Course Title: Physics
Teacher: Katherine
Hoff
Room: B 2.14
E-Mail: kate_hoff@eu.odedea.edu
Course Description:
The physics course is designed to provide an understanding
of the physical laws fundamental to all sciences. Basic concepts and ideas about matter and energy illustrate how
these basics clarify more complex concepts.
These basics are introduced to students in a logical and carefully
planned sequence. Fundamental laws of
mechanics (forces and motion) are developed early, as well as problem solving
techniques. Subsequent topics depend
upon this early development of mechanics to further develop other natural
laws. Some of the topics covered in
physics are measurement, forces and motion, wave theory, heat, sound, light,
magnetism, electricity, atomic structure, nuclear reactions, and high-energy
physics.
Course Goals/Objectives/Standards:
The standards for Physics present the concepts of physics
in relation to world experiences and are designed to provide an understanding
of the physical laws fundamental to all sciences. Students learn through an integrated approach, linking physics
with technology, social perspectives, and the history and nature of
science. The standards emphasize a more
complex understanding of experimentation, the analysis of data, and the use of
reasoning and logic to evaluate evidence.
Students learn via an inquiry approach, fundamental laws of mechanics
(forces and motion), wave theory, heat, sound, light, magnetism, electricity,
atomic structure, nuclear reactions, and high energy physics. Students spend a minimum of 30% of their
time engaged in laboratory activities.
Inquiry Skills
Students
will design and conduct scientific investigations. Students will:
·
Identify questions that can be answered through scientific
investigations
·
Use appropriate tools, technology, and techniques to
gather, analyze, and interpret data
·
Organize and maintain a journal showing all phases of
investigations
·
Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models
using evidence and logic
·
Use mathematics to explain, interpret, and improve
investigations and communications
·
Construct logical relationships between evidence and
explanations
·
Identify and analyze alternative explanations, models, and
predictions
·
Demonstrate understanding about scientific inquiry
·
Use fair test procedures
Students
will communicate scientific procedures and explanation. Students will:
·
Demonstrate effective methods to organize and display
scientific concepts
·
Present investigative procedures and results to others
verbally, graphically, and in writing
·
Communicate science concepts accurately and clearly, using
scientific vocabulary
Physical Science Content
Students
will apply the principles of motion and force. Students will:
·
Investigate interactions portraying Newton's Laws and
quantitatively describe objects in motion
·
Derive numerical relationships described by the Law of
Universal Gravitation
·
Explain the phenomena associated with the inverse square
relationship
·
Describe phenomena which are two aspects of a single force
(example: electricity and magnetism)
Students
will apply principles related to the conservation of energy and describe the
associated increase in disorder.
Students will:
·
Predict and analyze the energy interaction of systems
(example: mathematically describe impulse and momentum)
·
Apply the principles of work, energy, and power to
mechanical and electrical systems (examples: principles of work, fluid
movements, pressure, causality)
·
Synthesize the concepts of conservation of mass and energy
into one general conservation law
·
Identify events and occurrences that contribute to global
entropy
·
Demonstrate energy as potential, kinetic, or energy in a
field
·
Infer that heat consists of random motion and the
vibrations of atoms, molecules, and ions
Students
will explain the interactions between matter and energy. Students will:
·
Explain that all waves have energy and can transfer energy
when they interact with matter
·
Demonstrate that accelerated charges produce
electromagnetic radiation, including all waves
·
Explain the concept of photon emission and absorption
within the framework of quantized energy levels in nuclei, atoms, and molecules
·
Explain that the energy of electromagnetic waves is
proportional to the frequency of the associated wave
·
Investigate the applications of the principles of
conductivity, including semiconductors and insulators
Science and Technology
Students
will demonstrate abilities of technological design. Students will:
·
Design and construct a solution to an identified problem
·
Evaluate outcomes based on selected criteria and possible
consequences
·
Communicate the nature of the problem, processes used, and
solutions
Students
will understand the interdependence of science and technology. Students will:
·
Document a scientific investigation that requires
coordination and interaction among several different disciplines
·
Summarize how new technologies often extend the dimensions
of what can be done (miniaturization, temperature tolerance, precision
instruments)
·
Evaluate the impact of new technologies
·
Determine that new technologies often result from a
combination of creativity, imagination, and scientific knowledge
Students
will integrate science and technology in local, national, and global challenges. Students will:
·
Assess risks, costs, and benefits when evaluating
scientific technologies
·
Describe areas of current research in physics and the
associated social, economic, and political impact of this research
Science In Personal and Social Perspectives
The
student will practice safety and understand the importance of personal and
community health. Students will:
·
Model appropriate laboratory techniques, procedures, and
behaviors
·
Apply the laws of dynamics to a personal or community
problem (example: transportation safety)
·
Investigate current safety issues related to physics
(example: extremely low frequency
electromagnetic fields, lasers)
The
student will develop an understanding of population growth. Students will:
·
Analyze factors regarding population growth patterns and
the application of appropriate technology (example: pump designs for the third
world)
·
Determine the limitations of technology in sustaining
continued population growth
Students
will develop an understanding of human induced hazards. Students will:
·
Evaluate the benefits and potential risks associated with
technology (examples: heat pollution, radiation, and radioactive waste)
History and Nature Of Science
Students
will know that the human dimensions of science provide a context for scientific
knowledge. Students will:
·
Compare examples of physics projects that are conducted by
individuals and those conducted by teams of scientists across physical,
cultural, and language barriers
·
Explore the dynamics of classroom investigations conducted
individually compared with small teams
·
Examine the ethical considerations in scientific research
and the application of new technologies
·
Practice peer reviews and accurate reporting of
investigations
·
Investigate careers related to physics, technology, and
engineering
Students
will understand that science offers tentative explanations of the natural world
through the use of empirical observations.
