Uniform and accelerated motion (distance–time and velocity–time graphs)
A car drives at a steady speed or speeds up. The graphs for distance, speed and acceleration are drawn live.
Physics – grade 11
Introductory phase of upper secondary (G9: grade 11). The content areas are not numbered in the curriculum; the codes are our own. Core curriculum for upper secondary of 2026, in force from 1 August 2027, starting with the introductory phase; the 2022 core curriculum is being phased out and is not shown here.
Unit EF-1Foundations of mechanics
Describing motion with graphs and equations, explaining it with Newton’s laws and forces, and accounting for it with conservation of energy and momentum.
EF-1.1Kinematics
Uniform and uniformly accelerated motion, free fall, horizontal projection and vector quantities.
Free fall
A ball falls on Earth, the Moon or Mars and gets faster every second. In a vacuum even a feather keeps up.
Horizontal and oblique projectile motion
Which launch angle goes furthest? On Earth it is 45°, and on the Moon the same ball flies six times as far.
EF-1.2Dynamics
Newton’s laws, accelerating forces, equilibrium of forces using components, and friction.
Adding and resolving forces
Two forces pull on one point. Use the parallelogram of forces to find the total force or to split a force into two.
Inclined plane
A block sits on a slope. At what angle does it start to slide? The weight is split into two parts to find out.
EF-1.3Conservation laws
Momentum and mechanical energy (potential, kinetic, elastic), energy balances and one-dimensional collisions.
Conservation of energy (roller coaster)
A car rides a roller coaster: energy bars show how potential and kinetic energy turn into each other.
Elastic and inelastic collisions
Two gliders collide on an air track. Before and after are compared to see what stays the same.
Unit EF-2Circular motion, gravitation and physical world views
Circular motion and centripetal force, Newton’s law of gravitation and Kepler’s laws, and the path from the geocentric world view to special relativity.
EF-2.1Circular motion
Uniform circular motion and centripetal force, also quantitatively.
Circular motion and centripetal force
A ball swings round on a string, a car drives through a bend. Which force keeps them on a circular path?
EF-2.2Gravitation
Gravity, Newton’s law of gravitation, Kepler’s laws and the gravitational field.
Planetary orbits and Kepler’s laws
Too fast and the planet flies off, never to return. A little slower and it traces an ellipse around the Sun, exactly as Kepler's laws say.
EF-2.3Changing physical world views
Geocentric and heliocentric world views, basic principles of special relativity and time dilation with the light clock.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
The summaries describe the curriculum in our own words. The original text is authoritative. Original text (German): Kernlehrplan, Gymnasium, Physics, grade 11