Mr. Wall teaches Physical Science and Physics at Andover High School.  Click on your class below to go to the class you're taking with Mr. Wall.

What is Physical Science?

Physical science introduces students to many of the fundamental concepts of physics and some chemistry through a lab-based, in-depth exploration of everyday phenomena in the world around us. Students work in cooperative groups while conducting a variety of experiments and activities to discover and reinforce the critical relationships and concepts necessary to more fully understand the physical world they live in. For example, while studying motion, students experiment with ramps and photo gates to collect, graph, and analyze motion data. This analysis positions students to think about the relationship being graphed and communicate this thinking using the language of science and math. Similar instructional methods that integrate the use of technology and cooperative problems solving are used while studying forces and motions, work and machines, and electricity to name few. All students are expected to be able to present their findings. Offered at honors and college prep levels.

What is AP Physics 1?

The AP Physics 1 course is conducted using inquiry-based instructional strategies that focus on experimentation to develop the student’s conceptual understanding of physics principles. The AP Physics 1 algebra-based course is the equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. At least 25% of class time is spent collaborating as a member of an investigative team conducting hands-on, inquiry-based investigations that provide the opportunity to apply concepts learned in this course. Emphasis is placed on creatively applying fundamental physics concepts to solve problems and on deepening one’s understanding and appreciation for the universal laws and principles of physics that govern the physical world. This syllabus has been designed to follow the eight curricular requirements set by College Board for the Physics 1 course. 

What is Physics?

The study of physics offers students a different way to view the world in which they live. By learning and applying the laws of motion and other physical laws, students can explain the behavior of matter and energy and reliably predict the outcome of manipulating variables influencing a physical system. Students work in teams during computer interfacing laboratories using standard physics models and equipment (ramps, pendulums, etc.) to both discover and confirm theoretical concepts learned during class instruction related to forces and motion, light and electromagnetic energy, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and sound. For example, after orchestrating various collisions between lab bench carts of different masses and velocities, students collect and graph the motion data in search of patterns and trends consistent with the physics laws discussed during classes. Students are expected to employ the tools and language of mathematics when resolving and communicating solutions to physics problems. Increasing student capacity to critically analyze and relate phenomena of the physical world in terms of the fundamental laws of physics is the underlying objective of this course. Offered at honors and college prep 1 levels.