|
Space shuttle going supersonic
Latest News
(past announcements)
Electrostatic Unit
Electrostatic HW
We're beginning our study of Electricity and Magnetism by investigating Electrostatics. Click the link above for a copy of the homework sheet. Several problems will be assigned from this each class day and posted via the school’s online grading system.
Online Resources
The web can help you pass Physics! The Online Resources page contains all of my lecture notes, most handouts and all assignment descriptions, plus a bunch of web sites demonstrating concepts (often via engaging animations). Check it out!
What is Physics?
Physics is the study of energy, and is therefore the foundation of all other scientific disciplines (chemistry, biology, geology, etc.)
Why is Physics Important?
Because physics underlies everything in your life, understanding physics can help you be more effective at almost anything, from unfogging your car windshield to managing your home heating and electricity bills. Physics can also help you make informed decisions about much larger issues, such as the way the United States should respond to global energy resource constraints.
What Will We Study in Physics?
|
Q1: Temperature & Heat • Change of Phase • Thermodynamics
Heat is a very familiar form of energy transfer. In fact, most things we study this quarter will be familiar to you (e.g., seeing your breath on a cold morning), but by examining the underlying physics, we’ll learn why things behave as they do. We’ll also understand the fundamental technological development of the Industrial Revolution: converting heat into mechanical work.
|
|
Q2: Linear & 2-D Motion • Newton’s Laws • Energy & Machines
Mechanics is the study of force and motion. Of all the subjects we’ll cover in physics, this is the most familiar (and the one with the most persistent misconceptions). We’ll work together to develop a Newtonian intuition for how familiar objects interact, making use of everything you already know about the subject. Along the way, you’ll have to discard a lot of “common sense” ideas that won’t make sense to you anymore.
|
|
Q3: Electrostatics • Circuits • Magnetism
The mysterious phenomena of electricity and magnetism were largely unknown until the late 18th century, were finally understood in the 19th century, and then literally reconstructed our civilization in the 20th century. The exponential growth in the power of information technology has continued into the 21st century. Does the singularity lurk just around the corner?
|
|
Q4: Sound Waves • Light Waves • Quantum Duality
Much more than halftime fun at a football game, the wave is a very successful and widely applicable mathematical model. We’ll apply the wave model to sound, light and other physical phenomena, only to see it fail to adequately describe quantum effects, and this will be our introduction to the surreal world of modern physics.
|
Course Goals
My educational philosophy is very simple: set high expectations and then help students rise to them. I have three major goals, in order of importance:
- Reasoning Skills - Students will evaluate scientific evidence, develop abstract models to describe the underlying processes, and employ them to draw reasonable conclusions.
- Physical Intuition - Students will have an intuitive, conceptual understanding of the fundamental physical laws, enabling them to both predict and explain the behavior of objects in their world.
- Problem-Solving Ability - Students will be able to characterize real world problems using mathematical representations and then apply analytical techniques to solve them. (Translation: my students will excel at word problems.)
Course Organization and Schedule
The subject matter is divided into three units per quarter (see above). Roughly 3 weeks will be spent on each of these units, and a Unit Test will be given on the final day. The last few days of each quarter will be devoted to review and a Quarter Exam. The following summarizes the weekly course schedule:
- New Material Days - While one group of students posts their homework solutions on the board, all homework will be spot-checked. Afterward, class time will be divided between lecture/discussion, whole class demonstrations, group practice work, and/or group laboratory work.
- Unit Review Days (last day before each Unit Test) - While one group of students posts their homework solutions on the board, all homework will be spot-checked. Next, a different group of students will present a review of the unit material.
- Unit Test Days - I’ll answer any last minute questions during the first few minutes of class. Afterward, students will take a Unit Test, using their one-page Summary Sheets for reference.
- Weekends - Students will focus on Laboratory
Reports and projects
(see below).
- Unit Test Review Days - Laboratory
Reports will be collected on the first day after each Unit Test. Next, I’ll review solutions to the problems from the Unit Test. Afterward, we’ll continue with the next unit.
- Quarter Review Days (day or two before each Quarter Exam) - Three groups of students will review the material (one unit each).
