Physics Ladder · High school · Grade 9

Physical Science

For grades 8 and 9: motion and forces, energy, heat, waves and light, and electricity and magnetism, with simple numbers and lots of pictures.

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50 topics in 5 units. Builds on Pre-Algebra (Grade 8) from the Math Ladder. Leads to Physics 1: Motion, Forces and Energy and Astronomy. It also opens the way to Chemistry on the Chemistry Ladder. Not sure this is the right course? Find your rung.

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Unit 1 Describing Motion

6 topics

Measure in SI units, then describe motion with speed, velocity, acceleration and graphs.

  1. Average Speed
  2. Distance-Time Graphs
  3. Distance and Displacement
  4. Velocity: Speed with a Direction
  5. Acceleration
  6. Speed-Time Graphs

Unit 2 Forces and Newton's Laws

11 topics

Forces are pushes and pulls between objects; Newton's three laws say how they change motion, and pressure spreads a force over an area.

  1. What a Force Is
  2. Net Force and Balanced Forces
  3. Newton's First Law: Inertia
  4. Newton's Second Law: F = ma
  5. Mass and Weight
  6. Friction
  7. Newton's Third Law
  8. Momentum
  9. Softening a Collision
  10. Gravity: Mass and Distance
  11. Pressure

Unit 3 Energy, Work and Heat

11 topics

Energy takes many forms and is never used up; work, machines and heat move it from place to place.

  1. Forms of Energy
  2. Kinetic Energy
  3. Gravitational Potential Energy
  4. Energy Changes Form
  5. Work
  6. Power
  7. Efficiency
  8. Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage
  9. Levers and Balance
  10. Conduction, Convection and Radiation
  11. Changes of State

Unit 4 Waves, Sound and Light

11 topics

Waves carry energy without carrying matter along; sound and light are both waves.

  1. Parts of a Wave
  2. The Wave Equation v = fλ
  3. Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
  4. Sound: Pitch and Loudness
  5. Echoes and Sonar
  6. Reflection, Absorption and Transmission
  7. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
  8. Light and Color
  9. Refraction and Lenses
  10. Higher Frequency, More Energy
  11. Analog and Digital Signals

Unit 5 Electricity and Magnetism

11 topics

Charges push and pull, currents flow around circuits, and currents and magnets are linked.

  1. Electric Charge
  2. Attraction and Repulsion
  3. Fields: Forces at a Distance
  4. Current and Voltage
  5. Complete Circuits
  6. Ohm's Law
  7. Series and Parallel Circuits
  8. Electric Power and Energy Use
  9. Magnets and Magnetic Fields
  10. Electromagnets and Motors
  11. Generators and Induction
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