• Discuss the meaning of the nature of science

• Distinguish between knowledge and belief

• Accurately define science, scientific knowledge, scientific law, scientific theory, hypothesis, experiment.

• Know and be able to explain the assumptions of science and scientific knowledge.

• Understand the benefits of science and technology to society

Kinematics in 1 Dimension

• Setting up Frames of Reference

• Solve problems involving displacement and distance

• Description of Motion.  Distinguish between, and solve problems involving velocity, speed, and constant acceleration.

• Distinguish between average and instantaneous quantities.

• Create, interpret, and solve problems involving graphs of motion; describe relationships among time, distance, and speed

• Motion at constant acceleration

• Lab: (Measuring the Acceleration of Gravity)

• Interpreting Graphs of Motion

• Inquiry Activity  (Lab:  Reaction Time)

Dynamics of Motion in 1 Dimension

• Understand, interpret, and apply Newton’s three Laws of Motion: Inertia; Force and Acceleration;

• Identify forces acting upon a body.

• Distinguish between “net force” and individual forces acting upon a body.

• Distinguish between weight and mass

• Produce force “free-body” diagrams consistent with motion along a single direction.

• Describe and locate the center of gravity; describe the center of mass.

• Lab:  Verifying Newton’ 2^nd Law of Motion

Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions (using vectors in physics)

• Distinguish between vector quantities and scalar (non-vector) quantities

• Represent physical quantities using vectors.

• Learn to add and subtract vectors using the component method.

• Learn to use vectors to solve problems involving relative velocity (e.g. boat problems)

• Use vectors to predict acceleration down a ramp.

• Using vectors to describe projectile motion.

• Use vectors to describe objects in equilibrium and to find the “equilibrant force”.

• Lab:  Applying Vectors in Physics

• Inquiry Lab:  Calibrating a Projectile Launcher.

Circular Motion and Gravity

• Distinguish between rotate and revolve; describe rotational speed; give examples of centripetal and centrifugal forces

• Define and give examples of centripetal accelerations.

• Free-body diagrams for circular motion

• Use Newton’s 2^nd Law to analyze problems for objects moving in a horizontal circle

• Use Newton’s 2^nd Law to analyze problems for objects moving in a vertical circle

• Lab:  Motion in a Horizontal Circle

• Describe conceptually the main ideas related to Newtonian Gravity.

• Make calculations of gravitational forces using Newton’s Law of Gravity.

• Describe the size of mass needed to observe the gravitational force.

• Describe Kepler’s  Laws and relate them to the motion of planets and satellites.

Harmonic Motion

• Describe and give examples of restoring forces (the cause of harmonic motion)

• Measure the harmonic motion constant for a system (the spring constant)

• Motion graphs for Harmonic Motion

• Measure the period of a simple Pendulum and describe the variables that affect the period of a simple pendulum.

• Measure the period of a mass/spring oscillator and describe the variables that affect its period.

• Lab: Hooke’s Law

Work and Energy Conservation

• Describe the definition of mechanical work in physics.

• Make Calculation of mechanical work using the definition of mechanical work.

• Describe the work/energy theorem and the definition of Kinetic Energy

• Describe how to measure and make calculations of mechanical power (rate of doing work)

• Describe the relationship among energy, work, and power both conceptually and quantitatively.

• Describe the mechanical advantage of machines.  Be able to calculate the mechanical advantage of some simple machines.

• Describe the differences between conservative and non-conservative forces.

• Give a definition of potential energy

• Provide examples of how energy can be transformed from kinetic to potential and vice versa by applying the Principle of Conservation of Energy. 

• Apply quantitatively the law of conservation of mechanical energy to simple systems.  Recognize that work is equivalent to a change in energy from one form to another.

• Inquiry Lab:  Maximizing the power of a mechanical system.

Impulse and Conservation of Momentum

• Define Impulse and discuss is relationship to changes in linear momentum.

• Describe how Newton’s 2^nd Law can be written in terms of changes in momentum.

• Describe how conservation of momentum is a logical consequence of Newton’s 3^rd Law of motion.

• Define and calculate momentum; understand, interpret, and provide examples that illustrate the law of conservation of momentum.

• Describe how the motion of the center of mass of a system is consistent with the law of momentum conservation.

• Describe the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions.

• Lab:  Verification of momentum conservation.

Relativity

• Discuss why the Principle of Relativity is an important cornerstone of modern science.

• Discuss the luminiferous ether and its inconsistency with the constancy of the speed of light.

• Discuss thought experiments related to the relativity of time and length.

• Make calculations related to time dilation.

• Discuss space-time diagrams and space-time intervals

Electrical Forces and Fields

• Describe how electricity as a fundamental force in nature.

