .....
              VT = V1 = V2 = V3 ..... 
               1   =  1   +  1   +  1   .........
              RT      R1     R2     R3

color codes

Fuses

  Homework
 RC  1-5
 AC  1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
 P   1-3, 13, 14
 
 
 
 

 


Ch. 24. Magnetic Fields
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Topics
Properties of magnets

Magnetic Field lines (N-->S)

Fields are a force per something 
g=F/m , E=F/q  , B=F/Qv

tesla=T=    N     =     N 
                C(m/s)     A m 

Magnetic Flux

Right hand rule: (+), conventional current

Left hand rule: (-), electron flow

Magnetic Field around a straight wire

Magnetic Field around a coil

B = F/Qv  B = F/IDL

F = QvBsinq force on a moving charge

F = ILBsinq force on a current segment

Force between parallel wires.  (definition of the ampere)

Galvanometer - Voltmeter - Ammeter

Motor - Generator

Speaker - Microphone

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 AC 9
 P 1, 3-6, 8-17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 28
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Ch. 25 Electromagnetic Induction
Topic
Faraday’s discovery

DB ---> E

DE ---> B

emf = BLv sinq

PAC = (0.5)PDC

Ieff = (0.707)Imax

Veff = (0.707) Vmax

Len’s law

Self-Inductance

Transformers

Vs = Ns
Vp    Np

Step-up  & Step down

  Homework
 Vocabulary Review
 RC 15
 AC 1, 2, 8, 10-12, 15-18
 P 1, 3-5, 8-12, 14-16, 19, 21, 22
 
 
 
 

 Activity
 Make a DC motor.
 Make an electromagnet.
 
 
 
 

Lab #5
Find the number of turns on the solenoids.


Computer/Calculator Programming
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Topic
True Basic Programming

Commands:
End, Print, Let, Input, Clear, Randomize, Rnd, Int, Round

Loops:
For/Next, Do/Loop

Conditions:
If/Then, Select Case

Graphics:
Set Window, Plot, Box, 
 

  Homework
 Loop packet
 
 
 
 

 Activity
 Various programs
 
 
 
 

Lab #5
No Lab for this section.