Course Overview

This course enables students to deepen their understanding of physics through the study of motion and forces, energy transformations, waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, and the structure of matter. Students will further develop problem-solving and laboratory skills as they investigate physical phenomena, while also refining their ability to communicate scientific information. Emphasis will be given on the importance of physics in daily life and on evaluating the impact of technological advancements on society and the environment.

Course Outline

This course has the following units of study:

• Unit 1: Dynamics (20 Hours)
• Unit 2: Energy and Momentum (20 Hours)
• Unit 3: Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic Fields (20 Hours)
• Unit 4: The Wave Nature of Light (20 Hours)
• Unit 5: Revolution in Modern Physics (20 Hours)
• Course Cumulative Project (10 Hours)

SPH4U has a course cumulative project worth 10% and a final exam worth 20% of the final grade calculation.

Curriculum Expectations

A. Scientific Investigation Skills and Career Exploration

• Demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);
• Identify and describe a variety of careers related to the fields of science under study, and identify scientists, including Canadians, who have made contributions to those fields.

B. Organic Chemistry

• Assess the social and environmental impact of organic compounds used in everyday life, and propose a course of action to reduce the use of compounds that are harmful to human health and the environment;
• Investigate organic compounds and organic chemical reactions, and use various methods to represent the compounds;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the structure, properties, and chemical behaviour of compounds within each class of organic compounds.

C. Structure and Properties of Matter

• Assess the benefits to society and evaluate the environmental impact of products and technologies that apply principles related to the structure and properties of matter;
• Investigate the molecular shapes and physical properties of various types of matter;
• Demonstrate an understanding of atomic structure and chemical bonding, and how they relate to the physical properties of ionic, molecular, covalent network, and metallic substances.

D. Energy Changes and Rates of Reaction

• Analyse technologies and chemical processes that are based on energy changes, and evaluate them in terms of their efficiency and their effects on the environment;
• Investigate and analyse energy changes and rates of reaction in physical and chemical processes, and solve related problems;
• Demonstrate an understanding of energy changes and rates of reaction.

E. Chemical Systems and Equilibrium

• Analyse chemical equilibrium processes, and assess their impact on biological, biochemical, and technological systems;
• Investigate the qualitative and quantitative nature of chemical systems at equilibrium, and solve related problems;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of dynamic equilibrium and the variables that cause shifts in the equilibrium of chemical systems.

F. Electrochemistry

• Analyse technologies and processes relating to electrochemistry, and their implications for society, health and safety, and the environment;
• Investigate oxidation-reduction reactions using a galvanic cell, and analyse electrochemical reactions in qualitative and quantitative terms;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of oxidation-reduction reactions and the many practical applications of electrochemistry.