Physics

  • Purpose

    Physics is an algebra-based science course intended for college-bound 11th and 12th grade students.  Students will learn problem-solving skills, study skills, and lab skills that will better prepare them to succeed in college science courses.  Physics prepares students for college coursework in all types of engineering, robotics, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, nursing (radiology), medical technology, nuclear medicine, forensic science, pharmacy, chemistry, environmental science, geology, physics, astronomy, remote-sensing, meteorology, and climate-related careers.  The general physics course described on this page is offered every year at Sault High.  In alternate years, Sault High also offers A.P. Physics 1, an advanced physics course for which students may receive college credit assuming they pass the College Board's A.P. Physics 1 exam in May.
     

    Prerequisites

    (1)  A grade of "B-" or better in Algebra 1, Proof Geometry, and Honors Chemistry is required.
    (2)  Prior or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 is recommended. 
     
     

    Course Description

    Physics surveys fundamental concepts concerning velocity, acceleration, projectile motion, forces, friction, work, energy, momentum, collisions, rotational motion, heat, simple harmonic motion, wave phenomena, sound, light, optics, electric forces, electric fields, magnetism, and subatomic physics.  The Physics course relates concepts to everyday life as best as possible so students will better understand the material, and it includes lab experimentation with modern technology.
     
     

    "I Can" Statements

    The following review sheets are summaries of what students should know and be able to do by the end of each marking period in Physics.  When students study for a marking period test, I recommend that they study their old chapter tests in addition to reviewing the information given in these files.  Before beginning to study for a marking period test, students should have already made corrections to any incorrect questions on their chapter tests.  Answers to chapter tests are given and discussed in class.
     
     
     
     
     

    Additional information

    Physics Syllabus  (General Information about the course)
     
    Course Agreement Sheets  (Parents and students sign these sheets to signify they have read the Physics course syllabus and have had a chance to ask questions about it.  In addition, students sign these sheets agreeing to follow the lab safety rules and classroom expectations)
    The following links may be of interest to Physics students:

    Tentative Schedule of Assignments:

    Course Introduction and Related Activities
    -Introduction to Physics
    -Discussion of course syllabus and classroom expectations
    -Physics First Semester Pre-assessment
    -Class Meetings for the School Year

    Chapter 1: The Science of Physics
    -Lab safety training
    -Scientific Measurements and Density Lab
    -Constructing graphs by hand, constructing graphs using Logger Pro software and a laptop computer, slope, y-intercept, equation of the line
    -Significant figures in math operations, exact numbers versus measured numbers, accuracy versus precision; Read Sect. 1-1 & 1-2; Do Significant Figures Worksheet
    -Base units, table of metric prefixes, writing conversion factors based on the table, mass versus weight; Do Metric System and Dimensional Analysis Practice Worksheet
    -Read Sect. 1-3; Do p.30: 2,6,11,15,16,20,22
    -Review for Chapter 1 Test
    -Chapter 1 Test

    Chapter 2: Motion in One Dimension
    -Motion, displacement, average velocity, physics problem-solving strategies; Read Sect. 2-1; Do p.42: 1,2,4,6
    -Position versus time graphs (slope = average velocity); slopes that are positive, negative, and zero; instantaneous velocity; Do p.45: 2,3,6
    -Average acceleration; Read Sect. 2-2; Do p.47: 1-5
    -Vernier Graph Matching Lab for velocity and acceleration
    -Velocity versus time graphs (slope = average acceleration); slopes that are positive, negative, and zero; displacement with constant uniform acceleration; Do p.51: 1-4
    -Velocity with constant uniform acceleration, displacement with constant uniform acceleration; Read Sect. 2-2; Do p.53: 1-4
    -Final velocity after any displacement; compare and constrast the kinematic equations Read Sect. 2-2; Do p.56: 2,3,6
    -Picket Fence Free Fall Lab
    -Objects in free fall, a = -g = -9.81 m/s2, v = 0 m/s at top of path; Read Sect. 2-3; Do p.62: 2-4
    -Discuss the free fall problems; Do p.73: 1,2,5-8,16,20,21,24,30
    -Ball Toss Lab
    -Review for Chapter 2 Test
    -Chapter 2 Test

