Gr.

11 Physics Syllabus
This chart contains a complete list of the lessons and homework for Gr. 11 Physics. Please complete all the Textings and
problems listed under Homework before the next class. A set of optional online resources, lessons and videos is also listed
under Homework and can easily be accessed through the links on the Syllabus found on the course webpage
(http://abelmoodle.abel.yorku.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=388. Its called York Mills Physics 11). You may want to
bookmark or download the syllabus for frequent use.
The textbook reading are divided up into small parts (often a single paragraph) and dont follow the order in the class very
closely. You may want to take notes from these sections, but this is not necessary since all the content is in your handbook or
is discussed in class.
Some of the video lessons listed are from the website Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org which has many math and
physics lessons. Another excellent source of online lessons comes from the physics teachers at Earl Haig S. S.
http://www.physicseh.com/. One warning: Sometimes the notation used in the online lessons is different from what we use
in class. Please be sure to use our notation. The Physics Classroom (http://www.physicsclassroom.com) is another excellent
website, but does include more advanced material as well.

Introduction
Lesson

Topics

Materials

Homework

Welcome to Physics
Course Introduction
Group Work

Group roles, effective group

work

Powerpoint: Gr. 11 Introduction

Powerpoint: Gr. 11 Group Work
White boards

Measurement

Significant figures, scientific

notation

Powerpoint: Gr. 11 Group work

Powerpoint: Concept Questions Introduction
Meter sticks, stopwatches

How to Answer a
Question

Evaluation in Gr. 11 physics

White boards compare homework

answers
CLASS survey

Log on to course website.

Homework sheet: How Groups
Work
Video: Dysfunctional Group
Video: Functional Group
Homework sheet: Physics and
Numbers
Text: pg. 623, Significant
Digits
Text: pg. 626, Exponential
Notation Standard Form
Lesson: Scientific Notation
Video: How is Long is a Piece
of String
Video: The Big Bang

Constant speed, position,

time, d-t graphs, slope of dt, sign convention

Buggies, pull-back cars, stopwatches,

meter sticks, measuring tapes

Kinematics
1

Introduction to Motion

Introduction to Motion,
continued

Video: The Known Universe

Homework Sheet: Constant

Speed
Text: pg. 6, Position
Text: pg. 17, Position-Time
Graphs
Lesson: Slope of d-t Graph

Interpreting Position
Graphs

Position graphs for uniform

/ nonuniform motion

Defining Velocity

Displacement, velocity vs.

speed, when is v changing?

Velocity-Time Graphs

Velocity graphs for uniform

motion, vectors

Motion detector

Conversions and
Problem Solving

Problem solving, units and

conversions

PowerPoint: Homework in Physics

Changing Velocity

Changing speed

Changing Velocity,
continued

Instantaneous velocity,
average velocity, tangents
to d-t graph,

Ticker tape, wooden carts, incline, metre

sticks
Assign cart project

The Idea of Acceleration

Acceleration, slope of v-t

graph

10

Calculating Acceleration

Acceleration equation, units

11

Speeding Up or Slowing
Down?

