Advanced Science Term 3 Exam Coverage Study Guide 2025-2026

Unit 1 Module 2: Describing Motion and Velocity

• Displacement as a Vector Quantity

  • Displacement is analyzed and calculated as a vector quantity, which distinguishes it from distance.
  • Distance refers to the total path traveled, whereas displacement is the change in position from the starting point to the ending point including direction.
  • In one-dimensional motion, direction is applied using signs or cardinal directions (e.g., positive/negative or north/south).
  • Reference: Section: Displacement; Section: Adding Displacements (pp. 39; 40).

• The Relationship Between Speed, Distance, and Time

  • Speed is defined by the relationship between the distance an object travels and the time it takes to travel that distance.
  • This relationship is used to solve real-world motion problems.
  • Formula for speed/velocity in uniform motion:       $v = \frac{d}{t}$
  • Application: Example Problem 1 and Practice Problems 1 to 4 (p. 41).

• Momentum Fundamentals

  • Momentum ($p$) is the product of an object's mass and its velocity.
  • Verbatim Formula for Momentum:       $p = m \times v$
  • Reference: Section: Momentum (p. 48).

• Calculating Velocity from Momentum

  • The momentum equation can be rearranged to calculate velocity when momentum and mass are known.
  • This calculation includes both magnitude and direction in one-dimensional motion.
  • Formula for Velocity:       $v = \frac{p}{m}$
  • Application: Example Problem 2 and Practice Problems 12 to 15 (p. 48).

Unit 1 Module 2: Acceleration and Two-Dimensional Motion

• Interpreting Speed–Time Graphs

  • Speed-time graphs are used to analyze and describe the motion of an object over a period.
  • Rest: Indicated by a horizontal line at the zero mark on the speed axis.
  • Constant Speed: Indicated by a horizontal line above the zero mark.
  • Acceleration: Indicated by points on the graph where speed is changing (a sloped line).
  • Reference: Section: Velocity and Acceleration; Section: Speed-time graphs and acceleration (pp. 50, 51).

• Kinematic Equations for Acceleration

  • Acceleration is calculated from the change in velocity over a specific time interval in linear motion.
  • Formula for Acceleration:       $a = \frac{v_f - v_i}{t}$
  • Where $v_f$ is final velocity, $v_i$ is initial velocity, and $t$ is time.
  • Application: Example Problem 3 and Practice Problems 22 to 24 (pp. 51; 52).

• Motion in Circular Paths

  • Motion in a circular path involves a continuous change in the direction of velocity, even if speed remains constant.
  • Centripetal Acceleration: The acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path.
  • Reference: Section: Motion in Two Dimensions; Section: Circular Motion (pp. 52; 53).

• Two-Dimensional and Projectile Motion

  • Two-dimensional motion involves analyzing movement by separating it into horizontal and vertical components.
  • Projectile Motion: The motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject to only the acceleration of gravity and air resistance (where applicable).
  • Vertical and horizontal components are treated independently.
  • Reference: Section: Projectile Motion (p. 53).

Unit 3 Module 9: The Nature and Properties of Waves

• Wave Motion and Energy Transfer

  • A wave is defined as a disturbance that transfers energy through a medium.
  • Energy is transferred without the transfer of matter; the particles of the medium vibrate but do not move along with the wave.
  • Reference: Sections: Waves Defined, Wave Energy; Section: Waves and Matter, Making waves (pp. 226; 227).

• Mechanical Wave Classifications

  • Mechanical waves require a medium to travel.
  • Transverse Waves: The matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels.
  • Longitudinal Waves: The matter in the medium moves back and forth along the same direction that the wave travels.
  • Reference: Section: Mechanical Waves, Transverse Waves; Section: Longitudinal waves (pp. 228; 229; 230).