    Chapter 3: Two-Dimensional Motion and Vectors
    -Vectors and scalars, vector addition in one and two dimensions, resultant, the Pythagorean Theorem, and tangent; Read Sect. 3-1 to 3-2; Do p.85: 1, p.89: 1-4
    -Resolving vectors into components using sine and cosine; Read Sect. 3-2; Do p. 92: 1-4
    -Vector addition in two dimensions using the vector resolution method; Read Sect. 3-2; Do p.94: 1,2,3 top
    -Vector addition in two dimensions using the law of cosines and the law of sines; Redo p.94: 1 (top) using this new method
    -Projectile Motion 1: Objects launched horizontally, parabolic trajectory; Read Sect. 3-3; Do p.99: 1-4
    -Ball Drop Lab
    -Projectile Motion 2: Objects launched at an angle; conceptual discussion using simulation at phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion
    -Air-Powered Rockets Lab
    -Relative motion; Read Sect. 3-4; Do p.105: 2 top; p.111: 11,16,17,19,22,24,27,29,31,34
    -Review for Chapter 3 Test
    -Chapter 3 Test

    Review for First Marking Period Test
    First Marking Period Test over Michigan's Physics Standards

    Chapter 4: Forces and the Laws of Motion
    -Force, contact forces and field forces, free-body diagrams; Read Sect. 4-1; Do p.124: 1,2(top);1,2,5(bottom)
    -Newton's first law of motion, inertia, mass, net external force, equilibrium; Read Sect. 4-2; Do p.128: 1,2; p.129: 1,2,5
    -Newton's second law of motion, F = ma; Read Sect. 4-3; Do p.132: 1-5
    -Addition of Force Vectors Lab
    -Newton's third law of motion, action-reaction pairs; Read Sect. 4-3; Do p.134: 1-5
    -Newton's Third Law Lab
    -Weight, normal force, coefficients of static and kinetic friction; Read Sect. 4-4; Do p.139: 2,3; p.143: 1,2
    -Do p.146: 1-4,6,8,10,20,35
    -Friction Lab
    -Review for Chapter 4 Test
    -Chapter 4 Test

    Chapter 5: Work and Energy
    -Work; Read Sect. 5-1; Do p.158: 1-4, p.159: 1,2,5,6
    -Kinetic energy; Read Sect. 5-2; Do p.162: 1-4
    -Gravitational and elastic potential energy; Read Sect. 5-2; Do p.168: 1,2 (top); 1,3,4 (bottom)
    -Conservation of mechanical energy; Read Sect. 5-3; Do p.173: 1-3; p.174: 2,3
    -Discuss conservation of mechanical energy homework; Do p.183: 2,3,5,7,12,13,19,24,28,33
    -Energy of a Tossed Ball Lab
    -Review for Chapter 5 Test
    -Chapter 5 Test

    Chapter 8:  Fluid Mechanics
    -Archimedes' Principle Lab

    Chapter 6: Momentum and Collisions
    -Force and momentum; impulse-momentum theorem; Read Sect. 6-1; Do p.193: 1-2; p.195: 1-3; p.198: 4,5
    -Conservation of momentum; Read Sect. 6-2; Do p.203: 1-3
    -Elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions; Read Sect. 6-3; Do p.210: 1 plus raft and canoe example
    -Discuss collision homework; Do p.218: 3,6,7,10,11,12,15,19,20,23
    -Impulse and Momentum Lab
    -Review for Chapter 6 Test
    -Chapter 6 Test
     
    Review for Second Marking Period Test
    Second Marking Period Test over Michigan's Physics Standards

