DP Physics

ContentsA.1 KinematicsMotionGraphical representation of motionUniformly accelerated motionProjectile motionFluid resistance and free-fallEnd of topic questionsA.2 Forces and momentumForces and free-body diagramsNewton’s first lawEquilibrium and force typesViscosity and buoyancyNewton’s second lawNewton’s third lawMass and weightSolid frictionMomentum and impulseElastic and inelastic collisionsUniform circular motionAngular velocity and vertical circular motionEnd of topic questionsA.3 Work, energy and powerEnergy and powerWorkEnergy and power generation — Sankey diagramsEnergy sourcesEnd of topic questionsA.4 Rigid body mechanicsTranslational and rotational motionTranslational and rotational relationshipsTranslational and rotational equilibriumEquilibrium examplesMoment of inertiaRotational dynamicsSolving rotational problemsEnd of topic questionsA.5 Galilean and special relativityReference framesSpecial relativitySimultaneityLorentz transformationsVelocity additionInvariant quantitiesTime dilationLength contraction and evidence to support special relativitySpacetime diagramsEnd of topic questionsB.1 Thermal energy transfersThermal conceptsHeat and internal energySpecific heat capacityPhases (states) of matter and latent heatThermal energy transferRadiationMathematics of conductionRadiation: Wien’s law and the Stefan–Boltzmann lawStellar spectraLuminosityEnd of topic questionsB.2 Greenhouse effectEquilibrium temperature of a planetSolar powerThe greenhouse effectGlobal warmingEnd of topic questionsB.3 Gas lawsThe gas lawsMolecular model of an ideal gasEnd of topic questionsB.4 ThermodynamicsThermodynamic systems and conceptsWork done by an ideal gasThe first law of thermodynamicsSecond law of thermodynamics and entropyHeat engines and heat pumpsEnd of topic questionsB.5 Current and circuitsElectric currentInternal resistance and cellsElectric circuitsResistors in series and parallelPotential divider circuits and sensorsResistivityEnd of topic questionsC.1 Simple harmonic motionOscillationsSimple harmonic motionGraphs of simple harmonic motionPhase angle and energy equationsEnd of topic questionsC.2 Wave modelTravelling wavesWave characteristicsElectromagnetic spectrumEnd of topic questionsC.3 Wave phenomenaWavefronts and reflectionSnell’s law and refractive indexRefraction and critical angleDiffractionSuperpositionTwo-source interference of wavesMathematics of diffractionYoung’s double slit experimentMultiple-slit diffractionEnd of topic questionsC.4 Standing waves and resonanceNature and production of standing (stationary) wavesBoundary conditionsForced oscillations and resonanceEnd of topic questionsC.5 Doppler effectThe Doppler effectExamples and applications of the Doppler effectMathematics of the Doppler effectEnd of topic questionsD.1 Gravitational fieldsKepler’s laws and Newton’s law of gravitationGravitational field strengthKepler’s three laws derived from Newton’s law of gravitationGravitational potential energy and potentialGravitational potential gradient and equipotentialsEnergy of an orbiting satelliteEnd of topic questionsD.2 Electric and magnetic fieldsElectric charge and Coulomb’s lawElectric fieldsMillikan’s experiment—quantization of electric chargeMagnetic force and fieldsElectric potential energy and potentialElectric and gravitational potentials comparedElectric and gravitational fields comparedEnd of topic questionsD.3 Motion in electromagnetic fieldsMotion of a charged particle in an electric fieldMagnetic forcesMotion of a charged particle in perpendicularly oriented uniform electric and magnetic fieldsExamples of the magnetic field due to currentsEnd of topic questionsD.4 InductionInduced electromotive force (emf)Lenz’s law and Faraday’s lawUsing inductionEnd of topic questionsE.1 Structure of the atomStructure of matterEmission and absorption spectraThe nucleusAtomic spectra and atomic energy statesBohr model of the atomEnd of topic questionsE.2 Quantum physicsPhotoelectric effectMatter wavesThe Compton effectEnd of topic questionsE.3 Radioactive decayNuclear stabilityNuclear reactionsFission and fusionFundamental forcesRadioactivityHalf-lifeUses of radioactivityEvidence for the strong nuclear forceNuclear energy levels and radioactive decayEnd of topic questionsE.4 Structure of the atomNuclear power—processNuclear power—safety and risksEnd of topic questionsE.5 Fusion and starsThe nature of starsNuclear fusionRed giant starsThe Hertzsprung–Russell diagramStellar evolutionStellar parallaxEnd of topic questionsT.1 Experimental techniquesSafety and measuring variablesT.2 TechnologyApplying technology to collect and process dataT.3 MathematicsAlgebra, trigonometry, rates of change and averagesEstimations, variables, relationships and scale diagramsVectors and scalarsRange of magnitudes of quantities in our universeThe SI system of fundamental and derived unitsSI unitsDimensional analysis and significant figuresUncertainties and error in experimental measurementUncertainties in calculated resultsTables and graphsGraphsGraphical analysis and determination of relationshipsGraphical analysis—logarithmic functionsUncertainties in graphsI.1 Exploring and designingExploring and designingControlling variablesI.2 Calculating and processing dataCollecting and processing dataInterpreting resultsI.3 Concluding and evaluatingConcluding and evaluatingEnd of topic questions—Tools in the study of physicsAnswersIndex