High School Physics

Nature Of Matter

Vectors
Laws of mechanics

Motion Of Objects

Frames of Reference
Position — Time: An object’s position can be measured and graphed as a function of time. An object’s speed can be calculated and graphed as a function of time.
Velocity — Time: Use algebraic and geometric concepts to qualitatively and quantitatively describe an object's motion.

Forces And Motions

Basic Forces in Nature: Objects can interact with each other by “direct contact” (pushes or pulls, friction) or at a distance (gravity, electromagnetism, nuclear).
Forces: There are four basic forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, strong, and weak nuclear) that differ greatly in magnitude and range. Between any two charged particles, electric force is vastly greater than the gravitational force.
There are four fundamental forces in nature: strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, electromagnetic force, and gravitational force.
Net Forces: Forces have magnitude and direction. The net force on an object is the sum of all the forces acting on the object. Objects change their speed and/or direction only when a net force is applied. If the net force on an object is zero, there is no change in motion (Newton’s First Law).
The relationships between force and motion
Newton’s First Law
Newton's Second Law
Newton’s Third Law
Forces and Acceleration: The change of speed and/or direction (acceleration) of an object is proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. The acceleration and net force are always in the same direction.
Momentum: A moving object has a quantity of motion (momentum) that depends on its velocity and mass. In interactions between objects, the total momentum of the objects does not change.
Angular momentum
Gravitational Interactions: Gravitation is an attractive force that a mass exerts on every other mass. The strength of the gravitational force between two masses is proportional to the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Electric Charges: Electric force exists between any two charged objects. Oppositely charged objects attract, while objects with like charge repel.
Coulomb’s Law: The strength of the electric force between two charged objects is proportional to the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Types of electric charges and the forces that exist between them.
The sources and effects of electric field
Electric Charges — Interactions
Charged objects can attract electrically neutral objects by induction.
Magnetic Force
Magnets exert forces on all objects made of ferromagnetic materials (e.g., iron, cobalt, and nickel) as well as other magnets. This force acts at a distance. Magnetic fields accompany magnets and are related to the strength and direction of the magnetic force. (prerequisite)
Electromagnetic Force: Magnetic and electric forces are two aspects of a single electromagnetic force. Moving electric charges produce magnetic forces and moving magnets produce electric forces (e.g., electric current in a conductor).
Applications of electromagnetic induction

Matter & Energy

Definition ; What is energy?
Work, Energy, & Power
Energy Transfer — Work
Work is the amount of energy transferred during an interaction. In mechanical systems, work is the amount of energy transferred as an object is moved through a distance, W = F d, where d is in the same direction as F. The total work done on an object depends on the net force acting on the object and the object’s displacement

Nature of Energy

Conservation of mass and energy,
First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics.
The second law of thermodynamics that states the entropy of the universe is increasing
Thermal Energy: Heat, Temperature, and Efficiency
Heat is often produced as a by-product during energy transformations. This energy is transferred into the surroundings and is not usually recoverable as a useful form of energy. The efficiency of systems is defined as the ratio of the useful energy output to the total energy input. The efficiency of natural and human-made systems varies due to the amount of heat that is not recovered as useful work.
Relation between thermodynamics and the balance of energy in a system.
Kinetic Energy: Kinetic and Potential Energy
Moving objects have kinetic energy. Objects experiencing a force may have potential energy due to their relative positions (e.g., lifting an object or stretching a spring, energy stored in chemical bonds). Conversions between kinetic and gravitational potential energy are common in moving objects. In frictionless systems, the decrease in gravitational potential energy is equal to the increase in kinetic energy or vice versa
Kinetic and Potential Energy — Calculations
The kinetic energy of an object is related to the mass of an object and its speed: KE = 1/2 mv2.
Potential Energy
Mechanical energy is conserved
Transformations of energy

