[PPU] Semester 3 Topics-Syllabus

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THIRD TERM: OSCILLATIONS AND WAVES, OPTICS, AND MODERN PHYSICS

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Period Learning Outcome

19 Oscillations 12 Candidates should be able to:

19.1 Characteristics of

simple harmonic

motion

1 (a) define simple harmonic motion;

19.2 Kinematics of simple

harmonic motion

4 (b) show that tAx sin is a solution of 2 ;a x

(c) derive and use the formula 2 2 ;v A x

(d) describe, with graphical illustrations, the

variation in displacement, velocity and

acceleration with time;

(e) describe, with graphical illustrations, the

variation in velocity and acceleration with

displacement;

19.3 Energy in simple

harmonic motion

2 (f) derive and use the expressions for kinetic

energy and potential energy;

(g) describe, with graphical illustrations, the

variation in kinetic energy and potential energy

with time and displacement;

19.4 Systems in simple

harmonic motion

3 (h) derive and use expressions for the periods of

oscillations for spring-mass and simple

pendulum systems;

19.5 Damped oscillations 1

(i) describe the changes in amplitude and energy

for a damped oscillating system;

(j) distinguish between under damping, critical

damping and over damping;

19.6 Forced oscillations and

resonance

1 (k) distinguish between free oscillations and

forced oscillations;

(l) state the conditions for resonance to occur.

20 Wave Motion

20.1 Progressive waves

12

3

Candidates should be able to:

(a) interpret and use the progressive wave

equation y = A sin ( t kx) or

y = A cos ( t kx);

(b) sketch and interpret the displacement-time

graph and the displacement-distance graph;

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(c) use the formula

2;

x

λ

(d) derive and use the relationship ;v f

20.2 Wave intensity 2 (e) define intensity and use the relationship 2 ;I A

(f) describe the variation of intensity with distance

of a point source in space;

20.3 Principle of

superposition

1 (g) state the principle of superposition;

20.4 Standing waves 4 (h) use the principle of superposition to explain

the formation of standing waves;

(i) derive and interpret the standing wave

equation;

(j) distinguish between progressive and standing

waves;

20.5 Electromagnetic waves 2 (k) state that electromagnetic waves are made up

of electrical vibrations E = E0 sin ( t kx)

and magnetic vibrations B = B0 sin ( t kx);

(l) state the characteristics of electromagnetic

waves;

(m) compare electromagnetic waves with

mechanical waves;

(n) state the formula

00

1c , and explain its

significance;

(o) state the orders of the magnitude of

wavelengths and frequencies for different

types of electromagnetic waves.

21 Sound Waves

21.1 Propagation of sound

waves

14

2

Candidates should be able to:

(a) explain the propagation of sound waves in air

in terms of pressure variation and

displacement;

(b) interpret the equations for displacement

0 sin( )y y t kx and pressure

p = p0 sin ;2

t kx

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(c) use the standing wave equation to determine

the positions of nodes and antinodes of a

standing wave along a stretched string;

21.2 Sources of sound 4 (d) use the formula

Tv to determine the

frequencies of the sound produced by different

modes of vibration of the standing waves

along a stretched string;

(e) describe, with appropriate diagrams, the

different modes of vibration of standing waves

in air columns, and calculate the frequencies of

sound produced, including the determination

of end correction;

21.3 Intensity level of

sound

2 (f) define and calculate the intensity level of

sound;

21.4 Beat 2 (g) use the principle of superposition to explain

the formation of beats;

(h) use the formula for beat frequency

f f f1 2 ;

21.5 Doppler effect 4 (i) describe the Doppler effect for sound, and use

the derived formulae (for source and/or

observer moving along the same line).

22 Geometrical Optics

22.1 Spherical mirrors

8

3

Candidates should be able to:

(a) use the relationship2

rf for spherical

mirrors;

(b) draw ray diagrams to show the formation of

images by concave mirrors and convex

mirrors;

(c) use the formula

fvu

111 for spherical

mirrors;

22.2 Refraction at spherical

surfaces

2 (d) use the formula

n

u

n

v

n n

r1 2 2 1 for

refraction at spherical surfaces;

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22.3 Thin lenses

3 (e) use the formula

n

u

n

v

n n

r1 2 2 1 to derive

the thin lens formula 1 1 1

u v f and

lensmaker’s equation 21

111

1

rrn

n

f m

l

m

;

(f) use the thin lens formula and lensmaker’s

equation.

