Conservation of energy (roller coaster)
A car rides a roller coaster: energy bars show how potential and kinetic energy turn into each other.
Physics – grade 7–10
Lower secondary (here grades 7 to 10): the subject requirements explicitly do not assign content to grades; schools start physics at different times. The only rule is that the topics of block I come before those of block II. The units are therefore the same for grades 7 to 10 and are shown as one stage (assumption, draft, please check against the curriculum). Units are the five content areas, sub-units their topics; the numbers are our own.
Unit 1Energy
Qualitative concept of energy with forms of energy and heat transfer (block I), quantitative concept of energy and energy supply (block II).
1.1Qualitative concept of energy (block I)
Forms of energy in everyday life, conversion, conservation and degradation, conduction, convection and radiation, insulation.
1.2Quantitative concept of energy (block II)
Calculating potential, kinetic, electrical and thermal energy, conservation of energy, efficiency and power.
Conservation of energy (roller coaster)
A car rides a roller coaster: energy bars show how potential and kinetic energy turn into each other.
1.3Challenges of energy supply (block II)
Comparing and evaluating energy supply, transport and storage, renewable energy and responsible use of energy.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
Unit 2Electricity and magnetism
Simple circuits and permanent magnetism (block I), current, voltage and electromagnetism (block II).
2.1Simple electric circuits (block I)
Conductors and insulators, circuit symbols and diagrams, series and parallel circuits, transport of charge and energy.
Simple circuit
Build a circuit with a battery, a switch and a lamp, as a set-up and as a circuit diagram. When the circuit is closed, the lamp lights up.
Series and parallel circuits
Connect lamps in series or in parallel and measure current and voltage at different points.
2.2Permanent magnetism (block I)
Magnetic poles, attraction and repulsion, magnetisability and magnetic fields.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
2.3Current and voltage (block II)
Measuring and calculating current and voltage, charge, energy and power, the junction and loop rules, resistance and Ohm’s law.
Ohm’s law
Turn up the voltage and the current rises, always in the same ratio. Point by point the characteristic curve appears, though not quite straight for a lamp.
Series and parallel circuits
Connect lamps in series or in parallel and measure current and voltage at different points.
Simple circuit
Build a circuit with a battery, a switch and a lamp, as a set-up and as a circuit diagram. When the circuit is closed, the lamp lights up.
2.4Electromagnetism (block II)
Magnetic field of a wire and a coil, induction, electric motor, generator, transformer and power lines.
Electromagnetic induction
Magnet in, the needle swings. Magnet out, it swings the other way. Every generator works on the same principle.
Unit 3Electromagnetic radiation
Light and thermal radiation in the ray model, shadows, reflection and temperature (block I), refraction and lenses, spectrum and climate physics (block II).
3.1Propagation of light and thermal radiation, ray model (block I)
Propagation of light and heat in the ray model, luminous and illuminated bodies, the sender–receiver model of vision.
Light and shadow
One lamp casts a sharp shadow, two lamps a penumbra. Solar and lunar eclipses form in just the same way.
3.2Interaction of radiation and matter (block I)
Shadows, eclipses and phases of the moon, the pinhole camera, the law of reflection, temperature, expansion and states of matter in the simple particle model.
Light and shadow
One lamp casts a sharp shadow, two lamps a penumbra. Solar and lunar eclipses form in just the same way.
Reflection at a plane mirror
Laser at the mirror, measure the angles: angle of incidence equals angle of reflection, every time. And why does the candle appear just as far behind the mirror?
Particle model and temperature
Ice melts, water boils, and the temperature stops rising meanwhile. The particles show where the energy goes in between.
3.3Refraction and optical images (block II)
Refraction at boundaries and total internal reflection, converging and diverging lenses, focal length, image construction and optical instruments.
Refraction and total internal reflection
A light ray bends when it passes into glass or water. At a shallow angle it cannot get out at all: total internal reflection, as in an optical fibre.
Lenses and image formation
Move a candle in front of a lens and construct the image with three special rays. It becomes sharp on the screen.
3.4Spectrum and wavelength (block II)
Spectral colours, additive and subtractive mixing, absorption and transmission, invisible ranges and sensors.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
3.5Climate physics (block II)
The Earth’s radiation budget, albedo, the natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect and feedbacks.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
Unit 4Mechanics
Density, kinematics and statics (block I) and dynamics (block II).
4.1Density (block I)
Mass, volume and density, floating, hovering and sinking.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
4.2Kinematics (block I)
Velocity as a vector, average and instantaneous speed, uniform and non-uniform motion in distance–time and velocity–time graphs.
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.
4.3Statics (block I)
Measuring forces with springs, weight and gravitational field strength, force as a vector and adding forces.
Hooke’s law
Hang weights on a spring and measure how far it stretches. Double the force means double the stretch.
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.
4.4Dynamics (block II)
The principle of inertia, force as the cause of changes in velocity, friction and energy balances, qualitatively; momentum as an extension.
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 5Radioactivity and ionising radiation
Ionising radiation, radioactive decay and nuclear energy (block II).
5.1Ionising radiation (block II)
Alpha, beta and gamma radiation, detection, shielding, uses and biological effects.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
5.2Radioactive decay (block II)
Nucleons and isotopes, activity, half-life, the decay law and decay chains, storage of radioactive waste.
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.
5.3Nuclear energy (block II)
Nuclear fission and chain reactions, fusion in reactors and the Sun, opportunities and risks.
No separate simulation is planned for this.
The summaries describe the curriculum in our own words. The original text is authoritative. Original text (German): Fachanforderungen, Gymnasium, Physics, grade 7–10