Physics Syllabus
Physics 1
Welcome to the conceptual physics class and congratulations for your successful completion of your algebra and geometry courses!
Having taken these courses, you are starting this physics class on a good footing.
What is Physics? It is the study of how things work. Everything we use or do is governed by the laws of physics and we can predict what will happen next. It is the idealized world modeled and lived out in the real world. It talks about really small things like the electrons/particles in atoms up to really big things like the planets.
Exposure to science, both formal and informal, shapes students current views of physics. Students will be encouraged to express their perceptions and attitudes in a brainstormming session. Students would relize that applied science, which is aimed at creating technology, interacts with basic science, which strives to develop fundamental ideas to explain natural phenomena. Physics is a very broad field of study that presents an organized way of modeling and interpreting nature. The different areas of basic science specialize in interpreting different aspects of nature (living things, materials, celestial objects and so forth). Sometimes, the boundaries between these areas are not clear, but the fundamental ideas/Laws of Physics underline all basic and applied sciences.
State Goals and Objective
Students who meet the standard know and apply concepts that describe properties of matter and energy and the interactions between them.
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explain atomic and sub-atomic structures and energy, describing the composition of the nucleus and its transformations in nuclear reactions and predicting energy released and absorbed, explaining atomic structures to masses, volumes, charges, and isotopic connections, or explaining schematic designs for devices to detect, analyze, produce such structures or processes. (12C)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explain wave theory, explaining the wave and particle nature of light, constructing tests for reflection, refraction, image formation by mirrors and lenses, diffraction, and polarization, describing common examples of optical devices, or addressing light in the context of the human eye (and other light-sensitive animals). (12C)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological design to explore the nature of forces,comparing gravitational, electromagnetic, nuclear strong and weak interactive forces, or describing the impact of these forces at all levels. (12D)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explore the basics of general and special relativity, identifying the basic tenets of Galilean transformations, Newtonian relativity, Einstein's postulates, Hawking's theorems, etc., or describing real-world applications to these postulates. (12D)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explore gravitation in terms of space physics, applying gravitational potential energy and satellites, or describing the applications of rocket propulsion. (12D)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to explore thermodynamics, explaining the kinetic theory of gases, the ideal gas laws, calculating temperature and pressure variations of gases, specific heat values, and heat capacities of solids and liquids and mechanical equivalents of heat, calculating thermal expansion and transfer capabilities of different substances, or explaining entropy in common terms and examples. (12D)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to investigate historical studies of the universe, comparing schematics, optics, development and capabilities of telescopes and spectroscopes, examining data collections of Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Newton, Galileo, etc. as the basis for their discoveries or theories and current research. (12F)
- Apply scientific inquiries or technological designs to investigate current and proposed research studies of the universe, comparing schematics, optics, development and capabilities of spectrophotometric technologies, explaining the Doppler effect in terms of red and blue shifts, reporting on the newest discoveries from the Hubble Space Telescope, ground-based or satellite counterparts, etc.exploring the mathematical calculations and evidence associated with the Big Bang Theory. (12F)
Syllabus
Chapter 1 The Science of Physics
1.1 What is Physics 1.1
1.2 Measurements in Physics 1.2
1.3 The Language of Physics 1.3
Chapter 2 Motion in One Dimension
2.1 Displacement and Velocity
2.2 Acceleration
2.3 Falling Objects (one-dimensional only)
Chapter 3 Two-Dimensional Motion and Vectors
3.1 Intro to Vectors
3.2 Vector Math/Operations
3.3 Projectile Motion
Chapter 4 Forces and the Laws of Motion
4.1 Changes in Motion
4.2 Newton's 1st Law
4.3 Newton's 2nd & 3rd Laws
4.4 Every Day Forces
Chapter 5 Work and Energy
5.1 Work (scientific type)
5.2 Energy
5.3 Conservation of Energy
5.4 Power
Chapter 6 Momentum and Collisions
6.1 Momentum and Impulse concept
6.2 Conservation of Momentum
6.3 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Chapter 7 Circular Motion and Gravtitation
7.1 Circular Motion
7.2 Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
7.3 Motion in Space
7.4 Torque of Simple Machines
Second Semester we teach
Chapter 16 Electric Forces and Fields
16.1 Electric Charge
16.2 Electric Force
Chapter 17 Electrical Energy and Current
17.1 Electric Potential
17.2 Capacitance
17.3 Current and Resistance
17.4 Electric Power (Watt = J/s)
Chapter 18 Circuits and Circuit Elements
18.1 Schematic Diagrams and Circuits
18.2 Resistors in Series and Parallel
Chapter 11 Vibrations and Waves
11.1 Simple Harmonic Motions
11.2 Measuring Simple Harmonic Motion
11.3 Properties of Waves
11.4 Wave Interactions
Chapter 12 Sound
12.1 Sound Waves
12.2 Sound Intensity and Resonance
Chapter 13 Light and Reflection
13.1 Characteristics of Light and EM Waves
13.2 Flat Mirrors
13.3 Curved Mirrors (time permitting)
13.4 Color and Polarization
Chapter 14 Refraction
14.1 Refraction
14.2 Thin Lenses
Chapter 15 Interference and Diffraction (of light) (time permitting)
15.1 Interference
15.2 Diffraction
Homework:
Over night assignments are due at the beginning of the next day class period. Absent students will turn in work the day after their return. Each day’s assignments will be posted on the board.
Materials:
Students should bring the following materials to class each day:
Textbook
Binder
Loose leaf paper
Calculator
Graph Paper
Grading Policy:
The district grading scale will be used in this class. A quarter exam based on the Illinois State Standards will be given at the end of each quarter. This exam will be worth one seventh of the student’s semester grade. The quarter grade will be determined in the following manner:
Homework: 10%
Classwork: 10%
Bellwork: 5%
Participation: 5%
Test: 40%
Quizzes: 10%
Projects: 20%
Prerequisite Course: Geometry, Algebra
Follow up Courses: Physics 2
