Physics I w/ Space Applications Syllabus

Teacher: Johnathan DrakeClassroom: #321Phone: 781-1277 ext. 3122

Email:xtbook: Prentice Hall Conceptual Physics

Webpage:

I. Course Overview:Welcome to Physics. As you will soon find out, physics is a different sort of science. In physics scientists try to explain and model how and why things occur in our world and beyond. It takes an understanding of Physics to keep buildings and bridges from falling, to design cars, airplanes and toys. All technical and scientific careers require a basic understanding of Physics. This includes all the medical fields, electricians, engineers, mechanics and many others too numerous to mention.

In order to truly understand the concepts of physics, you must make use of mathematics. The math you will see in this course will be solving formulas and equations, solving simple quadratics, graphing, interpreting graphs and trigonometry.A scientific calculator is recommended for this class. A three-ring binder (with a minimum of 4 dividers) is required for this course.

II. Grades:

60%Tests and Projects

Tests

Tests will occur at the end of each unit. They generally will have two parts: Multiple Choice/Vocabulary Matching & Constructed Response.

Projects

There will be a Vocabulary Project assigned at the end of each quarter which will be worth 50 points, although you can earn 10 additional points on this. Other research projects may be assigned also.

40%Lab Reports, Notebooks, Assignments (In-Class or Out-of Class)

Lab Reports

Whenever a laboratory experiment is done, you will be required to do a write-up. This write-up will usually include the steps in the scientific method. The points for each write-up will vary based on the complexity and length of the experiment and/or the write-up but will generally range from 20 to 50 points.

Notebook

At the end of each unit a notebook will be due. This notebook will have a minimum of five sections in it that must be separated by dividers. The sections to be included are:

1) / Critical Vocabulary & Reading Guides
2) / Handouts
3) / Note Pages
4) / Unit Reviews

Assignments (In-Class & Out-of-Class)

Assignments could include bellwork, computer/internet activities, writing exercises, ACT practice, in-class investigations, etc. The points for these will vary, but will generally range from 5 to 25 points.

There will also be an extra credit project available at the end of each quarter.

III. Non-Graded Activities

Homework

Homework will be assigned most days. These activities are designed to give you practice and reinforcement of skills and concepts learned in class. Because of this, although completion and correctness of each homework will be checked in class, they will not be assigned a grade.

NOTE: ANY ASSIGNMENT GIVEN WHILE I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WILL BE FOR A GRADE!!!!!

Check-Point Quizzes

We will also have check-point quizzes periodically throughout the year. These quizzes are designed to allow you to determine how well you are learning the concepts and skills taught. Because these are a tool for you and I to use to help you succeed in learning the material in each unit, we will check these quizzes but they are not for a grade.

Homework Policy (Red H)

It is my firm belief that to LEARN physics you must DO physics. Students who don’t complete homework and in-class assignments will struggle on tests and probably fail this course. For this reason I am going to enforce the following homework policy:

Any student who fails to complete any assignment (graded or non-graded) will receive a RED H for that assignment.

  • For graded assignments (including projects & lab reports), the student can make-up the assignment for 50% of the points possible within 1 school day of the due date or for 25% of the points possible within 3 school days of the due date. When a student makes up a graded assignment within 3 school days, the RED H will be eliminated, however any detention earned for this RED H will need to be served.
  • Non-graded assignments will be checked at the student’s seat. Students will be asked to tell me if they have not completed the assignment. These students will earn a RED H. If I then check and find a student to have lied about having the assignment they will earn an additional RED H. Students can make up a nongraded assignment within 3 school days of the due date to eliminate that RED H, however any detention earned for this RED H will need to be served. A RED H earned for dishonesty can not be eliminated.

These RED H’s will result in the following consequences:

  • When a student earns their 3rdRED H they will be assigned a 30-minute detention which must be served within 5 school days.
  • If a student earns their 4thRED H they will be assigned another 30-minute detention which must be served within 5 school days. I will also call the student’s parents to discuss the situation.
  • Students who earn more than 4 RED H’s will be referred to the office for each and I will call the student’s parents.

When a unit ends:

  • Students who have not earned any new RED H’s for this unit (eliminated RED H’s count against the student for this) will receive 5 extra credit points on their unit exam.
  • Students who have not earned any new RED H’s for this unit will have the opportunity to retake the unit exam if they wish.
  • Students who have earned 4 or more RED H’s will have 1 RED H carryover for the next unit.
  • Except for RED H’s that are carried over form the last unit, students will begin the next unit with 0 RED H’s.

