South Sudan Senior 4 Secondary School Curriculum - Physics

This outlines the course content for the South Sudan Senior 4 Physics curriculum, based on the available Teacher's Guide. The guide emphasizes a competency-based approach, focusing on developing critical thinking, communication, cooperation, and cultural identity. It also integrates cross-cutting issues like environmental sustainability, peace education, and life skills. The curriculum encourages active learning through practical investigations and group work.

Unit 1: Periodic Motion

• Topic 1: Uniform Circular Motion
• Illustrating circular motion: Introduction to the concept of circular motion through practical examples like spinning a wet umbrella and whirling a stone tied to a string. Emphasis on identifying forces involved (centripetal force).
• Terms used to describe circular motion: Defining and calculating linear and angular displacement, velocity, and frequency using practical activities and diagrams.
• Centripetal force and acceleration: Investigating the relationship between centripetal force, mass, velocity, and radius through experiments. Deriving expressions for centripetal force and acceleration. Exploring real-world applications of circular motion.
• Motion in a vertical circle: Analyzing forces and tension at different points in a vertical circle. Discussing applications like loop-the-loops.
• Topic 2: Simple Harmonic Motion
• Definition of simple harmonic motion: Defining SHM and exploring the concept of restoring force using a simple pendulum.
• Terms used to describe simple harmonic motion: Defining and calculating displacement, amplitude, period, and frequency using graphs and examples.
• Equation of simple harmonic motion: Deriving the equation of SHM using calculus and trigonometric functions.
• Simple harmonic oscillating systems: Investigating simple pendulum and mass-spring systems. Deriving expressions for periodic time and exploring the relationship between variables like length, mass, and gravity.
• Energy changes in simple harmonic motion: Describing energy transformations (kinetic and potential energy) during SHM. Deriving the expression for total mechanical energy.
• Damped oscillations: Explaining damped oscillations and their applications using examples like water waves.

Unit 2: Newton's Law of Gravitation

• Topic 3: Newton's Law of Gravitation
• Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation: Stating, deriving, and applying Newton's Law of Gravitation. Calculating gravitational force between objects.
• Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion: Stating and applying Kepler's three laws. Analyzing planetary motion and orbital characteristics.
• Applications of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Kepler's Laws: Discussing real-world applications, including satellite motion and planetary orbits.

Unit 3: Wave Reflection, Refraction, Interaction, Interference, and Diffraction

• Topic 4: Wave Properties
• The ripple tank and wave fronts: Using a ripple tank to visualize and analyze wavefronts (circular and straight). Understanding wave propagation.
• Reflection of waves: Investigating reflection of waves using straight and curved barriers. Explaining the shape and direction of reflected wavefronts. Discussing applications like headlights and torches.
• Refraction of waves: Investigating refraction of waves as they pass from deep to shallow water. Explaining changes in speed, wavelength, and direction. Discussing applications.
• Diffraction of waves: Investigating diffraction of waves through wide and narrow slits. Explaining the spreading of waves and its applications.
• Interference of waves: Investigating interference of waves. Explaining constructive and destructive interference and the principle of superposition.
• The dual nature of light: Discussing theories of light as both a particle and a wave.
• Stationary waves on a vibrating string: Analyzing stationary waves on a string. Identifying nodes and antinodes. Investigating the relationship between frequency, length, tension, and mass of the string. Exploring concepts of fundamental tones, overtones, and resonance.
• Vibrating air columns: Analyzing stationary waves in air columns. Determining frequencies of harmonics and understanding resonance in open pipes. Incorporating end correction.
• Beats: Explaining the concept of beats and its applications.

