Zambia Grade 12 School Syllabus - Science (Combined Science)

This syllabus is designed for Grades 10-12 and covers a combined science approach, integrating Physics, Chemistry, and some Biology concepts. It aims to provide a comprehensive scientific education, emphasizing practical skills and application of knowledge. The syllabus is structured around several units, allowing for flexibility in teaching order.

Section A: Physics

• Grade 10: Focuses on foundational physics concepts.
• General Physics: Introduction to the International System of Units (SI), measurement of length, time, mass, and weight. Includes concepts like density, speed, velocity, acceleration, and force.
• Mechanics: Covers linear motion, forces, moments, work, energy, power, and simple machines. Includes Newton's laws, equations of motion, and concepts like friction and circular motion.
• Grade 11: Expands on Grade 10 topics and introduces new areas.
• Thermal Physics: Explores the kinetic theory of matter, temperature measurement, thermal expansion, heat transfer, and gas laws.
• Wave Motion: Introduces wave motion theory, wave types, and properties. Includes the wave equation and applications of waves.
• Sound: Covers properties of sound, sound waves, and factors influencing sound quality. Includes ultrasonic waves and their applications.
• Light: Explores rectilinear propagation of light, reflection, refraction, lenses, and image formation. Includes concepts like refractive index and total internal reflection.
• Magnetism: Covers properties of magnets, magnetic fields, induced magnetism, and applications of magnets.
• Grade 12: Focuses on more advanced physics topics.
• Static Electricity: Explores static charges, their detection, properties, and effects on the environment.
• Current Electricity: Covers electric charge, current, potential difference, electric cells, resistance, heating effects of current, and magnetic effects of currents. Includes safety precautions in using electricity.
• Electromagnetic Induction: Explores the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, generators, transformers, and their applications.
• Basic Electronics: Covers thermionic emission, cathode rays, and basic electronic devices like the cathode-ray oscilloscope.
• Atomic Physics: Introduces the structure of the atom, radioactivity, nuclear fusion and fission, and the uses and effects of radioactive substances.

Section B: Chemistry

• Grade 10: Provides a foundation in basic chemistry principles.
• Introduction to Chemistry: Overview of chemistry and its branches, including the importance and challenges of chemical industrial activities. Emphasis on lab safety.
• Particulate Nature of Matter: Covers the kinetic theory of matter, states of matter, changes of state, diffusion, and factors affecting diffusion rates.
• Experimental Techniques: Focuses on measurement of quantities, criteria of purity, and methods of separating mixtures.
• Atoms, Elements, Compounds, and Molecules: Covers atomic structure, the periodic table, isotopes, bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic), chemical formulae, and balancing chemical equations.
• Grade 11: Builds on Grade 10 concepts and introduces new topics.
• Acids, Bases, and Salts: Covers properties of acids and bases, pH scale, preparation of salts, types of oxides, and qualitative analysis of ions and gases.
• The Mole Concept: Introduces relative atomic and molecular mass, Avogadro's constant, molar mass, molar volume, stoichiometry, and percentage yield and purity.
• Chemical Reactions and Energy Changes: Covers rates of reactions, factors affecting reaction rates, methods of controlling reaction rates, and the effect of catalysts.
• The Periodic Table: Explores groups and periods, periodic trends, properties of elements in specific groups, transition metals, and noble gases.
• Grade 12: Focuses on more specific chemistry topics.
• Metals: Covers general properties, reactivity series, extraction of metals, alloys, corrosion, and the harmful effects of some metals.
• Non-metals: Explores general properties of non-metals, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, sulfur, carbon, and carbonates. Includes industrial applications and environmental impacts.
• Organic Chemistry: Covers saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, homologous series, macromolecules (polymers), and natural macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, fats).

Practical Work:

The syllabus emphasizes practical work in both Physics and Chemistry, developing manipulative skills and experimental techniques. Specific practical skills and apparatus are outlined for each grade level. Qualitative analysis tests and procedures are also detailed.