Grade 11
  1. Mechanics  1.1. dynamics  1.1.1. Motion in one dimension  1.1.2. Motion in two and three dimensions  1.1.3. Displacement and Distance  1.1.4. Speed and Velocity  1.1.5. Acceleration and deceleration  1.1.6. Graphical analysis of motion  1.1.7. Equations of motion (advanced derivations)  1.1.8. Free fall and terminal velocity  1.1.9. Projectile motion  1.1.10. Relative velocity in one and two dimensions  1.1.11. Motion of a car on an inclined plane  1.2. Dynamics  1.2.1. Newton's laws of motion and their applications  1.2.2. Inertia and Newton's first law  1.2.3. Force and types of force  1.2.4. Static and kinetic friction  1.2.5. Circular motion and centripetal acceleration  1.2.6. Non-uniform circular motion  1.2.7. Banking of roads and curves  1.2.8. Momentum and Impulse  1.2.9. Conservation of momentum in one and two dimensions  1.2.10. Applications of Newton's Third Law  1.3. Work, Energy and Power  1.3.1. Work done by a constant and variable force  1.3.2. Work–energy theorem  1.3.3. Kinetic and potential energy  1.3.4. Gravitational and elastic potential energy  1.3.5. Conservation of mechanical energy  1.3.6. Power and instantaneous power  1.3.7. Efficiency of machines  1.3.8. Work done by conservative and non-conservative forces  1.4. Rotational motion  1.4.1. Torque and angular acceleration  1.4.2. Rotational equilibrium  1.4.3. Moment of inertia and its applications  1.4.4. Angular momentum and its conservation  1.4.5. Kinetic energy of rolling motion and rotation  1.4.6. Parallel and Perpendicular Axis Theorem  1.4.7. Dynamics of rotational motion
  2. Gravitational force  2.1. Universal gravitation  2.1.1. Newton's law of universal gravitation  2.1.2. Gravitational field and potential  2.1.3. Change in acceleration due to gravity  2.1.4. Kepler's laws of planetary motion  2.1.5. Orbital mechanics and satellites  2.1.6. Escape velocity and orbital velocity  2.1.7. Weightlessness and free fall  2.1.8. Gravitational potential energy and energy in orbits  2.1.9. Black holes and gravitational lensing
  3. Properties of matter  3.1. Fluid mechanics  3.1.1. Density and pressure in liquids  3.1.2. Pascal's theory and applications  3.1.3. Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy  3.1.4. Bernoulli's equation and applications  3.1.5. Continuity equation and the Venturi effect  3.1.6. Surface tension and capillarity  3.1.7. Viscosity and Poiseuille's Law  3.1.8. Reynolds number and turbulence  3.2. Elasticity and deformation  3.2.1. Hooke's law and the stress-strain relation  3.2.2. Elastic modulus and applications  3.2.3. Deformation and yield strength of solids
  4. Thermal physics  4.1. Heat and temperature  4.1.1. Thermometric properties and temperature scale  4.1.2. Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases  4.1.3. Heat transfer system  4.1.4. Specific heat capacity and calorimetry  4.1.5. Latent heat and phase change  4.2. Kinetic theory of gases  4.2.1. Molecular model of gases  4.2.2. Kinetic explanation of temperature  4.2.3. Ideal Gas Equation and Deviations  4.2.4. Mean free path and Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution  4.3. Laws of Thermodynamics  4.3.1. Zeroth Law and Thermal Equilibrium  4.3.2. First Law and Internal Energy  4.3.3. The Second Law and Entropy  4.3.4. Carnot cycle and heat engines  4.3.5. Refrigerators and heat pumps
  5. Waves and oscillations  5.1. Simple Harmonic Motion  5.1.1. Equations of SHM  5.1.2. Energy in SHM  5.1.3. Damped and forced oscillations  5.1.4. Resonance and applications  5.1.5. Pendulum and spring-mass system  5.2. Wave motion  5.2.1. Types of mechanical waves  5.2.2. Wave motion and energy transport  5.2.3. Superposition Principle and Standing Waves  5.2.4. Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction  5.2.5. Doppler effect in sound and light  5.2.6. Pulsations and interference
  6. Electricity and Magnetism  6.1. Electrostatics  6.1.1. Electric charge and conservation  6.1.2. Coulomb's law and its applications  6.1.3. Electric field and electric flux  6.1.4. Electric potential and potential energy  6.1.5. Capacitance and Energy Stored in a Capacitor  6.2. Current Electricity  6.2.1. Ohm's law and electrical resistance  6.2.2. Resistivity and temperature dependence  6.2.3. Kirchhoff's Laws and Circuit Analysis  6.2.4. Electrical power and efficiency  6.2.5. Combination of resistors  6.3. Magnetism and Electromagnetism  6.3.1. Magnetic fields and their sources  6.3.2. Magnetic force on moving charges  6.3.3. Electromagnetic induction  6.3.4. Faraday's and Lenz's laws  6.3.5. Inductance and Transformer  6.3.6. Alternating current and its applications
  7. Optics  7.1. Reflection and Refraction  7.1.1. laws of reflection and refraction  7.1.2. Mirrors and lenses  7.1.3. Total internal reflection and optical fiber  7.2. Wave optics  7.2.1. Interference and Diffraction  7.2.2. Young's double-slit experiment  7.2.3. Polarization of light
  8. Modern Physics  8.1.1. Photoelectric effect and Einstein's theory  8.1.2. Wave–particle duality  8.1.3. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle  8.1.4. Compton Effect  8.2. Atomic and Nuclear Physics  8.2.1. Atomic model and energy levels  8.2.2. Radioactive decay and half-life  8.2.3. Nuclear Fission and Fusion
  9. Electronics and Communication  9.1. Semiconductors  9.1.1. pn junction and diode  9.1.2. Transistors and Logic Gates  9.1.3. Integrated Circuits and Applications  9.2. Communication Systems  9.2.1. Basics of Analog and Digital Communication  9.2.2. Wireless and Optical Communication  9.2.3. Modulation and Demodulation