- Quarter Exams (10/28, 3/22 & Finals Weeks) - Class will begin with a brief opportunity for students to ask any review questions they desire. Afterward, the class will take a Quarter Exam covering all three units, using their 2-page Summary Sheets for reference.
“Drop Dead” Deadlines
Several high-value assignment deadlines are absolute, and any late work will result in a zero for that portion of the student’s grade. Extensions will be given only in case of illness or family emergency, and then only with my advance consent (i.e., you must contact me before the due date).
- Final Lab Report Days (10/31, 1/23, 3/23, 6/4) - Final Quarter Lab Reports will be due at the beginning of class (Q4 labs due in Room 4 on 6/4 @8:20am).
- Engineering Project Day (1/13) - All Enginering Project work will be due at the beginning of class.
- Energy Movie Day (5/14) - All Energy Project work will be due at the beginning of class.
Laboratory Reports
There will be one laboratory assignment per unit of course material. Reports describing student laboratory work will be collected on the first day of the following unit, given a tentative grade, and returned. The student should then address any comments I have made before the final reports are turned in at the end of each quarter. Please see the laboratory instruction sheet for the lab in question as well as the Recipe for a Delicious Lab Report handout for more information on this relatively challenging assignment.
Engineering Project
The CMS within the Large Hadron Collider
(Michael Hoch, ©CERN)
During Q2, each student will build some kind of machine, conduct measurements, and then analyze these data to demonstrate one or more physics concepts. Students may work individually or in pairs. There will be several milestones to help identify and develop project ideas in order to meet the assessment criteria. For more information, see the Engineering Project Handout.
Energy Project
The decommissioned Battersea coal-fired power station (with pig)
During Q4, each student will research an “alternative” energy source and film a 5-minute movie laying out the case for how this might solve the dual problems of finite fossil fuel resources and global warming. Students may work individually or in pairs. Again, there will be milestones to help meet the assessment criteria. For more information, see the Energy Project Handout.
Class Policies
- Each student will maintain a single Physics Binder containing all handouts, lecture/discussion notes, laboratory notes, homework, tests and other course materials. These materials will be filed in chronological order within the binder.
- Students must bring their Physics Binder, calculator (see below), pencil, and blank paper to class every single day. Failing to do so may result in your group being assigned homework review on the following class day.
- Students should expect to spend up to 30 minutes on homework for each class period, though most assignments should be easy to complete given 15 minutes of focused attention.
- Homework should be completed on the night it is assigned. If you don’t know how to answer a question, do your best to clearly demonstrate your efforts (no written evidence of effort = no credit for that homework check). Homework may be presented one class day late for full credit.
- Late homework (2 class days after it was assigned) will be accepted, but 10% of the credit may be deducted for each class day it’s late (except for excused absences).
- A student who is absent must take full responsibility for mastering the material covered in class that day and for bringing in the homework as assigned. Check the School Pathways site for the homework assignment and/or phone a classmate to find out what went on while you were absent, and plan to spend an extra 2 hours of your own time studying the material covered on each day you miss.
- I am available for help during most study periods and lunch, but only if you make an appointment first. If you have a question, you may also email it to me at CSchneider@BitneyPrep.net or call me at 470-8468.
- A cheap scientific calculator will be very useful for the class (though not required).
- Although memorizing formulas can be very helpful, it is not a requirement for this class. Students may bring one double-sided 8.5" x 11" Summary Sheet to each Unit Test and two double-sided 8.5" x 11" Summary Sheets to the Quarter Exams. These Summary Sheets will be handed in with the tests so that I can give feedback on their content and organization.
How Grades are Computed
|
Assignment Categories
|
|
|
|
Letter Grades
|
| Class Discussion | 5% |
A: 90% and above
B: 80% and above
C: 70% and above
D: 65% and above
F: below 65% |
| Homework Spot Checks |
25% |
| Project Checks |
7% |
| Unit Tests |
15% |
| Quarter Exams |
20% |
| Laboratory Reports |
15% |
| Energy Project |
8% |
| Study Hall |
5% |
|
