COURSE OUTLINE: CSEC PHYSICS

(GENERAL) 2020/2021

Waves & Optics

Course Description:

Physics is the study of the nature and properties of matter and energy. It seeks to explain the

correlation of all properties of matter and how they sustain life and allow things to operate as

they do. In Physics, everything that you will study will include energy; without energy nothing

would happen or work. Waves is an aspect of Physics that we seek to understand because it can

be used to explain many phenomena in the physical world. Waves are everywhere, it is all

around us; it is present in earthquakes, water waves, visible light, stadium waves, sine and cosine

waves, waves on a string, a slinky and even when you speak. In this course you will be exposed

to light waves, sound waves, water waves, earthquake waves among others. You will be able to

experience and see several types of waves first hand and will be shown how to apply

Mathematics to your experiences in order to quantify the various qualities of waves that you will

be exposed to. You will also come to learn and understand the importance of waves in the

medical field, construction (especially in countries prone to earthquake such as Japan) and

manufacturing industry (such as the manufacturing of land, sea and air vessels).

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 General Objectives:

On completion of this Section, students 3. Understand the properties of the

should: electromagnetic spectrum.

1. Appreciate that wave motion is a 4. Be familiar with the historical

means of transferring energy and that development of the theory of light.

there are certain features common to 5. Appreciate how a ray treatment

all waves. facilitates the understanding of

2. Understand the way in which sound reflection and refraction of light

waves are produced and propagated. waves.

Assessment Weighting:
Classwork: 25%
Tests: 15%
Exam: 45%
Attendance: 5% (absent for 50% of classes = 0%)
Punctuality: 5% (late for more than 50% of classes = 0%)
Participation: 5% (participate in less than 50% of classes = 0%)

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this 6. Apply the speed of 13. Conduct a Young’s

section students should be able sound to practical double slit experiment to

to: situations. show that light is a

7. Cite evidence that sound wave.

1. Differentiate between
waves reflect, diffract 14. Explain why the
types of waves.
and interfere. diffraction of light is not
2. Apply speed, frequency,
8. Describe the use of normally observed.
wavelength, period and
ultrasound. 15. Apply the principle that
amplitude formulae to
9. State the properties of light travels in a straight
describe waves.
electromagnetic waves. line.
3. Represent transverse
10. Differentiate between 16. Describe the formation
and longitudinal waves
types of e.m. waves in of images in a plain
in displacement-position
terms of their mirror.
and displacement-time
wavelengths. 17. Gives examples of
graphs.
11. Identify a source and observations which
4. Describe how sound is
use of each type of e.m. indicate that light can be
produced and
wave. refracted.
propagated in a medium.
12. Compare the rival 18. Describe the refraction
5. Relate the terms ‘pitch’
theories of light held by of light rays.
and ‘loudness’ to wave
scientists (Wave Particle 19. Describe how a prism
parameters.
Duality) may be used to produce

a spectrum.

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 20. Apply Snell’s law 25. Define the terms:

21. Explain ‘critical angle’ principal axis, principal

and ‘total internal focus, focal length, focal

reflection’. plane and magnification.

22. Relate critical angle to 26. Differentiate between

total internal reflection real and virtual images.

23. Draw diagrams 27. Apply the equations for

illustrating applications magnification.

of total internal 28. Determine the focal

reflection. length of a converging

24. Illustrate the effect of lens.

converging and

diverging lenses on a

beam of parallel rays.

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 Course Details

Date Topic Specific Objectives Assignments Resources

Week One Wave Motion: Differentiate between Drop a pebble in a Container of water and
October Types of types of waves. container of water and pebble.
Waves and describe the type of Reading: pages 83 – 84 of
waves Apply speed, wave(s) produced. Revision Course: CSEC
parameters frequency, wavelength Explain the production Physics: DeFreitas, P.
and amplitude formulae of the wave and how (2016). Concise revision
the energy is course: CSEC physics (1st
transported in the wave. ed.). HarperCollins.
Does the particles move London (Students’ Text)
parallel to the
propagation of the Difference between
wave of perpendicular? transverse and longitudinal
waves:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=0Anh9HthWgQ

Week two Wave Motion: Represent transverse CSEC Physics Reading: pages 85 – 89
of October Wave and longitudinal waves Workbook Pages 49 – Revision Course: CSEC
parameters in displacement- 51. Physics: DeFreitas, P.
cont. position and (2016). Concise revision
displacement-time Terry, D. (2015).CSEC course: CSEC physics (1st
graphs. physics workbook (1st ed.). HarperCollins.
ed.). HarperCollins. London (Students’ Text)
London (Student’s
workbook)

Week Sound: Describe how sound is Page 96 of Terry, D. Pages 91 – 93 of Revision

three of Production and produced and (2015).CSEC physics Course: CSEC Physics:
October Propagation, propagated in a workbook (1st ed.). DeFreitas, P. (2016).
Speed of sound medium. HarperCollins. London Concise revision course:
CSEC physics (1st ed.).
Relate the terms ‘pitch’ questions 1 - 6 HarperCollins. London
and ‘loudness’ to wave Homework: Pages 52 – (Students’ Text)
parameters. 53 (Questions 1 and 2)