Students will:
·
Compare knowledge derived from scientific investigations
with other ways of knowing about the natural world (examples: myths and superstitions)
·
Validate that scientific knowledge is subject to change as
new evidence becomes available
·
Students will understand how science concepts build on
previous knowledge. Students will:
·
Investigate contributions to physics from diverse cultures
·
Document the development of a science concept over time to
illustrate how the theory has changed
September 1-5 velocity
September 8-12 acceleration
September 15-19 projectile motion
September 22-26 inservice on 22th, 1st
quarter progress reports force
September 29-October 3 Newton’s Laws
October 6-10 Friction
October 13-17 Fall Break!
October 20-24 End of first Quarter Work
October 27-31 Kinetic and Potential Energy
November 3-7 Momentum and Impulse
November 10-14 Centripetal force
November 17-20 early dismissal 18,19,20, no school on 21st Gravitation
November 24-28 Buoyant forces
December 1-5
Bernoulli
December 8-12 2nd quarter progress reports
Thermodynamics
December 15-19 early dismissal on 19th Heat
December 22-January 2 Winter Break!
January 5-9 Entropy
January 12-16 1st semester Final Exams!
January 19-23 Waves
January 26-30 Sound
February 2-6 Light
February 9-13 Lenses and mirrors
February 16-20 3rd Quarter progress reports
Optics
February 23-27 Carnival Break!
March 1-5 Electric forces and fields
March 8-12 Electric forces and fields
March 15-19 Electrical energy and capacitance
March 22-26 End of 3rd quarter Electrical
energy and capacitance
March 29-April 2 Current and resistance
April 5-16 Spring Break!
April 19-23 Current and resistance
April 26-30 no school 30th D.C. Circuits
May 3-7 D.C. Circuits
May 10-14 Magnetism
May 17-21 Magnetism
May 24-28 inservice 29th &30th Relativity
May 31-June 4 senior finals Relativity
June 7-11 Review
June 14-17 Final Exams
Course
Grading/Assessment:
The
course will be graded on points. Exams are worth 100 points. Homework assignments will range from 5-20
points, depending on the length of the assignment. Other forms of assessment will include labs, quizzes, projects
and presentations. The point value of
each assignment will be announced when the assignment is given.
At the
end of the semester, the first quarter will count for 40% of the grade, the
second quarter will be 40% of the grade and the final exam will be 20% of the
grade.
Continuous
School Progress:
AFNORTH
International Middle/High School’s CSP goal is, “All students will improve
their written communication skills across the curriculum.” The 6+ 1 trait is
the model selected to improve school-wide writing in all subject areas. The 6+ 1 trait writing framework is a
powerful way to learn and use a common language to refer to characteristics of
writing as well as establish a common vision of what “strong” writing looks
like. Teachers and students will use
the 6+1 trait model to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses as they
continue to strive towards continued writing improvement. In this class we will be using the 6+1 trait
to work on appropriate scientific communication through lab reports, essay exams,
and persuasive papers, among other written projects.
Classroom
Expectations/Consequences:
Respect
yourself by doing your work, listening and participating..
Respect
me by being cooperative and attentive.
Respect
your school by taking care of materials and using them properly.
Respect
your peers by being quiet during lectures and doing your fair share of group
work.
Textbook:
Physics by Saxon
Supplies:
Pens with
blue or black ink
Loose-leaf
paper
Pencils
Calculator
with scientific notation
Make up
work policy:
If you
are absent, you have as many days as you were absent to make up
assignments. It is your responsibility
to get your work when you have been absent.
Labs and tests will be made up during the next seminar day unless other
arrangements are made.
For
unexcused late work, you will be penalized 25% for each day that it is late.
You must
keep up with assignments in order to succeed!