• Recognize the characteristics of static charge, and explain how a static charge is generated

• Describe how the Principle of Conservation of Electric Charge arises from observations of charged objects.

• Describe how objects become electrically charged.   Discuss interactions between charged objects.

• Discuss Coulomb’s Law of electrical Force and the important variables related to the electrical force between charged objects.

• Explain the difference in concept between electric forces and electric fields.

• Describe how the concepts of electric fields and electric potentials arise from descriptions of electrical forces.

• Lab:  Mapping Electric fields

• Describe the movement of electric charges through electric fields

• Discuss electrical potential energy as an extension of the Conservation of Energy Principle.

• Lab:  Deflection of Cathode Rays

Electrical Circuits

• Students will make analogies between terms used to describe electrical circuits and terms used to describe water flowing through pipes.

• Student can discuss and make calculations using Ohm’s Law.   

• Discuss and calculate equivalent electrical resistance of series and parallel circuits

• Students will understand what measurements must be made, and how to calculate electrical power.

• Describe how an electrical circuit functions and make diagrams of electrical circuits using circuit symbols.

• Build and test (voltage and current) simple electrical circuits.

• Lab:  Verification of Ohm’s Law

• Lab:  Series and Parallel Circuits

Magnetic Forces and Fields

• Discuss classical observations of magnetism.  (lodestones and compasses)

• Discuss the importance of Gilbert’s early experiments with magnetism.  (The Earth as a huge magnet.)

• Describe the conventions for diagramming magnetic fields.

• Describe magnetism as a property of electric current.   Discuss why coils of wire have strong magnetic properties.

• Calculate the strength of the magnetic field associated with electric current.

• Use Ampere’s model of the atom along with the idea of magnetically aligned domains to explain why some materials are strongly magnetic.

• Lab:  Magnetic Field of a Coil

• Describe the forces exerted upon moving charges and electric currents by external magnetic fields and utilize the right hand rule to predict the direction of the forces.

Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction

• Understand that with Faraday’s concept of force field they (the fields) are considered real physical things.

• Describe magnetic flux, factors that affect the amount of magnetic flux, and make calculations of magnetic flux.

• Describe the conditions needed to electromagnetic induction to occur.

• Lenz’s Law, conservation of energy, what happens when electromagnetic induction occurs.

• Recognize that the interplay of electric and magnetic forces is the basis for electric motors, generators, and other technologies.

• Describe the symmetry in nature between electricity and magnetism.

• Describe the conditions needed for the production of electromagnetic waves.

• Inquiry Lab:  Calibration of a Transformer

Properties of Waves/ Sound

• Describe the causes of wave motion.  Discuss the transport of energy by waves away from their source.

• Describe the properties of different types of waves (longitudinal and transverse waves, mechanical and electromagnetic waves).

• Define properties (descriptions) of waves.  These include wavelength, wave period, wave frequency, and amplitude

• Describe and make calculations concerning the  relationship of wave speed to wave frequency and wavelength.

• Describe factors that affect the speed of a wave; explain the relationship between the speed of a wave and the medium it travels through

• Describe the information obtained from graphs of waves.  Be able to obtain information about waves from their graphs.

• Properties common to all waves (reflection, refraction, superposition (interference), Doppler Effect and diffraction.

• Inquiry Lab:  Slinky Lab (How does tension or stiffness of medium affect wave motion?

• Audible range of sound frequencies for humans.

• Describe and make calculations related to the decibel scale of loudness.

• Describe natural modes of vibration and resonance.

Properties of Light

• Describe the duel nature of light.  State Bohr’s Principle of Complimentarity.

• Make observations consistent with light acting as a particle.  The Pinhole Camera and Shadows.

• Provide a definition of “Parallel Light”.

• Observations consistent with light acting as a wave.  Huygen’s Principle.

• Explain what is meant by white light and what is meant by black.

• State the primary colors and pigments.  Describe and use the color subtraction theory.

• Make measurements of light intensity as well as measurements of illumination.

• Lab:  The Law of Illumination

• Describe how to demonstrate the diffraction of light.

• Lab:  Measuring the wavelength of visible light.

• Describe the double slit experiment and its importance to the origins of Quantum Theory.

• Describe the laws of Reflection and Refraction of Light.

• Solve problems that apply laws of reflection and refraction.

• Lab:  Measuring the Index of Refraction

Geometric Optics (applications of the Laws of Reflection and Refraction of Light)

• Diffuse vs. plane reflection

• Images formed by a plane mirror.

• The Law of Reflection applied to curved surfaces.  Definition of focal point and focal length.

• Gaussian “thin mirror” equation.

• Law of refraction applied to curved surfaces. 

• Gaussian “thin lens” equation.

• Double lens problems

• Eyesight problems and their correction.

• Lab:  Geometric Optics