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COURSE OUTLINE

Course Title: Physics
Course Code: SPH4U
Grade: 12
Course Type: University Preparation
Credit Value: 1
Prerequisite: SPH 3U, Physics, Grade 11, University preparation
Curriculum Policy Document: Science, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12, 2000
Department: Science
Course Developer: Mr. Fred Driedger
Development Date: Summer 2008
Course Revised by: -
Revision Date: -

Course Description:

This course enables students to deepen their understanding of the concepts and theories of physics. Students will explore further the laws of dynamics and energy transformations, and will investigate electrical, gravitational, and magnetic fields; electromagnetic radiation; and the interface between energy and matter.They will further develop inquiry skills, learning, for example, how the interpretation of experimental data can provide indirect evidence to support the development of a scientific model. Students will also consider the impact on society and the environment of technological applications of physics.

Unit	Titles and Descriptions	Time and Sequence
Unit 1	Forces and Motion: Dynamics There are four parts to this unit. The unit begins with a review of major concepts taught in Grade 11 Physics including: scientific notation, the role of significant digits, vector operations, mathematical variations, graphing analysis and straight line motion. From there students look at Kinematics including motion in one and two dimensions, positive and negative acceleration and how to use graphs to analyze motion including projectile motion. The third of the four topics in this unit is Forces where students use free body diagrams and apply Newton’s Laws while analyzing elevators, pulleys and the concepts of incline and acceleration. Lastly, students will examine Circular Motion, specifically acceleration with changing direction, centripetal acceleration and examples of circular motion.	20 hours
Unit 2	Energy and Momentum In Physics, the concept of work has a special meaning. While in a non-Physics context we might refer to work as a place we go to, in order to earn some extra cash in Physics it refers to the process of changing energy from one form to another. Energy conservation and momentum will also be studied in the first half of this unit. In the second half planetary motion including the concepts of gravity, satellites, potential energy will all be pursued. The unit closes with an examination of Kepler’s Laws.	22 hours
Unit 3	Electric, Gravitational and Magnetic Fields Students will begin by reviewing the concepts of the structure of matter and how they relate to electrical charges. The second major activity looks at the force of attraction or repulsion. The electrical field that exists around a point charge and between parallel plates is pursued next. Students will be introduced to the concept of storing potential energy and the formulas for measuring the same. The second half of the unit begins by reviewing the concepts of magnetism from Grade 11 Physics before moving onto Lorentz force, conductors, Ampere’s law and induction.	22 hours
Unit 4	The Wave Nature of Light Is light a particle or a wave? The merits of both models and the early models are all introduced at the beginning of this unit. Thomas Young’s double slit experiment from the 1800’s sets the stage for the examination of single slit diffraction. The unit concludes with an investigation of the interference pattern observed on thin films.	22 hours
Unit 5	Matter - Energy Interface This is a unit in modern Physics which is too often left out of 4U Physics courses. The first investigation involves a study of inertial and non-inertial reference frames and their implications on our understanding of light. Next students will study how time decreases, distance increases and momentum increases when an object travels close to the speed of light. Next students will use Einstein’s theory to look at the relationship between matter and energy. In the next lesson the particle model for light gains new credibility based on Einstein’s work with the photoelectric effect. The last lesson of the unit reviews techniques for detecting sub-atomic particles and their subsequent classification.	21 hours
	Final Evaluation The final assessment task is a proctored three hour exam worth 30% of the student’s final mark.	3 hours
	Total	110 hours

Teaching / Learning Strategies:

A wide range of teaching and learning strategies are employed including reading and taking notes, experimentation and the creation of lab reports, research, discussion, problem sets, and the presentation of visual models that move and allow the student to see what is being taught.

