NHPS Physics CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

To be Revised 07-08

I) Traditional Physics (Honors/Academic)

II)Physics for All (Academic/Conceptual)
Physics Curriculum Outline 2001

Text Box: Unit 1:	Skills and Concepts

 

Topics:          Scientific Notation

                        Metric System

                        Graphs and Charts

                        Equation Manipulation

                        Laboratory Safety

 

Performance Standards:

After completing this unit the student will be able to:

 


1.    Demonstrate the ability to use scientific notation.

2.    Perform arithmetic operations.

3.    State the fundamental metric system units of time, length, mass and volume.

4.    Prepare tables, charts, and graphs and read and interpret data.

5.    Demonstrate knowledge of safety rules by following them in the laboratory.

 

 


 

 

Activities:

 

1.    Paper Tower

2.    Reaction Time

 


 

Unit 2:            Mechanics

 

Topics:          Scalars and Vectors

                        Kinematics (Motion)

                        Newton’s Laws of Motion

                        Energy, Work and Power

                        Impulse and Momentum

                        Universal Gravitation       

                       

Performance Standards:          

After completing this unit the student will be able to:

 


1.    Differentiate between vector and scalar quantities.

2.    Add vectors graphically and analytically.

3.    Resolve a vector into its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components.

4.    Differentiate between displacement, distance, velocity, and speed.

5.    Calculate the velocity of a moving object.

6.    Plot and interpret a velocity-time graph.

7.    Differentiate between instantaneous and average velocity.

8.    Determine the velocity and displacement for objects under constant acceleration.

9.    Learn to use an organized strategy for solving motion problems.

10. State Newton’s three Law’s of Motion and display an understanding of their applications.

11. Use Newton’s Laws of Motion in solving problems.

12. Calculate the work done by a force.

13. Differentiate between work and power.

14. Define kinetic and potential energy.

15. Apply work-energy theorem.

16. State the law of conservation of energy.

17. Apply the law of conservation of energy to mechanical systems.

18. Demonstrate knowledge of the way simple machines are useful.

19. Define momentum and impulse.

20. Use the momentum-impulse theorem to calculate the changes in momentum.

21. Demonstrate the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions.

22. Recognize how Kepler’s Laws resulted in Newton’s Laws of Gravitation.

23. State that gravitational force is proportional to both masses and the inverse square of the distance between the centers of spherical bodies.

 

Activities:

 

1.    Finding the resultant vector.

2.    The elevator ride.

3.    Getting straight.

4.    Your power

5.    Playground/Amusement Park Physics

 

Demonstrations:

 

1.    Momentum conservation

2.    Collisions

3.    Newton’s Second Law

 

Laboratory Experiments:

 

1.    Calculating Coefficients of friction.

2.    Two-Dimensional motion.

3.    Velocity and Acceleration

4.    Gravitational experiment

5.    Projectile experiment

6.    Pendulum experiment

7.    Slinky Lab

 


 Unit 3:           Waves


 

Topics:         Wave Properties