Scottish Advanced Higher Physics Syllabus

Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics in Scottish Advanced Higher, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Rotational Motion and Astrophysics

   4 topics

   • Kinematic relationships
     • Calculus derivation of equations of motion
     • Motion under constant and varying acceleration
   • Angular motion
     • Angular displacement, velocity and acceleration
     • Tangential and centripetal acceleration
     • Torque and moment of inertia
     • Angular momentum and rotational kinetic energy
   • Gravitation
     • Newton's law of universal gravitation
     • Gravitational field and potential
     • Satellite motion and escape velocity
   • General relativity and stellar physics
     • Equivalence principle and spacetime
     • Black holes and Schwarzschild radius
     • Stellar evolution and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
2. 2

   Quanta and Waves

   4 topics

   • Introduction to quantum theory
     • Wave-particle duality and de Broglie wavelength
     • Heisenberg uncertainty principle
     • Quantum tunnelling
   • Particles from space
     • Cosmic rays and the standard model
   • Simple harmonic motion
     • SHM equations and energy
     • Damping and resonance
   • Waves and interference
     • Travelling and stationary waves
     • Interference, coherence and path difference
     • Polarisation
3. 3

   Electromagnetism

   4 topics

   • Electric fields
     • Coulomb's law and field strength
     • Electric potential and motion of charges
   • Capacitance
     • Charging and discharging of capacitors
     • Energy stored and time constant
   • Magnetic fields
     • Force on current-carrying conductors and charges
     • Magnetic induction and solenoids
   • Electromagnetic induction
     • Self-inductance and back EMF
     • Inductors in DC circuits
4. 4

   Units, Prefixes and Uncertainties

   3 topics

   • Measurement and units
     • SI base and derived units
     • Dimensional analysis
   • Uncertainties
     • Random, systematic and calibration uncertainties
     • Combining uncertainties
   • Data handling and analysis
     • Graphical analysis and linearisation
     • Significant figures and scientific notation
5. 5

   Investigation and Practical Skills

   3 topics

   • Experimental design
     • Variables, controls and reliability
     • Risk assessment
   • Project investigation
     • Aim, hypothesis and underlying physics
     • Data collection and uncertainty treatment
     • Evaluation and conclusions
   • Scientific reporting
     • Structure of a formal report
     • Referencing and presentation of results

Physics flashcards for Scottish Advanced Higher

24 of 50 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. State the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration (the 'suvat' equations).

   $v = u + at$, $\quad s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^{2}$, $\quad v^{2} = u^{2} + 2as$.

2. In calculus-based kinematics, how are velocity and acceleration obtained from displacement $s(t)$?

   Velocity is the first derivative, $v = \frac{ds}{dt}$, and acceleration is the second derivative, $a = \frac{dv}{dt} = \frac{d^{2}s}{dt^{2}}$.

3. How do you recover displacement and velocity from acceleration by integration?

   Velocity is $v = \int a\,dt$ and displacement is $s = \int v\,dt$, with constants of integration fixed by initial conditions.

4. Define angular velocity $\omega$ and give its relationship to period and to linear (tangential) speed.

   $\omega = \frac{d\theta}{dt}$ (rad s$^{-1}$). $\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T}$ and tangential speed $v = r\omega$.

5. Write the angular equations of motion for constant angular acceleration $\alpha$.

   $\omega = \omega_{0} + \alpha t$, $\quad \theta = \omega_{0}t + \frac{1}{2}\alpha t^{2}$, $\quad \omega^{2} = \omega_{0}^{2} + 2\alpha\theta$.

6. Give the expressions for centripetal acceleration in terms of $v$ and in terms of $\omega$.

   $a = \frac{v^{2}}{r} = r\omega^{2}$, directed toward the centre of the circle.

7. What is the central (centripetal) force required to keep mass $m$ in circular motion of radius $r$?

   $F = \frac{mv^{2}}{r} = mr\omega^{2}$, directed toward the centre.

8. Define the moment of inertia $I$ and state the rotational analogue of Newton's second law.

   $I = \sum m_{i}r_{i}^{2}$, a measure of resistance to angular acceleration. Torque $T = I\alpha$.

9. Give the formulas for rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum of a rigid body.

   Rotational KE $= \frac{1}{2}I\omega^{2}$ and angular momentum $L = I\omega$.

10. State the principle of conservation of angular momentum and when it applies.

    In the absence of an external torque, total angular momentum is conserved: $I_{1}\omega_{1} = I_{2}\omega_{2}$.

11. Define torque (moment) and give its formula for a force applied at a perpendicular distance.

    Torque $T = Fr$, where $r$ is the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force $F$. Unit: N m.

12. State Newton's universal law of gravitation.

    $F = \frac{G m_{1} m_{2}}{r^{2}}$, an attractive force along the line joining two point masses, where $G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}$ N m$^{2}$ kg$^{-2}$.

13. Give the expression for gravitational field strength $g$ at distance $r$ from a mass $M$.

    $g = \frac{GM}{r^{2}}$, in N kg$^{-1}$ (equal to the gravitational acceleration).

14. Define gravitational potential $V$ at a point in a field and give its formula.

    The work done per unit mass in bringing a small test mass from infinity to that point: $V = -\frac{GM}{r}$ (J kg$^{-1}$), always negative.

15. Derive/state the expression for escape velocity from a body of mass $M$ and radius $r$.

    $v_{\text{esc}} = \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}$, found by equating kinetic energy to the magnitude of gravitational potential energy.

16. State Kepler-type result for the orbital speed of a satellite in a circular orbit of radius $r$.

    Equating gravity to centripetal force, $v = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}$.

17. What is the Schwarzschild radius and how is it calculated?

    The radius of the event horizon of a black hole: $r_{\text{Sch}} = \frac{2GM}{c^{2}}$. At this radius the escape velocity equals $c$.

18. State Einstein's equivalence principle (general relativity).

    A uniform gravitational field is locally indistinguishable from an accelerating reference frame; gravitational and inertial mass are equivalent.

19. What is gravitational time dilation, qualitatively?

    Clocks run slower in stronger (more negative) gravitational potential; a clock deeper in a gravitational well ticks more slowly than one further out.

20. How does general relativity describe gravity geometrically?

    Mass and energy curve spacetime; objects follow geodesics (the straightest possible paths) in this curved spacetime, which we perceive as gravitational attraction.

21. Define a light-year and state its approximate value.

    The distance light travels in one year in a vacuum: $\approx 9.46 \times 10^{15}$ m.

22. State Stefan–Boltzmann law and Wien's displacement law for stellar physics.

    Power radiated $P = \sigma A T^{4}$ (with $\sigma = 5.67 \times 10^{-8}$ W m$^{-2}$ K$^{-4}$). Wien: $\lambda_{\max} = \frac{b}{T}$, $b \approx 2.90 \times 10^{-3}$ m K.

23. What does the Hertzsprung–Russell (H–R) diagram plot, and where do most stars lie?

    Luminosity (or absolute magnitude) versus surface temperature (or spectral class). Most stars lie on the diagonal main sequence.

24. State the photoelectric equation and what it expresses.

    $E_{k(\max)} = hf - W$, where $hf$ is the photon energy, $W$ the work function, and $E_{k(\max)}$ the maximum kinetic energy of emitted photoelectrons.

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