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 Apply the speed of
sound to practical
situations.
Week four Speed of sound Cite evidence that Classwork: pages 53 – Interference:
of October cont. sound waves reflect, 54 of CSEC Physics https://www.youtube.com/
refract, diffract and Workbook watch?v=D7aftTF--5w
interfere. Terry, D. (2015).CSEC Refraction of sound waves:
physics workbook (1st https://www.youtube.com/
Describe the use of ed.). HarperCollins. watch?v=ZgwEAUHpNrs
ultrasound. London (Student’s
workbook)

Week one Electromagneti State the properties of Classwork: Page 55 of Pages 97 – 99 of Concise:
of c waves e.m. waves. CSEC Physics Revision Course: CSEC
November Workbook. Physics: DeFreitas, P.
(2016). Concise revision
Terry, D. (2015).CSEC
Differentiate between course: CSEC physics (1st
types of e.m. waves in physics workbook (1st ed.). HarperCollins.
terms of their ed.). HarperCollins. London (Students’ Text)
wavelengths; London (Student’s
workbook)
Identify a source and
use of each type of e.m.
wave.
Week two Light Waves: Compare the rival Research project: Students will be required
of Wave Duality theories of light held by Research the theories of to research using the
November & scientists. Huygens, Newton, Young, internet.
Young’s and Einstein, and discuss Readings can also be taken
the twentieth century
Double Slit experiments that
from pages 100 – 104 of
Experiment provided evidence that Revision Course: CSEC
light has both a particle Physics: DeFreitas, P.
6 Weeks Test Objectives from Wk 1 and a wave nature. (2016). Concise revision
of October – Wk 1 of Must explain what a course: CSEC physics (1st
November ‘wave’ and a ‘particle’ is.
ed.). HarperCollins.
London (Students’ Text)
Week 3 of Light Rays Explain why the Pages 56 – 57 of https://www.youtube.com/
November diffraction of light is Concise Physics watch?v=jhBC39xZVnw
not normally observed. Workbook. Knowledge
of wave duality and
apply the principle that
light travels in straight Young’s Double Slit
lines – the pinhole Experiment needed.
camera

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
Week four Reflection Apply the laws of Reflection Lab Glass block/perspex, pins,
of reflection. blank paper, pencil, ruler,
November protractor
Describe the formation
of images in a plane
mirror
Week 1 of Refraction Give examples of Refraction Lab Glass block/perspex, pins,
December observations which blank paper, pencil, ruler,
indicate that light can protractor
be refracted;

Describe the refraction

of light rays;

Describe how a prism https://micro.magnet.fsu.ed

may be used to produce u/optics/activities/students/
a spectrum. prisms.html
Apply Snell’s Law
Week two Critical Angle Explain ‘critical angle’ Design and create a https://www.youtube.com/
of and Total and ‘total internal periscope (must include watch?v=Bnjn5e4LTmE
December Internal reflection’. a video of the
Reflection construction as well as Students are expected to be
Relate critical angles to
total internal reflection. a video of showing how creative and use materials
thing appear while in their surroundings or
Draw diagrams looking through the purchase items from a
illustrating applications periscope). hardware/industrial store.
of total internal
reflection. Classwork:
Pages 59 Question 5
and 61 – 62 of Concise
Physics Workbook
Terry, D. (2015).CSEC
physics workbook (1st
ed.). HarperCollins.
London (Student’s
workbook)

Week Lenses: Action Illustrate the effect of Write a report on the VP lab (Virtual Physics
three of of Lenses converging and effect of converging Laboratory) Simulation –
December diverging lenses on a and diverging lenses on Project and laptop/internet
beam of parallel rays.
a beam of parallel rays

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School
 based on the connection for Google
Define the terms: observations made Meets/Zooming
from the Virtual
1. principal axis Physics Laboratory.
2. principal focus
3. focal length
4. focal plane
5. magnification
With use of a
diagram

Week four Christmas Christmas Break Christmas Break Christmas Break

of Break
December
Week One Image Differentiate between Pages 63 – 64 CSEC Pages 118 – 123 of
of January Formation real and virtual images. Physics Workbook Revision Course: CSEC
Terry, D. (2015).CSEC Physics: DeFreitas, P.
Apply the equations for
physics workbook (1st (2016). Concise revision
magnification.
ed.). HarperCollins. course: CSEC physics (1st
Determine the focal London (Student’s ed.). HarperCollins.
length of a converging workbook) London (Students’ Text)
lens.

Week two Labs

of January Reflection, Refraction,
Heat Capacity

Week Revision for

three of Exams ALL OBJECTI VES
January

Week four EXAMS EXAMS EXAMS EXAMS

of January

Prepared by Mr. K. Rhoomes (H.O.D for the Dpt. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)
Gaynstead High School