Forms Of Energy

Energy Transfer
Moving objects and waves transfer energy from one location to another. They also transfer energy to objects during interactions (e.g., sunlight transfers energy to the ground when it warms the ground; sunlight also transfers energy from the sun to the Earth).
Energy Transformation: Energy is often transformed from one form to another. The amount of energy before a transformation is equal to the amount of energy after the transformation. In most energy transformations, some energy is converted to thermal energy.
Law of Conservation of Energy

Waves

Vibrations and waves are responsible for various physical phenomena. Waves are propagated and transmit energy.
Wave Characteristics: Waves (mechanical and electromagnetic) are described by their wavelength, amplitude, frequency, and speed.
Wave Characteristics — Calculations
Wave velocity, wavelength, and frequency are related by v = λf. The energy transferred by a wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude of vibration and its frequency
Mechanical Wave Propagation
Vibrations in matter initiate mechanical waves (e.g., water waves, sound waves, seismic waves), which may propagate in all directions and decrease in intensity in proportion to the distance squared for a point source.
Waves transfer energy from one place to another without transferring mass.
Waves have energy and can transfer energy when they interact with matter.
Electromagnetic Waves: Electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray) are produced by changing the motion (acceleration) of charges or by changing magnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves can travel through matter, but they do not require a material medium. (That is, they also travel through empty space) All electromagnetic waves move in a vacuum at the speed of light. Types of electromagnetic radiation are distinguished from each other by their wavelength and energy.
Electromagnetic Propagation
Electromagnetic waves result when a charged particle is accelerated or decelerated.
Modulated electromagnetic waves can transfer information from one place to another (e.g., televisions, radios, telephones, computers and other information technology devices). Digital communication makes more efficient use of the limited electromagnetic spectrum, is more accurate than analogue transmission, and can be encrypted to provide privacy and security.
Quantum Theory of Waves
Electromagnetic energy is transferred on the atomic scale in discrete amounts called quanta. The equation E = h f quantifies the relationship between the energy transferred and the frequency, where h is Planck’s constant. (recommended)
Wave Behavior — Reflection and Refraction
Nature of Light: Light interacts with matter by reflection, absorption, or transmission.
The laws of reflection and refraction describe the relationships between incident and reflected/refracted waves.
Wave Behavior — Diffraction, Interference, and Refraction: Waves can bend around objects (diffraction). They also superimpose on each other and continue their propagation without a change in their original properties (interference). When refracted, light follows a defined path.
Interference – how waves interact with other waves
Nature of Light — Wave-Particle Nature (recommended)
The dual wave-particle nature of matter and light is the foundation for modern physics. (recommended)
Current Electricity — Circuits
Current Electricity — Ohm’s Law, Work, and Power
Basic electrostatics and circuits.
Work is the amount of energy transferred during an interaction. In electrical systems, work is done when charges are moved through the circuit. Electric power is the amount of work done by an electric current in a unit of time, which can be calculated using P = I V.
Heat, Temperature, and Efficiency: Heat is often produced as a by-product during energy transformations.
Nuclear Reactions: Radioactive decay occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust (rocks, minerals) and can be used in technological applications (e.g., medical diagnosis and treatment).
Changes in atomic nuclei can occur through three processes: fission, fusion, and radioactive decay. Fission and fusion can convert small amounts of matter into large amounts of energy.
Fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei at extremely high temperature and pressure.
Fusion is the combination of smaller nuclei into a large nucleus and is responsible for the energy of the Sun and other stars.
Mass and Energy: In nuclear reactions, a small amount of mass is converted to a large amount of energy, E = mc2, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum. The amount of energy before and after nuclear reactions must consider mass changes as part of the energy transformation.
Mass and energy can be interchanged. The total energy in the universe is constant, but the type of energy may vary.
Historical Perspectives and Scientific Revolutions

Science and Technology

Understanding Technology
Abilities To Do Technological Design
Understands technology is the application of scientific knowledge for functional purposes.

High School Physics

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