Course Description

Physics is the study of the world around us and how we interact with it. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of why things move and how you can apply your knowledge to the real world. We will cover the following topics:

• Kinematics

• • • Measuring motion
    • Comparing velocities
    • Creating motion graphs

• Dynamics

• • • Investigating the cause of motion
    • Identifying different types of forces
    • Newton’s Laws and their applications
    • Newton’s Laws video project

• Circular motion

• • • Investigating the cause of rotational motion
    • Revisiting forces through a new lens
    • Looking at how roller coasters use circular motion to function

• Gravitation

• • • Investigating objects in orbit
    • Discovering how objects with mass attract other massive objects
    • Space station project
    • Moon research project

• Energy

• • • What is energy?
    • How can energy “create” motion?
    • Types of energy
    • Investigating whether or not energy is conserved
    • Mousetrap Car Project

• Momentum

• • • How is momentum different from energy?
    • Investigating whether or not momentum is conserved
    • Types of collisions
    • Impulse and its application in the real world
    • Egg Drop Contest

• Simple harmonic motion

• • • What is a pendulum?
    • How can the period of a pendulum be measured?
    • What affects the period of a pendulum?
    • How can the period of a spring oscillator be measured
    • What affects the period of a spring?

• Torque

• • How is rotational motion related to linear motion
  • How can torque be used to help me in real life situations
  • Angular versus linear momentum
  • Rotational kinematics
  • Rotational energy

Textbook

We will use a virtual textbook for this class. However, I understand that one type of book may work for one student but not for another. I have plenty of textbooks in the classroom that students are welcome to read in case the online book is unclear. They are also welcome to “check out” a textbook to bring home to read on their own.

Openstax AP Physics Textbook:                                          

https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-ap-courses/pages/prefaceLinks to an external site.

Suggested Materials

• Notebook
• Binder for labs
• Calculator (nothing fancy)
• Pencil (pens should not be used in a science class)

Grading Policy

• Classwork  15%      
• Homework 10%
• Projects/labs 25%
• Quizzes 20%
• Tests 30%

Cell Phone Policy

• Students are expected to keep their phones away during class unless otherwise instructed. They are a distraction to the learning of the individual and the class as a whole.
• Students that cannot keep their cell phones away may either leave them on my desk for the period, or may leave it with the main office, as per the school’s cell phone policy.

Late Assignments

• Each day an assignment is late, 5% will be deducted off of the grade they would receive if turned in on time. Any assignment submitted more than 10 school days after the assigned date will not be accepted.
• Students may ask for extensions if necessary, but must do so at least 2 days in advance of the due date.

Make-up work

• Students are responsible for asking for the assignments they missed while absent. 
• Students will have the same amount of time to make up the work as they were out
  • Example: A student is out for 3 days in a row, and they miss two assignments. They will have 3 days to turn in the assignments that they missed.

Class Rules/Expectations

• Students will treat each other with respect

• • • Speaking to each other kindly
    • Using correct names/pronouns
    • No hitting/name calling
    • Not touching other students’ belongings

• Students will treat the classroom with respect

• • • Not drawing on the desks
    • Not throwing things
    • Keeping hands off of lab equipment unless we are doing a lab
    • Cleaning up after ourselves

• Students will come to class prepared each day

• • Chromebooks are charged and ready to be used
  • They have a pencil and a notebook
  • Students will receive a preparedness grade at the end of each week. They will start with 10 points, and each time they are unprepared, a point will be docked. No points will be docked if the student has a charger for a dead chromebook or if a borrowed pencil is returned at the end of the period. This grade will go in the “Homework” category.