Physics — GCE A Level (780)

What this syllabus is

Physics 780 is the Cameroon GCE Board Advanced Level physics syllabus. It assumes a two-year course at six theory hours and two practical hours a week, for candidates who have completed Ordinary Level Physics, and it is written for two groups at once: those finishing their studies at A Level and those going on to higher education.

Its aims are to build knowledge and understanding of concepts and principles through observational, practical and processing skills; to promote the application of physics in technology with its social, economic and environmental implications; to encourage study through fieldwork and experimentation; and to equip students with skills that make them competitive on the job market.

How the course is organised

The syllabus lists twelve numbered topics plus four optional topics, of which you study a selection. SABI groups the compulsory content into seven strands and keeps the options separate, because the options are examined in their own section of Paper 2.

• Strand 1 — Physical Quantities and Experimental Physics (topic 1.0)
• Strand 2 — Mechanics and Motion in Fields (topics 2.0, 8.0)
• Strand 3 — Oscillations, Waves and Wave Phenomena (topics 3.0, 10.0)
• Strand 4 — Energetics and Thermal Physics (topics 4.0, 7.0, 9.0)
• Strand 5 — Fields, Electricity and Electromagnetic Induction (topics 6.0, 11.0)
• Strand 6 — Atomic, Nuclear and Quantum Physics (topics 5.0, 12.0)
• Strand 7 — Practical work, data analysis and fieldwork
• Options — Energy Resources and Environmental Physics, Communication, Electronics, Medical Physics

Strand 1 — Physical Quantities and Experimental Physics

Topic 1.0 underpins the data-analysis question and every practical mark in the paper.

• Base and derived quantities, SI units, dimensions and homogeneity of equations
• Scalars and vectors; measurement instruments and their precision
• Errors and uncertainties: systematic and random error, estimating and combining uncertainties
• Graphical analysis: choosing variables to linearise a relationship, measuring the slope of a line or curve, drawing conclusions from non-standard graphical results
• Definition of the ampere and its implication for the value of the permeability of free space

Strand 2 — Mechanics and Motion in Fields

Topics 2.0 and 8.0. Motion in fields extends the same mechanics into circular and gravitational contexts, so learn them together.

• Kinematics and the equations of motion, including derivations
• Newton''s laws, momentum, impulse and collisions
• Moments, couples and torques and their use in practical systems
• Equilibrium of coplanar forces; centre of gravity and stability
• Circular motion, centripetal force; gravitational fields, orbits and satellites
• Motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields

Strand 3 — Oscillations, Waves and Wave Phenomena

Topics 3.0 and 10.0 move from a single oscillator to interference and diffraction.

• Free, damped and forced oscillations; simple harmonic motion and resonance
• Wave properties, wave fronts, the wave equation and progressive waves
• Superposition, stationary waves, beats and the Doppler effect
• Interference, diffraction, the diffraction grating and polarisation
• The electromagnetic spectrum, including identifying infra-red radiation as part of it

Strand 4 — Energetics and Thermal Physics

Topics 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0 cover energy transfer from the molecular scale to the thermodynamic laws.

• Work, energy and power; conservation of energy and efficiency
• Kinetic theory of gases, ideal gas equation and the molecular explanation of pressure and temperature
• Internal energy, heat capacity and specific latent heat and the principles of its measurement
• The laws of thermodynamics and thermodynamic processes
• Heat transfer mechanisms, including the movement of electromagnetic radiation

Strand 5 — Fields, Electricity and Electromagnetic Induction

Topics 6.0 and 11.0. Field strength at a point, defined numerically, is a recurring examiner favourite.

• Electric fields, field strength at a point, potential and potential difference
• Capacitance, capacitor networks, energy stored and charging and discharging
• Current electricity: resistivity, e.m.f., internal resistance, circuit analysis and measuring instruments
• Magnetic fields, forces on conductors and moving charges
• Electromagnetic induction, Faraday''s and Lenz''s laws, transformers
• Alternating current; the scientific and economic advantages of a.c. and of high-voltage transmission

Strand 6 — Atomic, Nuclear and Quantum Physics

Topics 5.0 and 12.0. The relationships are few and heavily examined — know them exactly.

• Atomic structure, energy levels and line spectra; problems using hf = E1 - E2
• The photoelectric effect and the evidence it provides for the particle nature of light
• Wave-particle duality and the de Broglie relationship
• Radioactive decay, decay constant, half-life and nuclear equations
• Mass defect, binding energy, fission and fusion; radiation hazards and safety

Strand 7 — Practical work, data analysis and fieldwork

Practical work is worth a fifth of the subject and is assessed twice: through your practical book and through a timed practical test. The syllabus also names a required apparatus list, from arm and spring balances and measuring cylinders through to microwave generators, laser tubes, sodium lamps and diffraction gratings, plus a fieldwork component.

• Experiments that support understanding of principles, and experiments that develop specific laboratory skills
• Recording, presenting and analysing data; recognising and responding to major sources of error
• Forming hypotheses and testing them graphically or by other means
• Fieldwork project work as set out in the syllabus

Options

Paper 2 Section 3 sets one question per option and you answer two of the four. Choose your options early — each has its own vocabulary.

• Option 1 — Energy Resources and Environmental Physics: energy sources, efficiency, environmental impact and the energy waste caused by deforestation
• Option 2 — Communication: transmission of information, signals, modulation and communication channels
• Option 3 — Electronics: semiconductor devices, amplifiers and coupling methods including capacitor coupling
• Option 4 — Medical Physics: physics of the body, ultrasound and imaging, human perception of relative intensity levels, radiation in diagnosis and therapy

How you are examined

Six assessment objectives are tested: AO1 knowledge, AO2 comprehension, AO3 application, AO4 analysis, AO5 synthesis and AO6 evaluation. Analysis and synthesis together carry the largest share, so the paper rewards reasoning over recall.

Paper 1 — 50 multiple-choice questions, 1 hour 30 minutes, 100 marks, 30%: 5 on knowledge and comprehension, 10 on application, 15 on analysis, 15 on synthesis and 5 on evaluation.

Paper 2 Section 1 — short and long questions, 1 hour, 50 marks, 25%: five compulsory short questions and one either/or long question.

Paper 2 Section 2 — one compulsory data-analysis question, 30 minutes, 20 marks, 5%.

Paper 2 Section 3 — long questions on the options, 1 hour, 30 marks, 20%: one question per option, answer two of four.

Paper 3 — practical, 20% in total: a practical book and fieldwork project assessed by a local examiner appointed by the Board (20 marks, 5%), and a practical test of 2 hours (80 marks, 15%) with four rotation questions of 10 minutes each plus a mainstream practical of 1 hour 20 minutes.

Candidates are expected to use calculus.

How to study this syllabus

Work strand by strand rather than in the printed topic order: the numbering separates topics that are examined together, such as mechanics and motion in fields.

Because analysis, synthesis and evaluation dominate the weighting, practise with past data-analysis questions and unfamiliar scenarios instead of re-reading notes.

Keep your practical book up to date from the first week. It is examined directly, and the laboratory skills it builds are also tested in the timed practical.

Pick your two options in the first term so you can revise them alongside the core rather than in the final weeks.

Source and status

This overview follows the official Advanced Level Physics syllabus, code 780, published by the Cameroon General Certificate of Education Board.

Aims, assessment objectives, examination structure, table of specifications, topics and options are taken from that document. The strand grouping is SABI''s study structure, added to make the syllabus easier to learn from.