Grade 11 Physics Curriculum Summary (U.S.)

Key Concepts:

• Force Components

  • Forces on inclined planes

  • Tension, normal force, friction in 2D

• Systems of Objects

  • Pulleys, Atwood’s machine

• Non-Inertial Frames (Introductory)

  • Apparent forces in elevators, rotating systems

Skills Developed:

• Drawing complex free-body diagrams

• Solving force problems with trigonometric components

• Using Newton’s laws in multiple-body systems

Key Concepts:

• Work-Energy Theorem

  • Net work = ΔKE

• Potential Energy: Gravitational and Elastic

• Springs and Hooke’s Law

  • $F=-kx$, PE=12kx2PE = \frac{1}{2}kx^2PE=21​kx2

• Conservation of Mechanical Energy

• Power with Angled Force Components

Skills Developed:

• Solving energy conservation problems with friction and inclined planes

• Using energy diagrams and bar charts

• Calculating instantaneous and average power

Key Concepts:

• Conservation of Linear Momentum

  • 1D and 2D collisions

• Impulse and Change in Momentum

  • $J=F\cdot t=\Delta p$

• Elastic vs. Inelastic Collisions

• Recoil and Explosion Problems

Skills Developed:

• Vector diagrams for 2D momentum

• Collision analysis (e.g., billiards, vehicle crashes)

• Interpreting momentum conservation in real-world events

Key Concepts:

• Centripetal Acceleration and Force

  • ac=v2ra_c = \frac{v^2}{r}ac​=rv2​, Fc=mv2rF_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}Fc​=rmv2​

• Vertical Circles

  • Roller coaster loops

  • Tension at different points in a circle

• Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

  • Satellite motion, orbital velocity: v=GMrv = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}v=rGM​​

Skills Developed:

• Applying gravity and circular motion to orbits

• Calculating satellite periods and escape velocity

• Analyzing centripetal forces in everyday scenarios

Key Concepts:

• Angular Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration

• Torque: $\tau =rF\sin \theta$

• Moment of Inertia

• Rotational Kinetic Energy

Skills Developed:

• Relating rotational quantities to linear analogs

• Understanding seesaws and rotating bodies

Key Concepts:

• Coulomb’s Law:
  F=k∣q1q2∣r2F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}F=kr2∣q1​q2​∣​

• Electric Fields and Field Lines

• Electric Potential Energy & Voltage

• Point Charges and Superposition

Skills Developed:

• Calculating electric force between charges

• Drawing electric field patterns

• Using electric potential to understand charge movement

Key Concepts:

• Current, Voltage, Resistance

• Ohm’s Law: $V=IR$

• Series and Parallel Circuits

• Kirchhoff’s Rules (basic intro)

• Power Dissipation: P=I2RP = I^2RP=I2R

Skills Developed:

• Constructing and analyzing circuit diagrams

• Measuring voltage, current, and resistance with multimeters

• Applying circuit rules to find unknowns

Key Concepts:

• Magnetic Fields and Poles

• Right-Hand Rule for Force on Moving Charges

  • $F=qvB\sin \theta$

• Electromagnetic Induction (Faraday’s Law - basic)

• Generators and Motors (intro)

Skills Developed:

• Visualizing and analyzing magnetic field patterns

• Understanding magnetic force on wires and charges

• Exploring practical uses: induction cooktops, transformers

Key Concepts:

• Interference and Diffraction

  • Constructive and destructive

• Standing Waves in Strings and Air Columns

• Reflection and Refraction

• Lenses and Mirrors

  • Lens equation: 1f=1do+1di\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}f1​=do​1​+di​1​

  • Magnification: M=hiho=didoM = \frac{h_i}{h_o} = \frac{d_i}{d_o}M=ho​hi​​=do​di​​

• Snell’s Law: n1sin⁡θ1=n2sin⁡θ2n_1 \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \sin \theta_2n1​sinθ1​=n2​sinθ2​

Skills Developed:

• Ray diagrams and image characteristics

• Analyzing lens/mirror setups in practical applications

• Using geometry and algebra for optical calculations

Key Concepts:

• Photoelectric Effect

• Wave-Particle Duality

• Basic Nuclear Physics

  • Fission, fusion, radiation types

• Introduction to Quantum Ideas

  • Planck’s constant, energy quanta

Practices Across the Course:

• Designing controlled experiments

• Analyzing experimental uncertainty

• Collecting real-time data (with sensors or apps)

• Applying physics to real-world engineering problems

Example Labs:

• Conservation of momentum with carts

• Measuring acceleration with motion sensors

• Circuit construction and analysis

• Ray tracing with lenses and mirrors