This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Learn about the world around you and spark curiosity with the physics of motion and momentum, Newton’s laws, gravitation, work, energy, and power, and develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills with dynamic science.
Total Classes: 14 (This is Part One of a two-part course)
Duration: 75 minutes
Prerequisite: Algebra I. Geometry is beneficial.
Suggested Credit: One full semester of Science or Physics.
Description
This 14-week course is the first course in a two-course series in introductory Physics concepts. The class does not rely too heavily on advanced mathematical calculations but algebraic understanding is required. Instead, we will stick to principles, overarching concepts, and major theories and how they apply to our everyday lives. Students will have live instruction once a week, as well as frequent online interactives and simulations that will assist them in understanding and applying knowledge. The course is a survey of topics in physics with the goal of leading toward further study (Advanced Placement or College Prep Physics). Students will build on their natural intuition—and break some commonly held misconceptions. Students will learn how the cosmos that God created works and apply the laws of physics to everyday examples in their lives. Students will learn that physics is phun!
Outline
1. What is Science
2. Describing Motion
3. Describing Motion Graphically
4. Describing Motion with Equations
5. Vectors in 2D and Relative Motion
6. Projectile Motion
7. Inertia, Forces, and Newton’s 1st Law
8. Forces and their Effects, Newton’s 2nd Law
9. Newton’s 3rd law: Action Reaction
10. Universal Gravitation
11. Impulse and Momentum
12. Conservation of Momentum and Collisions
13. Work, Energy, and Power
14. Energy, Conservation, Machines & Efficiency
Materials and Homework
Course materials: (We suggest buying used to save considerable money)
Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt (2002) ISBN: 0-13-054254-7. Some students have purchased the following text which seems to be identical inside: Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt (2004) ISBN: 0-13-166301-1
We will also reference The Physics Classroom (online)
Homework & Grading:
Weekly reading from the textbook as well as online resources will be assigned. Homework questions will be assigned from the textbook (along with solutions for students to self-check progress). Students will also be assigned interactive online activities that will help them to better understand and apply concepts learned in class. Each unit will have a quiz or test at the end, which will be graded by the instructor (see Instructor Access in the sidebar) or parent. Grades are weighted as follows:
| Homework | Quizzes | Tests |
| 25% | 30% | 35% |
*Participation is based on class attendance, class participation, and weekly Discussion Forum posts. Parents may adjust these guidelines to suit a recorded student working at his or her own pace.
