Scottish Higher Higher Physics Syllabus

Higher Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Our Dynamic Universe

   5 topics

   • Motion: Equations and Graphs
     • Equations of motion for uniform acceleration
     • Velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs
   • Forces, Energy and Power
     • Newton's laws and resolving forces
     • Work, energy and conservation
   • Collisions, Explosions and Impulse
     • Conservation of momentum
     • Impulse and force-time graphs
   • Gravitation and Special Relativity
     • Projectile motion
     • Newton's law of universal gravitation
     • Time dilation and length contraction
   • The Expanding Universe
     • The Doppler effect and redshift
     • Hubble's law and the Big Bang evidence
2. 2

   Particles and Waves

   5 topics

   • The Standard Model
     • Fermions, bosons, quarks and leptons
     • Forces and force-mediating particles
   • Electric Fields and Charged Particles
     • Electric field patterns and potential difference
     • Particle accelerators
   • Nuclear Reactions
     • Fission and fusion
     • Mass-energy equivalence E = mc squared
   • Wave Phenomena
     • Interference and the double-slit experiment
     • Diffraction gratings
   • Refraction and the Photoelectric Effect
     • Refractive index and critical angle
     • Photons and the work function
3. 3

   Electricity

   4 topics

   • Monitoring and Measuring AC
     • Peak and root-mean-square values
     • Determining frequency from an oscilloscope
   • Circuits and Internal Resistance
     • EMF, terminal potential difference and lost volts
     • Series and parallel combinations
   • Capacitance
     • Charging and discharging behaviour
     • Energy stored in a capacitor
   • Semiconductors and p-n Junctions
     • Conductors, insulators and semiconductors
     • LEDs, photodiodes and solar cells
4. 4

   Experimental Skills and Uncertainties

   4 topics

   • Planning and Designing Experiments
   • Uncertainties
     • Random, systematic and reading uncertainties
     • Combining and expressing uncertainties
   • Data Analysis and Graphing
   • Evaluating Conclusions

Higher Physics flashcards for Scottish Higher

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

1. State the three equations of motion for constant acceleration.

   $v = u + at$, $\quad s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^{2}$, $\quad v^{2} = u^{2} + 2as$, where $u$ is initial velocity, $v$ final velocity, $a$ acceleration, $s$ displacement and $t$ time.

2. On a velocity–time graph, what physical quantities do the gradient and the area under the line represent?

   The gradient gives the acceleration ($a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$) and the area under the line gives the displacement.

3. How does the shape of the velocity–time and acceleration–time graphs differ for an object in free fall (bouncing ball) compared with one undergoing constant velocity?

   For free fall the velocity–time graph is a straight sloped line with gradient $g = 9.8\,\text{m s}^{-2}$ and the acceleration–time graph is a constant horizontal line; for constant velocity the velocity–time graph is horizontal and the acceleration is zero.

4. Define scalar and vector quantities, giving one example of each.

   A scalar has only magnitude (e.g. distance, speed, mass). A vector has both magnitude and direction (e.g. displacement, velocity, force).

5. How do you resolve a force $F$ acting at angle $\theta$ to the horizontal into perpendicular components?

   Horizontal component $F_{x} = F\cos\theta$ and vertical component $F_{y} = F\sin\theta$.

6. State Newton's second law as an equation and define the newton.

   $F = ma$. One newton is the unbalanced force that gives a mass of $1\,\text{kg}$ an acceleration of $1\,\text{m s}^{-2}$.

7. For an object on a slope inclined at angle $\theta$, what is the component of weight acting down the slope?

   $F = mg\sin\theta$, where $m$ is mass and $g$ is gravitational field strength.

8. Write the equations for work done, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and power.

   $W = Fd$, $\quad E_{p} = mgh$, $\quad E_{k} = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2}$, $\quad P = \frac{E}{t}$.

9. Define momentum and state its unit and equation.

   Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, $p = mv$, measured in $\text{kg m s}^{-1}$. It is a vector quantity.

10. State the principle of conservation of momentum.

    In the absence of external forces, the total momentum of a system before a collision (or explosion) equals the total momentum after: $m_{1}u_{1} + m_{2}u_{2} = m_{1}v_{1} + m_{2}v_{2}$.

11. Distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions.

    In an elastic collision both total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved. In an inelastic collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not (some is converted to heat, sound, deformation).

12. Define impulse and state its relationship to momentum.

    Impulse is the product of force and the time it acts: impulse $= Ft = \Delta(mv)$, the change in momentum. It is measured in $\text{N s}$ (equivalently $\text{kg m s}^{-1}$).

13. On a force–time graph for a collision, what does the area under the curve represent?

    The area under a force–time graph represents the impulse, which equals the change in momentum.

14. State Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation.

    $$F = \frac{G m_{1} m_{2}}{r^{2}}$$ where $G = 6.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N m}^{2}\text{kg}^{-2}$ is the gravitational constant and $r$ is the separation of the centres of mass.

15. What is the relationship for the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile launched horizontally?

    Horizontal motion is constant velocity ($a = 0$): $s_{h} = v_{h}t$. Vertical motion has constant acceleration $g$: $v_{v} = u_{v} + gt$ and $s_{v} = u_{v}t + \frac{1}{2}gt^{2}$. The two are independent.

16. State the two postulates of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity.

    1) The laws of physics are the same in all inertial (non-accelerating) reference frames. 2) The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, $c = 3\times10^{8}\,\text{m s}^{-1}$, regardless of the motion of source or observer.

17. Write the equations for time dilation and length contraction in special relativity.

    Time dilation: $t' = \dfrac{t}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}$. Length contraction: $l' = l\sqrt{1 - \frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}$. Moving clocks run slow and moving lengths contract along the direction of motion.

18. What is the Doppler effect and how does observed frequency change as a source moves toward or away from an observer?

    The Doppler effect is the change in observed frequency/wavelength due to relative motion of source and observer. As the source approaches, frequency increases (wavelength decreases); as it recedes, frequency decreases (wavelength increases).

19. State the Doppler equation for the observed frequency from a moving sound source.

    $$f_{o} = f_{s}\left(\frac{v}{v \pm v_{s}}\right)$$ where $v$ is the speed of sound, $v_{s}$ the source speed; use $-$ for a source approaching and $+$ for one receding.

20. Define redshift $z$ and give two equations for it.

    Redshift is the fractional increase in wavelength of light from a receding source: $$z = \frac{\lambda_{observed} - \lambda_{rest}}{\lambda_{rest}} = \frac{\Delta\lambda}{\lambda_{rest}}$$ and for non-relativistic speeds $z = \frac{v}{c}$.

21. State Hubble's Law and what it implies about the Universe.

    $v = H_{0}d$, where recession velocity is proportional to distance and $H_{0}$ is Hubble's constant ($\approx 2.3\times10^{-18}\,\text{s}^{-1}$). It implies the Universe is expanding and supports the Big Bang theory.

22. What evidence supports the existence of dark matter and dark energy?

    Dark matter: galaxy rotation curves show outer stars orbit faster than visible mass predicts, implying extra unseen mass. Dark energy: observations of distant supernovae show the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, requiring an energy driving the expansion.

23. List the two families of fermions in the Standard Model and the four force-carrying bosons.

    Fermions: quarks (up, down, charm, strange, top, bottom) and leptons (electron, muon, tau and their neutrinos). Force-carrying bosons: photon (electromagnetic), gluon (strong), W and Z bosons (weak), and the graviton (hypothetical, gravity).

24. What is the quark composition of a proton and a neutron?

    A proton is two up quarks and one down quark (uud); a neutron is one up quark and two down quarks (udd).

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