Year 9 Term 3 - Revision Points

Revision Hints

Go over the topics covered in Ch. 5, 6 and 14 using your text and any notes taken in class, and write a summary of the main points. (It is most important to write as well as read and talk out loud). Use the revision checklist on this page as a guide. You may prefer to write your own checklist. (This is a very useful tool that helps you to organise your revision.)
Go over the in-chapter questions and the extension questions in each chapter.
Check the General and Specific Outcomes at the start of each chapter and ensure that you have achieved these.
The Science Competition questions are good sources of process questions. It is worth keeping these and using them to practice your techniques in answering process questions.
Do any revision sheets and practice tests – the more you do, the better you will know your work.
Note – the best preparation for exams is to listen, take notes and do exercises well in class, and to do your homework regularly and well. You should answer each homework question as if it is an exam question. This consistent effort applied during the term will help you to achieve well and reduce the amount of work needed at the end of term. It will also establish good study habits that will pay dividends in Year 12 and beyond.
Updated September 2008

Electricity Sources and Supply

Be able to explain the cause of static electricity.
Be able to explain the difference between static and current electricity.
Be able to explain why rainy or humid days are not good for static electricity experiments.
Be able to compare and contrast conductors and insulators.
Be able to state the Law of Static Electricity (Law of forces between charges).
Be able to use the above law to predict what will happen when charged and neutral objects are brought close together.
Be able to use and interpret a table of relative electron-attracting powers of insulators.
Be able to interpret electrostatic experimental data to determine the charges on rods.
Know what is meant by earthing. Know how this can be achieved.
Know some practical applications in which static electricity is an advantage and in which static electricity is a hindrance.
Be able to describe how to make a simple chemical cell to produce an electric current.
Be able to draw a diagram of a simple cell labeling the electrodes and electrolyte.
Be able to state the energy conversion for a chemical cell.
Be able to explain the difference between a cell and a battery.
Be able to explain what is meant by the term polarisation.
Be able to explain the advantage that the lead/acid battery and nicad cells have over the common dry cell.
Know what happens to the voltage if several batteries are connected in series.
Explain why it is necessary to periodically add water to lead-acid car batteries.
Be able to explain how an electric current can be produced using a magnet and a coil of wire.
Be able to state the ways in which the current produced in a simple generator can be increased.
Be able to compare and contrast AC and DC.
Be able to state the energy conversion for a generator.
Be able to state various ways in which electrical energy can be produced.

Using Electricity.

Be able to define electric current, voltage and resistance and know the units used for each.
Be able to explain why metals are able to conduct electricity.
Be able to draw circuit diagrams using the circuit symbols on page 84.
Be able to explain using diagrams how to connect and ammeter and a voltmeter in a circuit.
Be able to state Ohm’s Law (V = I x R) and do simple problems using the law.
Be able to show using diagrams that you understand the difference between a series and a parallel circuit.
Be able to calculate the total resistance if resistors are connected in series.
Be able to calculate the total resistance if resistors are connected in parallel.
Be able to identify correct positions for switches to control particular globes.
Be able to define Electrical Power.
Be able to solve electricity problems using the following formulae - Electrical Energy (Joules) = Power (Watts) x time (seconds) ; Power (Watts) = voltage (Volts) x time (seconds)
Know that electricity to homes, offices etc using AC and that household wiring generally consists of three insulated wires. Know what these wires are.
Be able to explain the function of the earth wire and explain why some appliances do not need a three-pin plug.
Be able to explain the function of fuses and circuit breakers in switchboards.
Be able to calculate total electrical energy used by appliances in kilowatt hours, using the following formula - 1 kilowatt-hour = Power (in kilowatts) x time (hours)

Chapter 14 – Light and Reflection. (Due to lack of time this work will not be covered term 3, 2008)

Be able to explain the difference between the terms opaque, translucent and transparent.
Know that substances can reflect, absorb and transmit light to varying degrees.
Know that some small (point) light sources produce clear shadows with sharp outlines whilst extended larger light sources produce shadows with fuzzy edges.
Know what is meant by the term virtual image.
Be able to label the incident ray, reflected ray, the angle of incidence, the angle of reflection and the normal.
Know the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. Be able to identify the incident and reflected angles.
Know the difference between a concave and a convex mirror.
Be able to draw and interpret a diagram showing the effect of a concave and convex mirror on parallel rays of light. Label the focus and focal length.
Be able to complete ray diagrams for both concave and convex mirrors and to describe the image.
Be able to state the effect that the curvature of mirrors has on the focal length.
Be able to explain why some objects appear coloured.
Know the primary colours of light.
Be able to predict the colour an object will appear.
Explain the difference between the addition of colours and the subtraction of colours.
Be able to explain how our eye sees colours.

Electricity Test

Electrostatics Test