Unicus Global Science Olympiad Class 10 Syllabus

Class 10

1. Content Domains: Physics

Current Electricity

1. Fundamental concepts of electricity
2. Mathematical relationship between voltage, current, and resistance
3. Series and parallel circuits, circuit diagrams, and calculations involving resistance
4. Relationship between e.m.f., terminal voltage, and internal resistance
5. Combination of resistors
6. Heating effect of electric current and its applications
7. Electrical energy and power

Electromagnetism

1. Principles of magnetic effects of electric current
2. Patterns and direction of magnetic fields
3. Introduction to electromagnetic induction
4. Force on a current-carrying conductor
5. Magnetic properties of matter: paramagnetism, diamagnetism, and ferromagnetism

Calorimetry

1. Relationship between heat capacity and specific heat capacity
2. Understanding heat transfer and the concept of specific heat
3. Principle of calorimetry
4. Consequences of high specific heat capacity of water
5. Change of phase and latent heat
6. Applications of calorimetry: heat transfer calculations in various systems

Optics and Spectrum

1. Refraction of light through glass block, triangular prism, and lenses and their applications
2. Total internal reflection and its applications
3. Characteristics and location of images formed by lenses using ray diagrams and determination of magnification
4. Electromagnetic spectrum
5. Natural phenomena related to refraction, dispersion, and scattering of light
6. Application of various lenses in correction of vision defects

Machines

1. Mechanical advantage: concept of mechanical advantage in various machines
2. Work and power: work and power calculations in the context of simple machines
3. Ideal vs. real machines: understanding the concept of efficiency and factors affecting it in machines
4. Examples of simple machines: levers, inclined planes, wedges, screws, pulleys, and their applications

2. Content Domains: Chemistry

Periodicity in Properties of Elements

1. Organisation of elements: groups (families) and periods
2. Periodic trends: atomic size, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity
3. Classification of elements: metals, non-metals, metalloids
4. Periodicity and electron configuration

Study of Acids, Bases, and Salts

1. Ionisation and dissociation of ions present in mineral acids, alkalis, and salts and their solutions
2. Understanding the pH scale, calculations involving pH, pOH, and the use of indicators
3. Neutralisation and salt formation: detailed study of reactions, properties of salts, and applications

Mole Concept and Stoichiometry

1. Avogadro's number and the mole: conceptual understanding and calculations
2. Empirical and molecular formulas: determination and conversions
3. Stoichiometric calculations: reactants, products, limiting reagents, and yield

Chemical Reactions and Bonding

1. Types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, combustion)
2. Oxidation and reduction reactions
3. Chemical bonding: ionic, covalent, metallic
4. Intermolecular forces and their effects
5. Energy changes in chemical reactions: exothermic and endothermic reactions

Organic Chemistry

1. Hydrocarbons: structure, types, and bonding
2. Functional groups
3. Introduction to organic reactions
4. Isomerism in hydrocarbons

Metallurgy

1. Metal: structure, bonding, and properties
2. Ores and minerals: definition, types, and importance
3. Extraction of metals: principles and methods – reduction (chemical and electrolytic), refining processes
4. Alloys: composition, preparation, and properties
5. Corrosion and its prevention: mechanisms of corrosion and protective measures

3. Content Domains: Biology

Cell Cycle and Division

1. Elementary understanding of chromosome, its structure, and division
2. Cell cycle: phases and regulation
3. Mitosis: stages and significance
4. Meiosis: process and importance in sexual reproduction

Basic Fundamentals of Genetics and Hereditary

1. Chromosomal theory of inheritance: chromosomes, genes, and alleles
2. Mendelian genetics: monohybrid and dihybrid crosses
3. Non-mendelian inheritance: incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles, sex-linked inheritance
4. Pedigree analysis
5. Variations in populations: causes and mechanisms (mutations, recombination)

Life Processes

1. Nutrition: autotrophs, heterotrophs, modes of nutrition (photosynthesis, cellular respiration)
2. Transport systems in plants and animals (xylem, phloem, circulatory system)
3. Respiration in plants and animals
4. Excretion and osmoregulation

Control and Coordination

1. Control and coordination in plants, plant hormones, trophic movements, the concept of homeostasis and its importance
2. Nervous system: structure and function of neurons, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system, reflexes
3. Endocrine system: hormones and their roles in maintaining homeostasis

Reproduction in Organisms

1. Diversity of reproductive strategies in the natural world
2. Concept of gametes and their role in sexual reproduction
3. Plant reproduction
4. Human reproductive system and the process of sexual reproduction in humans: gametogenesis and fertilisation

Evolution and Speciation

1. Darwin's theory of evolution: natural selection, variation, adaptation, fitness
2. Evidence for evolution: fossil records, comparative anatomy and embryology, biogeography
3. Speciation: formation of new species through mechanisms like geographic isolation

4. Content Domains: Environmental Science

Ecosystem

1. Flow and transfer of energy in a food chain
2. Ecological pyramids and trophic levels
3. Abiotic elements of an ecosystem
4. Impact of human activities on the environment

Conventional and Non-conventional Energy Sources

1. Conventional energy sources: fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), hydropower
2. Environmental impact of conventional energy sources: emissions, depletion of resources
3. Non-conventional energy sources: solar, wind, geothermal, biomass
4. Advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources
5. The future of energy: renewable resources and sustainability