HONORSPHYSICS2011
Teacher:Barbara Dobbs Email:
Phone number:(770) 355-1970
Welcome to Physics!
This year you will learn standards associated with the following units of study:
Nature of Science
Newtonian Mechanics/Motion
Energy
Quantum/Atomic Physics
Waves
Electromagnetism
By the end of this course you will be able to:
Apply scientific knowledge and processes to make informed decisions and solve problems.
Communicate scientific information effectively.
Design and conduct scientific investigations to test hypotheses.
Textbook: Physics: Principles and Problems
The student is responsible for taking care of his/her Physics book, bringing it to class every day, and returning it at the end of the semester. There will be periodic book checks during the semester.
Materials: 3 ring binder, loose-leaf paper, black or blue pen, pencils and a scientific calculator.
Your binder should include the following: Syllabus and other important handouts; Returned work and labs; Sections for each unit of study including all notes given for each unit
Assistance: If a student needs additional help, tutoring is in Room 307every Monday and after school from 3:30-4:30pm and every ‘Blue’ day before school from 7:30 – 8: 10am. If a student cannot make it to any these tutorial times, he or she may make an appointment with me for another time or he or she may seek help from any of Pebblebrook’s wonderful Physics teachers. Students and parents may email me with any questions or concerns. If a parent or student wishes to set up a conference, they must call the school’s Guidance Office at 770-819-2524 to set up an appointment through the counselor.
Attendance:
Students are tardy to class after the bell unless they have a pass. Tardies and unexcused absences will be handled according to PebblebrookHigh School policy.Upon returning from an excused absence, it isthe student’s responsibility to check on missed work and complete the tasks that the class accomplished in your absence.
Make-up Work: The Cobb County policy on make-up work will be strictly enforced by all teachers at Pebblebrook High School. If a student has an unexcused absence, no make-up work is allowed. If a student has an excused absence, the student may turn in work up to the number of days absent plus one.
IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE WHAT ASSIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN MISSED. Make-up work must be handed directly to the teacher. Any missed notes are the responsibility of the STUDENT. The student will need to obtain the notes from a classmate. If this is not possible, student may come in before or after school and copy teacher notes. No photocopies of notes from teacher will be provided!
TARGETS
There are some skills that are required through the course. In order to help you target your studies and remediation, the grades for these targets will be recorded separately.
The following targets are an essential part of every GEORGIA STATE STANDARD and will be tested throughout the year regardless of which State Standard we are addressing at the time.
GRAPHS: labeling, numbering, reading, creating, interpreting, etc.
MATH: significant digits, scientific notation, numeric prefixes, conversion, problem solving techniques, etc.
FACTS: vocabulary, units of measure, formulas, etc.
Grading Scale: A = 100-90 B= 89-80 C= 79-74 D = 73-70 F= 69-0
Knowledge will be evaluated by the standard and unit that the student is learning. Each standard will have 1-3 units each (SEE COURSE OUTLINE for unit breakdown with the standards). Each standard is weighted differently, depending on the difficulty and length of time for each standard. The “Cumulative Knowledge” standard is the final exam. The standards and their weights are listed below:
Target Graphs…………………………………………………………………………. 10%
Target Math…………………………………………………………………………….10%
Target Facts…………………………………………………………………………….10%
Newtonian Mechanics/Motion ……………………………………………………….. 15%
Energy …………….………………………….……………………….………… …... 9%
Waves …………………………………………………………………………………. 9%
EM ……….…………………………………………………………………… ……... 9%
Quantum/Atomic Physics…………….…………………………………….………… 3%
Midterm………………………………………………………………………………... 5%
Cumulative Knowledge(Final Exam) ………………….…………...... 20%
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TOTAL ……………………………………………………………………………… 100%
This course is designed with student learning based on experiences with science and self-discovery; therefore participation and completion of all class work is vital. Participation in all class work, from lectures to more student-centered activities, is expected, and all is subject to grading. Each unit within each standard will have daily work (this includes class work and homework), at least one lab or project, several quizzes, and a test. The specifics of each category, including expectations and point values, are described below:
Tests …………………………………………………………………………..………………
Tests will be given at the end of each unit and are cumulative. Tests will include a combination of multiple choice, true-false, short answer, and problem solving questions. Students should try to be at school on test day if at all possible. If a student is out of class for a school related issue (standardized testing, field trips, suspension), that student must make up the test the next class day. If a student has an excused absence (such as an illness or a family emergency), tests can be made up within the same number of days the student missed plus one. Excuses MUST be turned in to the Attendance Office within 3 days of the student’s return to school. Please keep in mind that CobbCounty can only accept a limited number of reasons as “excused.” People without a valid excuse may take the exam upon their return for their own benefit; however they will receive no credit for the work. This is non-negotiable. If a student is caught talking or cheating during a test, he or she will receive no credit for that test.
