Physics Courses

Physics in the Universe

Prerequisite: Biology, the Living Earth & Chemistry in the Earth System

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: Enrolling students should have completed Biology, the Living Earth and Chemistry in the Earth System with a grade of “D” or better.

Course Description: In Physics 1, students will study the underlying causes and effects of forces on Earth and in the Universe, including: Gravitational, Contact, Magnetic, Nuclear and Electrostatic forces. Students will investigate the nature of energy, and matter and their conservation. They will have the opportunity to study the formation of the geophysics features of Earth and Cosmic Evolution.  They will examine the collection of evidence supporting physical models. Students will also examine the principles of waves, and how we use waves in information technology, including information storage and transfer. Students will work on projects which demonstrate students’ mastery of course, regularly conduct experimental investigations, and participate in engineering practices.

Approximate homework assigned daily: 30 minutes per night

Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1

Prerequisite: Biology, the Living Earth & Chemistry in the Earth System

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: Enrolling students should have completed Biology, the Living Earth and Chemistry in the Earth System with a grade of “D” or better.  Students who received a C or lower in any prerequisite courses should speak to both the teacher of record and their counselor before enrolling in this course.  NOTE: Physics 1/2 is not a prerequisite for this class.

Course Description:Advanced Placements Physics is a first year physics course that develops the student’s knowledge of fundamental laws of nature while focusing mainly on Classical Mechanics. Students will cultivate their understanding of physics and science practices as they explore the following topics: kinematics, dynamics, momentum, energy, harmonic motion, mechanical waves, rotational motion, electric charge, electric force, and simple dc circuits.

The course is built around 6 “Big Ideas”:

1. Objects and systems have properties such as charge and
2. Fields exist in space can be used to explain
3. Interaction of an object with other objects can be described by
4. Interactions between systems can result in changes in those
5. Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation
6. Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other

Mastery in the use of mathematical models that describe physical laws is the goal of this course; thus a firm grasp on the use of geometry and algebra is required. Laboratory investigations will focus on the application of the mathematical models and the 6 Big Ideas. The course is planned specifically for the college bound student and is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Physics 1 Examination.

Approximate homework assigned daily: Approximately 5 hours each week

Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1

Prerequisite: Biology, the Living Earth & Chemistry in the Earth System

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: Enrolling students should have completed Biology, the Living Earth and Chemistry in the Earth System with a grade of “D” or better.  Students who received a C or lower in any prerequisite courses should speak to both the teacher of record and their counselor before enrolling in this course.  NOTE: Physics 1/2 is not a prerequisite for this class.

Course Description:Advanced Placements Physics is a first year physics course that develops the student’s knowledge of fundamental laws of nature while focusing mainly on Classical Mechanics. Students will cultivate their understanding of physics and science practices as they explore the following topics: kinematics, dynamics, momentum, energy, harmonic motion, mechanical waves, rotational motion, electric charge, electric force, and simple dc circuits.

The course is built around 6 “Big Ideas”:

1. Objects and systems have properties such as charge and
2. Fields exist in space can be used to explain
3. Interaction of an object with other objects can be described by
4. Interactions between systems can result in changes in those
5. Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation
6. Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other

Mastery in the use of mathematical models that describe physical laws is the goal of this course; thus a firm grasp on the use of geometry and algebra is required. Laboratory investigations will focus on the application of the mathematical models and the 6 Big Ideas. The course is planned specifically for the college bound student and is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Physics 1 Examination.

Approximate homework assigned daily: Approximately 5 hours each week