Mr. Baron

5thPeriod

7th Period

Room B-249

Physics - Course Outline

Science Department; Sun Valley High School

I. Goals of the Course

  1. To achieve a high level of understanding of the major principles of physics.
  2. To understand the nature of scientific thought, utilize the scientific method properly when conducting an experiment (including proper and accurate measurements and precise data analysis), and appreciate scientific processes and development of technology.
  3. To enhance critical thinking skills.
  4. To fine-tune relevant skills in reading comprehension, writing skills, and mathematical concepts.
  5. To be adequately prepared for any "other" science/ technical course in 12th grade or college.
  6. For all students to enjoy this class, have fun, yet keep a professional atmosphere.

II. Curriculum & Tentative Timelines

The major principles of the Accelerated Physics course are outlined below:

Mathematical Methods:(Measurement, Data Analysis, Vectors, Dimensional Analysis)

Newtonian Mechanics (Kinematics; Newton's Laws of Motion; Work, Energy, and Power; Linear Momentum; Circular Motion, Rotations, Revolutions and Orbits; Oscillations and Gravitation)

Electricity (Electrostatics, Conductors & Insulators, Electric Circuits, Series & Parallel Circuits)

Waves and Optics (Wave Motion,Sound, Geometric Optics – Reflection, Refraction, Mirrors, and Lenses)

Other Skills and Miscellaneous Topics: (History of Physics, Astronomy, Particle Physics, Contemporary

Topics in Physics)

The following is a tentative timetable for all relevant topics for this course:

Topics / Week of: / Marking Period / Notes
Intro, Ice Breaker, Measurement, Precision vs. Accuracy, Units of Measurement / 9/4/2017 / Begin 1st M.P. / 4 day week
SI Prefixes, Scientific Method, Unit Conversions, Graphing, / 9/11/2017
The Scientific Method, Hypotheses, Independent/ Dependent Variables, Analyzing Data, Graphing Data / 9/18/2017
Lab Reporting, Intro to Logger Pro, Scientific Relationships (Direct Proportions, Quadratics) / 9/25/2017 / ½ day 9/29
More Scientific Relationships (Inverses, Periodics, Exponentials) / 10/2/2017 / Interim Reports / Spirit Week & Homecoming
Distance vs. Displacement, Velocity vs. Speed, Changing vs. Constant Velocity / 10/9/2017 / ½ day 10/14
Uniform Motion, Graphical Representation of Motion / 10/16/2017
Uniformly Accelerated Motion, Free-Fall Motion / 10/23/2017
Projectile Motion / 10/30/2017
Forces and Newton's Laws / 11/6/2017 / End 1st M.P. / 3 day week
Inertia, Equilibrium, and Newton's First Law of Motion / 11/13/2017 / Begin 2nd M.P. / Sr. Variety Show!
Mass vs. Weight, Acceleration, and Newton's Second Law of Motion / 11/20/2017 / 2½ day week, T-Bowl
Frictional Forces, Using the "fun" Formula, / 11/27/2017
Action & Reaction, and Newton's Third Law of Motion, Hooke's Law / 12/4/2017
Work, Kinetic Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy, Elastic Potential Energy, Power / 12/11/2017 / Interim Reports / Winter Concert, Winter Formal
Heat, Other Forms of Energy, The Law of Conservation of Energy / 12/18/2017 / ½ Day 12/22
Winter Break / 12/25/2017 / No Classes
Topics (continued) / Week of: / Marking Period / Notes
Simple Machines,Mechanical Advantage, Ideal Mechanical Advantage, Machine Efficiency / 1/1/2018 / 4 day week
Rube Goldberg Machines / 1/8/2018 / ½ day 1/12
Midterm Exams / 1/15/2018 / 4 day week
Momentum, Impulse, Collisions, Conservation of Momentum / 1/22/2018 / End of 2ndM.P.
Angular (Rotational) Motion, Rotations vs. Revolutions / 1/29/2018 / Begin 3rd M.P.
Centripetal Forces, Centripetal Motion, / 2/5/2018
Universal Gravitation, Orbital Motion, Topics in Astronomy / 2/12/2018 / 4 day week
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion / 2/19/2018 / 4 day week, Freshman Formal
Resistance, Resistivity, Ohm's Law / 2/26/2018 / VBM
Series & Parallel Circuits / 3/5/2018 / Interim Reports / ½ day 3/5, Soph Hop
Waves Properties, Wave Mechanics / 3/12/2018
Wave Harmonics, Waves on a String, Resonance, Standing Waves / 3/19/2018
Spring Break / 3/26/2018 / No Classes
Sound Waves, Sound Wave Properties, Sound Resonance, / 4/2/2018 / 4 day week
Open & Closed Resonance Tubes, The Doppler Effect, Beats / 4/9/2018 / End 3rd M.P. / Junior Prom
Law of Reflection, Plane Mirrors, Convex Mirrors, Concave Mirrors, Ray Diagrams for Mirrors / 4/16/2018 / Begin 4th M.P.
Snell's Law, Plane Lenses, Index of Refraction, Speed of Light in a Medium / 4/30/2018 / ½ day 5/4, Senior Prom & Post-Prom
Converging Lenses, Diverging Lenses, Ray Diagrams for Lenses / 5/7/2018 / AP Exams
Diffraction, Interference, Polarization / 5/14/2018 / AP Exams, Interim Reports / Sr. Trip to Disney
Measuring the Speed of Light / 5/21/2018 / Keystones, Sr. Trip, ½ day 5/25
Topics in Modern Physics / 5/28/2018 / 4 day week, Keystones, A-Alive
Final Exams (Seniors) / 6/4/2018 / End of 4th M.P. / Sr. Awards