Test Remediation:
This occurs after each test. This is an opportunity for a student to improve his/her test grade. Each
Student will be given a remediation packet to complete on his/her own time. 75% completion of this remediation
packet will earn the student the right to take a test re-take. The test re-take must be scheduled with the teacher either
before or after school hours. After test remediation packet is handed out to the class, a student has 7 calendar days to
hand in packet and re-take the test.
Quizzes…………………………………………………………………………………….………
Quizzes will be given frequently and can range from 5-20 questions in length. A similar policy regarding absences and cheating in testing is applied to quizzes as well as tests.
Labs and Projects……………………………………………………………….……………..
Laboratory experiments will be performed during class. Because science is based on experimentation and discovery of knowledge, we will perform many labs this year. If a formal lab write-up is required, students must follow the Lab Rubric to receive full credit. As lab attendance and participation is an important part of this course, the absence policy for tests and quizzes applies here as well. Late work will be marked off 10% for each class day that it is late.
Daily Work…………………………………………………………………
Daily work consists of class activities, as well as homework. Homework is expected to be completed the next time class meets, unless otherwise specified. Homework must be handed to the teacher within 2 minutes of entering the class or it is counted as late. Any late homework will only receive 50% of the points that would have been earned if it were on time. The absence policy is the same as for the other categories above.
Late Work:It is yourresponsibility to attend class, write down due dates, and turn assignments in on time. A 50% deduction
will be give for late work. I will NOT remind you of late assignments after the first late day. Assignments turned in
after the instructor has gone over the answers in class will not be accepted. It is the Pebblebrook High School policy that no make-up work will be accepted after the Unit has been completed.
Tardiness: Being late to class will not be tolerated. Tardies will be handled according to Pebblebrook HighSchool policy.
A student mightchoose to drop his/her books off and then leave the classroom. If the student returns to the classroom after the tardy bell, then the student’s books are not tardy to class, but the student is tardy and will have to get a tardy pass.
Bathroom Passes: Students have 6 minutes between classes in which to use the restroom. Students are encouraged
and expected to use the restroom during this time. Students will be given 5 restroom passes to use at their discretion during the semester. Passes will not be allowed during testing, labs, or lecture. Once the 5 passes are used, the student willnot be given another. Bathroom passes are not transferable between students
Consequences:Failure to follow procedures will be handled as follows:
1st Step: Verbal warning, seat change or Time 2nd Step: Call home and detention
3rd Step: Call home, possible conference, &detention.
4th Step: Administrative referral
NOTE: Any of these above steps can be taken at any time, and some behaviors may require a seating change, relocation to another room, or immediate referral.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Respect! Students are expected to respect their fellow students, the equipment and materials in the room, and the instructor. One person speaks while others listen and hands are raised for recognition.
Be on time! When the bell rings, students need to be in their seats and working on the warm-up assignment.
Be organized and prepared! Studentswill not be allowed to return to their locker during the class period so make sure he/she has everything with him/her. For every class period he/shewill need a pen and pencil, three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper, colored pencils and his/her book as needed.
No food, drinks or gum are allowed in the room. This is a scientific laboratory where dissections occur, organisms are examined, and chemicals are mixed.
If you have any questions or concerns about the class, please contact me in writing via your child or email, or by leaving a message for me at (770-355-1970) and I will contact you as soon as I can
SAFETY CONTRACT:
A science laboratory can be a safe place to work if you, the student, plan ahead and are alert and cautious. The following practices will be followed.
1. Read lab procedures before starting the lab.
2 Do not start the lab without your teacher's permission.
3. Only teacher is allowed in the storeroom or preparation area.
4. Know the locations of the fire extinguishers, eye wash and shower stations
5. Wear goggles and gloves when instructed to do so by your teacher.
6. Do not carry hot equipment or dangerous chemicals.
7. Pull back long hair while in the laboratory. Long sleeves should also be rolled up.
8. Be careful when using any sharp instruments such as razor blades or scalpels.
9. Keep hands away from the face and wash them immediately after the lab activity is completed.
10. Notify your teacher when you suspect a dangerous lab situation (such as injury, broken glassware)
11. Clean up your work area at the end of each laboratory activity.
12. Return all materials to the location indicted by your teacher.
13. Dispose of all garbage properly.
14. Appropriate behavior is expected in the lab!
To the parents and guardians of Physics students,
My name is Barbara Dobbs, and I will be your student’s Physics teacher this semester. I am very excited about getting the opportunity to expose your student to all the wonders of Physics. Through labs and hands-on activities, your student will actively learn about the relationships and concepts of physics and how they correlate to everyday life.