Sign of the acceleration,

speeding up, slowing down,
representations of SD & SU
in d-t and v-t graphs,

12

Area and Average

Velocity

area under v-t graph, sudden

changes in motion, average
velocity

13

The Displacement
Problem

Calculating displacement for

uniform acceleration

14

The BIG Five

The BIG 5 equations,

multiple representations of
motion, problem solving

15

Freefall

Vertical motion, freefall,

turning around

Coffee filters, tennis balls, motion

detector

16

Acceleration of Gravity

ag, freefall problem solving,

multiple solutions, distance

Stop watches, measuring tape

Motion detector

Track, cart, fan, motion detector

Stopping Distances Video

Homework Sheet: Position

Graphs
Problems: pg. 23 #3, 24 #9
(dont design)
Lesson: Describing d-t Graphs
Text: pg 6, Displacement
Lesson: Speed Calculation
Homework Sheet: Velocity
Graphs
Problems: pg. 15 #4, pg. 23 #46
Text: pg. 6, Scalars and
Vectors
Text: pg. 21, Velocity-Time
Graphs
Lesson: Vectors and Scalars
Problems: Finish problems
from class
Lesson: Unit Conversion
Video: Peregrine Falcon
Handbook: Representations of
Motion
Problems: pg. 33 #1, 2
Handbook: Physics and
Numbers
Text: pg. 15, Instantaneous
Velocity
Lesson: Tangents
Text: pg. 25-7, Acceleration
Text: pg. 33-4, Calculating
Constant Acceleration
Problems: pg. 34 #1, 37# 1, 2
Lesson: Slope of v-t Graph
Video: High Accelerations
(Note: there are MANY errors
in the narration, but the footage
is excellent)
Problems: pg. 28 #2a, 30 #4, 5
Lesson: Acceleration
Calculation
Handbook: SU/SD
Problems: pg. 30 #6
Lesson: Interpreting v-t Graphs
Text: pg. 13, Average
Velocity
Text: pg.35, Calculating
Displacement
Problems: pg. 15 #5, 23 #2, 7,
8, 37 #3
Lesson: Area Under a v-t Graph
Text: pg. 40-2, Equations of
Uniformly Accelerated Motion
Handbook: Displacement
Problem Homework
Video: Stopping Distance
Video: Stopping Distance
Video: Stopping Distance
Text: pg. 43-6, examples
Problems: pg. 44, #1, 45 #2, 46
#1, 2
Lesson: Using the BIG Five
Video: Smart Car Test
Video: Highest Sky Dive
Video: NASA Drop Tower
Video: Feather vs Ball
Text: pg. 77, Acceleration

17

Cart Project

18
19
20

Cart Project
Review Lesson
Test

Stop watches, measuring tapes, tickertape

timers

Due to Gravity
Problems: pg. 80 #1, 81 #2
using full GRASP
Lesson: Freefall Example
Lesson: Vertical Motion
Video: Drop Zone Freefall
Video: Freefall on Moon
Review: pg. 52 #5, 6, 20, 23,
28, 29, pg. 88 #14, 16
Review: Kinematics (all
questions are very good!)
Handbook: Graphing Review

Review: Graphing Summary

2-D Motion
1

Two Dimensional
Motion

Displacement vectors in 2D, scale vector diagrams,

distance vs. displacement,
speed vs. velocity

Rulers, protractors

2
3

Vector Adventure
Relative Velocity

Adding vectors

Rulers, protractors
Relative Velocity Video
Physics buggies, cloth

Relative Velocity,
continued

Quiz on 2-D motion

Relative velocity, addition

of velocity vectors

Text: pg. 7-10, Representing

Vector Quantities
Handbook: Vector Practice
Lesson: Writing Vectors
Lesson: Adding Vectors
Lesson: Relative Velocities 1
Lesson: Relative Velocities 2
Video: Shooting Soccer Ball
Video: Tennis Ball Launcher
Handbook: Relative Velocities
Practice

Forces
1

What is a Force?

Idea of force, interactions

What is the Effect of a

Force?

Force causes acceleration

What are the Effects of

Many Forces?

Combining forces, net force,

Newtons 1st Law

Elastics (two sizes), 10 N spring scales,

rulers
Dynamics carts, elastics, motion detector,
track + cart + masses + extra friction,
hover puck
Dynamics carts, spring scales
Atwood + track machine demo

The Inertia Principle

Systems, inertia, changing

forces

Track + cart + extra friction, motion

detector + force probe

Video: Fundamental Forces

Assign Song / Video Project
Video: Feynman and Inertia

Handbook: The Net Force

Video: Inertia Hip-Hop
Read: Newtons First Law,
pg. 104-5

Handbook: The Inertia

Principle
Lesson: First Law
Video: Forces in Space!

The Force of Gravity

Force of gravity,
gravitational field strength,
Fg = mg

Masses, 10 N spring scales

Start normal force

Normal Force

Normal force

Meter sticks, masses, spring scales

Force, Mass and Motion

Force and mass affect

acceleration

Dynamics carts, masses, tickertape

timers, pulleys

Force, Mass and Motion

part 2

Newtons 2nd law, Fnet = ma,

definition of force,
definition of Newton, inertia

Finish activity

Newtons Second Law

Problem Solving

Force problem solving

techniques

Develop 2nd law

10

Forces as Interactions

Forces are interactions

Two carts on track

Read: Gravitational Field

Intensity, pg. 71-5
Problems: pg. 72 #1, 2, pg. 74
#2, pg. 76 #3
Video: Big Bang Theory
Video: Gravity Newton to
Einstein
Read: Normal Force, pg. 94
Handbook: Normal Forces
Lesson: Normal Force
Video: Normal Force
Video: Cars and Inertia
Handbook: Representing
Forces
Read: Newtons Second Law,
pg. 106-8
Problems: pg. 114 #5-7
Lesson: Newtons Second Law
Video: 2nd Law in Space!
Problems: finish handbook
questions and pg. 112 #1, pg.
114 #8
Lesson: Finding the Net Force
Video: Misconceptions About
Freefall
Video: 3rd Law in Space!
Video: Newtons Third Law

Read: Newtons 3rd Law, pg.

