Grade 12 Physics allows students to deepen their understanding of physics concepts and theories. In this course, students will continue their exploration of energy transformations and the forces that affect motion. They will investigate electrical, gravitational, and magnetic fields, as well as electromagnetic radiation. Students will also have the chance to explore topics such as the wave nature of light, quantum mechanics, and special relativity. Throughout the course, they will further develop their scientific investigation skills, learning how to analyze data related to a variety of physics concepts and principles both qualitatively and quantitatively. Students will also consider the impact of technological applications of physics on society and the environment.
Overall Expectations: SPH4U
By the end of this course, students will:
Scientific Investigation Skills and Career Exploration
Overall Expectations
demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);
identify and describe a variety of careers related to the fields of science under study, and identify scientists, including Canadians, who have made contributions to those fields.
Dynamics
Overall Expectations
analyse technological devices that apply the principles of the dynamics of motion, and assess the technologies' social and environmental impact;
investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, forces involved in uniform circular motion and motion in a plane, and solve related problems;
demonstrate an understanding of the forces involved in uniform circular motion and motion in a plane.
Energy and Momemetum
Overall Expectations
analyse, and propose ways to improve, technologies or procedures that apply principles related to energy and momentum, and assess the social and environmental impact of these technologies or procedures;
investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, through laboratory inquiry or computer simulation, the relationship between the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum, and solve related problems;
demonstrate an understanding of work, energy, momentum, and the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum, in one and two dimensions.
Gravitational, Electric and Magnetic Fields
Overall Expectations
analyse the operation of technologies that use gravitational, electric, or magnetic fields, and assess the technologies' social and environmental impact;
investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields, and solve related problems;
demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, properties, principles, and laws related to gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields and their interactions with matter.
The Wave Nature of Light
Overall Expectations
analyse technologies that use the wave nature of light, and assess their impact on society and the environment;
investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, the properties of waves and light, and solve related problems;
demonstrate an understanding of the properties of waves and light in relation to diffraction, refraction, interference, and polarization.
Revolutions in Modern Physics: Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity
Overall Expectations
analyse, with reference to quantum mechanics and relativity, how the introduction of new conceptual models and theories can influence and/or change scientific thought and lead to the development of new technologies;
investigate special relativity and quantum mechanics, and solve related problems;
demonstrate an understanding of the evidence that supports the basic concepts of quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of special relativity.