The following is a tentative timetable for laboratory investigations for this course:

Labs
1st Semester / 2nd Semester
Measuring Pi / Newton’s 2nd Law (2 Labs) / Impulse & Work / Slinky
Intro to Logger Pro / Atwood’s Machine / Conservation of Momentum / Standing Waves
Radioactive Dice-o-topes / Two Cart Collisions / Centripetal Motion / Speed of Sound
Equilibrium / Power / Kepler’s Laws / Reflection
Cart on a Ramp / Hooke’s Law / Ohm’s Law / Snell’s Law
Free Fall / Simple Machines / DC Circuits / Converging Lenses
Projectiles / Rube Goldberg (midterm exam) / Foutan Board / Speed of Light (final exam)

IV. Requirements

A. Daily Notebook. With all the technology at our disposal, it may seem ironic that pencil and paper is still recommended for this class. Physics includes algebra-based problem solving, so when solving for ‘x,’ you’ll still need to show your work on paper. A loose-leaf binder is strongly recommended; however, since taking notes is always personalized, other methods are acceptable.)

1. Read all assigned sections of the textbook, and take notes (i.e., outline) as instructed.

2. All class notes are to be written into your notebook. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting the class notes.

3. Homework will be graded per assignment for both effort and accuracy, and it should then be included.

B. Laboratory experiments. All laboratory investigations will be kept in your notebook. All lab notes, observations, data, calculations and analysis are to be kept in your notebook. A typed (or, as a last resort, neatly written) lab report is to be turned in by each group for each lab investigation. Test and quiz questions can be drawn from labs.

C. Preparation for Class. There are five things that contribute to preparation. They are your charged laptop, notebook, pen/pencil, calculator, and timeliness. The first four items must be brought to class everyday. Your calculator must be a scientific calculator. Lateness will not be tolerated.

D. Behavior. This class can be very enjoyable and even fun, but all students are expected to exhibit a mature attitude towards the class, a professional manner in the laboratory, and a general appreciation for scientific equipment and property. Poor behavior will never be tolerated in our class! Appropriate behavior can be achieved by following a few rules.

1. During instructional time, only one person (teacher or student) may talk at a time.

2. Always come prepared to class. (See III.C.)

3. All information on the board or electronic media is to be included in your notebook unless otherwise instructed. Always take excellent notes.

4. No food, drink, or gum is permitted. Water in a clear bottle is ok, but never in the lab.

5. If you have a question, ask it; never assume.

6. It’s OK to make a mistake.

E. Technology. In addition to internet resources, calculators, and interactive physics apps, there are five technologies that will be used extensively throughout this course. They are: 1) Mr. Baron’s teacher page, 2) the online textbook, 3) Google Classroom (This is where tests, HW’s, and other assignments will be posted!!!), 4) Remind (Get the app for your iphone or Android), and 5) Logger Pro (graphing software). You must be set up to utilize all of these by the end of the first week of school.

With laptops, cell phones, touch pads, etc., we are truly reaping the benefits of the information age. However, we also have introduced many distractors into the classroom. It is critical that you embrace the following guiding question when choosing to use technology; it will make you a more successful student:

YES or NO: Does the use of this technology while in the classroom or lab enable and/ or aide me to stay on task and achieve the objectives of the lesson.

If the answer is yes, then it is permissible, if not, then the usage is inappropriate. The following will lead you to an answer of “no” every time, and they should be avoided: texting/ group chats, receiving texts, wearing earbuds, social networking, video games, browsing non-educational websites (including text alerts), checking personal e-mail.

V. Textbooks & Other Sources

We will be using electronic textbooks. You will need your laptop or a home computer in order to access the textbook. The textbook we will be using is:

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics. New York: Pearson Publishing, 2009.

This book is available at the Pearson Website, You will be assigned an access code; you will need it to download the textbook.

VI. Grading

1stQtr2ndQtr3rdQtr4thQtr

Tests and Quizzes40%45%55%60%

Laboratory Reports20%25%25%25%

Problem Sets (Homework & Classwork)25%20%15%15%

Class Participation15%10%5%0%

  • Homework will be updated on Google Classroom.
  • Late homework assignments will be deducted 2 points for each day it is late; however, once homework solutions are shared/ distributed/ posted, homework cannot be accepted for any credit.
  • In some cases, additional/ alternative homework problems may be assigned when homework is late.
  • Lab reports that are submitted late will be deducted 2 points for each day it is late.
  • The percentages may change at the instructor’s discretion.

Extra credit opportunities may be in the form of bonus/ challenge questions on tests or for homework. Also, extra credit labs may be offered as well. Extra credit will never be offered for substitute credit; it will never take the place of a missing assignment. There will be no extra credit during the last week of any marking period.

VII. Absentee Policy

If you are absent from class, you are responsible for all notes, class materials, announcements, and assignments missed. Most good excuses for being absent are still not good enough to let your schoolwork slide. In accordance with school district policy, you will have one day to make up work for each day you are absent. Missed tests and quizzes must be made up after school unless an alternate arrangement can be made. Labs must be made up after school.