Conceptual physics syllabus 2010 2011

Conceptual physics syllabus 2010 2011

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  Legacy High SchoolScience<br />Course: Physics <br />Teacher: Mrs. Hurst<br />Room: A-U202<br />Teacher: Mrs. Hurst, [email protected], 817-299-1100
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  Conference: A day7:15-8:45 B Day 8:52-10:20II.Text: Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt, Prentice Hall ©2002. <br />The textbook is a great resource for practice and test preparation.<br />III. Course Description/Objective: The MISD course catalog provides the following information about this class: “Physics is a course dealing with a broad range of topics including mechanics, heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on projects simulating the concepts being taught.” Prerequisites include Biology or Pre-AP Biology and Algebra 1.<br />In Physics, students conduct laboratory and field investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students study a variety of topics that include: laws of motion; changes within physical systems and conservation of energy and momentum; forces; thermodynamics; characteristics and behavior of waves; and atomic, nuclear, and quantum physics. Students who successfully complete Physics will acquire factual knowledge within a conceptual framework, practice experimental design and interpretation, work collaboratively with colleagues, and develop critical thinking skills. (TEKS 112.39)<br />IV.Attendance: Students who miss more than 20 minutes of any class are considered absent for that class. In physics, each class builds on the previous lesson, and because of this cumulative sequencing, regular attendance is recommended. Students who miss excessive amounts of class will “absence fail” the course. State law required students be in attendance in class 90% of the time that the class is in session. Absences also affect the semester exemptions. Please monitor your absences through the Infinite Campus portal.<br />V. Course Policies:<br />Show respect for others and their property.<br />Be in your seat when the bell rings. This applies to beginning and end of class.<br />Come prepared to work with all necessary supplies.<br />Follow all directions the first time they are given.<br />Follow all lab safety procedures.<br />Follow all school rules and policies <br />Tardies: Students not in the room when the bell rings should report directly to their AP for a pass into class.<br />Student IDs are required to be worn on lanyards. Students with no ID, or who do not properly display their ID will be referred to the appropriate administrator.<br />Cell phones are not permitted to be visible or used at all during the instructional day. If in the classroom they should be off. Ringing or vibration due to receiving a call or text or alarm constitute use. They should be off. Additionally, iPods and mp3 players are not permitted in classrooms. If heard or observed, these electronic devices will be collected and turned into the appropriate campus personnel after school.<br />Do not sleep in class. If you are tired, go to bed earlier. Keep your head off your desk<br />Course Supplies:<br />At least a 1\" Binder with dividers (handouts/reference, notes, graded papers), loose notebook paper.<br />Writing utensil (pencil) and red grading pen, scientific calculator, textbook.<br />Discipline (handled in accordance with school policy) as needed when course policies are violated.<br />First offense – Warning<br />Second offense – Warning and conference with student; potential parent contact.<br />Third offense– Office referral and potential parent contact<br />As a teacher, I reserve the right to send a student immediately to the assistant principal’s office for certain situations which compromise safety or rights of any individual.<br />Lab Safety<br />Safety is a major factor in every lab experiment, no matter how simple. Safety infractions will result in the loss of the learning opportunity for that day. Any violation of safety guidelines will result in removal from the lab and a grade of zero on that assignment. Students can not participate in lab activities until their lab safety contract has been signed and returned.<br />VIII.Grading<br />Please reference the student handbook concerning the following topics:<br />Explanation of exemption policy<br />Explanation of semester exam value<br />Explanation of semester grade calculation<br />District grading policy<br />6 week grades in science are calculated using the following percentages:<br />Tests / Projects……………………………………………50%<br />Labs / Quizzes**………………………………………….30%<br />Daily Homework………………………………………….20% <br />**Labs are a major portion of the work in physics. Labs that are more involved will be given more weight in the 30% category and labs that are less involved will be weighted less. Likewise, major quizzes will be weighted heavier than short daily quizzes.