PHYSICS SYLLABUS DESCRIPTORS REVISION

Unit 3: Gravity and Electromagnetism

Topic 1: Gravity and Motion

1. Vectors

Vector addition etc / components

2. Projectile Motion

Independent horizontal and vertical motion vectors

3. Inclined Planes

Resolution of forces to balance with normal force

4. Circular Motion

Uniform circular motion of an object with net force and acceleration acting towards the
centre of motion

5. Gravitational Force and Fields

Law of gravity; find magnitude of gravity between two objects

6. Orbits

Kepler’s Laws;
Topic 2: Electromagnetism
1. Electrostatics

Coulomb’s Law:

Force of attraction/repulsion between two objects is proportionate to the product of the

quantities of charge of each object and inversely proportional to the distance of
separation

Electric fields: the region around an electrostatically charged particle or object that
within which a force is exerted on other electrostatically charged particles or objects.

Electric field strength: the intensity of an electric field around a specific location

Electric potential energy: the capacity of electric charge carriers to do work due to their
position in an electric circuit

Electric potential difference (Voltage): the change in potential energy per unit charge
between two defined points in a circuit

2. Magnetic fields

Magnetic field: a region of space near a magnet, electric current or moving electrically
charged particle in which a magnetic force acts on any other magnet or moving
electrically charged particle

Electric charge: a physical property of an object that causes it to experience a force

when placed in an electromagnetic field

Electric current: the rate of movement of electric charge carriers from one part of a
conductor to another
3. Electromagnetic Induction

Magnetic Flux: a measurement of the total magnetic field that passes through a
given area; a measure of the number of magnetic field lines
passing through the given area

Magnetic flux density: the strength of a magnetic field or the number of magnetic field
lines per unit area

Electromotive force: a difference in potential that tends to give rise to an electric

current, also written as emf

Faraday’s Law: a law stating that when the magnetic flux linking a circuit changes,
an electromotive force (emf) is induced in the circuit proportional
to the rate of change of the flux linkage

Lenz’s Law: states that the direction of an induced electric current always
opposes the change in the circuit or the magnetic field that
produces it

4. Electromagnetic Radiation

Definition: radiant energy consisting of synchronised oscillations of electric

and magnetic fields, or electromagnetic waves, propagated at the
speed of light in a vacuum