114-6
Handbook: Newtons Third
Law(pg. 94)
Read: Kinds of Friction, pg.
92-7
Video: Brake Test
Video: Chevy Volt Test

11

Newtons 3rd law

Newtons 3rd Law,

Force pairs

Computer force probes, two carts on

track
Develop Newtons 3rd Law

12

Friction

Kinetic and static friction

Shoes, masses, spring scales

Friction box, spring, force probe

13

Friction

Coefficient of friction, Ff =
Fn

Finish activity
Friction problem solving

Problems: pg 96 #1, 2, pg.

97#1, 2, pg. 122 #1, 123#2
Lesson: Static and Kinetic
Friction
Lesson: Intro to Friction
Lesson: Friction Problem

14

Review

Friction problem solving

Representing Forces and Motion

Problems: pg. 124 #3, pg 130

#5, 8, 15, pg. 136 #8, 12, 14,
45, 47, 51,
Review: Newtons Laws

15

Test

Pullback cars, marble, incline track,

motion detector
Carts, wood blocks

Lesson: Energy Diagrams

Energy
1

The Flow of Energy

Energy flow diagrams, bar

charts

Doing Work!

Positive, negative work, net

work-kinetic energy
theorem

Measuring Energy

Kinetic energy, gravitational

potential energy

Basketball, motion detector

Gravitational Potential
Energy

Path independence, vertical

origin

Pair of (shelving) tracks, 2 large ball

bearings.

Read: Conditions for

Mechanical Work, pg. 144-6
Problems: pg. 146 #1, 2, pg.
151 #3, 4
Lesson: Work and Energy
Read: Kinetic Energy, pg.
162-6
Problems: pg. 164 #1, 2, pg.
166 #5
Lesson: Work and GPE
Video: Swinging Ball of Death
Read: Changes in
Gravitational Energy, pg. 15960
Problems: pg. 160 #2, pg. 161
#4

The Conservation of
Energy

Conservation of energy,
thermal energy

Power

Definition of power, watt

Review Lesson

Large measuring tapes, stopwatches

Read: Energy and Its

Characteristics, pg. 152
Problems: pg. 170 #1, 2, pg.
172 #5, 6
Lesson: Conservation Problems
Video: Canadas Wonderland
Behemoth
Simulation: Rollercoaster
Simulation: Skateboarding Park
Read: Power, pg. 188-9
Problems: pg. 189 #1, 2

Powerpoint: Energy Review

Motion detector, track, cart

Review: pg. 232 #43a, 49, 53,

54
Video: The Most Important
Video You Will Ever See

Mystery device, tuning fork, water,

stopwatches, springs,
computer motion detector
Assign instrument project

E-Book: The Physics of Music

Waves and Sound

1

Quiz on Energy
Good Vibrations

Periodic motion, types of

vibrations, frequency,
period, amplitude,
displacement, phase

Read: Characteristics of
Vibrations, pg. 238-40
Problems: pg. 240 #3-5

Good Vibrations,
continued

Properties of the
Pendulum

Effect of length, mass and

amplitude on period

String, stopwatches, masses

Read: Infobit, pg. 82-3

Do not memorize the pendulum
equation!

Making Waves

Medium, pulses, crest,

trough, energy, transverse
waves, fixed/free-end
reflections, graphing waves

Bell wave machines or springs

Read: Transverse Waves, pg.

244-5
Problems: pg. 246 #3, 4a
Lesson: Intro to Waves
Video: Types of Waves
Simulation: Transverse Waves

Making Waves,
continued
Interference

Superposition principle,
constructive and destructive
interference

Two Crests Video

Crest + Trough Video
Crest + Trough Video
Constructive Interference Applet
Destructive Interference Applet
One wave machine

Read: Wave Behaviour, pg.

251-3
Problems: pg. 257 #2, 3, 5
Video: Two Pulses Interfering

The Speed of Waves

Wave speed, Universal

wave equation, dependence
on medium

Bell wave machines, springs,

stopwatches

Read: The Speed of Waves, pg.