Note: Students who miss assignments due to excused absences will have two school days to complete their assignment before this homework policy goes into effect.

Classroom Policies:

  1. Complete all assignments, labs, quizzes, and exams
  1. Bring needed materials (notebook, paper, pencil/pen) to class – avoid asking to go to your locker after the tone sounds.
  1. Only one person at a time will speak.
  1. Respect others’ property as your own.
  1. No food or drinks in the classroom or lab area (This is a health & safety issue.)
  1. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain, complete, and turn in any assignments missed while absent – students will have 3 days after returning to class to complete the missed work
  1. Obey all “school wide” rules and policies while in the classroom

Other classroom policies will be added or these statements modified as the need arises during the semester.

Consequences

First Time:Name in book. Warning

Second Time:One check. 15 minutes Detention

Third Time:Two checks. 30 minutes Detention

Fourth Time:Three checks. 45 minutes Detention and parents called

Fifth Time:Four checks. 60 minutes Detention and student sent to the office

Severe Disruptions:Student sent immediately to the office.

Names and checks disposed of each Friday afternoon. Students will have five school days to complete assigned detention.

Rewards

Daily: a smile; praise; an enjoyable, interesting, and challenging class

Weekly: class free-time (no detentions issued)

Quarterly: ice-cream party (no detentions issued)

Random: positive phone calls (or notes) home

Classroom Procedures

  1. Bell Ringer: Students will: Quietly, enter the room. Be seated remembering not to talk. Open your notebooks and begin completing the assignment on the board. Work until the teacher signals the end. When you finish the bell ringer, sit quietly in your seat and get ready for the rest of class. This procedure is to be practiced everyday for the remainder of the semester.
  1. Tardy to Class: Students are expected to be in the classroom when the tardy bell sounds. You should be seated and working on the bell ringer or preparing to work on the bell ringer (such as sharpening your pencil). Understandably, you may be running a little behind sometime. If you enter the room just as the tardy bell sounds, walk quietly to your seat and begin working on the bell ringer.
  1. Handing in Assignments: When papers are to be passed in, you are to pass the paper/papers to the desk on your left. During this procedure, no talking is required. Also, no one needs to touch another person. Once all the papers have reached the last student’s desk, he/she is to stack them, and pass them forward to the front desk. I or someone else will collect them.
  1. Make-up Work: A drop folder for each class will be located on the stock room door. If you are absent, you should check your class’ folder for any assignments you may have missed. The assignment will have your name on it. If you do not understand the assignment, ask a classmate who was present when the assignment was given. If none of your classmates can answer your question, ask the teacher for help.
  1. Ending Class: When the end of the period nears, continue with the task at hand until the bell rings unless the teacher announces otherwise. At that point in time, gather your things and prepare to leave. However, do not leave until the teacher gives the signal. Do not pack your things and stand by the door ten minutes before the bell rings. Wait quietly in your seats for the teacher to give the signal.
  1. Hall Passes: You will receive 5 hall passes for each semester. Once they are gone, you may not have any more, so use them wisely. Remember, it is my decision whether or not you get to use a pass. Any unused passes will be worth 5 bonus points at the end of the semester to be averaged into the semester grade. If you lose your hall pass privileges, you will also lose your extra credit.
  1. Cooperative Groups: This class will be divided into groups many times. Each time there is a need for a group, the size of the group will depend on the nature of the activity. Some activities may take two people; others may take four, eight, or whatever. Therefore, there is no need to ask if you can work with any particular person because the groups are not fixed. Each time the class divides into groups, the length of the group activity will depend on the nature of the activity. Some activities may take two minutes; others may take two days. When the activity is finished the group will be disbanded. Therefore, there is no need to ask how long you must be in a group. You will be in a group until the activity is finished.
  • You are responsible for your own job and the results of the group.
  • If you have a question, ask your cooperative buddies. Do not ask the teacher.
  • You must be willing to help if a cooperative buddy asks you for help.
  • If no one can answer a question, agree on a consensus question and appoint one person to raise a hand for help from the teacher.
  1. Student Seeking Help: If a student needs help, they will signal the teacher by raising their hand or politely using the teacher’s name to gain his/her attention.
  1. Laboratory: The lab setting is a great opportunity to experience first-hand the concepts being discussed and studied in the classroom. However, it is the student’s responsibility to use this learning time appropriately. Students are expected to be prepared to conduct lab activities meaning you have read the experimental background and procedures. During lab activities, you will exhibit good behavior while focusing on what information may be learned from the experiment.
  1. Use of Laboratory: Students are allowed to use the laboratory section of the classroom during planned lab activities. Students will only be allowed in the lab area during planned lab activities and only under the direct supervision of a science teacher.
  1. Announcements: When an announcement comes over the PA system, students are expected to set quietly and listen patiently to the announcement. When the announcement is over, students will return to the task at hand.
  1. Visitors: When we have visitors to the classroom – either planned or unplanned – students will continue the task at hand unless instructed otherwise. Students will not engage the visitor in conversation or disrupt the class in any other ways.
  1. Late Work: Assignments are due on the assigned date and should be neat and legible. I will not grade work that I can not read, and therefore will consider revised work late or assign a zero! Late work will be penalized 30% and will NOT be accepted later than 5 school days past due.
  1. I-pods & Other mp3 Players: In this classroom, I-pods and other mp3 players will be allowed only by permission of the teacher. At no time should an mp3 player be in use during instructional time (e.g. lectures, demonstrations, etc.) or during labs.
  1. Cell Phone (and any other electronic device) Use: Cell phones are not to be in use in this classroom unless for an educational purpose (to be determined by the teacher). If cell phone use has been sanctioned and you are caught using it for other purposes, I will follow the school policy.
  1. Homework: Homework is a tool to increase your understanding of concepts and skills covered in class, or to prepare for future classwork. Students are expected to complete homework assignments individually to the best of their ability. Sharing answers on homework assignments is considered cheating.
  1. Cheating/Plagiarism: All students are expected to complete their own work. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Students who are cheating on an assignment will receive a zero for that specific assignment. Plagiarism is using someone else’s work as your own. Short definition: plagiarism is cheating.

