Physics
Grade: 11, 12
Term: Year Course
This course focuses on physics concepts and is designed to meet the Minnesota Physics standards. It is recommended for students who want to explore physics, prepare for future College-level Physics classes, or need all four sciences for a competitive transcript.
Topics to be studied include kinematics, Newton’s Laws of Motion, forces, momentum, work and energy, gravitation, heat transfer, simple harmonic motion, sounds, properties of light, electrostatics, electric circuits, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, and the effects of technological advances on society. Students will participate in group work, experiments, laboratory investigations, and problem-solving.
IB DP HL Physics Year 1
Grade: 11, 12
Term: Year Course
IB Assessment: Students are not eligible to test in Year 1
AP Assessment: Students may take the AP Physics 1 Exam
This course is designed to meet the requirements of the AP Physics 1 exam. If students wish to further their study of physics after completing this course, they may take the IB DP Physics Year 2 course the following year, which will make them eligible to take the IB HL Physics exam.
This is a rigorous, algebra-based college-level course that combines both conceptual and mathematical approaches to physics.
Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore kinematics, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Forces, circular motion, gravitation, rotation, torque, momentum, energy, thermodynamics, simple harmonic motion, and fluid dynamics.
IB DP HL Physics Year 2
Grade: 11, 12
Term: Year Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of IB DP HL Physics Year 1
IB Assessments: Students will complete the Internal Assessment and are eligible to take the IB SL or HL Physics exam
AP Assessment: Students may take the AP Physics 2 Exam
This is the second part of the 2-year Physics course designed to meet the requirements for the IB HL and the AP Physics 2 exams.
This is a rigorous, algebra-based college-level course that combines both conceptual and mathematical approaches to physics.
Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activities, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore topics such as thermodynamics, electrostatics, electrical circuits, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, quantum physics, and nuclear physics.