247-8
Problems: pg. 251 #1-5
Video: T, F, and v

Standing Waves

Standing waves, nodes,

antinodes, modes,
resonance, resonant
frequency

Springs, stopwatches, resonators, wine

glasses
Standing wave demonstration apparatus

Read: Mechanical Resonance,

pg. 241-2
Read: Standing Waves, pg.
292-3
Lesson: Standing Waves
Video: Standing Waves
Video: Shatter Glass
Video: Shatter Glass

Sound Waves

Longitudinal waves, sound

waves, medium, particle
displacement, representing
sound waves

Computer, microphone, tuning fork

Read: Longitudinal Waves, pg.

245-6
Simulation: Sound Waves

The Propagation of
Sound

Speed of sound

Thermometer

10

The Interference of
Sound

Interference of sound waves,

beat frequency, Loudness,

tuning forks, elastic bands, computer

oscilloscope, microphone, student

Read: Speed of Sound, pg. 277

Problems: pg. 277 #1, 2, pg.
279 #2
Read: The Interference of
Sound, pg. 281-2

pitch, intensity, timbre,

waveform

musical instruments

11

The Vibrating String

Frequency dependence on
length, tension, harmonic
series

Tissue box, elastics, weights

12

Resonance in Air
Columns

Open and closed air

columns, resonant length,
resonant frequency

Air columns, tuning forks, signal

generator, large cardboard tubes,
thermometer

13

Musical Instrument
Presentations

14

Waves and Sound

Problem Solving
Test

15

Problems: pg. 282 #1, 2

Read: The Characteristics of
Sound, pg. 268-9
Read: Hearing Sound, pg. 271
Simulation: Complex Waves
Read: Stringed Instruments, pg.
297-8
Problems: pg. 298 #1, 2, pg.
270 #4, pg. 276 #2
Read: Acoustical Resonance in
Air Columns, pg. 300-5
Problems: pg. 306 #1-5
Lesson: Air Columns

Instruments and poster due in class

Review Problems: pg. 262 #14, 11, 16, 19, 26, pg. 288 #1, 3,
15, 27, pg. 318 #2, 3, 5, 9, 16,
17, 23
Lesson: All About Waves
Review: Waves
Review: Sound and Music

Electricity
1

The Flow of Electricity

Circuits, conductors,
insulators, electric current,
ammeters

Wires, bulbs, batteries, ammeters,

switches

Problems: pg. 457 #1a, 2b

Read: Electric Current, pg. 4558
Simulation: Electric Circuits
Lab

Electric Circuits and

Voltage

Circuit diagrams, batteries,

electric potential difference,
voltage, voltmeters, voltage
rise, voltage drop, sources,
loads

Computers, simulation: Electric Circuits

Lab

Problems: pg. 464 #1, 2, pg.

468 #4a,c
Read: Electric Potential
Difference, pg. 460-2 and 464-5
Read: Circuit Diagrams, pg.
466
Video: Current and Voltage

Bulbs in Series

Series circuits, current

model, resistance, resistance
in series, voltage rule

Bulbs in Parallel

Parallel circuits, resistance

in parallel, current rule

A Complex Circuit

Current rule, voltage rule

Resistance and Ohms

Law

Ohms law, definition of

resistance, equivalent
resistance in series and
parallel

Circuit Decomposition

Circuit decomposition

Kirchoffs Laws

Voltage law, current law

Circuit Analysis

Circuit analysis

10

Test

Simulation: Battery-Resistor
Circuit
Video: Dr. Megavolt
Handbook: Bulbs in Parallel
Homework
Video: Series and Parallel
Handbook: A Complex Circuit
Homework
Problems: pg. 494 #4, 10a, b
Read: Resistance and Ohms
Law, pg. 486-8
Read: Resistors in Series and
Parallel, pg. 495-9
Lesson: Ohms Law
Lesson: Resistors in Series
Lesson: Resistors in Parallel
Simulation: Ohms Law
Problems: pg. 504 #2, 4
Handbook: Electrical
Connections
Read: Series-Parallel
Combinations of Resistors, pg.
502-4
Lesson: Circuit Decomposition
Problems: pg. 473 #1, 2, pg.
474 practice
Read: Kirchoffs Current Law,
pg. 469-70
Read: Kirchoffs Voltage Law,
pg. 471-3
Quiz: Electric Circuit Quiz
(skip questions about power)
Review: Electric Circuits
Electricity Review: pg. 482 #24, 20, 23, pg. 516 #3, 7, 8, 14,