Syllabus Rcc
Physics
Mr. Caselli
Roosevelt High School
You can’t fully enjoy a game unless you know is rules. Learning that satellites follow the same rules as tossed baseballs changes the way you see orbiting astronauts on TV. Learning the rules of light changes the way you see blue skies, white clouds, and rainbows. Richness in life is not only seeing the world with wide open eyes, but knowing what to look for, physics- natures basic rules.
Primary Topics of Study:
· Science and Its Methods
· Mechanics
· Fluids and Thermal Physics
· Sound and Light
· Electricity and Magnetism
· Universal Gravitation and Relativity
Goals for Physics Success:
A student who is getting the most out of their Physics class experience should be able to . . .
· Collect and interpret data, then use these observations to make predictions about other scientific situations.
· Use computers, graphing calculators, and related equipment as tools in the collection and analysis of data.
· Solve problems using given and derived Physics equations.
· Communicate the science concepts they have learned in writing and through speaking.
· Work cooperatively in a group and effectively as an individual.
Expected Classroom Behaviors:
· Attend class regularly with all necessary materials (assignments, calculator, paper, pencil.)
· Actively participate in classroom activities. This will be an important factor in how well you learn the material and succeed in this class!
· Be respectful and supportive of your classmates, your teacher, your school, and the property of others. In other words, treat others as you would want to be treated!
· Only H2O is allowed, no other food or drinks please.
Supplies:
· Calculator: A scientific calculator will be needed for class. If you plan to continue in your study of science, you may wish to purchase a graphing calculator (a TI-83 Plus is recommended.) If you do not have or cannot purchase a calculator, see me about checking one out for use during class.
· 3-Ring Notebook: You will receive a large number of handouts in this class, so a 3-ring notebook is recommended to organize assignments, labs, and class notes.
· Folder or Report Cover: A folder or report cover will be used to hand in journal writing activities. If you purchase a folder, it should have 3-ring holes suitable for adding pages each week.
· A covered textbook is required for this course.
Grading Procedures:
· Homework (including journal writing assignments) will be assigned for each chapter or unit. All homework (unless otherwise specified) will be due on the date of the test and must be turned in at the beginning of class.
· Labs will be done frequently in class, usually in groups. Each student will be required to complete their own copy of the lab to turn in, including lab procedures, data tables, and conclusions.
· Quizzes will be given periodically to check your progress. Some may be pop quizzes! A weekly class participation score will be assigned, based on your behavior and participation in classroom activities.
· A semester test will be given and will account for 15% of your semester grade. The remaining 85% of your semester grade will be divided equally between the two quarter grades.
· Letter grades are determined by the following scale: 93% - 100% = A
85% - 92% = B
76% - 84% = C
65% - 75% = D
< 65% = F
Late work:
· Any work turned in after the due date will receive half credit. It must have a note at the top that includes the date it was due, the date it was turned in, and the reason it was late.
· Any late work must be turned in within one week of due date.
· Late work due to an excused absence (see below), must have a note at the top.
Absences:
· If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain and complete the work for the day(s) you missed. Check the physics basket in the classroom to see what handouts were given and pick up copies of those handouts for yourself. Any assignments collected while you were gone are due immediately and should be turned in to me personally with note (see above). You will have two days for each day you were gone to complete any new assignments given.
· If you have missed a lab activity, you may complete the lab before or after school, or during my lunch study session. It is your responsibility to schedule a make-up time with me when you return.
· If you know ahead of time that you will be absent, see me to get the assignment before you leave.
Extra Credit:
· Extra credit assignments or labs will be available once each quarter.
Extra Help:
· I will be available for extra help in our classroom or the Science TPC before and after school whenever possible.
· We will be forming study groups in class to do labs and cooperative learning activities. If you have questions on homework during class, you are encouraged to ask one of your group members for help as well as asking me.
· I want you to be successful in this class! Get extra help as soon as you encounter difficulties. Often 5 minutes of extra help is all you need to understand a troublesome topic, so don’t wait until you are behind on a whole chapter’s work to ask!
Have a Great Year!
Physics Homework Guidelines
Our class periods will be used primarily to investigate and discuss Physics concepts. Homework is assigned for you to practice these concepts, and will often need to be completed outside of class. The effort put into homework assignments will not only result in a better understanding, but give you valuable preparation for tests and quizzes as well.
You are responsible for doing your homework Promptly! Homework assignments for the entire chapter will be given at the beginning of each new chapter or unit. All assignments will be turned in together at the beginning of class on the day of the unit test. This does not mean that you should wait until the night before the test to try the homework problems! The assignments are your chance to practice problems similar to those on tests or quizzes. Do them promptly so you have time to get extra help if you don’t understand.
You are responsible for doing your homework Correctly! We will not check homework assignments in class. Homework solutions will be posted in the classroom. It would be wise to check your homework periodically to be certain you are doing the problems accurately. This does not mean that you should simply copy down the answers for the problems that you missed. If you have made a mistake, use the solutions to find out why you missed the problem or ask for extra help on the problem.