• Wave Anatomy and Measurements

  • Wavelength ($\lambda$): The distance between two consecutive identical points on a wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough in transverse waves.
  • Compressions and Rarefactions: Unique to longitudinal waves.
    • Compression: The region where the medium is crowded together.
    • Rarefaction: The region where the medium is spread apart.
  • Amplitude: A measure of the size of the disturbance from a wave; related to the energy carried by the wave.
  • Reference: Section: The Parts of a Wave; Section: Wavelength; Section: Amplitude (pp. 231; 232; 235).

• Calculating Wave Speed

  • Wave problems involve solving for unknown variables such as speed, frequency, or wavelength.
  • Formula for Wave Speed:       $v = f \times \lambda$
  • Application: Example Problem 1 and Practice Problems 7 to 9 (p. 234).

Unit 3 Module 9: The Behavior of Waves

• The Law of Reflection

  • When a wave strikes an object and bounces off, it follows the law of reflection.
  • Verbatim Rule: The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
  • Reference: Section: Reflection; Section: The law of reflection (pp. 237; 238).

• Refraction of Light

  • Refraction is the bending of a wave caused by a change in its speed as it travels from one medium to another.
  • Real-life effect: Light passing between different media, such as air and water, causes objects to appear distorted or at a different position (e.g., refraction of light in water).
  • Reference: Section: Refraction; Section: Refraction of light in water (pp. 239; 240).

• Diffraction

  • Diffraction is the bending of waves around an obstacle or through an opening.
  • The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength relative to the size of the obstacle or opening.
  • Reference: Section: Diffraction; Section: Diffraction and wavelength (pp. 241; 242; 246).

Unit 3 Module 10: Sound Waves and Their Properties

• The Speed of Sound

  • The speed of sound varies depending on the medium it travels through.
  • Particle Arrangement (Density): Sound generally travels faster in solids and liquids than in gases because molecules are closer together.
  • Elasticity: Sound travels faster in more elastic materials.
  • Temperature: For a given medium, the speed of sound generally increases as the temperature of the medium increases.
  • Reference: Section: The speed of sound, Temperature and sound speed; Section: Density and sound speed, Elasticity and sound speed (pp. 253; 254).

• Intensity, Loudness, and the Decibel Scale

  • Intensity: Relates to the amount of energy that passes through a certain area in a specific amount of time. It is directly related to the wave's amplitude.
  • Loudness: The human perception of sound intensity.
  • The Decibel Scale: A scale used to compare sound intensities in real-world contexts.
  • Reference: Sections: Intensity, Loudness; Section: The decibel scale (pp. 258; 259).

• Frequency, Pitch, and Human Hearing

  • Pitch: The human perception of the frequency of sound waves.
  • Typical Range of Human Hearing: Verbatim range is from $20\,\text{Hz}$ to $20,000\,\text{Hz}$.
  • Reference: Section: Frequency and pitch (p. 260).

• The Doppler Effect

  • The Doppler Effect is the change in sound frequency (pitch) as a result of a sound source moving relative to the listener.
  • As the source approaches, the pitch increases; as it moves away, the pitch decreases.
  • Reference: Section: The Doppler Effect (pp. 261; 262).

Unit 3 Modules 12 and 13: Light, Color, and Lenses

• Colors and Perception

  • Objects appear to be a certain color based on selective reflection and absorption of light wavelengths.
  • An object that reflects all wavelengths appears white; an object that absorbs all wavelengths appears black.
  • Reference: Sections: Colors, Seeing Colors (p. 307).

• Filtering Colors

  • Colored filters interact with white light by absorbing specific wavelengths and transmitting others.
  • A filter transmits only the light of its own color and absorbs all other colors.
  • Reference: Section: Filtering Colors (p. 309).

• Optics and Convex Lenses

  • Convex Lens: A lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges.
  • Image Formation: Ray behavior determines image characteristics (e.g., real vs. virtual, upright vs. inverted).
  • Reference: Section: What is a lens?, Convex Lens; Section: Forming images with convex lenses (pp. 335; 336).