Physics

SPH4U deepens students’ understanding of the fundamental concepts of physics and their application to the real world.

The course covers

• motion
• Energy
• Forces
• Electricity
• Magnetism
• Modern physics through inquiry-based learning, problem-solving
• Hands-on investigation

It prepares students for postsecondary programs in science, engineering, health, and technology by strengthening critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills.

Unit 1: Dynamics and Forces
Students explore the principles of motion and the forces that affect them.
Lessons include:

• Kinematics in One and Two Dimensions
• Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Friction, Inclined Planes, and Circular Motion
• Non-Inertial Frames and Apparent Forces
• Applications in Transportation and Engineering

Unit 2: Energy and Momentum
This unit focuses on the conservation and transfer of energy.
Lessons include:

• Work, Kinetic Energy, and Potential Energy
• Conservation of Energy
• Power and Efficiency
• Momentum and Impulse
• Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
• Systems in Motion

Unit 3: Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic Fields
Students study interactions between objects and forces that act at a distance.
Lessons include:

• Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
• Electric Fields and Coulomb’s Law
• Electric Potential and Capacitance
• Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Forces
• Field Theory Applications

Unit 4: The Wave Nature of Light
This unit examines the behaviour of light and its wave properties.
Lessons include:

• Reflection, Refraction, and Snell’s Law
• Dispersion and Lenses
• Interference and Diffraction
• Polarization and Wave-Particle Duality
• Applications in Optics and Technology

Unit 5: Modern Physics
Students explore breakthroughs that shape modern scientific understanding.
Lessons include:

• Quantum Theory and the Photon Model
• The Photoelectric Effect
• Nuclear Physics and Radioactive Decay
• Atomic Models and Spectra
• Relativity and the Nature of Time and Space

• 70% of the final grade is based on coursework, including:
  • Physics problem sets and lab investigations
  • Real-world application projects and simulations/li>
  • Quizzes and conceptual understanding checks/li>
  • Research reports on modern physics topics/li>
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• 30% of the final grade is based on final evaluations:
  • 10% Culminating project (e.g., physics experiment or presentation)/li>
  • 20% Final exam assessing theory, application, and problem-solving skills/li>

All assessments follow Ontario curriculum standards and are designed to develop critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and practical skills in preparation for further studies in physics and engineering disciplines.