Course Description
This course enables students to deepen their understanding of physics concepts and theories. Students will continue their exploration of energy transformations and the forces that affect motion, and will investigate electrical, gravitational, and magnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation. Students will also explore the wave nature of light, quantum mechanics, and special relativity. They will further develop their scientific investigation skills, learning, for example, how to analyse, qualitatively and quantitatively, data related to a variety of physics concepts and principles. Students will also consider the impact of technological applications of physics on society and the environment.
Course Code: SPH4U
Course Name: Physics Grade 12, University Preparation
Department: Science
Hours: 110
Credit Value: 1.0
Pre-requisites: Physics Grade 11, University Preparation
Curriculum Policy Documents: The Ontario Curriculum, Science: Grades 11 and 12. 2007.
Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario School. 2010.
Development Date: August 2019
Developed By: Kelda Wells
Overall Curriculum Expectations
- demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analyzing and interpreting, and communicating).
- identify and describe careers related to the fields of science under study, and describe the contributions of scientists, including Canadians, to those fields.
- analyze 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.
- analyze, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Course Content
| Unit | Unit Title | Approx. Duration |
| Unit 1 | Dynamics and Kinematics | 25 hours |
| Unit 2 | Energy and Momentum | 25 hours |
| Unit 3 | Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic Fields | 25 hours |
| Unit 4 | Light and Relativity | 25 hours |
| Laboratory Experiment | Formal Lab Report | 7 hours |
| Final Examination | 3 hours | |
| TOTAL | 110 hours | |
Evaluation Breakdown
| Evaluation Type | Percentage of Final Grade |
| Test 1 | 15% |
| Test 2 | 15% |
| Test 3 | 15% |
| Test 4 | 15% |
| Laboratory Investigation and Formal Lab Report | 10% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Achievement Chart
The following table provides a summary description of achievement in each percentage grade range and corresponding level of achievement:
Program Planning Considerations
This course will include a variety of instructional strategies to help students become independent, strategic and successful learners. The key to student success is effective, accessible instruction in order to empower students to become lifelong learners. Students will be required to identify the main concepts and skills of the course, consider the context in which they will apply their learning and work toward meeting the stated learning goals.
During this course, the teacher will provide multiple opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills and consolidate and reflect upon their learning. It is the student's responsibility to make the most of each learning opportunity provided and grow in their understanding and application of learning skills and strategies that will ensure success in this course and in life beyond.
In planning this course for students with linguistic backgrounds other than English, the teacher will create a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment that nurtures the students’ self-confidence while they are receiving course instruction. Most English language learners who have developed oral proficiency in everyday English will nevertheless require instructional scaffolding to meet curriculum expectations. The teacher will adapt the instructional program in order to facilitate the success of these students in their classes.
Appropriate adaptations and strategies for this course will include:
- Modelling of expectations
- Reference to and use of online ESL and subject-specific and dictionaries
- Concrete examples and materials whenever possible
- Use of a variety of learning resources including visual material and cues, , graphic organizers and visual
- Materials that reflect cultural diversity
- Pre-writing strategies
- Previewing course readings / texts
When at all possible, this course will include opportunities to integrate environmental education into the material studied, encouraging the students to explore a range of environmental concerns using issue-based analysis and some of the following strategies:
- Community Connections
- Environmental Perspective
- Simulation
- Problem Solving
- Surveys
- Co-operative Learning
- Inquiry-based learning
- Cross-curricular connections
Every student is entitled to learn in a safe, respectful and caring environment, free from violence, discrimination and harassment. Antidiscrimination education encourages all students to:
- think critically about themselves and others in the world around them in order to promote fairness, healthy relationships, and active responsible citizenship.
- work to high standards, as it affirms the worth of all students, and helps students strengthen their sense of identity and develop a positive self-image.
- value and show respect for diversity.
- Developing a learning environment where all students feel safe
- Promotion of diversity and inclusivity in the classroom
- Getting students involved within their school community
- Making community connections
- Peer tutoring
- Role playing
- Group discussion
- Case Study analysis
Classes taught within the Ontario curriculum seek to create an atmosphere of equity and inclusion based on respecting diversity, promoting inclusive education, and identifying and eliminating discriminatory biases, systemic barriers, and power dynamics that limit the ability of students to learn, grow, and contribute to society.
The Ontario curriculum entrusts educators to create an environment based on the principles of inclusive education, where all students, parents, caregivers, and other members of the school community – regardless of ancestry, culture, ethnicity, sex, physical or intellectual ability, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or other similar factors – are welcomed, included, treated fairly, and respected.
During this course, the teacher will give students a variety of opportunities to learn about diversity and diverse perspectives.
