Sri Lanka Advanced Level Examination Syllabus - Physics

This syllabus provides a comprehensive two-year course designed to equip students with a foundational understanding of physics, catering to those pursuing higher studies or intending to apply physics knowledge in diverse fields and daily life. The syllabus comprises eleven units, focusing on key concepts and practical applications.

Units

Unit 1: Measurement (30 periods)

• Introduction to Physics and Scientific Methodology
• Physical Quantities and Units
• Dimensions and Their Applications
• Measuring Instruments and Error Analysis
• Scalars and Vectors

Unit 2: Mechanics (110 periods)

• Kinematics (One and Two Dimensional Motion)
• Resultant of Forces and Moment of Force
• Newton's Laws of Motion and Applications
• Equilibrium of Forces
• Work, Energy, and Power
• Rotational Motion and Circular Motion
• Fluid Dynamics

Unit 3: Oscillations and Waves (100 periods)

• Simple Harmonic Motion
• Mechanical Waves
• Properties of Waves (Reflection, Refraction, Interference, Diffraction, Polarization)
• Stationary Waves in Strings
• Waves in Gases
• Doppler Effect
• Nature and Characteristics of Sound
• Electromagnetic Waves and LASER
• Geometrical Optics
• Human Eye and Defects of Vision
• Optical Instruments

Unit 4: Thermal Physics (60 periods)

• Temperature and Thermometers
• Thermal Expansion of Solids and Liquids
• Gas Laws and Kinetic Theory of Gases
• Heat Exchange and Specific Heat Capacity
• Change of State and Latent Heat
• Vapor and Humidity
• Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Unit 5: Gravitational Field (20 periods)

• Gravitational Force and Field Intensity
• Gravitational Potential and Potential Energy
• Earth's Gravitational Field and Satellites
• Escape Velocity

Unit 6: Electric Field (60 periods)

• Electrostatic Force and Coulomb's Law
• Electric Field Intensity and Field Lines
• Electric Flux and Gauss's Theorem
• Electric Potential and Potential Energy
• Capacitance and Energy Stored in Capacitors

Unit 7: Magnetic Field (40 periods)

• Magnetic Force on Current-Carrying Conductors and Moving Charges
• Magnetic Field and Biot-Savart Law
• Torque on Current Loops and Applications (Motors, Galvanometers)

Unit 8: Current Electricity (70 periods)

• Electric Current, Drift Velocity, and Current Density
• Resistance, Resistivity, and Ohm's Law
• Energy and Power in DC Circuits
• Electromotive Force and Internal Resistance
• Kirchhoff's Laws and Circuit Analysis
• Electrical Measuring Instruments
• Wheatstone Bridge and Potentiometer
• Electromagnetic Induction and Applications (Generators, Transformers)

Unit 9: Electronics (40 periods)

• Semiconductors and Diodes (Rectification, Switching)
• Transistors (Bipolar and Unipolar)
• Operational Amplifiers
• Digital Electronics and Logic Gates

Unit 10: Mechanical Properties of Matter (40 periods)

• Elasticity of Solids
• Viscosity of Fluids
• Surface Tension

Unit 11: Matter and Radiation (30 periods)

• Quantum Nature of Radiation and Black Body Radiation
• Photoelectric Effect
• Wave Nature of Matter
• X-rays
• Radioactivity and its Applications
• Atomic Nucleus and Nuclear Energy

This syllabus emphasizes a student-centered learning approach, encouraging active participation through hands-on experiments and exploration of concepts. It also promotes the use of various learning resources and extracurricular activities to enhance understanding and practical application of physics principles.