Unit 3: Gravity & Electromagnetism — Lesson Planner
Unit overview
Notional time: 55 hours (including assessment)
Students develop a deeper understanding of motion using Newton's laws, gravitational fields, and electromagnetism. Units 3 & 4 begin in the final weeks of the year and continue into the following year.
Topic 1: Gravity and motion (22 hours)
Module 2 — Vectors and projectile motion
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 2.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Working with vectors. Resolve a vector into two perpendicular components. Recombine components to find the resultant. |
| 2.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Horizontal projection. Resolve the velocity vector into horizontal and vertical components. |
| 2.3 |
60 min |
Theory |
Projection at an angle. Independence of horizontal and vertical components. |
| 2.4 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Projectile motion. Determine horizontal distance at various launch angles. |
| 2.5 |
60 min |
Theory |
Solve complex projectile motion problems. |
Module 3 — Inclined planes
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 3.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Forces on inclined planes. Resolve weight into components parallel and perpendicular to the surface. |
| 3.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Solve inclined plane problems with friction. |
| 3.3 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Acceleration on an inclined plane. |
Module 4 — Circular motion
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 4.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Uniform circular motion. Centripetal acceleration and force. |
| 4.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Solve problems involving \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) and \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\). |
| 4.3 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Circular motion investigation. |
Module 5 — Orbital mechanics
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 5.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Newton's law of universal gravitation. \(F = \frac{Gm_1 m_2}{r^2}\). |
| 5.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Gravitational field strength. Orbital velocity and period. |
| 5.3 |
60 min |
Theory |
Kepler's laws. Satellite motion. Low Earth orbit vs geostationary orbit. |
| 5.4 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Modelling orbital mechanics (simulation-based). |
| 5.5 |
60 min |
Theory |
Gravitational potential energy in a field: \(E_p = -\frac{Gm_1 m_2}{r}\). |
| 5.6 |
60 min |
Theory |
Review: Orbital mechanics. |
Topic 2: Electromagnetism (23 hours)
Module 6 — Electrostatics
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 6.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Coulomb's law: \(F = k\frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}\). Force between charged objects in one and two dimensions. |
| 6.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Electric fields and field strength: \(E = \frac{F}{q}\). |
| 6.3 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Effects of electrostatic charge on various materials. |
| 6.4 |
60 min |
Theory |
Electric potential energy. Electrical potential difference: \(V = \frac{W}{q}\). Equipotential lines. |
| 6.5 |
60 min |
Theory |
Review: Electrostatics. |
Module 7 — Magnetic fields
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 7.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Magnetic fields. Fields produced by moving electric charges. Field around a current-carrying wire. |
| 7.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field: \(F = BIl\sin\theta\). |
| 7.3 |
60 min |
Theory |
Force on a moving charge in a magnetic field: \(F = qvB\sin\theta\). |
| 7.4 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Magnetic field around a current-carrying wire. |
| 7.5 |
60 min |
Theory |
Solenoids. Applications of magnetic force. |
Module 8 — Electromagnetic induction and radiation
| Lesson |
Time |
Focus |
Subject matter |
| 8.1 |
60 min |
Theory |
Electromagnetic induction. Magnetic flux. Faraday's law. Lenz's law. |
| 8.2 |
60 min |
Theory |
Generators and transformers. \(\frac{V_p}{V_s} = \frac{N_p}{N_s}\). |
| 8.3 |
60 min |
Practical |
Practical: Electromagnetic induction investigation. |
| 8.4 |
60 min |
Theory |
Production of electromagnetic waves. |
| 8.5 |
60 min |
Theory |
Review: Electromagnetism. |
Assessment (10 hours)