Field lines of point charges
Two charges and the field rearranges itself. A test charge measures where the force is strongest.
PhysicsBavaria curriculum · Gymnasium
Physics – grade 12
Several syllabuses: no letter = basic level; “B” = biophysics alternative; “E” = advanced level. The syllabus alternative replaces the standard syllabus.
Unit 1Static electric and magnetic fields
Field lines and field strength, superposition of fields, the capacitor with charging and discharging curves, potential, and charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
Charging and discharging a capacitor
A capacitor charges through a resistor and discharges again. The graphs show how voltage and current change over time.
Lorentz force and fine-beam tube
Electrons fly along a glowing circular path in a magnetic field. From the radius you determine a property of the electron.
Double slit and grating
Laser light passes through a double slit or a grating. A pattern of bright and dark stripes appears on the screen.
Unit 2Electromagnetic induction and oscillations
Law of induction and alternating voltage, self-induction, technical applications, and the electromagnetic LC circuit compared with the spring pendulum.
Electromagnetic induction
Magnet in, the needle swings. Magnet out, it swings the other way. Every generator works on the same principle.
Interference of two circular waves
Two circular waves overlap: in some places they reinforce each other, in others they cancel out.
Driven oscillation and resonance
A motor drives an oscillating wheel. If the motor hits exactly the right rhythm, the wheel swings especially strongly: resonance.
Spring pendulum
A mass bounces up and down on a spring. Graphs show position, speed and energy during the oscillation.
Unit 3Electromagnetic waves
Waves from a dipole, polarisation, interference at double slits and gratings, standing waves, wavelengths of LED light, X-ray bremsstrahlung and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Double slit and grating
Laser light passes through a double slit or a grating. A pattern of bright and dark stripes appears on the screen.
Interference of two circular waves
Two circular waves overlap: in some places they reinforce each other, in others they cancel out.
Standing waves
A wave is reflected at the end and a fixed pattern of nodes and antinodes appears, like on a guitar string.
Field lines of point charges
Two charges and the field rearranges itself. A test charge measures where the force is strongest.
Lorentz force and fine-beam tube
Electrons fly along a glowing circular path in a magnetic field. From the radius you determine a property of the electron.
Unit B1The eye (biophysics only)
Lens–screen model and lens equation, vision defects, colour vision, and diffraction at slits and the pupil as the limit of resolution.
Double slit and grating
Laser light passes through a double slit or a grating. A pattern of bright and dark stripes appears on the screen.
Unit B2The ear (biophysics only)
Interference of sound and frequency spectra, sound pressure level and loudness, directional hearing, and resonance of the basilar membrane in the inner ear.
Interference of two circular waves
Two circular waves overlap: in some places they reinforce each other, in others they cancel out.
Driven oscillation and resonance
A motor drives an oscillating wheel. If the motor hits exactly the right rhythm, the wheel swings especially strongly: resonance.
Unit B3Radiation biophysics and medical technology (biophysics only)
Electric fields and potential using the ECG as an example, the Lorentz force, the fine-beam tube and the cyclotron for radiotherapy, and X-rays.
Field lines of point charges
Two charges and the field rearranges itself. A test charge measures where the force is strongest.
Lorentz force and fine-beam tube
Electrons fly along a glowing circular path in a magnetic field. From the radius you determine a property of the electron.
Unit B4Neural signal transmission (biophysics only)
Resting potential, an equivalent circuit of an axon with capacitor and resistors, passive and active signal transmission, and simple wiring of nerve cells.
Charging and discharging a capacitor
A capacitor charges through a resistor and discharges again. The graphs show how voltage and current change over time.
Unit E1Static electric and magnetic fields (advanced level)
As at the basic level, plus the Coulomb force, radial fields, dielectrics and differential equations for charging and discharging.
Field lines of point charges
Two charges and the field rearranges itself. A test charge measures where the force is strongest.
Charging and discharging a capacitor
A capacitor charges through a resistor and discharges again. The graphs show how voltage and current change over time.
Lorentz force and fine-beam tube
Electrons fly along a glowing circular path in a magnetic field. From the radius you determine a property of the electron.
Unit E2Electromagnetic induction and oscillations (advanced level)
Induction, switching processes with coils, the LC circuit with its differential equation, damped and forced oscillations with resonance, and AC circuits with phasors.
Electromagnetic induction
Magnet in, the needle swings. Magnet out, it swings the other way. Every generator works on the same principle.
Driven oscillation and resonance
A motor drives an oscillating wheel. If the motor hits exactly the right rhythm, the wheel swings especially strongly: resonance.
Spring pendulum
A mass bounces up and down on a spring. Graphs show position, speed and energy during the oscillation.
Unit E3Electromagnetic waves (advanced level)
Dipoles and Maxwell’s equations, polarisation, interference at double slits, multiple slits, gratings and single slits, Bragg reflection and X-rays.
Double slit and grating
Laser light passes through a double slit or a grating. A pattern of bright and dark stripes appears on the screen.
Interference of two circular waves
Two circular waves overlap: in some places they reinforce each other, in others they cancel out.
Standing waves
A wave is reflected at the end and a fixed pattern of nodes and antinodes appears, like on a guitar string.
Unit E4Experimental work (advanced level only)
Compulsory experiments including uncertainty analysis, e.g. charging and discharging a capacitor, paths of charged particles, oscillations, AC circuits and wavelengths with a grating.
Charging and discharging a capacitor
A capacitor charges through a resistor and discharges again. The graphs show how voltage and current change over time.
Lorentz force and fine-beam tube
Electrons fly along a glowing circular path in a magnetic field. From the radius you determine a property of the electron.
Driven oscillation and resonance
A motor drives an oscillating wheel. If the motor hits exactly the right rhythm, the wheel swings especially strongly: resonance.
Double slit and grating
Laser light passes through a double slit or a grating. A pattern of bright and dark stripes appears on the screen.
The summaries describe the curriculum in our own words. The original text is authoritative. Original text (German): LehrplanPLUS, Gymnasium, Physics, grade 12