Course Syllabus
Andrew McQuiston
Room 3200
Course Description
Honors Physics is a laboratory-oriented course designed to give students a background in physics concepts and experience using the methods of scientific inquiry. The course focuses on the description and causes of motion, energy, electricity and magnetism, and waves. The textbook for the course is Physics: Principles and Problems, by Glencoe.
Course Objectives
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· Describe the laws of physics · Apply laws to new and/or unfamiliar situations · Apply physics laws and principles to understanding real world phenomena · Employ experimental design techniques to design and conduct physics experiments · Analyze experimental data and interpret results · Evaluate the impact of physics on daily life. |
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Students will be able to:
Expectations for Physics Students
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Be in class, on time, every day. |
When you miss class, you miss time spent learning and practicing important skills. Work missed due to an unexcused absence will be entered in the gradebook as a zero. You need to make up work missed due to excused absences in a timely manner (equal to twice the number of days you were absent.) |
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Come to class prepared. |
Do your own homework. Read the assigned passages. Review your notes and unit sheets. Write down questions you have for the teacher. |
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Do your own work |
Complete your own homework. Work on labs as a team but write up the results independently. No credit will be given for copied work. Refer to the MCHS Honor Code. |
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Follow the MCHS electronics policy |
Electronics such as cell phones and MP3 players can be confiscated the first time they are seen during red time. They can be kept until the end of the period, the end of the day, or turned over to the administration with a disciplinary referral.
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Use class time wisely. |
Plan to work on physics activities and study for the entire class period. |
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Work safely. |
A student may never endanger the safety of anyone in the laboratory. Violation of a lab safety rule will result in removal from the laboratory classroom. |
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Respect the lab and equipment. |
Students may not knowingly damage lab equipment or remove chemicals or lab supplies. |
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Use computers responsibly. |
Inappropriate use by a student may result in loss of privilege, loss of credit for a classroom activity, and disciplinary action. Inappropriate use includes visiting any website that is not a part of the classroom activity, downloading games, changing computer settings, and using the computers without permission from the teacher. |
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Keep a record of the work that you do. |
Keep your unit sheets, notes, tests, and data book until after the final exam. |
Grades
Homework: Studying notes, reading from the textbook, completing online quizzes, or finishing labs should be completed nightly. No credit is given for late homework.
Laboratory and other classroom activities: are assigned a point value based on their length and complexity, and range between 3 and 25 points per activity. Late labs are penalized 20%, and not accepted after a posted final deadline. Labs are late if they are not turned in at the beginning of class.
Unit tests: Each exam will be cumulative and will include a short multiple-choice section and several short answer questions.
Test corrections and retakes: Students scoring at 80% or less on a test may make arrangements for test corrections and retakes. Test corrections will add 5% to a student’s grade on that test. Test retakes will average the original grade and the retest grade. Corrections must be done before a retake. Retakes must be complete within a week of receiving the graded test.
Quarter Grades are weighted as follows:
10% Homework
10% Quizzes
30% Labs and class activities
50% Unit tests
Grading Scale:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70 – 79
D: 60 – 69
Final course grades: will be based on three grades, weighted as follows: the 1st quarter grade (40%), the 2nd quarter grade (40%), and final exam grade (20%).
Supplies
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Binder with loose leaf paper or Spiral bound, 3 section notebook. |
Composition book for labs |
Pen or Pencil |
Success
Your success in physics depends on you completing your own work, studying effectively for exams, and seeking help when necessary. I am available most days after school to help you, but you must take the initiative.
Course Topics
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Unit 1 |
Experimental Design, mathematical skills, vector addition, graph relationships |
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Unit 2 |
Distance, Displacement, position-time graphs Speed, Velocity, velocity-time graphs Acceleration, acceleration-time graphs, Free Fall motion |
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Unit 3 |
Motion in 2-D, Relative Motion, Projectile Motion |
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Unit 4 |
Types of forces, Mass vs. weight, Newton’s Laws of Motion |
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Unit 5 |
Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Conservation of Energy, Work and Power |
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Midterm |
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Unit 6 |
Momentum Collisions and Impulse |
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Unit 7 |
Circular Motion, Centripetal Force, Law of Universal Gravitation, Gravitational Fields |
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Unit 8 |
Wave Characteristics, Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction, Absorption, Wave interference, Standing Waves, Resonance, Beats |
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Unit 9 |
Static electricity, Electric fields, Magnetic fields, Static Induction, Charge Conservation, Coulomb’s Law |
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Unit 10 |
Electric Potential, Current, Resistance, Ohm’s Law, Circuit Analysis, Electric Power, Electromagnetism |
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Final Exam |
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Course Summary:
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