Grade 12 College Physics Online | SPH4C

Course Curriculum

What you'll cover in SPH4C

• Motion and Its Applications: Describing How Things Move - Students measure and analyse motion using distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration, then graph and interpret real motion data. They apply Newton’s laws to the forces acting on vehicles and equipment, and examine stopping distances, friction, and the safety technologies built into transportation and workplace machinery.
• Mechanical Systems: Forces, Machines, and Structures - Students investigate how simple machines, gears, pulleys, levers, and linkages transmit force and multiply effort, calculating mechanical advantage and efficiency. They analyse torque, static equilibrium, and the forces acting on structures, then build and test a mechanical system — the core reasoning behind machine design, millwrighting, and structural trades.
• Electricity and Magnetism: Circuits, Motors, and Generators - Students build and analyse series and parallel circuits, apply Ohm’s law and power calculations, and measure current, voltage, and resistance with real instruments. They explore magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, motors, generators, and transformers, and examine wiring safety and the distribution of electrical power in homes and industry.
• Energy Transformations: Where the Energy Goes - Students calculate work, power, kinetic and potential energy, and efficiency, then track energy as it changes form in engines, heating systems, and electrical devices. They investigate heat transfer and thermal energy, evaluate the efficiency of real machines, and analyse the energy losses that drive cost and design decisions in industry.
• Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems: Power Through Fluids and Air - Students study pressure, Pascal’s law, flow, and the behaviour of confined fluids and gases, then apply them to cylinders, pumps, valves, and compressors. They analyse and troubleshoot the hydraulic and pneumatic circuits found in heavy equipment, manufacturing lines, and vehicle braking systems, including the safety requirements each demands.