Physics

Avon Lake City Schools 

Curriculum Framework

Physics

Course Overview:

Physics is the fundamental science of the natural world. This course involves study, extensive laboratory work, problem solving and demonstrations in the area of measurements, kinematics, dynamics, vectors, work and energy, electricity, and waves. With respect to Conceptual Physics, students will cover a greater variety of topics in greater depth, and greater emphasis will be placed on the mathematical treatment of the physical relationships in the universe. This course is recommended for students who plan to attend college. Concurrent enrollment in pre-calculus is recommended. Students are also admitted to the course with teacher recommendation, enrollment in algebra II, and a minimum of a C average in current math classes. The student is responsible for having a scientific calculator. This class meets seven periods per week for ½ unit of credit each semester. FEE: $20

Textbook (Title and Publishing Company): 

Holt Physics

Online/Supplemental Materials:

pHET interactive  simulations, The Physics Classroom, The Physics Hypertextbook, teacher websites (https://sgbscience.com/physics/) 

Assessments: 

Midterm exam (cumulative) and final exam (second semester cumulative)

Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

1st Quarter- 

Standards/Learning Goals:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY:

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations

  • Design and conduct scientific investigations

  • Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications

  • Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)

  • Recognize and analyze explanations and models

  • Communicate and support a scientific argument

MOTION:

  • Interpret of graphs of one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion 

    • Position vs. time

    • Velocity vs. time

    • Acceleration vs. time

  • Solve problems involving one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion.

  • Use graphs (average velocity, instantaneous velocity, acceleration, displacement, change in velocity)

  • Analyze motion involving uniform acceleration including free fall (initial velocity, final velocity, time, displacement, acceleration, average velocity)

  • Perform vector operations

  • Projectiles

    • Analyze the independence of horizontal and vertical components

    • Solve problems  involving horizontally launched projectiles

    • Analyze upwardly-launched projectiles

2nd Quarter- 

Standards/Learning Goals:

FORCES, MOMENTUM AND MOTION:

  • Apply Newton’s laws to complex problems

  • Analyze gravitational force and gravitational fields

  • Analyze elastic forces

  • Analyze friction force (static and kinetic)

  • Analyze air resistance and drag conceptually

  • Analyze forces in two dimensions

  • Analyze motion along inclines

ENERGY:

  • Analyze mechanical energy in objects and systems including gravitational potential energy in systems, elastic potential energy in mass-spring systems, and kinetic energy in objects and systems

  • Analyze work and power

  • Analyze the conservation of mechanical energy in systems

  • Analyze the nature of mass and energy in the universe including the origin of energy

3rd Quarter- 

Standards/Learning Goals:

FORCES, MOMENTUM AND MOTION:

  • Analyze centripetal forces and circular motion

  • Analyze planetary motion

  • Analyze linear momentum in objects and systems, impulse, and conservation of momentum in systems

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM:

  • Analyze methods of charging (friction, contact, induction, and polarization)

  • Analyze interactions using Coulomb’s law

  • Analyze electric fields and electric potential energy

4th Quarter -  

Standards/Learning Goals:

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM:

  • Analyze DC circuits, Ohm’s law, series circuits, parallel circuits, and mixed circuits

  • Apply conservation of charge and energy to DC circuits (junction and loop rules)

ENRICHMENT (time permitting):

  • Magnetic fields and energy

  • Electromagnetic interactions

WAVES:

  • Wave properties

  • Conservation of energy

  • Reflection

  • Refraction

  • Interference

  • Diffraction

  • Light phenomena

  • Ray diagrams (propagation of light)

  • Law of reflection (equal angles)

  • Snell’s law

  • Diffraction patterns

  • Wave – particle duality of light

  • Visible spectrum and color

Last Updated:

September, 2023