    Chapter 7: Circular Motion and Gravitation
    -Physics Second Semester Pre-assessment
    -Angular displacement, average angular speed vs. tangential speed, and average angular acceleration, tangential acceleration, and centripetal acceleration; Read Sect. 7-1; Do p.228:  1-4
    -Centripetal force; Do p.230: 1-4
    -Centripetal Force Lab
    -Newton's law of universal gravitation; Read Sect. 7-2; Do p.234: 3; p.239: 2,4
    -Kepler's Laws, apparent weightlessness; Read Sect. 7-3; Do p.245: 1,2,5,6,7
    -Kepler's Laws Lab
    -Torque; Read Sect. 7-4; Do p.250: 1-3; p.253:  2,3,8
    -Six types of simple machines, mechanical advantage; Do p.253:  6,7,9,10
    -Do p.264: 3,4,8,15,18,22,23,27,28,30,31,35,37
    -Review for Chapter 7 Test
    -Chapter 7 Test

    Chapter 9: Heat
    -Temperature conversions; Read Sect. 9-1; Do p.305: 1,3; p.306: 1,4,5
    -Difference between heat and temperature; thermal conduction, convection, and radiation; insulating materials; Read Sect. 9-2; Do p.321: 4,5; p.325:  15,19
    -Specific heat; calorimetry; Read Sect. 9-3; Do p.318: 1-4
    -Heating curve, phase changes, heat of fusion, heat of vaporization, latent heat
    -Specific Heat of a Metal Lab
    -Do p.325: 9,12-13,18,21-23,28
    -Review for Chapter 9 Test
    -Chapter 9 Test

    Chapter 11: Vibrations and Waves
    -Simple harmonic motion, Hooke's Law, simple pendulum; Read Sect. 11-1; Do p.369: 2-4; p.373: 1-3
    -Amplitude, period, frequency, period of a simple pendulum in simple harmonic motion, period of a mass-spring system in simple harmonic motion; Read Sect. 11-2; Do p.377: 2-4; p.379: 1,3,5(top),4(bottom)
    -Period of a Pendulum Lab
    -Pulse waves, periodic waves, transverse waves, longitudinal waves, period, frequency, wave speed; Read Sect. 11-3; Do p.385: 1,3,4; p.386: 1,2
    -Constructive interference, destructive interference, reflection, standing waves, nodes; Read Sect. 11-4; Do p.392: 1-3,5
    -Wave Properties Lab
    -Review for Chapter 11 Test
    -Chapter 11 Test

    Chapter 12: Sound
    -Sound waves, compression, rarefaction, pitch, propagation, Doppler Effect; Read Sect. 12-1; Do p.411: 1-3,5-7
    -Sound intensity; Read Sect. 12-2; Do p.413: 1,2,4,5
    -Threshold of hearing, relative intensity measured in decibels; Read Sect. 12-2; Do p.418: 1-3,5
    -Speed of Sound Lab

    Review for Third Marking Period Test
    Third Marking Period Test over Michigan's Physics Standards

    Chapter 13: Light and Reflection
    -Light, electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, frequency, brightness (intensity), waves represented by rays; Read Sect. 13-1; Do p.475: 1-2,9-13
    -Reflection of light, diffuse versus specular reflection, flat mirrors, associated ray diagram, real and virtual images, angle of incidence = angle of reflection, object distance = image distance; Read Sect. 13-2; Do p.475: 14,16,19
    -Law of Reflection of Light Lab
    -Review light, reflection, and flat mirror concepts; introduce six cases for concave spherical mirrors, associated ray diagrams, center of curvature, focal point, mirror equation, magnification; Read Sect. 13-3; Do p.460: 1-4
    -Convex spherical mirrors, parabolic mirrors; Read Sect. 13-3; Do p.464: 1,3,6; p.466: 3,4
    -Images produced by Curved Mirrors Lab
    -Practice drawing ray diagrams for mirrors
    -Color and polarization, mixing primary colors of light versus mixing primary colors of pigments; Read Sect. 13-4; Do p.472: 1-4; p.476: 26,32,39,40,44
    -Review for Chapter 13 Test
    -Chapter 13 Test

