SPH3U – Physics
| Course Type : | University Preparation |
| Credit Value : | 1.0 |
| Prerequisite : | Science Grade 10 Academic, SNC2D |
Course Description
Kinematics
Students will demonstrate an understanding of uniform and non-uniform linear motion, in one and two dimensions. They will investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, uniform and non-uniform motion, and solve related problems. They will analyse technologies that apply concepts related to kinematics, and assess the technologies’ social and environmental impact.
Outline of Course Content
Unit
Titles and Descriptions
Time and Sequence
Unit 1
Language and Form
Through the readings of short articles from various forms of literature including poems and plays, students are introduced to the different terms and structures of literature. As they analyse each of the narratives, they compare and contrast them in terms of purpose, structure, mood, style, tone, audience, and language and begin to understand the conventions of narrative literature and language as they develop the tools and techniques for critical literacy.
22 hours
Unit 2
Forces
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between changes in velocity and unbalanced forces in one dimension. They will investigate qualitatively and quantitatively net force, acceleration, and mass; and solve related problems. They will analyse and propose improvements to technologies that apply concepts related to dynamics and Newton’s laws, and assess the technologies’ social and environmental impact.
22 hours
Unit 3
Energy and Society
Students will demonstrate an understanding of work, efficiency, power, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, nuclear energy, and thermal energy and its transfer as heat. They will investigate energy transformations and the law of conservation of energy, and solve related problems. They will analyse technologies that apply principles of, and concepts related to energy transformations, and assess the technologies’ social and environmental impact.
20 hours
Unit 4
Waves and Sound
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of mechanical waves and sound and of the principles underlying their production, transmission, interaction, and reception. They will investigate the properties of mechanical waves and sound, and solve related problems. They will analyse how mechanical waves and sound affect technology, structures, society, and the environment, and assess ways of reducing their negative side effects.
22 hours
Unit 5
Electricity and Magnetism
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of magnetic fields, the principles of current and electron flow, and the operation of selected technologies that use the properties and principles to produce and transmit electrical energy. They will investigate magnetic fields and electric circuits and solve related problems. They will analyse the social, economic and environmental impact of electrical energy production and technologies related to electromagnetism, and propose ways to improve the sustainability of electrical energy production.
21 hours
Unit 6
Final Evaluation
The final assessment task is a three-hour exam worth 20% of the student’s final mark.
03 hours
Total
110 hours
Physics Grade 11 SPH3U: It is important that students have opportunities to learn in a variety of ways: individually and cooperatively;
Independently and with teacher direction; through hands-on activities; and through the study of examples followed by practice;
All of which will be used throughout this course.
The expectations in this science course call for an active, experimental approach to learning, and require all students to participate regularly in laboratory activities. Laboratory activities can reinforce the learning of scientific concepts and promote the development of the skills of scientific investigation and communication. Where opportunity allows, students might be required, as part of their laboratory activities, to design and conduct research on a real scientific problem for which the results are unknown. Connections between science and technology and between science and the world beyond the school will be integrated into students’ learning of scientific concepts and skills. Where possible, concepts will be introduced in the context of real-world problems and issues. Students will also be provided with a variety of opportunities to broaden their understanding of scientific investigation. Many activities used in all the units are developing skills necessary for success in the final examination. Contact us to know more.
Physics Grade 11 SPH3U: Assessment is a systematic process of collecting information or evidence about student learning. Evaluation is the judgment we make about the assessments of student learning based on established criteria. The purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. This means that judgments of student performance must be criterion-referenced so that feedback can be given that includes clearly expressed next steps for improvement.
The assessment will be based on the following processes that take place in the classroom:
| Assessment FOR Learning | Assessment AS Learning | Assessment OF Learning |
|---|---|---|
During this process the teacher seeks information from the students in order to decide where the learners are and where they need to go. | During this process the teacher fosters the capacity of the students and establishes individual goals for success with each one of them. | During this process the teacher reports student’s results in accordance to established criteria to inform how well students are learning. |
| Conversation | Conversation | Conversation |
| Classroom discussion Self-evaluation Peer assessment | Classroom discussion Small group discussion | Presentations of research Debates |
| Observation | Observation | Observation |
| Drama workshops (taking direction) Steps in problem solving | Group discussions | Presentations Group Presentations |
| Student Products | Student Products | Student Products |
| Reflection journals (to be kept throughout the duration of the course) Check Lists Success Criteria | Practice sheets Socrative quizzes | Projects Poster presentations Tests In Class Presentations |
Tools of varying complexity are used by the teacher to facilitate this. For the more complex evaluations, the criteria are incorporated into a rubric where levels of performance for each criterion are stated in language that can be understood by students.
| anecdotal | tests |
|---|---|
| quizzes | culminating activities including: |
| Labs/performance tasks | − labs/performance tasks |
| presentations | − research reports |
| research | − presentations |
| labs | − portfolios |
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.
The evaluation of this course is based on the four Ministry of Education achievement categories of knowledge and understanding (25%), thinking (25%), communication (25%), and application (25%). . 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
- 30% of the grade will be based on a final exam administered at the end of the The exam will contain a summary of information from the course and will consist of well-formulated multiple choice questions. These will be evaluated using a checklist.
Textbook
- Nelson Physics 11 University Preparation © 2011