ICS (Intermediate in Computer Science) Physics (Part I) - Elective Syllabus

Physics (Part I) - Elective syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics (Part I) - Elective in ICS (Intermediate in Computer Science), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Measurements

   4 topics

   • Physical Quantities and SI Units
   • Errors and Uncertainties
   • Significant Figures
   • Dimensional Analysis
2. 2

   Vectors and Equilibrium

   4 topics

   • Addition of Vectors
   • Rectangular Components
   • Product of Vectors
   • Torque and Equilibrium
3. 3

   Motion and Force

   4 topics

   • Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
   • Momentum and Impulse
   • Projectile Motion
4. 4

   Work and Energy

   4 topics

   • Work Done by a Constant and Variable Force
   • Kinetic and Potential Energy
   • Conservation of Energy
   • Power
5. 5

   Circular Motion

   4 topics

   • Angular Displacement and Velocity
   • Centripetal Force and Acceleration
   • Moment of Inertia
   • Orbital and Artificial Gravity
6. 6

   Fluid Dynamics

   4 topics

   • Viscosity and Drag Force
   • Terminal Velocity
   • Equation of Continuity
   • Bernoulli's Equation
7. 7

   Oscillations

   4 topics

   • Simple Harmonic Motion
   • SHM and the Simple Pendulum
   • Energy in SHM
   • Free and Forced Oscillations
8. 8

   Waves

   4 topics

   • Progressive Waves
   • Speed of Sound
   • Stationary Waves
   • Doppler Effect
9. 9

   Physical Optics

   4 topics

   • Interference of Light
   • Young's Double Slit Experiment
   • Diffraction Grating
   • Polarization
10. 10

    Thermodynamics

    4 topics

    • Kinetic Theory of Gases
    • First Law of Thermodynamics
    • Molar Specific Heats
    • Second Law and Entropy

Physics (Part I) - Elective flashcards for ICS (Intermediate in Computer Science)

20 of 50 cards from the Physics (Part I) - Elective deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a physical quantity?

   A quantity that can be measured and expressed as a numerical magnitude together with a unit (e.g. 5 metres).

2. What are base (fundamental) quantities, and how many are there in SI?

   Quantities that cannot be defined in terms of others. There are seven SI base quantities: length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity.

3. List the seven SI base units with their symbols.

   Metre (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, second (s) for time, ampere (A) for current, kelvin (K) for temperature, mole (mol) for amount of substance, candela (cd) for luminous intensity.

4. What are derived quantities? Give two examples.

   Quantities expressed in terms of base quantities. Examples: velocity (m/s) and force (newton = kg·m/s²).

5. What are supplementary SI units?

   The radian (rad) for plane angle and the steradian (sr) for solid angle.

6. Define one radian.

   The plane angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius (θ = s/r).

7. What is the steradian?

   The solid angle subtended at the centre of a sphere by an area of its surface equal to the square of the radius (Ω = ΔA/r²).

8. What do the prefixes giga (G), mega (M), kilo (k), milli (m), micro (µ), and nano (n) represent?

   G = 10⁹, M = 10⁶, k = 10³, m = 10⁻³, µ = 10⁻⁶, n = 10⁻⁹.

9. What is meant by an 'error' in measurement?

   The difference between a measured value and the true (actual) value of a quantity.

10. Distinguish between systematic and random errors.

    Systematic errors are consistent and repeatable (e.g. zero error, faulty calibration) and shift readings in one direction. Random errors are unpredictable fluctuations and can be reduced by repeating measurements and averaging.

11. What is uncertainty in a measurement?

    The estimated range within which the true value of a measured quantity is expected to lie, expressed as ± a value (e.g. 25.0 ± 0.1 cm).

12. How is uncertainty handled when two quantities are added or subtracted?

    The absolute uncertainties are added (the total absolute uncertainty is the sum of the individual absolute uncertainties).

13. How is uncertainty handled when quantities are multiplied or divided?

    The percentage (fractional) uncertainties are added.

14. How does uncertainty behave when a quantity is raised to a power n?

    The percentage uncertainty is multiplied by the power n (e.g. for r³, percentage uncertainty in volume = 3 × percentage uncertainty in r).

15. How do you find the uncertainty when averaging a number of repeated readings?

    Uncertainty = (highest reading − lowest reading) / 2, i.e. half the range of the readings.

16. What is the uncertainty in a measurement made with a single analogue instrument?

    Half of the smallest division (least count) of the instrument.

17. What are significant figures?

    The accurately known digits in a measurement plus the first doubtful (estimated) digit.

18. Are zeros between non-zero digits significant? Example.

    Yes, zeros between non-zero digits are always significant. In 7008 there are 4 significant figures.

19. Are leading zeros significant? Example.

    No. Zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant. In 0.0023 there are 2 significant figures.

20. How many significant figures are in 6.40 × 10⁴, and why are trailing zeros after a decimal significant?

    3 significant figures. Trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant because they indicate the precision of the measurement.

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