I believe that you are the most important key to your child’s success. I would like to give you all the help I can. So, let’s establish a line of communication right now.
Will you please send me an e-mail with your child’s name in the subject line? That way I’ll have your e-mail address in the system.
OR
If you don’t have access to e-mail at this time, will you please call me and leave a message with your child’s name and your phone number. (You will go right to the mailbox if you call during school hours) 770-355-1970
Please see the attached syllabus for a list of supplies your student will need for this class.
As this class is lab-based and fast-paced, attendance is necessary to ensure success. Excessive absenteeism puts students at a tremendous risk of not passing this course. Class expectations and requirements, course timeline, and my contact information will all be provided in the attached syllabus. Please feel free to use the “comments” section inform me of anything that you think I should know about you or your student’s situation (medical, familial, etc.) that you think would affect your student’s success in this course. Email is the best way to get in contact with me with questions or concerns so that I can respond in a prompt manner; however, you may call the school and leave a message for me. Please review this information, fill out the bottom of this page, and have your student return the bottom of the sheet to class. Let me know if you have any questions.
What can you do to help your student be successful?
Please check PINNACLE frequently to keep up with your students grade and attendance! If you do not have Pinnacle access, please contact the school guidance office.
Please talk to your student and encourage him/her to come in for help the moment they feel like they are struggling. It’s important to ask for help right away. Students tend to get more and more frustrated and lost if they wait until a test day to ask for help. Please check with your student daily and remind them to do any homework. Your student should be studying and summarizing what we did in classevery single day. Flashcards are a great way to study. You can quiz your student with flashcards even if you don’t remember any Physics yourself! :) Pebblebrook has also subscribed to a couple of fantastic websites that will help your student to succeed in Physics as well as many of their other classes. These are:
and Please see the attached sheet for instructions on using these sites.
Sincerely,
Barbara Dobbs
Science Department
PebblebrookHigh School
I have read the course syllabus and understand what is required in order to be a successful
Physics 122 student.
Student signature:______Name printed:______
Parent/guardian signature:______Name printed:______
Parent/guardian phone numbers:______
______
Parent/guardian email:______
Student email:______
Comments:
GREAT WAYS TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR LEARNING:
If you are struggling in ANY area of Physics (or in other classes) please use the following websites to help you. Just follow the instructions provided. If you have questions, please email me at or ask me in class.
1. Thiswebsite gives tutorials for each unit of Physics that we will be studying.
After each tutorial, you will complete a short quiz that will help you to evaluate your understanding of
that section.
username: should be your first and last name with no spaces in between
example: joeschmoe
password: cobb (unless you have changed it to your own personal password) If this doesn’t
work, see me!
site id: pebblebrook01
2. This site can help you with vocabulary and concepts. This is a fantastic place
to take practice Georgia High School Graduation Tests. It includes all subject areas that will be
covered on the GHSGT as well as any class that includes an EOCT. It’s never too early to start
practicing!
username: pebblebrook
student password: newton88
3. Other sites that I like that you may find useful:
Great tutorial site!
Learn and have fun!
Awesome animations and problems!
Physics Course Outline
Standard/Category / Topic(s) Covered / Unit Tests / Timeline*Habits of Mind and Nature of Science / Intro to Physics and the Basics of Science / 1 unit test / 5 days
Motion / Linear motion / 2 unit tests / 10 days
Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion / 1 unit test / 7 days
Centripetal Force and Projectile Motion / 2 unit tests / 8 days
Gravitation and Rotational Motion / 1 unit test / 10 days
Mid-term
Energy / Momentum, Energy, Work, and Power / 2 unit tests / 8 days
Heat / 1 unit test / 4 days
Waves / Waves and Sound / 1 unit test / 4 days
Optics / 1 unit test / 4 days
Mirrors & Lenses / 1 unit test / 4 days
Electromagnetism / Electricity / Lab for entire unit / 7 days
Magnetism and Electromagnetism / 1 unit test / 5 days
Quantum/Nuclear Physics / Quantum Theory and Nuclear Physics / 1 unit test / 8 days
Cumulative Knowledge / ALL / Final Exam / Last day of semester
*These are general timelines and can be subject to change, depending on the class/student progress and comprehension.