Physics Kenya Form 1 Syllabus

Introduction to Physics
1. Introduction to Physics
  1. Physics as a Science (reference to Primary Science Syllabus)
  2. Meaning of Physics
  3. Branches of Physics
  4. Relation between Physics, other subjects and technology
  5. Career opportunities in Physics
  6. Basic laboratory safety rules
Measurements I
1. Measurements I
  1. Definition of length, area, volume, mass, density and time
  2. SI units and symbols
  3. Estimation of quantities
  4. Conversion of units
  5. Measuring instruments
  6. Experiments on density
  7. Problems on density
Force
1. Force
  1. Definition of force
  2. Types of forces(including cohesive,adhesive and surface tension)
  3. Experiments to demonstrate cohesion,adhesive and surface tension
  4. Effects of force
  5. Mass, weight and their relationship
  6. Scalar and vector quantities
  7. Problem involving W =mg (take g = 10 N/kg)
Pressure
1. Pressure
  1. Definition of pressure
  2. Pressure in solids
  3. Factors affecting pressure in fluid (Experimental treatment required)
  4. Derivation of P = ρgh
  5. Atmospheric pressure
  6. Simple mercury barometer, manometers
  7. Applications of pressure: drinking straw, syringe, siphon, hydraulic press, hydraulic brakes, bicycle pump, force pump, lift pump
  8. Problems on pressure
Particulate Nature of Matter
1. Particulate Nature of Matter
  1. Experiments to show that matter is made up of tiny particles (e.g. cutting papers into small pieces), dilution experiments
  2. Brownian motion
  3. States of matter
  4. Diffusion (Graham's law not required)
Thermal Expansion
1. Thermal Expansion
  1. Temperature
  2. Thermometers: Liquid-in-glass, Clinical, Six's maximum and minimum
  3. Expansion of solids, liquids and gases
  4. Effects of expansion and contraction
  5. Unsusual expansion of water (Anomalous expansion)
  6. Applications of thermal expansion, include Bimetallic strip
Heat Transfer
1. Heat Transfer
  1. Heat and temperature
  2. Modes of heat transfer
  3. Factors affecting heat transfer (Experimental treatment required)
  4. Applications of heat transfer on: Vacuum flask, Domestic hot-water system, Solar concentrators
Rectilinear Propagation of Light and Reflection at plane surface
1. Rectilinear Propagation of Light and Reflection at plane surface
  1. Rectilinear propagation of light (experimental treatment required)
  2. Formation of shadows and eclipses (umbra and penumbra)
  3. Pin-hole camera image formation and magnification
  4. Laws of reflection
  5. Images formed by plane mirrors, ray diagrams, parallel and inclined mirrors
  6. Devices based on reflection: periscope, kaleidoscope
  7. Problems on pin-hole camera and mirrors inclined at an angle
Electrostatics 1
1. Electrostatics 1
  1. Electrostatic charging of objects by rubbing(experimental treatment required)
  2. Types of charges and laws of charges
  3. The source of charge
  4. The coulomb
  5. Leaf electroscope: features, charging and discharging
  6. Charging by contact and by induction
  7. Identification of charge
  8. Conductors and insulators
Cells and Simple Circuits
1. Cells and Simple Circuits
  1. Simple electric circuits: cell, ammeter, voltmeter, variable resistor, connecting wires, bulb and switches
  2. Circuit symbols
  3. Electric current and its units
  4. Primary and secondary cells( simple cell, dry Leclanche' cell, Lead acid cell )
  5. Care and maintenance of secondary