Assessment and Evaluation Strategies of Student Performance:

Assessment is a systematic process of collecting information or evidence about a student’s progress towards meeting the learning expectations. Assessment is embedded in the instructional activities throughout a unit. The expectations for the assessment tasks are clearly articulated and the learning activity is planned to make that demonstration possible. This process of beginning with the end in mind helps to keep focus on the expectations of the course. The purpose of assessment is to gather the data or evidence and to provide meaningful feedback to the student about how to improve or sustain the performance in the course. Scaled criteria designed as rubrics are often used to help the student to recognize their level of achievement and to provide guidance on how to achieve the next level. Although assessment information can be gathered from a number of sources (the student himself, the student’s course mates, the teacher), evaluation is the responsibility of only the teacher. For evaluation is the process of making a judgment about the assessment information and determining the percentage grade or level.

Assessment is embedded within the instructional process throughout each unit rather than being an isolated event at the end. Often, the learning and assessment tasks are the same, with formative assessment provided throughout the unit. In every case, the desired demonstration of learning is articulated clearly and the learning activity is planned to make that demonstration possible. This process of beginning with the end in mind helps to keep focus on the expectations of the course as stated in the course guideline. The evaluations are expressed as a percentage based upon the levels of achievement.

Overall Expectations - SPH4U

Forces and Motion: Dynamics
Overall Expectations
FMD.01	analyse the motion of objects in horizontal, vertical, and inclined planes, and predict and explain the motion with reference to the forces acting on the objects;
FMD.02	investigate motion in a plane, through experiments or simulations, and analyse and solve problems involving the forces acting on an object in linear, projectile, and circular motion, with the aid of vectors, graphs, and free-body diagrams;
FMD.03	analyse ways in which an understanding of the dynamics of motion relates to the development and use of technological devices, including terrestrial and space vehicles, and the enhancement of recreational activities and sports equipment.
Energy and Momentum
Overall Expectations
PEM.01	demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of work, energy, momentum, and the laws of conservation of energy and of momentum for objects moving in two dimensions, and explain them in qualitative and quantitative terms;
PEM.02	investigate the laws of conservation of momentum and of energy (including elastic and inelastic collisions) through experiments or simulations, and analyse and solve problems involving these laws with the aid of vectors, graphs, and free-body diagrams;
PEM.03	analyse and describe the application of the concepts of energy and momentum to the design and development of a wide range of collision and impact-absorbing devices used in everyday life.
Electric, Gravitational, and Magnetic Fields
Overall Expectations
EGM.01	demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, principles, and laws related to electric, gravitational, and magnetic forces and fields, and explain them in qualitative and quantitative terms;
EGM.02	conduct investigations and analyse and solve problems related to electric, gravitational, and magnetic fields;
EGM.03	explain the roles of evidence and theories in the development of scientific knowledge related to electric, gravitational, and magnetic fields, and evaluate and describe the social and economic impact of technological developments related to the concept of fields.
The Wave Nature of Light
Overall Expectations
WNL.01	demonstrate an understanding of the wave model of electromagnetic radiation, and describe how it explains diffraction patterns, interference, and polarization;
WNL.02	perform experiments relating the wave model of light and technical applications of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., lasers and fibre optics) to the phenomena of refraction, diffraction, interference, and polarization;
WNL.03	analyse phenomena involving light and colour, explain them in terms of the wave model of light, and explain how this model provides a basis for developing technological devices.
Matter-Energy Interface
Overall Expectations
MEI.01	demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of Einstein’s special theory of relativity and of the development of models of matter, based on classical and early quantum mechanics, that involve an interface between matter and energy;
MEI.02	interpret data to support scientific models of matter, and conduct thought experiments as a way of exploring abstract scientific ideas;
MEI.03	describe how the introduction of new conceptual models and theories can influence and change scientific thought and lead to the development of new technologies.

The Final Grade:

The evaluation for this course is based on the student's achievement of curriculum expectations and the demonstrated skills required for effective learning.

The percentage grade represents the quality of the student's overall achievement of the expectations for the course and reflects the corresponding level of achievement as described in the achievement chart for the discipline.

A credit is granted and recorded for this course if the student's grade is 50% or higher. The final grade for this course will be determined as follows:

• 70% of the grade will be based upon evaluations conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade will reflect the student's most consistent level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration will be given to more recent evidence of achievement.



