Honors Physics
What is physics?
Physics is a branch of science which seeks to find order in nature by studying matter and energy and the interactions between them. It describes the motion and energy of all matter throughout the universe. Some branches of physics include mechanics, acoustics, optics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism.
Many descriptions of the nature of matter are made through the use of mathematical models and equations. It is for this reason that prerequisite math courses are required for the different levels of physics in SKHS. Physics uses math to better describe natural phenomena. It is not intended to be, nor should it be, a vehicle to teach math.
The differentiation between an "Honors" level physics class and a "regular" level physics class at SKHS is based on a student's math comprehension. Students in both levels learn physics! The honors level uses more and sometimes more complicated math concepts. It also uses a college textbook. This class moves quickly and goes more into depth as far as math applications go, but the regular level learns exactly the same physics concepts. Regular level physics is not a watered down physics class, but a high school physics class with less intensive math requirements.
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Honors Physics Grading and Expectations
Required Materials:
- 3-ringed binder with separate sections for notes and handouts and another section for labs and projects.
- Scientific or graphing calculator (and plenty of batteries)
- SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH
Grading:
The grading is based on a point system. Roughly 400pts may be earned each quarter. The course requirement to receive credit is to earn 60% of the points. Approximate point distribution:
homework/formative assessments |
5 - 10 pts per assignment |
summative assessments |
10 - 100 pts each |
labs |
25 - 50 pts each |
projects |
25 - 100 pts each |
Midyear and Final Exam = 10% each toward the year’s final grade by school policy
The Final Exam has a Final Performance Assessment Piece worth 80% of the Final Exam grade.
Class Expectations:
Homework: These assignments, to be worked on individually or with a partner, are for reinforcing the work we do in class. There will be one assignment for the chapter given at the start of the chapter. Each night specific questions from this assignment will be assigned and due the following day. Completion will be checked by a stamp (not all will be checked/stamped on the due date). The full assignment sheet will be due the day of the chapter test, so you may study from them. The due dates will be given in class and posted on an assignment sheet, as well as posted on the website. Grading on the total assignment sheet will be based not only on completion stamps, but also on revisions of problems worked out in class, as well as completion and correctness of
the final bookwork piece.
Quizzes and Tests: Generally there will be one quiz and one test per unit. Sometimes there may be a “pop” quiz, which will not be announced. These are to check your understanding, not to hurt your grade, meaning they will not be worth as many points as an announced quiz.
Make-ups: A student who is out for one to two days on or before the day of an announced quiz or test needs to make up that quiz or test within one week, unless there are extenuating circumstances. The full homework assignment is due upon return.
Extra Help: I am available everyday after school for at least 15 to 30 minutes. Anything longer, you need to make (and keep!) an appointment.
Laboratory Experiences and Projects:
Students will be required to keep a lab notebook which will include graded formal and informal lab reports. The majority of the labs are open-ended. All laboratory experiences will require a lab write-up, whether formal or informal. Both formats include data collection, data analysis, calculations and conclusions. For formal lab reports, students will be responsible for designing their own procedures and testing them. A formal lab report will be graded according to the school wide lab rubric. Informal lab reports will have different emphasis on different aspects, depending on what part the instructor deems most important. Projects are conducted entirely outside of class time. Each project will require a research component, a building component, and a write-up based on project specifications and a
rubric. Students continuing on to AP Physics are expected to bring the lab notebook from physics 1 with them and add to it during the school year.
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Introduction to the development of physics and math review
Unit 2: Kinematics
Unit 3: Vector analysis and Projectile Motion
Unit 4: Newton’s Laws
Unit 5: Work, Power, Energy, and Simple Machines
Unit 6: Momentum
Unit 7: Universal Law of Gravitation
Unit 8: Rotational Motion
Unit 9: Solid States
Final Performance Assessment: Students are required to construct a Rube Goldberg device under certain specifications and demonstrate it to the class, while explaining the physics of all the steps. This is a very topic-integrated project.
Bring a scientific calculator to class EVERY DAY!
Honors Physics
This is to remind you of DUE DATES!!
