Slovenia 9th Grade (9. razred) Curriculum - Physics (Fizika)

The 9th-grade Physics curriculum in Slovenia builds upon the natural science foundation laid in prior years, integrating elements of physics learned in earlier grades. It acknowledges that for many students, the completion of 9th grade marks the end of their general education. The curriculum emphasizes the development of higher-order thinking skills, focusing on comprehension, evaluation, investigation, and explanation of physical phenomena in the environment. A key aspect of the curriculum is fostering a cause-and-effect reasoning approach. The focus is on understanding natural phenomena (concepts) rather than extensive quantitative (calculative) exercises.

Key Topics Covered:

• Accelerated Motion and Newton's Second Law: This topic expands on previous motion concepts, introducing uniform and non-uniform motion, velocity, acceleration, and calculations related to uniformly accelerated motion. Students explore the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, applying Newton's Second Law in practical examples. Free fall and circular motion are also examined.
• Work and Energy: This section explores various energy sources, emphasizing the Sun as the primary source and differentiating between renewable and non-renewable sources. Students learn about energy acquisition and its environmental impact, including pollution. The concept of physical work, kinetic and potential energy, and the work-energy theorem are introduced. Simple machines like levers, pulleys, and inclined planes are discussed, along with elastic potential energy and power.
• Heat and Internal Energy: Students analyze the properties and structure of solids, liquids, and gases, linking temperature to the motion of particles. Temperature scales (Celsius and Kelvin) and thermal expansion are covered. The curriculum explores gas pressure and its relationship with temperature and volume. Internal energy, heat transfer, specific heat, and heat flow calculations are introduced. The concept of energy conservation and transformation is emphasized.
• Electric Current: This topic introduces electric charge, electric force, and the two types of charges. Students explore electrical conductors and insulators, electric circuits, and the effects of electric current. They learn about voltage, Ohm's Law, series and parallel circuits, and electrical work and power. Safety aspects of working with electricity are also addressed.
• Magnetic Force: This section covers magnets, Earth's magnetic field, and the magnetic force acting between magnets and current-carrying conductors. The principles of electric motors, electromagnets, induction, voltage generators, and transformers are introduced. The protective role of Earth's magnetic field against charged particles is also discussed.
• Physics and the Environment: This topic allows for flexibility, with teachers selecting themes like alternative energy sources, historical developments in physics, or modern devices (GPS, mobile phones, semiconductors, etc.) to round out the course.

Textbook:

A commonly used textbook for this curriculum is "MOJA PRVA FIZIKA 2".

Experimental Work:

The curriculum strongly emphasizes experimental work, with many learning objectives marked for experimentation (E). Students are encouraged to conduct experiments individually, in pairs, or groups, both during regular lessons and as part of project work. Suggested experiments include:

• Measuring length and time
• Investigating light reflection and refraction
• Exploring lens properties and image formation
• Observing the night sky and using star charts
• Investigating forces and their effects
• Calibrating springs and exploring friction and resistance
• Measuring the area of irregular shapes and the volume of non-geometric bodies
• Measuring buoyancy
• Investigating motion on an inclined plane and the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration
• Exploring work with simple machines
• Heating water and measuring electric current and voltage
• Investigating series and parallel circuits
• Exploring electrical work.

This hands-on approach aims to provide students with practical experience and a deeper understanding of the concepts being taught. The use of information technology (IT) is also encouraged as a supplementary tool for data acquisition, presentation, and simulation of natural phenomena.