Course Description
Pre-requisites: Algebra 1 minimum, Algebra 2 recommended
This high school course provides an introduction to fundamental physics concepts, covering topics such as mechanics, energy, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Students will explore these concepts through a mix of theoretical lessons, laboratory experiments, and problem-solving exercises. The course emphasizes scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and practical application.
Throughout the course, students will develop skills in analyzing physical phenomena, conducting experiments, and applying mathematical tools to solve physics problems. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of core physics principles and the scientific method. This course is ideal for students interested in exploring the physical sciences and preparing for college-level physics studies.
Course Details
Physics
Tenth Grade
Course Objectives
- Understand the basic concepts of physics, including mechanics, energy, waves, electricity, and magnetism.
- Develop skills in problem-solving using algebra and other mathematical tools.
- Conduct laboratory experiments to explore physical phenomena.
- Engage in critical thinking and scientific inquiry to solve physics problems.
- Apply physics concepts to real-world scenarios and engineering challenges.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
- What is Physics?
- Overview of the study of physics and its importance.
- Introduction to the scientific method and measurement techniques.
- Vectors and Scalars
- Understanding the difference between vectors and scalars.
- Learning basic vector operations and applications.
Unit 2: Mechanics
- Kinematics
- Describing motion: displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
- Analyzing motion with graphs and equations.
- Dynamics and Newton’s Laws
- Understanding Newton’s three laws of motion.
- Applying Newton’s laws to various scenarios.
- Momentum and Collisions
- Concepts of momentum and impulse.
- Exploring elastic and inelastic collisions.
Unit 3: Energy and Work
- Work and Power
- Defining work and power in a physics context.
- Calculating work and power in various situations.
- Energy and Conservation Laws
- Understanding kinetic energy, potential energy, and conservation of energy.
- Applying conservation laws to solve physics problems.
Unit 4: Circular Motion and Gravitation
- Circular Motion
- Analyzing objects in circular motion and centripetal force.
- Solving problems related to circular motion.
- Universal Gravitation
- Exploring Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
- Investigating the effects of gravity on planets and satellites.
Unit 5: Waves and Sound
- Properties of Waves
- Understanding wave characteristics: frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.
- Exploring the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves.
- Sound Waves
- Examining the properties of sound waves.
- Investigating the Doppler effect and sound propagation.
Unit 6: Electricity and Magnetism
- Electrostatics
- Concepts of electric charge, Coulomb’s law, and electric fields.
- Analyzing electrostatic forces and interactions.
- Electric Circuits
- Exploring Ohm’s law, resistance, and basic circuits.
- Building and analyzing simple circuits.
- Magnetism
- Understanding the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
- Exploring magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction.
Unit 7: Modern Physics
- Relativity and Quantum Physics
- Introduction to Einstein’s theory of relativity.
- Overview of quantum physics and its principles.
- Applications of Modern Physics
- Exploring real-world applications of modern physics concepts.
- Understanding the role of physics in technology and innovation.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have a solid understanding of fundamental physics concepts and problem-solving techniques. They will have developed critical thinking skills and gained experience conducting laboratory experiments. This course aims to prepare students for further studies in physics and related scientific or engineering fields.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Mr. Tayson Holzer
Tayson Holzer completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and has worked as an engineer developing and programming electrical systems, including gas and oil pipeline inspection technologies, missile launch systems, microfabrication of a novel chemical process called micro circulatory gas chromatography, and a 3D laser scanner. He believes that all students, including those not pursuing a technical career, can be inspired by and greatly benefit from learning the patterns of searching for truth that science provides. He also believes that technically minded students who do plan to pursue scientific or engineering careers should be strongly encouraged to keep their roots firmly planted in faith, history, literature, and law. These priorities are reflected in his other interests, which include reading great literature; researching his family history and writing the stories of his ancestors; and studying European and American history to learn from the repeating patterns of history. He enjoys reading with his three young children, baking and talking with his wife, and going on early-morning jogs in the quiet of pre-dawn. His principle loves are the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his family, and teaching in a way that invites others to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and powerfully engage in the compelling work of the last days.