Pleasant Plains High School
Physics
Pleasant Plains High School
Mr. Conklin
20015-2016
In the most general sense, physics is the science that deals with the relationships between matter and energy. This statement may seem lofty and scientific, but the reality is that physics, like all sciences, has a tremendous impact on everything around us. The purpose of this class is not to explain the how and why of everything involving physics, but to give you a basic understanding of the laws of physics and to teach you to problem solve your way through areas that are unfamiliar to you. Problem solving is a great tool for understanding.
During the year, we will cover many different topics in physics, including several that have applications in other areas such as biology, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics. This class will also, hopefully push you past your normal limits in thinking. Physics is a weighted class and, as such, will require more time and effort than regular classes. Homework will be challenging and lab exercises will make you think. Rise to the challenge!
Topics:
1st semester:
1D Kinematics
Newton’s Laws
Vectors-Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions
Momentum and Its Conservation
Work, Energy, and Power
Circular Motion and Satellite Motion
Thermal Physics
2nd semester:
Static Electricity
Current Electricity
Waves
Sound Waves and Music
Light Waves and Color
Reflection and the Ray Model of Light
Refraction and the Ray Model of Light
Course supplies: calculator (must have scientific capabilities)
pencils - homework and test/quiz
pens- blue or black for lab only
notebook
Online materials/texts : www.ck-12.org
http://phet.colorado.edu/
**** http://www.physicsclassroom.com/ (this is our text for the course)
online quizzes: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Minds-on-Physics
Grading:
90-80-70-60 scale
tests/quizzes/projects 70%
homework 10%
labs 20%
Online review quizzes are a regular part of the course, and the majority of reading in the course is through the Physics Classroom site. If internet connection at home is a problem for you, please talk to me so we can make sure you have ample connection time here at school.
All it takes to get the grade you want is determination and a willingness to spend the time and effort to achieve it. B’s and C’s come fairly easy. Anything else takes more effort, higher or lower.
IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME
Just memorizing material is not enough. You should strive to make everything count to your benefit, otherwise you’re cheating yourself.
Labs are an integral part of the physics class and, as such, will take a lot of class time to perform and a lot of your time to present. Don’t miss lab. Although most are rather simple, they often require more than just one person to do, and that means someone else must be willing to work with you. No one works alone in the lab. Make up labs will be scheduled before or after school.
All other make-up or missed work will follow the guidelines in the student handbook. Please read these guidelines. Late work is not accepted. Keeping up with work, organizational skills, and time management are often more crucial in life than specific content. Once a graded assignment is returned, no credit will be given for work still missing. That said, we all have ‘oops’ moments, but we should strive to make them the exception rather than the rule. I will accept one late assignment per quarter (still turned in BEFORE any grade work is passed back to the class) for full credit. Many of you have demanding schedules for a high school student, and this is meant to be a fall back option if things get hectic. It is not an excuse to just turn in one assignment late each quarter. I reserve the right to remove this option if I feel it is being abused. If you are having problems, I expect that you will come talk to me ahead of any due dates so that we can work things out in advance.
Redo’s on calculation assignments will be allowed for scores under 80% with the stipulation that the assignment must have been completed entirely and submitted on time. The maximum score on redo assignments is 80%.
Physics
Pleasant Plains High School
Mr. Conklin
20015-2016
In the most general sense, physics is the science that deals with the relationships between matter and energy. This statement may seem lofty and scientific, but the reality is that physics, like all sciences, has a tremendous impact on everything around us. The purpose of this class is not to explain the how and why of everything involving physics, but to give you a basic understanding of the laws of physics and to teach you to problem solve your way through areas that are unfamiliar to you. Problem solving is a great tool for understanding.
During the year, we will cover many different topics in physics, including several that have applications in other areas such as biology, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics. This class will also, hopefully push you past your normal limits in thinking. Physics is a weighted class and, as such, will require more time and effort than regular classes. Homework will be challenging and lab exercises will make you think. Rise to the challenge!
Topics:
1st semester:
1D Kinematics
Newton’s Laws
Vectors-Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions
Momentum and Its Conservation
Work, Energy, and Power
Circular Motion and Satellite Motion
Thermal Physics
2nd semester:
Static Electricity
Current Electricity
Waves
Sound Waves and Music
Light Waves and Color
Reflection and the Ray Model of Light
Refraction and the Ray Model of Light
Course supplies: calculator (must have scientific capabilities)
pencils - homework and test/quiz
pens- blue or black for lab only
notebook
Online materials/texts : www.ck-12.org
http://phet.colorado.edu/
**** http://www.physicsclassroom.com/ (this is our text for the course)
online quizzes: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Minds-on-Physics
Grading:
90-80-70-60 scale
tests/quizzes/projects 70%
homework 10%
labs 20%
Online review quizzes are a regular part of the course, and the majority of reading in the course is through the Physics Classroom site. If internet connection at home is a problem for you, please talk to me so we can make sure you have ample connection time here at school.
All it takes to get the grade you want is determination and a willingness to spend the time and effort to achieve it. B’s and C’s come fairly easy. Anything else takes more effort, higher or lower.
IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME
Just memorizing material is not enough. You should strive to make everything count to your benefit, otherwise you’re cheating yourself.
Labs are an integral part of the physics class and, as such, will take a lot of class time to perform and a lot of your time to present. Don’t miss lab. Although most are rather simple, they often require more than just one person to do, and that means someone else must be willing to work with you. No one works alone in the lab. Make up labs will be scheduled before or after school.
All other make-up or missed work will follow the guidelines in the student handbook. Please read these guidelines. Late work is not accepted. Keeping up with work, organizational skills, and time management are often more crucial in life than specific content. Once a graded assignment is returned, no credit will be given for work still missing. That said, we all have ‘oops’ moments, but we should strive to make them the exception rather than the rule. I will accept one late assignment per quarter (still turned in BEFORE any grade work is passed back to the class) for full credit. Many of you have demanding schedules for a high school student, and this is meant to be a fall back option if things get hectic. It is not an excuse to just turn in one assignment late each quarter. I reserve the right to remove this option if I feel it is being abused. If you are having problems, I expect that you will come talk to me ahead of any due dates so that we can work things out in advance.
Redo’s on calculation assignments will be allowed for scores under 80% with the stipulation that the assignment must have been completed entirely and submitted on time. The maximum score on redo assignments is 80%.