Grade 11 ↓


Optics


Optics is a branch of physics that focuses on the study of light. It explores how light behaves and interacts with different materials. In everyday life, we encounter optics in various forms, such as in glasses, cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. Understanding optics is important for developing these technologies and improving our ability to see the world around us.

Nature of light

Light is a type of energy that travels in waves. In physics, these waves are known as electromagnetic waves. They consist of electric and magnetic fields that move through space. One fascinating thing about light is that it can behave like both a wave and a particle. This is known as wave-particle duality.

Light waves can vary in terms of their wavelength and frequency. Wavelength refers to the distance between two successive peaks of a wave, and frequency refers to the number of waves passing a point in one second. Different wavelengths within the range of visible light result in different colors that we can see.

Visual example: wavelength

Wavelength

Reflection

Reflection occurs when light strikes the surface of an object. The simplest example of reflection occurs when we look into a mirror. The image we see in the mirror is the result of light reflecting off the surface of the mirror.

Law of reflection

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. These angles are measured from the normal, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

Angle of Incidence (θi) = Angle of Reflection (θr)

Visual example: law of reflection

incident rayReflected rayGeneralθiθR

Refraction

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. This happens because the speed of light changes as it passes between substances with different densities. A classic example of refraction is the bending of a straw when placed in a glass of water.

The extent to which light bends depends on the material's refractive index. The refractive index is a measure of how much a material slows down the speed of light.

Snell's Law

Snell's law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction as well as the refractive indices of the two media. It can be written as:

n₁ sin(θ₁) = n₂ sin(θ₂)

Here, n₁ and n₂ are the refractive indices, and θ₁ and θ₂ are the angles of incidence and refraction, respectively.

Visual example: refraction

incident rayRefracted rayGeneralθ₁θ₂

Lens

Lenses are transparent objects that form an image by refracting light. They are commonly used in eyeglasses, cameras, and microscopes. There are two main types of lenses: convex lenses and concave lenses.

Convex lens

A convex lens, also called a converging lens, is thicker at the center than at the edges. When light rays pass through a convex lens, they converge or come together. This type of lens can focus light to form a clear image on the screen.

An interesting example of the use of a convex lens is to focus sunlight into a point using a magnifying glass. The focused light can burn a piece of paper because of the concentrated light energy.

Concave lens

A concave lens, also called a diverging lens, is thinner at the center and thicker at the edges. This spreads out or diverges light rays. These lenses are used in glasses for nearsighted people because they spread out the light before it reaches the eye, making it easier to focus.

Visual example: convex lens

Incident raysConverging rays

Applications of optics

Optics plays an important role in many technologies and scientific research. Below are some applications of optics:

  • Glasses: The lenses in glasses correct vision by adjusting the direction of incoming light rays, so that they focus correctly on the retina.
  • Camera: Cameras use lenses to focus light onto film or a digital sensor, producing images with sharp detail.
  • Microscopes: Microscopes use multiple lenses to magnify small objects, making them visible to the naked eye.
  • Telescopes: Telescopes collect light from distant objects, such as stars and planets, and focus it to form a sharp image.
  • Fiber Optics: Fiber optic cables transmit light signals over long distances with minimal loss for telecommunications.

Conclusion

Optics is a fundamental part of physics that provides important information about the behavior of light. It helps us understand reflection and refraction and enables us to explore the technological applications of lenses. By studying optics, we gain a greater understanding of how light affects the world around us and how we can use its properties for practical applications.


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Optics

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