Physics Course Description

Course Name: Physics 1 & Physics - Honors Grade Level: Grade 11-12

Prerequisite(s): Algebra 1, Algebra 2

Text and Resources Used:

  • Prentice Hall Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt, ISBN 978-0-13-364749-5
  • Pearson – Physics, Principles with Applications, Global Edition, Douglas Giancoli ISBN-13: 9780321625922
  • www.twig-world.com
  • Pearson/Prentice Hall Virtual Chemlab (CD-ROM)

Course Description:

Physics 1 provides a conceptually-based exposure to the fundamental principles and processes of the physical world. Topics include basic concepts of motion, forces, energy, heat, electricity, magnetism, the structure of matter and nuclear physics. Students will also develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Upon completion, students should be able to describe examples and applications of the principles studied.

Course Content/Goals/Outline:

This outline gives section references for the main textbook 'Conceptual Physics'. For section references for the supplementary textbook 'Physics' by Giancoli, click HERE.

Scientific Thought and Process Ch 1

  • Scientific Method 1.3
  • Metric Units App A, B
  • Scientific Notation ?

Motion

  • Displacement vs Distance ?
  • Speed vs Velocity 4.2-4.3
  • Acceleration 4.4
  • Free Fall Problems 4.5-4.8
  • Projectile Motion Problems 5.4-5.6
  • Motion Lab

Forces 2.1

  • Equilibrium Ch 2 esp 2.2, 2.4
  • Net Force
  • Scalars & Vectors 2.5, 5.1-5.3, App D
  • Newton 1st Law of Motion Ch 3
  • Forces in Equilibrium Lab

Newton’s Law of Motion and Law of Gravity

  • Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion Ch 6
  • Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion Ch 7
  • Mass vs Weight 13..8
  • Normal Force 2.3 (care!)
  • Friction 6.4
  • Static & Kinetic friction problems 6.4
  • Friction Lab

Circular Motion and Kepler’s Laws Ch 10, 14.5

  • Centripetal Force 10.3
  • Law of Universal Gravitation 134, 13.11?
  • Gravity Ch 13
  • Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion 14.5

Work and Energy Ch 9

  • Work and Displacement Problems 9.1, 9.6
  • Mechanical, Non Mechanical Forms of Energy 9.3
  • Kinetic and Gravitational Potential Energy 9.4, 9.5
  • Law of Conservation of Energy 9.7
  • Power 9.2
  • Conservation of Energy (virtual) Lab

Impulse and Momentum Ch 8

  • Momentum & Impulse 8.1-8.3, 8.6
  • Conservation of Momentum 8.4
  • Elastic & Inelastic Collisions 8.5

Thermal Energy

  • Matter
  • Temperature vs Heat 21.1-21.2, 21.4
  • Heat Transfer by Convection, Conduction, Radiation 22.1-22.3
  • Specific Heat Capacity 21.6
  • Four states of matter 17.9
  • Phase Change Ch 23
  • Law of Thermodynamics 24.1-24.4
  • Heat Engines 24.5
  • Heat and Phase Change Lab

Waves Properties/ Sound Ch 25, Ch 26

  • Properties of Waves Ch 25
  • Constructive & Destructive Interference 25.7-25.8, 26.9
  • Doppler Effect 25.9
  • Resonance 26.8
  • Harmonics ?

Light and Geometric Optics Chs 27-30

  • EM Spectrum 27.3?, 37.8?
  • Law of Reflection 29.6, 29.12
  • Refraction 29.6, 29.8,29.7?29.10?, 29.12?
  • Optics Lab

Electricity and Magnetism UNIT V

  • Electrostatic Charges 32.1-32.2
  • Coulomb’s Law 32.3
  • Electric Fields 33.1
  • Conductors, Insulators, Semiconductor 32.4
  • Magnetic Fields 36.2-36.3
  • Electromagnetic Attraction 32.1, 36.7?
  • Faraday’s law
  • Static Electricity Lab
  • Electromagnetic Strength Lab

Electric Circuits Ch 34

  • Current 34.2
  • Voltage 34.3
  • Resistance 34.4
  • Ohm’s law 34.5
  • Potential difference 34.3?? 33.5
  • Series & Parallel Circuits Ch 35
  • Electric Circuits Lab

Modern Physics UNIT VI

  • Scientific theory of atoms (atomic theory) Ch 17, Ch 38
  • Quantum description, quantization of energy at the atomic level ?
  • Nuclear Force 39.1?
  • Four fundamental forces ?
  • Half Life 39.5
  • Nuclear Decay 39.2
  • Fission & Fusion 40
  • Presentation on Modern Physics Topic

Independent research project

  • Research on a chosen topic
  • Experiments
  • Research paper
  • Presentation of research project

We will not study:

  • Ch 26: 10
  • Ch 27: 1?, 6?, 7? 8
  • Ch 28: 1-7? 8-11
  • Ch 29: 4? 5? 7? 9, 10? 11, 12?
  • Ch 30 (all)
  • Ch 31 (all)
  • Ch 32: 5? 6? 7?
  • Ch 33: 3, 4? 5? 6, 7
  • Ch 34: 6? 7? 8, 9, 10
  • Ch 35: 7
  • Ch 36: 4-7?, 8, 9
  • Ch 37: 3-7
  • Ch 38: 3-7, 8? 9?
  • Ch 39: 6-10, 11?
  • Ch 40: 4, 8

We don't have to study but we should:

  • Density (18.2)
  • Pressure (19.1)
  • Atmospheric Pressure (20.2)

We must do at least 131 of the 322 sections (counting appendices as sections) so if there are 26 useful teaching weeks then we must do 5 sections per week on average. Including sections that would be nice to do but that are not obligatory (marked with question marks above) we would cover 222 sections, requiring us to cover on average 8.5 sections per week. So we should aim to cover between 5 and 8.5 sections per week.