    Chapter 14: Refraction
    -Refraction of light, law of refraction, refractive index, Snell's law; Read Sect. 14-1; Do p.489: 2 (top), 1-4 (bottom)
    -Speed of Light in Glass Lab
    -Six ray diagrams for converging thin lenses, one ray diagram for diverging thin lens, real and virtual images, thin-lens equation, magnification; Read Sect. 14-2; Do p.497: 1-4
    -Practice drawing ray diagrams for lenses
    -Convex Lenses Lab
    -Total internal reflection, critical angle, atmospheric refraction, dispersion, types of lens aberrations; Read Sect. 14-3; Do p.504: 1-4, p.507: 1-4
    -Review for Chapter 14 Test
    -Chapter 14 Test

    Chapters 16, 17, & 18: Electric Force, Field, Current, Resistance, and Circuits
    -Electric charge, charge conservation, charge quantization (e = 1.60E-19), conductors, insulators, semiconductors, charge transfer by contact and by induction, electric force, Coulomb's Law, balloon demonstrations, electroscope demonstrations; Read Sect. 16-1 to 16-2; Do p.555: 1,5; p.558: 1-3
    -Electric field, electric field lines, conductors in electrostatic equilibrium, shielding, Van de Graaff generator demonstrations; Read Sect. 16-3 for conceptual information only; Do p.574: 2,3,5-7,22
    -Electric current, souces, types, direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), current war involving Edison and Tesla; Read Sect. 17-3; Do p.597: 1,2,4
    -Potential difference (Sect. 17-1 concept), resistance, Ohm's Law, ohmic materials (most metals) and nonohmic materials (diodes), resistance depends on conductor length, cross-sectional area, type of material, and temperature; Read Sect. 17-3; Do p.603: 1,2,4,5; p.604: 5,6,9
    -Electric power, combining Ohm's Law with the power equation, calculating the cost of electrical energy; Read Sect. 17-4; Do p.609: 1,3,5; p.611: 1,2,5
    -Do p.620: 35,37,44,45,54
    -Electric circuits, components, schematic diagrams, open circuit, closed circuit, short circuit, emf; Read Sect. 18-1; Do p.635: 1-5
    -Resistors in series: schematic diagram, equivalent resistance, current, and potential difference; Read Sect. 18-2; Do p.640: 1-3
    -Resistors in parallel: schematic diagram, equivalent resistance, current, and potential difference; compare and contrast series and parallel circuits; Read Sect. 18-2; Do p.645: 2,3; p.646: 1-3
    -Do p.657: 5,11-13,22
    -Series and Parallel Circuits Lab
    -Chapter 16,17,18 Review
    -Chapter 16,17,18 Test

    Chapters 19 & 20: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
    -Magnets, tracing the magnetic field of a bar magnet with a small compass, hard and soft magnetic materials; Read Sect. 19-1; Do p.670: 1-3,5
    -Magnetic field on a current-carrying wire and associated right-hand rule, current loops, solenoids, electromagnets, magnetic force and associated right-hand rule; Read Sect. 19-2 and 19-3; Do p.674: 1-2; p.677: 1-3
    -Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor; Read Sect. 19-3; Do p.680: 1,4; p.681: 1-3
    -Magnetic fields and induced emfs, characteristics of induced current, Lenz's law, Faraday's law of magnetic induction, applications of induction, DC generators, motors; Read Sect. 20-1 to 20-2 mostly for conceptual information; Do p.701: 1-3
    -Chapters 19,20 Review
    -Chapters 19,20 Quiz

    Review for Fourth Marking Period Test
    Fourth Marking Period Test over Michigan's Physics Standards

    Have a nice summer!
     
Last Modified on November 3, 2023