<br />Unless otherwise stated, assigned work is due at the beginning the next class period. <br />Physics is a very cumulative course. Students need to stay on top of their work and complete work as it is assigned. Since each lesson builds on the previous lesson, and students are typically provided time to start assignments in class, late work is not accepted. Students, however, will be provided opportunities to earn late passes that can be used at the rate of one per six weeks. Late passes not used to turn in late work can be used to drop one quiz grade.<br />Class assignments missed due to any excused or school related absence is due after the number of days absent plus one day. (Student Handbook Make-up Policy.) Collecting make-up work after an absence is the responsibility of the student! Students are encouraged to make an attempt to get their assignments prior to their absence. Students with unexcused absences can complete with work for a maximum credit allowed in the Student Handbook.<br />School progress reports are issued at 3 weeks intervals. Class grade printouts will typically be provided in the week before school issued progress reports. Grades are posted on Infinite Campus, which can be accessed from the school web site. <br />Each student is responsible for keeping up with his/her grades. Students wishing to discuss their grades should find a time outside of class so that discussion is private. <br />Physics is a difficult course; the tests that are given at the end of each chapter require preparation. The students have a chance to practice the required skills and question types on many assignments prior to the test. <br />Retests are given in accordance with MISD policy.<br />Retests are only available to students whose test grade is below a 70% on the initial test.<br />Students who retest can score a maximum of 70%.<br />Students are encouraged to attend tutorials prior to retesting.<br />When applicable, students must complete an additional review assignment to be eligible for attempting a retest.<br />Retest time, location, and review assignment will be announced when test is initially passed back. The retest will be offered before the next chapter test.<br />Students who were absent for the initial test must make up their test before the retest is offered to be eligible to retest.<br />Tutoring: Students who have questions or need extra help are encouraged to attend physics tutorials. A physics tutorial schedule is posted in the classroom. Students need to attend tutorials in the specified time and location with specific questions/examples/problems they need help with. If those times do not work a student can schedule a more convenient time with me.<br />Hurst U202 – Tuesday 2:30-3:15.
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  Sudbury T222- Wednesday2:30-3:15
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  Waugh S220 –Thursdays 6:45-7:15Academic Dishonesty: Copying, cheating, and plagiarism are not tolerated. Assignments that use the internet as a source must include citation/credit if information is copied and pasted. Lab discussion and conclusions must be in your own words. District policies will be followed per the Legacy High School Student Handbook.<br />Food, drink, and gum<br />Food, drink and gum are not allowed during labs. <br />Drinks brought in the classroom must be in a can or a container with a lid.<br />Clean up all trash, crumbs and/or spills. If trash is left behind, the class will lose privileges for the remainder of the term.<br />No fast food from outside of campus is allowed.<br />Dispose of gum in the trash. If gum is found in the classroom, the class will lose gum privileges for the remainder of the term.<br />Chew with your mouth closed. Failure to do so means that you must put away whatever you are chewing.<br />Tentative Physics Schedule<br />WEEK1-2: Introductions, physics, linear motion<br />3-4: Linear motion, projectile motion5-6: Newton’s laws<br />7-8: Momentum and energy, circular motion<br />9-10: Center of gravity, universal gravity, satellite motion<br />11-12: Relativity <br />13-14: Temperature, heat, expansion, heat transfer<br />15-16: Change of phase, thermodynamics<br />17-18: Reviews & Finals<br />19-20: Vibrations and waves, sound<br />21-22: Light, color, reflection/refraction<br />23-24: Lenses, diffraction and interference<br />25-26: Electrostatics<br />27-28: Electric fields and potential<br />29-30: Current and circuits<br />31-32: Quantum mechanics<br />33-34: Radioactivity, fission and fusion<br />35-36: Reviews & Finals<br />Basically, it breaks down like this:<br />Weeks 1-12, we study Mechanics<br />Weeks 13-16, we study Heat<br />Weeks 19-24, we study Sound and Light<br />Weeks 25-30, we study Electricity and Magnetism<br />Weeks 31-34, we study Atomic and Nuclear Physics<br />