OAPT Ontario Association of Physics Teachers


OAPT Contest Topics

Based on the Ontario Curriculum for SPH3U Revision 2009

 

Kinematics (6 questions)

·  time, distance, position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration

·  position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs

·  one dimensional kinematics problems using
   vav = (v1 + v2)/2, Δ d = ((v1 + v2)/2) Δ t, and Δ d = v1Δ t + ½ a(Δ t)2

·  terminal velocity

·  distance, position and displacement using vector diagrams uniform acceleration equations

·  uniform and non-uniform linear motion in one and two dimensions

·  projectile motion in two dimensions

·  constant, average and instantaneous quantities

·  work with position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs

 

 

Forces (6 questions)

·  Newton's Laws of Motion

·  free-body diagrams

·  vector diagrams

·  gravity, weight and free-fall

·  static and kinetic friction

 

 

Energy and Society (5 questions)

·  force, work and displacement

·  transformations of energy in physical systems

·  conservation of energy

·  power

·  energy input, output and efficiency

·  mass-energy equivalence

·  heat problems involving Q = mcΔ T, Q = mLt and Q = mLv

·  heating and cooling curves

·  nuclear fission and fusion

·  kinetic molecular theory

·  conduction, convection and radiation

·  nuclear isotopes

·  nuclear radiation and half-life

·  nuclear reactors

 

 

Waves and Sound (5 questions)

·  longitudinal and transverse waves

·  cycle, frequency, period, amplitude, phase, wavelength

·  superposition of waves

·  interference, standing waves, beats and resonance

·  vibrating air columns

·  vibrating strings

·  speed of waves in a medium

·  the Doppler Effect

·  speed of sound in warm and cold air

 

 

Electricity and Magnetism (6 questions)

·  direct and alternating current

·  current flow and electron flow

·  potential difference and resistance

·  power and energy in electrical circuits

·  series, parallel, and mixed circuits

·  Ohm's Law

·  Kirchhoff's Laws

·  Oersted's principle

·  magnetic field around a straight conductor

·  magnetic field around a solenoid

·  the motor principle

·  Faraday's Law

·  Lenz's Law and the right-hand rule

·  generators

·  transformers

·  transmission of electrical energy

 

 

Current Events in Physics (1 question)

·  a question based on a current event in physics as reported in the popular media

 

 

Current Nobel Prize in Phyiscs (1 question)

·  a question based on the winner of the current Nobel Prize in physics