For the Singapore Junior Physics Olympiad, no question set will require the use
of calculus ... Power. Impulse and momentum. Conservation of linear momentum.
For the Singapore Junior Physics Olympiad, no question set will require the use of calculus. However, solutions of questions involving calculus are acceptable. 1. Mechanics Kinematics – position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vectors Motion along a straight line
Motion with constant acceleration Freely falling bodies Relative velocity in a straight line
Motion in a plane
Vector description of the position of the point mass, velocity and acceleration as vectors. e.g. Projectile motion Uniform circular motion Relative velocity in a plane
Dynamics – inertia, mass, force Newton’s laws of motion
Applications of Newton’s laws
Elastic forces, frictional forces, law of
Including centripetal acceleration
gravitation, potential energy and work in a gravitational field
Work and energy
Work and conversion of energy Conservation of energy Power
Impulse and momentum
Conservation of linear momentum
Center of mass
External and internal forces Center of mass concept
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
2. Mechanics of rigid bodies Kinematics – angular position, angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration Rotation about a fixed axis
Rotation with constant angular acceleration
Conservation of angular momentum
Relationship between linear and angular quantities
Dynamics –
Statics, moment of inertia, torque
Equilibrium of a rigid body
Conditions for static equilibrium
3. Fluid mechanics Fluid statics
Density, pressure, buoyancy, surface tension Pascal’s law Archimedes’s principle
Fluid dynamics
Continuity equation Bernoulli’s principle
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
4. Thermodynamics and Molecular Physics The zeroth law of thermodynamics
Thermal equilibrium and absolute temperature
Ideal gas
Equation of state of a perfect gas Avogadro’s no. Kinetic theory of an ideal gas Simple phenomena such as boiling, freezing
The first law of thermodynamics
Thermodynamic processes Heat, internal energy, and work done by an expanding gas, thermodynamic efficiency
5. Oscillations and Waves Simple harmonic oscillations
Solution of the equation for harmonic motion; qualitative understanding of attenuation and resonance.
Mechanical waves
Mathematical description of a wave Principle of superposition Propagation of waves Transverse and longitudinal waves Standing waves
Sound waves
Interference Beats Doppler effect
6. Electric Charge and Electric Field Electric charge and electric field
Conservation and quantization of charge Coulomb’s law Electric field Motion of charged particle in an electric field
Electric potential and capacitance
Electric potential energy Capacitors
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
7. Current and Magnetic Field Current, resistance, and direct-current circuits Ohm’s law Internal resistance in a source of emf Energy and power in electric circuits Simple cases of circuits containing nonohmic devices with known V-I characteristics Magnetic field and magnetic forces
Motion of charged particles in a magnetic field Current in a magnetic field Magnetic field of a current Magnetic field of a long, straight conductor, current loops and solenoids
Electromagnetic induction
Magnetic flux Faraday’s law Lenz’s law
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
8. Electromagnetic Waves Geometric optics
Reflection and refraction Total internal reflection Dispersion spectrum Simple Lens equations and geometric ray tracing
Wave optics, diffraction, Bragg reflection, resolving power of imaging systems Polarization
Polarizing filters Polarization by reflection Malus’ Law
9. Relativity Principles of relativity
Relativity of simultaneity, time and length Lorentz transformation Relativistic addition of velocities
Relativistic dynamics
Consequences of special relativity on concepts of energy and mass
10. Quantum Physics Blackbody radiation
Stefan-Boltzmann law Graph of radiation intensity per unit wavelength versus wavelength
Photoelectric effect
Energy and momentum of a photon
Wave-particle duality
De Broglie waves Heisenberg uncertainty principle
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
11. Matter Line spectra and energy levels
Line spectra of gases Energy levels of atoms and molecules The nuclear atom and the Bohr model
Properties of nuclei
Components of nuclei Mass defect Nuclear stability Energy levels of nuclei
Radioactivity
Alpha-, beta- and gamma-decays Exponential decay and half-life
Nuclear reactions
Reaction energy Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion
References 1. College Physics 8th edition by Young and Geller, Addison Wesley 2. Physics 7th edition by Cutnell and Johnson, Wiley
# Blue Highlight for clarification purpose * Red wording are for additional topics in the syllabus (Questions from these topics will constitute less than 10% of the paper this year.)