• 30% of the grade will be based on a final exam administered at the end of the course. The exam will contain a summary of information from the course and the student's reports and will consist of well-formulated multiple choice questions. These will be evaluated using a checklist.

The Report Card:

The report card will focus on two distinct but related aspects of student achievement; the achievement of curriculum expectations and the development of learning skills. The report card will contain separate sections for the reporting of these two aspects.

A Summary Description of Achievement in Each Percentage Grade Range and Corresponding Level of Achievement
Percentage Grade Range	Achievement Level	Summary Description
80-100%	Level 4	A very high to outstanding level of achievement. Achievement is above the provincial standard.
70-79%	Level 3	A high level of achievement. Achievement is at the provincial standard.
60-69%	Level 2	A moderate level of achievement. Achievement is below, but approaching, the provincial standard.
50-59%	Level 1	A passable level of achievement. Achievement is below the provincial standard.
below 50%	Level R	Insufficient achievement of curriculum expectations. A credit will not be granted.

Achievement Chart: Science, Grades 9-12

Categories	50-59% (Level 1)	60-69% (Level 2)	70-79% (Level 3)	80-100% (Level 4)
Knowledge and Understanding - Subject-specific content acquired in each course (knowledge), and the comprehension of its meaning and significance (understanding)
	The student:
understanding of concepts, principles, laws, and theories (e.g., identifying assumptions;eliminating misconceptions; providing explanations)	demonstrates limited understanding of concepts, principles, laws, and theories	demonstrates some understanding of concepts, principles, laws, and theories	demonstrates considerable understanding of concepts, principles, laws, and theories	demonstrates thorough understanding of concepts, principles, laws, and theories
knowledge of facts and terms	demonstrates limited knowledge of facts and terms	demonstrates some knowledge of facts and terms	demonstrates considerable knowledge of facts and terms	demonstrates thorough knowledge of facts and terms
transfer of concepts to new contexts	infrequently transfers simple concepts to new contexts	sometimes transfers simple concepts to new contexts	usually transfers simple concepts to new contexts	routinely transfers simple concepts to new contexts
understanding of relationships between concepts	demonstrates limited understanding of relationships between concepts	demonstrates some understanding of relationships between concepts	demonstrates considerable understanding of relationships between concepts	demonstrates thorough and insightful understanding of relationships between concepts
Thinking and Inquiry - The use of critical and creative thinking and inquiry skills and/or processes
	The student:
application of the skills and strategies of scientific inquiry (e.g., initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, problem solving)	applies few of the skills and strategies of scientific inquiry	applies some of the skills and strategies of scientific inquiry	applies most of the skills and strategies of scientific inquiry	applies all or almost all of the skills and strategies of scientific inquiry
application of technical skills and procedures (e.g., microscopes)	applies technical skills and procedures with limited competence	applies technical skills and procedures with moderate competence	applies technical skills and procedures with considerable competence	applies technical skills and procedures with a high degree of competence
use of tools, equipment, and materials	uses tools, equipment, and materials safely and correctly only with supervision	uses tools, equipment, and materials safely and correctly with some supervision	uses tools, equipment, and materials safely and correctly	demonstrates and promotes the safe and correct use of tools, equipment, and materials
Communication - The conveying of meaning through various forms
	The student:
communication of information and ideas	communicates information and ideas with limited clarity and precision	communicates information and ideas with some clarity and precision	communicates information and ideas with considerable clarity and precision	communicates information and ideas with a high degree of clarity and precision
use of scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and standard (SI) units	uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with limited accuracy and effectiveness	uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with some accuracy and effectiveness	uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with considerable accuracy and effectiveness	uses scientific terminology, symbols, conventions, and SI units with a high degree of accuracy and effectiveness
communication for different audiences and purpose	communicates with a limited sense of audience and purpose	communicates with some sense of audience and purpose	communicates with a clear sense of audience and purpose	communicates with a strong sense of audience and purpose
use of various forms of communication (e.g., reports, essays)	demonstrates limited command of the various forms	demonstrates moderate command of the various forms	demonstrates considerable command of the various forms	demonstrates extensive command of the various forms
use of information technology for scientific purposes (e.g., specialized databases)	uses technology with limited appropriateness and effectiveness	uses technology with moderate appropriateness and effectiveness	uses appropriate technology with considerable effectiveness	uses appropriate technology with a high degree of effectiveness
Application - The use of knowledge and skills to make connections within and between various contexts
	The student:
understanding of connections among science, technology, society, and the environment	shows limited understanding of connections in familiar contexts	shows some understanding of connections in familiar contexts	shows considerable understanding of connections in familiar and some unfamiliar contexts	shows thorough understanding of connections in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
analysis of social and economic issues involving science and technology	analyses social and economic issues with limited effectiveness	analyses social and economic issues with moderate effectiveness	analyses social and economic issues with considerable effectiveness	analyses complex social and economic issues with a high degree of effectiveness
assessment of impacts of science and technology on the environment	assesses environmental impacts with limited effectiveness	assesses environmental impacts with moderate effectiveness	assesses environmental impacts with considerable effectiveness	assesses environmental impacts with a high degree of effectiveness
proposing of courses of practical action in relation to science and technology-based problems	extends analyses of familiar problems into courses of practical action with limited effectiveness	extends analyses of familiar problems into courses of practical action with moderate effectiveness	extends analyses of familiar problems into courses of practical action with considerable effectiveness	extends analyses of familiar and unfamiliar problems into courses of practical action with a high degree of effectiveness