** means that this assignement is a validated task for your portfolio.**
Assignment: due date (periods)
Quarter 1
Safety Contracts and Parent Info: 9/9
~ Chapter 1 ~
Scientist Research Sheet: 9/9 (C); 9/12 (D,E,F)
Scientific Notation: 9/14
Conversions: 9/15
Algebra/Dimensional Analysis: 9/16 (C,D,E); 9/19 (F)
Graphing: 9/19 (C,D); 9/20 (E,F)
Circles Lab (Informal): 9/20 (C); 9/21 (D,E,F)
Tree Lab (Informal): 9/26
Trig/triangles: 9/27 (C,D,E); 9/28 (F)
Assignment sheet #1: 9/28 (C,D); 9/30 (E,F)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Ch 1: 9/28 (C,D); 9/30 (E,F)
~ Chapter 2 ~
Distance/Displacement: 10/4 (C); 10/5 (D,E,F)
Position/Time & Velocity/Time: 10/7 (C); 10/11 (D); 10/12 (E,F)
Velocity Lab (FORMAL): 10/12 (C); 10/13 (D,E,F)
Acceleration: 10/12 (C); 10/18 (D); 10/17 (E,F)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: 10/18
Horizontal Equations: 10/20 (C,D); 10/21 (E,F)
Free Fall: 10/21 (C); 10/24 (D,E,F)
Vocab: 10/25
Stomp Rocket Lab (FORMAL): 10/27
Assignment sheet #2: 10/26
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Ch 2: 10/26
~ Chapter 3 ~
Project (I Love This Town): 10/28 (C,D,E); 10/31(F)
Graphical Vector Addition: 10/31 (C,D); 11/1 (E,F)
Analytical Vector Addition: 11/1 (C); 11/2 (D,E,F)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Vectors): 11/3 {End of Quarter 1 assignments}
Horizontal Projectile Motion: 11/7
Bean Spitting Lab: 11/8 (C,D,E); 11/9 (F)
SHOOTING QUIZ: 11/8 (C,D,E); 11/10 (F)
Launched Projectile Motion: 11/17
Speed Bus Jump: 11/18 (C,D,E); 11/21 (F)
Relative Velocity: 11/22 (C); 11/23 (D,E,F)
Assignment sheet #3: 11/29
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: (Ch 3):11/29
~ Chapter 4 ~
Newton's 2nd Law: 12/5 (C,D); 12/6 (E,F)
Weight and FBDs: 12/6 (C); 12/7 (D,E,F)
Net Force: 12/8
Toying With Motion (Inquiry): 12/8
Friction: 12/12
Friction Lab Part 1 (informal): 12/13 (C,D,E); 12/14 (F)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT 12/14 (C,D); 12/15 (E,F)
Forces at Angles 12/20
Friction Lab Part 2 (informal): 12/21
~ Holiday Break ~
Equilibrium: 1/5 (F); 1/6 (C,D,E)
Systems of Objects: 1/9 (F); 1/10 (C,D,E)
EXTRA CREDIT: JUDGE THE SCIENCE FAIR: 1/10 at 4pm in SKHS cafeteria
Assignment Sheet #4 1/10 (F); 1/11 (C,D,E)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: (Ch 4): 1/10 (F); 1/11 (C,D,E)
~Chapter 5 ~
Work and Power 1/17 (F); 1/18 (C,D,E)
Power Lab (informal) 1/19
Review Multiple Choice 1/20
MID YEAR EXAM (Review due) 1/25 (C,D); 1/26 (E,F)
Simple Machines 2/2
Efficiency Lab (informal) 2/6
Work and Machines Quiz 2/6
Kinetic Energy 2/7
Potential Energy 2/8 (C,D,E); 2/9 (F)
Conservation of Energy 2/10 (C); 2/13 (D,E,F)
Mixed Energy Problems 2/14
Conservation of Energy Lab (informal) 2/15
Assignment Sheet #5 2/16
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: (Ch 5): 2/16
Momentum 2/28 (C,F); 2/29 (D,E)
Impulse 2/29 (F); 3/1 (C,D,E)
Egg Drop 3/5 (F); 3/6 (C,D,E)
Egg Drop Paper (partner) 3/8 (C); 3/9 (D,E,F)
Egg Drop Lab Report (formal) 3/12
Conservation of Momentum 3/13
Collisions 3/14
Glancing Collisions 3/15 (C,D,E); 3/16 (F)
Assignment Sheet #6 3/16 (C,D); 3/19 (E,F)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: (Ch 6): 3/16 (C,D); 3/19 (E,F)
Modeling the Orbits (Activity/Lab) 3/22
Kepler's Laws 3/23
Universal Law 3/27 (C,D); 3/28 (E,F)
Ch 7 problems #31-34 3/28 (C); 3/29 (D,E,F)
Planetary Motion Quiz 3/28 (C); 3/29 (D,E,F)
What is a Radian? (Activity/Lab) 4/2
Radian Measure 4/4 (C,D,E); 4/5 (F)
Angular Kinematics 4/5 (C,D); 4/9 (E,F)
Linear vs. Angular 4/9 (C); 4/10 (D,E,F)
** Introduction to CCA ** 4/11
Rotational Motion Quiz 4/12
** SIGN UP FOR CCA GROUPS ** 4/13
Centripetal Force Lab (informal) 4/27
Function & Design Check-in *CCA 4/27
Assignment Sheet #7 4/30
Centripetal Force Quiz 4/30
Center of Gravity and Torque 5/2 (C,D,E); 5/3 (F)
Net Torque & Equilibrium 5/3 (C,D); 5/4 (E,F)
More Equilibrium 5/4 (C); 5/7 (D,E,F)
5/8 & 5/9 ~ State Testing in Science
T and I 5/9 (E,F); 5/10 (C,D)
Book problems 5/10 (E,F); 5/11 (C,D)
Chapter 8 Quiz 5/10 (E,F); 5/11 (C,D)
Photo Check-in *CCA 5/10
Stress and Strain 5/15 (C,E,F); 5/16 (D)
Assignment Sheet #8 5/16 (E,F); 5/17 (C,D)
Chapter 9 Quiz 5/16 (E,F); 5/17 (C,D)
CUMULATIVE ASSESSMENT: 5/18
CCA PRESENTATIONS: 5/21 ~ 5/25
Final Exams: 6/5 ~ 6/7
Juniors Only: Mobile Project: 6/8 ~ Final Exam Period
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