Honors Physics Syllabus

1.      Objectives
Topics covered in this course include classical translational mechanics, electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, sound and waves, geometric and physical optics.

There will be a strong emphasis of conceptual development throughout the entire year. Historical development of physics will be emphasized. Problem solving will be significant in mechanics but will gradually diminish throughout the second semester.

2.      Content

First Quarter topics include
a) One-dimensional motion
b) Two-dimensional motion
c) Newton’s Laws of Motion

Third Quarter topics are
a) Electrostatics
b) Circuits
c) Magnetism

Second Quarter topics include
a) Centripetal Forces and Gravity
b) Work, energy and power
c) Linear Momentum
d) Simple Oscillators if time permits

Fourth Quarter topics are
a) Mechanical Vibrations/Sound
b) Geometric Optics
c) Physical Optics
d) Relativity if time permits

3.Materials
a) Text book is Holt Physics, by Serway and Faughn. This is the resource for all problem solving activities for home work.

b) Turning Point clickers are used in class to monitor conceptual understanding of students in a similar format suggested in Peer Instruction by Eric Mazur.

c) Laboratory facilities include a separate room for long-term lab activities. Lab equipment includes material from the basic meter stick, slotted masses and stopwatches to Vernier and Pasco probe ware.

d) Ten laptops are maintained exclusively for the physics lab. Laptops can be used for data collection with Vernier and Pasco probe ware, numerical analysis using excel spread sheets and generating electronic lab reports.

e) Visual resources for learning include the following. (i) Mechanical Universe series of tapes from Annenberg CPB. (ii) Physics Simulation series from Knowledge Books and Software for virtual labs and simulations. (iii) Wireless internet access in the class room and in the lab.

 

4.Methods
a) Homework assigned for each unit will consist of approximately 25 problems. Student solutions will demonstrate student ability to explain answers to another person both mathematically and verbally.

b) There will be one or more lab activities for each unit. Labs will be teacher guided through out the year. Data analysis will most often consist of linear graphs.

c) Clickers will be used at the beginning or end of class for one of two purposes. Clickers will be used at the beginning of class to check for student comprehension of the pre-class reading assignments. Clickers will be used at the end of class to check for student attentiveness throughout the lesson.

d) There will be a test that covers each unit. Each test will consist of standard problem-solving exercises using graphical and numerical skills, one section pertaining to lab and one essay question requiring a paragraph. Writing explanations and justifications will occur on these tests as well as conceptual questions in a multiple-choice format.

e) There will be a two-day cumulative test for each quarter of topics.

5. Evaluation:

Method

Homework

Teacher-led lab

Clicker
quizzes

Unit test

Comprehensive
test

Points per unit

50

30

60

100

150/per quarter