Teachers provide varied opportunities for students to learn about ethical issues and to explore the role of ethics in decision making. The teacher will support and encourage students to make ethical judgements when evaluating evidence and positions on various issues, and when drawing their own conclusions about issues, advancements, and global events.
During this course the teacher will provide support and oversight to students throughout the inquiry process, ensuring that students engaged in inquiry-based activities are aware of potential ethical concerns and address them in a respectful manner. If students are conducting surveys and/or interviews, teachers will supervise student activities to ensure that they respect the dignity, privacy, and confidentiality of their participants.
The teacher will thoroughly address the issue of plagiarism with students. Students will be reminded of the ethical issues surrounding plagiarism, and the consequences of plagiarism will be clearly discussed before students engage in an inquiry.
The following strategies will be used to develop students’ understanding of ethics:
- Making community connections
- Peer tutoring
- Role playing
- Group discussions
- Case study analysis
- Simulation
- Problem solving
- Cross-curricular connections
- Media connections
- Surveys and interviews
- Model ethical behavior
- Explore ethical standards
- Explore ethical concerns
- Inclusive practices
- Foster positive relationships with others
- Assist students in developing an understanding of ethical judgments
- Assist students in understanding confidentiality standards
There is a growing recognition that the education system has a vital role to play in preparing young people to take their place as informed, engaged, and knowledgeable citizens in the global economy. Financial literacy education can provide the preparation Ontario students need to make informed decisions and choices in a complex and fast-changing financial world.
Because making informed decisions about economic and financial matters has become an increasingly complex undertaking in the modern world, where appropriate, the teacher will give students the opportunity to build knowledge and skills through a variety of activities in problem solving, inquiry, decision making, critical thinking, and critical literacy related to financial issues. Students will come to understand the social, environmental, and ethical implications of their own choices as consumers. Strategies that will be used will include:
- Community connections
- Simulation
- Problem Solving
- Inquiry-based learning
- Cross-curricular connections
- Issue-based analysis
- Critical literacy skills
- Setting financial goals
- Developing intra-personal skills
Literacy involves a range of critical-thinking skills and is essential for cross-curricular learning. It is the responsibility of all of our teachers to explicitly teach literacy and inquiry skills. Literacy, mathematical literacy, and inquiry/research skills are critical to students’ success in all subjects of the curriculum and in all areas of their lives. Students will be exposed to literacy skills relating to oral, written, and visual communication. The following skills will be developed in this course:
- Reading, interpreting, and analysing various texts, including diaries, letters, government legislation and policy documents, interviews, speeches, information from non-governmental organizations, news stories, and fiction and non-fiction books
- Extracting information
- Analysing various types of maps and digital representations, including charts, diagrams, pictures, etc.
- Using appropriate and correct terminology, including that related to the concepts of disciplinary thinking
- Making community connections
- Peer tutoring
- Role playing
- Group discussions
- Case study analysis
- Simulation
- Problem solving
- Cross-curricular connections
- Media connections
- Kinesthetic opportunities
- Foster use of proper terminology
- Inquiry and research skills
- Help students to develop a language for literacy, inquiry and numeracy skills
- Assist students with developing communication skills in areas of literacy, inquiry and numeracy
Central to successful education is the focus on experiential learning. Planned learning experiences in the community, including job shadowing and job twinning, field trips, work experience, hands-on experiences and cooperative education, will provide our students with opportunities to see the relevance of their classroom learning in a work setting, make connections between school and work, and explore a career of interest as they plan their pathways through secondary school and make postsecondary plans. Planned learning experiences in this course will include:
- Experiential Learning: Library visits, Guest Speaker, Role Playing, mock trials, writing anthology, author visits, writers reading, theatre workshops
As part of every course, students must be made aware that health and safety in the classroom are the responsibility of all participants – at home, at school, and in the workplace. Teachers will model safe practices at all times and communicate safety requirements to students. Health and safety issues not usually associated with a particular course may be important when the learning involves field trips and field studies. Teachers will preview and plan these activities carefully to ensure students’ health and safety.
Although Sophio Academy does not have an official school library, students are encouraged to use e-books, local libraries, and archives to develop important research and inquiry skills.
Sophio Academy maintains and expects a high standard of academic honesty from all of its students as a vital and essential part of their character growth, academic practice and in preparation for their post-secondary studies. Students are expected to properly reference and cite the work of others in their course work and assignments using the proper recognized MLA formatting. As plagiarism is a serious offence that can have significant consequences, Sophio Academy is committed to instilling the values of honesty and hard work within our students which involves the proper acknowledgement of other's ideas and work.