23 Wave Optics

23.1 Huygens’s principle

16

1

Candidates should be able to:

(a) state the Huygens’s principle;

(b) use the Huygens’s principle to explain

interference and diffraction phenomena;

23.2 Interference 2 (c) explain the concept of coherence;

(d) explain the concept of optical path difference,

and solve related problems;

(e) state the conditions for constructive and

destructive interferences;

23.3 Two-slit interference

pattern

2 (f) explain Young’s two-slit interference pattern;

(g) derive and use the formula a

Dλx for the

fringe separation in Young’s interference

pattern;

23.4 Interference in a thin

film

2 (h) explain the phenomenon of thin film

interference for normal incident light, and

solve related problems;

23.5 Diffraction by a single

slit

2 (i) explain the diffraction pattern for a single slit;

(j) use the formula a

λθsin for the first

minimum in the diffraction pattern for a single

slit;

(k) use the formula sin = a

as the resolving

power of an aperture;

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23.6 Diffraction gratings 3 (l) explain the diffraction pattern for a diffraction

grating;

(m) use the formula λmθd sin for a diffraction

grating;

(n) describe the use of a diffraction grating to form

the spectrum of white light, and to determine

the wavelength of monochromatic light;

23.7 Polarisation 2 (o) state that polarisation is a property of

transverse waves;

(p) explain the polarisation of light obtained by

reflection or using a polariser;

(q) use the Brewster’s law tan B ;n

(r) use the Malus’s law I = I0 cos2 ;

23.8 Optical waveguides 2 (s) explain the basic principles of fibre optics and

waveguides;

(t) state the applications of fibre optics and

waveguides.

24 Quantum Physics

24.1 Photons

20

8

Students should be able to:

(a) describe the important observations in

photoelectric experiments;

(b) recognise the features of the photoelectric

effect that cannot be explained by wave theory,

and explain these features using the concept of

quantisation of light;

(c) use the equation E hf for a photon;

(d) explain the meaning of work function and

threshold frequency;

(e) use Einstein’s equation for the photoelectric

effect 2

max

1;

2hf W mv

(f) explain the meaning of stopping potential, and

use 2

s max

1;

2eV mv

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24.2 Wave-particle duality 2 (g) state de Broglie’s hypothesis;

(h) use the relation p

h to calculate de Broglie

wavelength;

(i) interpret the electron diffraction pattern as an

evidence of the wave nature of electrons;

(j) explain the advantages of an electron

microscope as compared to an optical

microscope;

24.3 Atomic structure 4 (k) state Bohr’s postulates for a hydrogen atom;

(l) derive an expression for the radii of the orbits

in Bohr’s model;

(m) derive the formula 222

0

42

8 nh

meZEn for

Bohr’s model;

(n) explain the production of emission line spectra

with reference to the transitions between

energy levels;

(o) explain the concepts of excitation energy and

ionisation energy;

24.4 X-rays

5

(p) interpret X-ray spectra obtained from X-ray

tubes;

(q) explain the characteristic line spectrum and

continuous spectrum including min in X-rays;

(r) derive and use the equation min ;hc

eV

(s) describe X-ray diffraction by two parallel

adjacent atomic planes;

(t) derive and use Bragg’s law 2d sin = m ;

24.5 Nanoscience 1 (u) explain the basic concept of nanoscience;

(v) state the applications of nanoscience in

electronics devices.

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25 Nuclear Physics 14 Candidates should be able to:

25.1 Nucleus

4 (a) describe the discovery of protons and neutrons

(experimental details are not required);

(b) explain mass defect and binding energy;

(c) use the formula for mass-energy equivalence

E = mc2;

(d) relate and use the units u and eV;

(e) sketch and interpret a graph of binding energy

per nucleon against nucleon number;

25.2 Radioactivity 6 (f) explain radioactive decay as a spontaneous and

random process;

(g) define radioactive activity;

(h) state and use the exponential law Nt

N

d

d

for radioactive decay;

(i) define decay constant;

(j) derive and use the formula tNN e0 ;

(k) define half-life, and derive the relation

21

2ln

t;

(l) solve problems involving the applications of

radioisotopes as tracers in medical physics;

25.3 Nuclear reactions 4 (m) state and apply the conservation of nucleon

number and charge in nuclear reactions;

(n) apply the principle of mass-energy

conservation to calculate the energy released

(Q – value) in a nuclear reaction;

(o) relate the occurrence of fission and fusion

to the graph of binding energy per nucleon

against nucleon number;

(p) explain the conditions for a chain reaction to

occur;

(q) describe a controlled fission process in a

reactor;

(r) describe a nuclear fusion process which occurs

in the Sun.

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