Physics Pre-AP

Course Description & Expectations
 
Physics is a laboratory-oriented course designed to give students a background in physics concepts as well as experience in using the methods of scientific inquiry. Physics introduces the central concepts of physics, including Newton’s Laws of Motion, free-fall, projectile, and circular motion, the conservation laws (mass, energy, and momentum), thermodynamics, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Laboratory experiments and the use of technology are integral parts of the course. Many of the experiments use computers, calculators, and probe-ware for the collection and analysis of data. Students are given the opportunity to acquire, manipulate and present data using these technologies. As the most fundamental science, Physics is critical to the study of all other sciences. The course is broken into two portions, the classroom portion and the lab portion.
The classroom portion will utilize a variety of techniques in order to develop each student’s critical thinking and problem solving skills. These include but are not limited to direct teacher instruction, guided individual and group inquiry as well as group problem solving exercises, and individual/group presentation of solutions.

The lab portion will help develop both an understanding of the physics concepts as well as the ability to design and utilize an open-ended inquiry based method of exploration. These labs will require students to analyze data in a variety of methods including data tables and graphs in order to develop higher level thinking skills.
 
Suggested Prerequisites
 
Two units of high school science, Algebra I, Geometry and completion of or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 Pre-AP or Pre-Calculus. This course is recommended for students in Grade 11 and 12.
 
Click here for class syllabus.

Last Modified on January 24, 2012