The semester exam will be a cumulative exam of all four units: Waves, Energy, States of matter & Radioactivity. The main focus will be on Waves and Radioactivity. 

Notice! The first question on the exam will ask you to state the units and symbols for different quantities.

E.g.

Topics for the semester exam:

WAVES
- amplitude, frequency, period, wavelength 
- using the wave equation 
- transverse and longitudinal waves 
- wave phenomena (refraction, reflection and diffraction. NO INTERFERENCE, NO STANDING WAVES) 
- using Snell's law 
- the electromagnetic spectrum (you need to know the two extremes. DO NOT MEMORISE THE FREQUENCIES OR WAVELENGTHS) 
- uses of waves 
- sound waves (loudness and pitch)

NOTE! LENSES AND MIRRORS WILL NOT BE ON THE EXAM!

ENERGY

- basics of power stations & focus on hydroelectric plants
- different forms of energy 
- energy transformations 
- calculations involving efficiency 

STATES OF MATTER
- density (you must be able to find and compare the density even if the units are different. E.g Object 1: m=2kg, V=3.5cm^3, Object 2: m=350g, V=440mm^3. Which is denser?)
- heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) 
- absorption and emission of heat (depending on surface colour) 
- the three states of matter 
- the kinetic molecular model (how the different states are explained by looking at the small molecules) 
- heat and temperature (what is the difference and how does temperature relate to the kinetic energy of the particles?)
- different temperature scales (What are they?

RADIOACTIVITY
- knowing the three different kinds of radiation and their properties (alfa, beta and gamma) 
- decay equations 
- uses of radiation (thickness control, tracers and sterilising) 
- half-life calculations and graphs