Ukraine School Syllabus - Physics

This syllabus outlines the Physics curriculum for high (comprehensive) schools in Ukraine, specifically for Grades 10-11, corresponding to the final two years of secondary education. It is based on the curriculum published by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Grade 10 (105 hours total)

Introduction

• Natural Sciences and Contemporary Worldview: The origin and development of physics as a science, its role in human life and social development. Theory and experience, basic physical theories, and the physical model.
• Units and Measurement: Units of physical values, the SI international system, direct and indirect measurements, and errors (uncertainties) of measurements. Relations between mathematics and physics. Scalar and vector quantities, vector projections.

Section 1: Mechanics

• Kinematics: Basic principles of kinematics, including space and time, mechanical motion, relativity, reference frames, trajectory, path, displacement, average and instantaneous speed and velocity, acceleration, uniformly accelerated motion, free fall, curvilinear motion under gravity, uniform circular motion, angular velocity, period and frequency of rotation, and central (normal) acceleration.
• Dynamics: Types of forces in mechanics, measurement and addition of forces, inertial reference systems, Galileo's principle of relativity, inertia and mass, Newton's laws of motion, gravitational interaction and gravitational field, gravity, weight and weightlessness, first space velocity, forces of friction, resistance forces in fluids, motion under multiple forces, equilibrium of bodies, moment of force, center of gravity, stability of equilibrium, conservative (potential) forces, laws of conservation of energy and momentum, reactive motion, second space velocity, elastic and inelastic collisions.
• Oscillations and Waves: Equilibrium and motion of liquids and gases, lift-off force of an airfoil, harmonic oscillations, free vibrations, elementary vibrating systems (mathematical pendulum, spring pendulum), energy of vibrations, forced vibrations, resonance, self-oscillation, propagation of mechanical vibrations, transverse and longitudinal waves, interference and diffraction of waves, sound phenomena, speed of sound.

Section 2: Elements of the Special Theory of Relativity (SRT)

• Basic Concepts: Prerequisites for the emergence of SRT, Einstein's principle of relativity, basic principles of SRT, relativity of simultaneity, length, and time intervals, relativistic law of velocity addition, total and kinetic energy, rest energy, main consequences of SRT.

Section 3: Molecular Physics and Thermodynamics

• Molecular-Kinetic Theory: Main points of the molecular-kinetic theory, structure of matter, ideal gas, gas pressure, gas laws, basic equation of molecular-kinetic theory, equation of state of ideal gas, isoprocesses, saturated and unsaturated steam, humidity, surface tension, wetting, capillary phenomena.
• Thermodynamics: Rigid bodies (crystalline and amorphous), types of deformation, mechanical strain, Hooke's law, Young's modulus, mechanical and thermal properties, liquid crystals, basic concepts of thermodynamics, internal energy, first law of thermodynamics, heat and work, application of the first law to isoprocesses, adiabatic process, heat engines, reversible and irreversible processes, second law of thermodynamics, cycles of heat machines, efficiency of heat engines, Carnot cycle, principle of operation of a refrigeration machine.

Section 4: Electric Field

• Electrostatics: Electric field, electric field strength, lines of force, point charge, electric field of point charges, superposition principle, conductors and dielectrics in an electrostatic field, concept of the dipole, dielectric permittivity, work in moving a charge, potential, potential difference, equipotential surfaces, measurement of elementary electric charge, electric capacitance, capacitors, energy of a charged capacitor, energy of an electric field.

Grade 11 (105 hours total)

Section 1: Electrodynamics

• Electric Current: Electric current, electrical circuit, direct current, sources of current, electromotive force (EMF), Ohm's law, short circuit, series and parallel connection of conductors, measurement in electrical circuits, work and power of electric current, thermal effects of current, safety in use of electrical devices.
• Conductors and Semiconductors: Charge carriers, superconductivity, electrolysis, thermionic emission, electron-hole transition, semiconductor diodes, semiconductor technologies.
• Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction: Magnetic field, magnetic field induction, Ampere force, Lorentz force, dia-, para-, and ferromagnetics, electromagnetic induction, Lenz's rule, self-induction, inductance, eddy currents, magnetic field energy, Maxwell's hypothesis, interrelation of electric and magnetic fields.

Section 2: Electromagnetic Oscillations and Waves

• Oscillating Circuits: Oscillating circuit, free and forced electromagnetic oscillations, Thomson formula, energy conversion, alternating current, capacitor and coil in AC circuits, active, capacitive, and inductive reactance, power of alternating current, transformers, generation, transmission, and use of AC energy.
• Electromagnetic Waves: Electromagnetic waves, formation and propagation, Maxwell's theory, Hertz's experiments, speed of electromagnetic waves, principles of radio telephone communication, radio broadcasting and television.

Section 3: Optics

• Geometric Optics: Nature of light, light as an electromagnetic wave, propagation, absorption, and scattering of light, laws of geometric optics, refractive index, refraction, mirages, imaging, lenses, optical systems, optical instruments.
• Wave and Quantum Optics: Coherence, interference, diffraction, Huygens-Fresnel principle, diffraction grating, spectroscope, continuous spectrum, blackbody radiation, Planck formula, quantum properties of light, photoelectric effect, laws of photoelectric effect, Einstein's theory, photoelectric equation, photon, photoresistors, photocells, X-ray radiation, photochemical action of light, wave-particle duality, electromagnetic spectrum.

Section 4: Atomic and Nuclear Physics

• Atomic Structure: Development of atomic models, Rutherford's experiment, planetary model, Bohr's postulates, energy levels, de Broglie hypothesis, wave-particle duality, emission and absorption spectra, line spectra, lasers.
• Nuclear Physics: Nuclear forces, stability of nuclei, binding energy, mass defect, radioactivity, radioactive decay law, half-life, production and use of radionuclides, methods of detecting and protecting from radiation, nuclear reactions, nuclear fission, chain reaction, nuclear reactor, thermonuclear reactions, elementary particles, fundamental interactions.

This syllabus also includes suggested demonstrations, educational projects, and experimental (laboratory) works for each section. A final summary and review integrates the learned material with advancements in physics and technology.