Some homework guidelines to consider . . .
1. For each chapter worksheet, show your work and answers on a separate page of notebook paper. Label each problem clearly, and if necessary, highlight the answer of each problem by circling or boxing the final answer. I will not spend time looking for missing problems!
2. Complete all Textbook Review Questions for the unit together on a separate page of notebook paper. Include a heading of the page numbers and the problems assigned.
3. Do your assignments with a pencil and eraser (everyone makes mistakes).
4. For each problem, list the following information:
- Givens (what information does the problem give you?)
- Unknowns (what is the problem asking?)
- Equations (how did you find the answer?)
5. Show the correct units when you substitute numbers into an equation (This will help you make sure you are using the right equation.) Label your final answer with the correct units.
6. Show Your Work! Your homework assignments are graded on completion only, so I will follow this rule for your grade: No Work = No Credit!
7. When you turn in your homework, attach all assignments to a cover page (provided in class.) Use the cover page to be sure all assignments are included and in order.
Homework Grading Procedures:
· Each problem is graded equally on two criteria:
1. You must neatly show the Givens, Unknowns, and Equations for the problem.
2. You must neatly find and label the answer.
Physics Lab Guidelines
Many students find that the most exciting part of Physics class is the laboratory experiments. You may use an experiment to verify a previously known fact, practice using a concept you’ve studied, or to explore something new. In all cases, accurate measurements and keen observations will be the key to getting the most out of your lab experience.
For this class, you will receive written guidelines outlining the basic steps for most experiments. In some cases, you will be given a problem to investigate and you will decide what experiment procedures could best accomplish that goal.
There will be two types of labs used in this class. An outline for each is included below.
Exploratory Labs:
Exploratory labs will be informal labs, not requiring a separate written lab report. Exploratory labs will be done to introduce a new topic, or to practice measurements and calculations involving a current topic.
· Exploratory lab summaries may be hand-written and done on the lab handout.
· Exploratory labs will be turned in with the homework assignments at the end of each chapter or unit unless otherwise specified.
Application (formal) Labs:
Application labs will apply a concept that has already been studied in some detail. A lab report will be written to communicate what methods were used and what results were achieved for the experiment. The best lab reports are written so that someone not enrolled in Physics could understand what you did and why.
· For Application labs, each individual student must turn in a report to summarize the experiment. The only parts of the lab report that may be the same as the rest of your group are the data tables and graphs you have constructed. Lab reports that are identical to each other will receive a zero score.
· Application lab reports should be neat and well-organized, and completed on paper separate from the lab handout. They may be either word-processed or handwritten. Word-processed reports may also include portions of handwritten equations and calculations. Occasionally a data table to record your measurements will be provided in class.
· Application lab reports should be written in complete sentences, with correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
· Application lab reports will be due several days after the lab.
· Application lab reports must include the following components in this order
Page One: Cover Page (5 Points)
your name class period teacher’s name
lab title date of lab lab members
Page Two: Written Report (10 Points)
Purpose: Include a sentence or two summarizing the objective of the lab in your own words.
Procedures: Describe the experimental procedures in your own words. Tell the story of what you did, including the difficulties
Do not just repeat the directions!
APPLICATION QUESTIONS: Write out and number all questions from the lab and answer them in complete sentences
Summary: Restate the purpose of the lab explain if your data supports it or not and why.
Page Three: Data (10 Points)
Data: Include all measurements collected and data calculated. Data may be in the form of data tables, graphs, free body diagrams.
Calculations: Show what equations where used and work from one example of each type of calculation.
Physics Journal Guidelines
The Physics Journal is your chance to put your thoughts about this class down on paper. Each entry will include one or two questions about the recent concepts we have covered in class. Your answers do not need to be mathematical, but they should be well thought out. Your journal entry should also include your thoughts about what has been difficult or easy for you, questions about the class, or ways I can help you learn better. Some journal activities will involve current events from newspapers, magazines or the internet, while other journal entries will refer to the vocabulary words at the end of each chapter.
Some Journal guidelines to consider . . .
1. Keep your journal in a bound folder or report cover suitable for adding pages. A folder with 3-ring holes works best.
2. Past journal entries should be kept in the journal for future reference and included in the journal every time it is turned in.
3. Physics journal entries may be done on the paper provided or on separate paper. They may be handwritten or word-processed.
4. Journal entries should be long enough to provide a thorough answer to the questions asked. For most journal entries, a minimum of seven to eight sentences is required.
5. Journal entries will be scored based on the following three traits:
Ideas & Content:
- include details that give the most relevant information on the topic
- include explanations that go beyond the obvious or predictable answers
- use Physics concepts to explain your answer in a scientifically accurate manner
- include appropriate equations or vocabulary terms to support your answer
Organization:
- include an appropriate introduction to the topic
- include a concise conclusion to summarize your answer
- include explanations that are logically sequenced and flow smoothly