Unit 4: Electric Fields and Capacitance

• Topic 5: Electric Fields and Capacitance
• Electric field: Defining electric fields and visualizing them using grass seeds or semolina powder.
• Electric field patterns: Drawing and describing electric field patterns between and around charged particles.
• Electric field strength: Defining, deriving the formula for, and calculating electric field strength.
• Electric potential: Defining, deriving the formula for, and calculating electric potential.
• Charge distribution on conductors: Investigating charge distribution on hollow and pear-shaped conductors. Defining surface charge density, electric flux, and electric flux density.
• Capacitors and capacitance: Identifying capacitors and defining capacitance. Exploring the purpose of capacitors in circuits.
• Charging and discharging a capacitor: Investigating charging and discharging processes and plotting graphs of voltage against time.
• Combination of capacitors: Setting up circuits with capacitors in series and parallel. Deriving expressions for effective capacitance.
• Discharging action at points: Explaining discharging action at points using an electroscope.
• Applications of electrostatics: Researching and presenting on applications like electrophotography, defibrillators, photocopiers, electrostatic precipitators, and lightning arresters.

Unit 5: Magnetic Field and Electromagnetic Induction

• Topic 6: Magnetic Effect of an Electric Current
• Magnetic field due to a straight current-carrying conductor: Investigating and visualizing the magnetic field around a straight conductor using iron filings and plotting compasses.
• Magnetic field due to a current-carrying solenoid: Investigating and visualizing the magnetic field around a solenoid.
• Magnetic field around a current-carrying circular coil: Investigating and visualizing the magnetic field around a circular coil.
• Charged particle in a magnetic field: Describing the motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field. Deriving relevant formulas.
• Biot-Savart's Law of Magnetic Field: Explaining, deriving, and applying Biot-Savart's Law.
• Force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field (motor effect): Investigating the motor effect and stating Fleming's Left-Hand Rule.
• Applications of the motor effect: Exploring applications like DC electric motors and loudspeakers.
• Topic 7: Electromagnetic Induction
• Demonstrations of electromagnetic induction: Investigating electromagnetic induction using a magnet and coil connected to a galvanometer.
• Factors affecting magnitude of induced e.m.f.: Investigating factors like magnet strength, speed of movement, and presence of an iron core.
• Laws of electromagnetic induction: Stating and applying Faraday's Law, Lenz's Law, and Fleming's Right-Hand Rule.
• Transformers: Explaining the working principle of transformers, including step-up and step-down transformers. Discussing energy losses and efficiency.
• Other applications of electromagnetic induction: Exploring applications like AC generators and microphones.
• Topic 8: Electric Power Transmission and Household Installation
• Electric power transmission: Describing the process of transmitting electricity from power stations to households and industries. Discussing power losses and dangers of high-voltage transmission.
• Household electrical installation: Identifying materials and devices used in household electrical installations. Drawing circuit symbols.
• Household wiring: Observing and describing household wiring systems. Identifying components like main switches, meter boxes, sockets, and circuit breakers. Practicing replacing a faulty socket.
• Dangers of electricity: Researching and discussing the dangers of electricity, including electric shocks and property damage.
• Electrical safety: Understanding safety precautions and procedures when working with electricity.

Unit 6: Cathode Ray Tube

• Topic 9: Cathode Ray Tube
• Production of cathode rays: Explaining the production of cathode rays through thermionic emission.
• Properties of cathode rays: Investigating and describing the properties of cathode rays, including deflection by electric and magnetic fields.
• Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (C.R.O): Drawing a CRO, labeling its parts, explaining its working principle, and discussing its uses (measuring voltage, frequency, and time intervals).

Unit 7: Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy

• Topic 10: Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy
• Definition of radioactive decay: Defining radioactivity and explaining its spontaneous nature.
• A model of radioactive decay and Half-life: Modeling radioactive decay using bottle tops. Defining half-life and calculating it from graphs and data.
• Types of radiations emitted and their properties: Investigating the properties of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, including range and penetration power. Discussing the dangers of radiation.
• Detectors of radiation: Using a leaf electroscope and Geiger-Muller tube to detect radiation. Understanding background radiation.
• Equations to describe radioactive decay: Writing and balancing nuclear equations for alpha and beta decay.
• Natural and artificial radioactivity: Explaining the difference between natural and artificial radioactivity.
• Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion: Differentiating between nuclear fission and fusion.
• Applications of radioactivity: Discussing applications of radioactivity in various fields, including medicine, industry, and archaeology. Debating the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.