Honors Physics 1,2 Instructor John Marus Room

913

Phone

619-656-2400

E-mail

[email protected]

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Course Rationale: The California State University and University of California system A - G admissions requirements state that two years of laboratory science are required and three years are recommended. The Sweetwater Union High School District requires one year of a biological science and one year of a physical science for graduation. Honors Physics is a standards-based laboratory science that fulfills one of these requirements. Recommended Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra 1/2 or equivalent, and Geometry 1/2, with at least a B in all four semesters; concurrent enrollment in Intermediate Algebra or higher level mathematics course; ability to read and write at grade level highly recommended. Course Description: Physics is not 1000 pages of text and pictures organized by chapter and bound between two hard covers. Physics is not shaded boxes with equations, example problems, and end-of-section summaries. It is a dynamic, living, and controversial field. It is hard to define and is changing every day. Honors physics is a comprehensive, laboratory-based, college prep course which teaches the physics concepts of classical mechanics, waves, sound, thermodynamics, light, electricity and magnetism. Honors physics is a mathbased, computational science. It covers all the California state physics standards as well as prepares students for AP physics and first-year college physics. This is an HONORS class, and therefore is very challenging. You are expected to work hard and will need to work hard to succeed. Text: Text: Physics, R.A. Serway & J.S. Faughn, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2006. Recommended Student Materials:  Three-ring binder  Classroom Supplies: paper, pencils, pens (blue & red), colored pencils, highlighters, calculator, & ruler. Note: Graphing calculators, cell phones, qwerty calculators, etc. cannot be used on district benchmark and end of course exams.  Occasional project supplies. Academic Expectations of Students: Students will actively participate in learning, namely, take notes, study for quizzes/tests, participate in class discussions, be present on lab days, perform labs and write-ups, make connections beyond the classroom, and do homework. If classes are missed because of extracurricular activities, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the missed work and to make-up any assignments prior to missing class.

Behavioral Expectations of Students: •Students will attend all classes and be on time. •Students will be positive, contributing members of this class by being respectful, responsible and considerate. •Students will make it a priority to always practice all laboratory safety rules. •Students know: “I am responsible for my own behavior and I am to be held accountable for my own actions.” Homework Policy: Physics is a college preparatory course that requires students to do homework on a regular basis. The “Carnegie Rule” is recommended by many California Community Colleges which recommends two hours of study per hour of class time. Although this is not a college level course, students should spend a minimum of 20 minutes each day outside of class time on physics, either assigned homework or reviewing vocabulary, subject material and reading. This time may be used to preview and/or review class materials, perform text reading activities, complete class assignments and projects, or other activities that assist the student’s understanding of the concepts being studied. Being able to read complex text independently and proficiently is essential for high achievement in college and the workplace. This course will incorporate significant readying. (Note: Parents should ask to see student’s daily work and homework.) Assessments: Formative Assessments (20%) – are to provide time, practice, and opportunities for learning, along with feedback or checkpoints regarding your progress in the learning process. Make-up of formative assessments (for example, quizzes and District benchmarks) is at the discretion of the instructor. Examples include the introduction to a unit, class notes, warm ups, quizzes, initial attempts or drafts, cooperative learning experiences, and homework. Formative and homework grading policies are at the discretion of the individual teacher. Summative Assessments (80%) – are to determine personal achievements learned at the end of a period of instruction. They include assessments such as tests, labs, formal writing activities, and the District’s end of course exam. These assessments are used to establish grades. There will be usually one test for each unit covered. Missed Unit Exams (tests): If there is an excused absence for the unit exam/test, unit tests may be made up at a time to be designated by the instructor. This must occur within 10 days of the original test date. A “0” will be recorded for unexcused absences. Test scores will not be dropped. The OHS Mastery Model requires that all students maintain summative score of 70% or higher in summative assessments (including laboratory reports). Students have a maximum of 6 school days from the date of grade notification to improve their grade. Based on PLC data, to prepare students for college readiness and scientific rigor, the retake option is only applicable for the first semester. It may be required that students attend tutoring before taking a test re-take. The re-take is only an option if the original test score is less than 70%. The maximum that can be earned on the retake is 80%. Although laboratory reports are also a summative assessment, lab activities require extensive preparation of equipment, materials and chemicals. Therefore, it is critical that students be present for laboratory activities because a missed lab cannot be made up. Although the data may be obtained from another student (assuming the absence is an excused absence), the maximum possible grade for a missed lab is 75%. Labs missed because of an unexcused absence will result in a grade of “0.”

Lab re-write to correct deficiencies are due within 1 week of the initial grading. There is a one-time only resubmit opportunity for each lab. This is opportunity is only for the first semester. N.B.: TEST RETAKES & LAB RE-WRITES ARE NOT AVAILABLE 2nd SEMESTER. Mandated Testing: All physics students may be required to take the California Standards Test (CST) in Physics (except seniors) if it is required by the district. All 10th graders will take an additional Biology exam to meet federal requirements for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Grading Policy: Grades in a Standards-Based Society Student grades will be a reflection of their level of achievement toward district and state standards. A (90 – 100%) – Advanced ~ high level of mastery of the standards, B (80 – 89%) – Proficient ~ exceeds the standards, C (70 – 79%) – Basic ~ meets the standards, D (60 – 69%) – Below Basic ~ below, but progressing toward meeting the standards. F (59% and below) – Far Below Basic ~ displays minimal to no progress toward the standards

Accessing grades online: Student & parent access to grades can be found on Infinite Campus Integrity & plagiarism: Plagiarism as defined by Dictionary.com as, “an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author.” Copying from another student – including problem solutions - is also plagiarism. Disciplinary actions for plagiarism are described in the student handbook. If you’re taking Honors Physics, you’re probably smart enough to cheat on most high school assignments and not get caught. You could probably plagiarize a lab report, or find ways get answers during a test. With a smart phone, you don’t need to write answers on your hand or a piece of paper anymore; you have the ability to Google them. If you haven’t figured it out by now, high school is a good time to realize that no grade is worth more than your integrity. The word integrity has the same Latin root as integer, meaning whole. A person without integrity is not whole; half is a polite Honors student but the other half is someone who will cheat to gain an advantage. He/she is the same person who uses cheat programs to play Words with Friends or doesn’t pick up litter when no one sees them drop it. Live with integrity. Don’t get into the habit of cheating in high school. It will not serve you well in life. Course Content: The District (and the State of California) is undergoing the transition from the Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve to the Next Generation Science Standards (2013). The NGSS framework outlines the three dimensions that are needed to provide students with high-quality science education. The three dimensions include: - Science & Engineering Practices - Crosscutting Concepts - Disciplinary Core Ideas. Because of this major shift, scheduling the exact timing of assessments (4 tests per semester and major writing assignments) is premature.

This schedule is subject to change. Unit SEMESTER 1 Forces & Interactions

Energy Energy (heat)

END OF COURSE EXAMS SEMESTER 2 Waves

EM Spectrum

Electricity & Magnetism

Labs/Formal Write-ups CLASSICAL MECHANICS & ENERGY Newton’s 2nd Law Momentum Law of Gravitation Energy exchange Kinetic & potential energy Heat exchange 2nd Law of Thermodynamics Societal implications WAVES/ELECTRICITY/MAGNETISM ATOMIC PHYSICS Mathematical relationships EM wave/particle duality Transmit/capture of information Digital transmission/storage EM absorption Application to complex problems Light spectra, Doppler, galactic composition EM wave-particle duality revisited EM forces on objects

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