Resources:

• SPH4U online course of study
• A scanner is recommended to save time typing up assignments.
• Graph paper, scientific calculator

Program Planning Considerations for Science:

Teachers who are planning a program in Science must take into account considerations in a number of important areas. Essential information that pertains to all disciplines is provided in the companion piece to this document, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 to 12: Program Planning and Assessment, 2000. The areas of concern to all teachers that are outlined there include the following:

• types of secondary school courses
• education for exceptional students
• the role of technology in the curriculum
• English as a second language (ESL) and English literacy development (ELD)
• career education
• cooperative education and other workplace experiences
• health and safety

Considerations relating to the areas listed above that have particular relevance for program planning in Science are noted here.

Education for Exceptional Students. In planning courses in Science, teachers should take into account the needs of exceptional students as set out in their Individual Education Plan. All Science courses reflect the real world, which offers a vast array of opportunities for exceptional students. Students who use alternative techniques for communication may find a venue for their talents as they go about researching the nature of their world.

The Role of Technology in the Curriculum. Information technology is considered a learning tool that must be accessed by Science students when the situation is appropriate. As a result, students will develop transferable skills through their experience with word processing, internet research, presentation software, and telecommunication tools, as would be expected in any environment.

English As a Second Language and English Literacy Development (ESL/ELD). This Science course can provide a wide range of options to address the needs of ESL/ELD students. Assessment and evaluation exercises will help ESL students in mastering the English language and all of its idiosyncrasies. In addition, since all occupations require employees with a wide range of English skills and abilities, many students will learn how the operation of their own physical world can contribute to their success in their social world.

Career Education. Science definitely helps prepare students for employment in a huge number of diverse areas. The skills, knowledge and creativity that students acquire through this course are essential for a wide range of careers. Being able to express oneself in a clear concise manner without ambiguity, solve problems, make connections between this Science course and the larger world, etc., would be an overall intention of this Science course, as it helps students prepare for success in their working lives.

Cooperative Education and Other Workplace Experiences. By applying the skills they have developed, students will readily connect their classroom learning to real-life activities in the world in which they live. Cooperative education and other workplace experiences will broaden their knowledge of employment opportunities in a wide range of fields. In addition, students will increase their understanding of workplace practices and the nature of the employer-employee relationship. Teachers of Science should maintain links with community-based workers to ensure that students have access to hands-on experiences that will reinforce the knowledge they have gained in school.

Health and Safety. The Science program provides the reading and analytical skills for the student to be able to explore the variety of concepts relating to health and safety in the workplace. Teachers who provide support for students in workplace learning placements need to assess placements for safety and ensure that students can read and understand the importance of issues relating to health and safety in the workplace.