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.
Physics – grade 10
Grade 10 (nine-year Gymnasium), shown is the science branch (NW branch); other branches have their own curricula with partly different topics. “Handling measurement data in physics” is practised in all topic fields. The numbers are our own.
Unit 1Electromagnetic interaction
Current-carrying conductors in a magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, the transformer.
Electromagnetic induction
Magnet in, the needle swings. Magnet out, it swings the other way. Every generator works on the same principle.
Unit 2Sustainable energy supply
Energy conversion and conservation, power stations, energy storage and dissipation.
Conservation of energy (roller coaster)
A car rides a roller coaster: energy bars show how potential and kinetic energy turn into each other.
Unit 3Thermodynamics and climate physics
Changes of state of gases, thermodynamic cycles, climate physics.
Gas laws
Push the piston halfway in and the pressure doubles. Heat the gas and it pushes the piston out. Pressure, volume and temperature are tightly linked.
Unit 4Ionising radiation
Types of radiation, detection, half-life and effects of ionising radiation.
Radioactive decay and half-life
Many nuclei decay at random and a Geiger counter clicks. Even so, after each half-life almost exactly half are left.
Unit 5Elective topic or practical
Suggestions: astronomy, transistors in information technology, energy needs of cars.
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.
The summaries describe the curriculum in our own words. The original text is authoritative. Original text (German): Lehrplan, Gymnasium, Physics, grade 10