Physical Sciences

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Physical Sciences investigate physical and chemical phenomena. This is done through scientific inquiry, application of scientific models, theories and laws in order to explain and predict events in the physical environment.

This subject also deals with society’s need to understand how the physical environment works in order to benefit from it and responsibly care for it. All scientific and technological knowledge, including Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), is used to address challenges facing society. Indigenous knowledge is knowledge that communities have held, used or are still using; this knowledge has been passed on through generations and has been a source of many innovations and developments including scientific developments. Some concepts found in Indigenous Knowledge Systems lend themselves to explanation using the scientific method while other concepts do not; this is still knowledge however. 

The key elements of Physical Sciences:

1. Matter and Materials

2. Chemical Systems

3. Chemical Change

4. Mechanics

5. Waves, Sound and Light

6. Electricity and Magnetism

Grade 10

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  Term 1:

• Chemistry: Heating and cooling curve of water

• Chemistry: Flame tests to identify some metal cations and metals

• Physics: Use a ripple tank to demonstrate constructive and destructive interference of two pulses

  Term 2:

• Chemistry: Prove the Conservation of matter experimentally

• Physics: Electric circuits with resistors in series and parallel - measuring potential difference and current

• Physics: Pattern and direction of the magnetic field around a bar magnet

  Term 3:

• Chemistry: Purification and quality of water

• Chemistry: Reaction types: precipitation, gas forming, acid-base and redox reactions

• Physics: Acceleration

• Physics: Roll a trolley down an inclined plane with a ticker tape attached to it and use the data to plot a position vs. time graph

  Term 4:

• Chemistry: Test water samples for carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, pH and look at water samples under the microscope

• Physics: Conservation of Energy (qualitative)

Grade 11

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  Term 1:

• Chemistry: Investigate the physical properties of water (density, BP, MP, effective as solvent, …)

• Physics: Investigate the relationship between force and acceleration (Verification of Newton’s second law)

• Physics: Investigate the relationship between normal force and maximum static friction. Investigate the effect of different surfaces on maximum static friction by keeping the object the same

  Term 2:

• Chemistry: The effects of intermolecular forces: boiling points, melting points, surface tension, solubility, capillarity,...

• Chemistry: Boyle’s law OR preparation of PbO2 from Pb(NO3)2

• Physics: Determine the critical angle of a rectangular glass (clear) block

  Term 3:

• Chemistry: Exothermic and endothermic reactions (examples and applications)

• Chemistry: Investigate natural indicators for acids and bases

• Physics: Snell’s Law

• Physics: Obtain current and voltage data for a resistor and a light bulb and determine which one obeys Ohm’s law

  Term 4:

• Chemistry: Redox reactions - one synthesis, one decomposition and one displacement reaction

Grade 12

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  Term 1:

• Chemistry: Preparation of esters

• Chemistry: Reaction of alkanes and alkenes with bromine and potassium permanganate OR making a polymer like “slime” or “silly putty”

• Physics: Draw a graph of position vs. time and velocity vs. time for a free falling object AND Use the data to determine the acceleration due to gravity

  Term 2:

• Chemistry: How do you use the titration of oxalic acid against sodium hydroxide to determine the concentration of the sodium hydroxide

• Chemistry: Rate of chemical reactions with sodium sulphite and hydrochloric acid OR chemical equilibrium

• Physics: Conservation of linear momentum

• Physics: Perform simple experiments to determine the work done in walking up (or running up a flight of stairs). By timing the run and walk (same flight of stairs) one can enrich the concept of power OR Investigate Conservation of linear Momentum

  Term 3:

• Chemistry: Investigate electrolytic and galvanic cells

• Physics:

  • Determine the internal resistance of a battery

  • Set up a series-parallel network with known resistor. Determine the equivalent resistance using an ammeter and a voltmeter and compare with the theoretical value

• Physics: Set up a series-parallel network with an ammeter in each branch and external circuit and voltmeters across each resistor, branch and battery, position switches in each branch and external circuit. Use this circuit to investigate short circuits and open circuits.

  Term 4:

• Revision