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Student: I have read and understand this syllabus. I will honor it while in Mr. Drake’s class.

Signature______Date______

Parent/Gaurdian: My child has discussed this syllabus with me. I understand it and will support it.

Signature______Date______

Course Topics
Unit / Physics Skills & Concepts / Earth/Space Science Skills & Concepts
Measuring Time - Space / Scientific Method, Scientific Models, The Four Fundamental Forces, GUTs, Scientific Notation / Big Bang Theory, Evidence of the Big Bang Theory, The Color & Size of Stars, Life-Cycle of a Star, Nebular Model for the Formation of the Solar System, Element Production in Stars, Kepler’s Laws
Measuring Time - Earth / Graphing Techniques, Analyzing Graphs, Science & Technology, Units of Measurement, Measuring Techniques / Geologic Time
Describing Motion / Distance, Speed & Velocity, Vectors, Position vs. Time Graphs, Reference Frames & Relative Motion, Acceleration, Uniform Acceleration, Free Fall & Gravity, Velocity vs. Time Graphs, Projectile Motion / Light as a “Time Machine” , Satellite and Planetary Motion
Newton’s Laws of Motion / Types of Forces, Equilibrium, Inertia, Mass & Weight, Newton’s First Law of Motion, Newton’s Second Law of Motion, Newton’s Third Law of Motion / Weight vs. Mass on Different Planets, Rockets
Newton’s Third Law & Momentum / Newton’s Third Law, Momentum & Impulse, Conservation of Momentum, Elastic & Inelastic Collisions, Relationship between Newton’s Third Law of Motion & the Law of Conservation of Momentum / Newton’s First Law in Space, Rockets
Circular Motion & Gravity / Uniform Circular Motion, Universal Law of Gravitation / Using Gravity to Find Planets, Planetary & Satellite Motion
Energy / Types of Mechanical Energy, Work & Power, Conservation of Energy, Simple Machines & Efficiency / Rockets
Waves & Sound / Waves & Vibrations, Classifying Waves by Structure, The Wave Equation, Sound, The Doppler Effect for Sound / Earthquakes
Electricity & Magnetism / Static Electricity, Coulomb’s Law, Current Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism, Comparison of Electrical Force & Gravitational Force / The Earth’s Magnetic Field
Electromagnetic Waves / Electromagnetic Waves, Doppler Effect for Electromagnetic Waves, Particle/Wave Duality of Light / The Color & Size of Stars, The Expanding Universe
Heat & Energy Sources / Heat & Heat Transfer, Second Law of Thermodynamics, Phase Changes & Energy / Weather Cycles & Heat, Tectonic Plates & Heat, Common & Alternate Forms of Energy