BPHO Syllabus Round 2

General

a) The paper may contain, but is not limited to, the following topics. The material is at the level of
Upgrade Your Physics found on http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/PastForStudents.html
b) Fundamentals of Physics, by Halliday, Resnick & Walker is an excellent American University
textbook which has the material well explained, hundreds of problems, is profusely illustrated with diagrams
and is available in print, or seemingly online for an older edition, at
https://archive.org/details/FundamentalsOfPhysicsExtended10thEditionHallidayResnick
c) The extensive use of the calculus (differentiation and integration) will not be required, nor the use of
complex numbers or solving novel differential equations, in order to solve the theoretical and practical
problems. However, the recognition that, for example, 𝑁 = 𝑁 𝑒 is a solution to the differential

equation = −𝜆𝑁, and that they can easily be related will be expected. The ability to set up a

simple integral in a physics question may be required, but solutions to standard integrals will generally
be given where needed.
d) Any A level formulae sheet can be used. Less well known formulae will be given.
e) Questions may contain concepts and phenomena not contained in the Syllabus, but sufficient
information will be given in the question so that candidates without previous knowledge of these topics
would be able to progress.

The first column contains the main entries while the second column contains comments and remarks if necessary.

1. Mechanics

a) kinematics of a point mass Vector description of the position of the mass;

displacement, velocity and acceleration as vectors.
Motion in 2-D in a uniform gravitational field.

b) Newton’s Laws

c) Momentum, energy, work, power

d) Conservation of energy, conservation of linear

momentum, impulse

e) Elastic forces, frictional forces Hooke’s law, coefficient of friction (𝜇 = 𝐹/𝑅),

frictional forces, static and kinetic (𝜇 , 𝜇 ) .

f) Newton’s Law of Gravitation Potential, potential energy and work in a constant

gravitational field. Choice of zero of potential energy
g) Centripetal acceleration.

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2. Mechanics of Rigid Bodies

a) Statics, center of mass, torque Couples, conditions of equilibrium of bodies

b) Motion of rigid bodies For rigid systems containing small numbers of point
masses in translation and rotation. Angular velocity,
constant angular acceleration and the equations of
motion in their rotational equivalent form, but not in
vector notation

c) Conservation of angular momentum Conservation of angular momentum about a fixed

axis only

3. Hydromechanics

NO specific questions will be set on this, but students will be expected to know the elementary concepts of
Archimedes upthrust/buoyancy and the continuity law applied to conserved quantities.

4. Thermodynamics and Molecular Physics

a) Internal energy, work and heat, first law of Thermal equilibrium, quantities depending on state
thermodynamics and quantities depending on process

b) Absolute temperature < 𝑘𝑒 >∝ 𝑇

c) Model of a perfect gas, pressure and molecular Also molecular approach to such simple phenomena
kinetic energy. in liquids and solids as boiling

d) Avogadro number The mole

e) Equation of state of a perfect gas 𝑝𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇

f) Adiabatic change Work done in isothermal and adiabatic changes

g) (Molar) specific heats of an ideal gas 𝐶 and 𝐶 and Mayer’s equation, 𝐶 − 𝐶 = 𝑅

h) Boltzmann factor (𝐸 − 𝐸 )
𝐸 = 𝐸 exp −
𝑘𝑇
i) Melting, boiling Qualitative only

5. Oscillations and Waves

a) Harmonic oscillations, equation of harmonic

oscillation

b) Superposition of harmonic waves, coherent Fourier analysis is not required but candidates should
waves, interference, beats, standing waves have some understanding that complex waves can be
made from the addition of simple sinusoidal waves of
different frequencies.

Superposition of waves from secondary sources

(diffraction and interference)

c) Harmonic waves, propagation of waves, Attenuation and resonance – qualitatively

transverse and longitudinal waves That intensity of a wave is proportional to the
square of its amplitude

a) Linear polarisation, the classical Doppler effect In one dimension only

b) Solutions of the equation for harmonic motion

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 c) Displacement and phase in progressive and Understanding of graphical representation of these
stationary waves waves

d) Measurements of velocity of sound and light

e) Propagation of waves in homogeneous and

isotropic media, reflection and refraction

f) Realisation that intensity of wave is proportional

to the square of its amplitude

g) Interference due to thin films and other simple (final formulae are not required).
systems Phase changes at reflecting surfaces.

h) Fermat's principle

6. Electric Charge and Electric Current

a) Conservation of charge, Coulomb's law for point

charges

b) Current, resistance, internal resistance of

sources, Ohm's law

c) Kirchhoff's laws Simple cases of circuits containing non-ohmic devices

with known V-I characteristics

d) Alternating current

e) Work and power of direct and alternating Joule’s law heating

current

f) Electric field, potential, potential gradient Electric fields of simple symmetric systems like
sphere, cylinder, plate etc. and their potentials.

g) Capacitors, capacitance, dielectric constant Dielectric filling the space between the plates
time constants

h) Electric dipole moment For two point charges, 𝑄 separated by a distance 𝑎,

𝑝 = 𝑄𝑎

i) Current and Magnetic Field (𝐵) from a current Magnetic field of simple symmetric systems like
straight wire, circular loop and long solenoid

j) Magnetic field (B) of a current, current in Magnetic field, Lorentz force, applications like the
Particles in a magnetic field cyclotron.

k) Magnetic moment For a current loop, 𝜇 = 𝐼𝐴

l) Laws of electromagnetic induction, magnetic

flux, Lenz's law, self-induction, inductance

m) Resistors, inductors, capacitors individually in Resonance circuits are not required

simple AC-circuits

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 7. Quantum Physics

a) Photoelectric effect Einstein's formula 𝐸 = ℎ𝑓 − 𝑊

b) energy and momentum of the photon 𝑝 = 𝐸/𝑐

c) de Broglie (matter) waves

d) Uncertainty Principle

8. Relativity

a) Relativistic equation of motion Momentum, energy, relation between energy and

mass
Not 4-vectors and not Lorentz transformations

b) Conservation of energy and momentum

9. Electromagnetic Waves

a) Wave optics Dispersion

b) Diffraction from one and two slits, diffraction Diffraction spectra, line spectra of gases
grating

c) Electromagnetic waves as transverse

d) Polarisation by reflection, polarisers Superposition of polarised waves

10. Matter
a) Energy levels of atoms and molecules (qualitatively)
b) Emission, absorption, spectrum of hydrogen line

c) Energy levels of nuclei (qualitatively)

d) Alpha, beta and gamma decays Emission, absorption of radiation, half-life,
exponential decay

e) Components of nuclei, mass defect, nuclear

reactions

Refer to Upgrading Your Physics for guidance on the level at which this material is required.

RWH rev Dec 2019

[email protected]