Beta+Physics+Course+Standards

=Physics Information and Course Standards=

Your Teacher
Dr. Sally R. Hair Office: Room 233, back room Email: sally.hair@hanovernorwichschools.org Home Page: drhair.wikispaces.com

I am available for conferences during x-periods, my planning periods, and after school. Please speak to me or email me to make an appointment.

Textbooks and other required materials
> This is a free, on-line textbook that includes reading, quizzes, problems, and activities.
 * **// The //****// Physics //** **//Classroom//** by Henderson at @http://www.physicsclassroom.com/


 * **Calculator**, with log and exponential functions and scientific notation. Bring this to class every day. You will need it for problems, labs, quizzes, and tests.


 * **Three Ring Binder**, with blank paper, for class notes, handouts, projects, homework, and other graded work. Keep this organized and bring it to class each day. Dividers are helpful. You will need to have course handouts and information at your fingertips.


 * **Homework Notebook**, preferably a graph paper spiral notebook or bound comp book. You will use this to work problem sets then turn in the notebook for homework checks. All homework will be done in the notebook and loose papers will not be accepted.


 * **Writing Instruments**, preferably pencils. Have them ready at the start of class.

Course Website and On-line Homework Help
A class calendar with events, handouts, and deadlines is available at http://drhair.wikispaces.com/. The website also contains helpful links and physics resources. There is a Physics Homework Help Google group used for discussion, questions, and announcements. You must access your school email to participate in this.

Assignment Sheets
Each unit, there will be an assignment sheet with the daily plan for class. Also included are homework and lab assignments with due dates and test dates.

Course Topics
Physics is all around you and you will learn a lot about it in this class. We will learn why a car rolls downhill, why you feel a push when you go around a curve in a rollercoaster, and why going up in an elevator feels different from going down. We will learn about sound, light, heat, and electricity. Expect to work hard. Physics is intellectually challenging, but very rewarding. More details are in the Core Competencies, below.

SAT II and AP tests
This course provides a good introduction to many topics on the SAT II in physics. It would be wise to prepare for this test with your textbook and a test preparation guide. This course does not provide the depth needed to be successful on an AP test in physics.

Your Quarter Grade
Your quarter grade in physics is made up of four components, as shown below.



In-class activities may occasionally be graded and included with the homework grade. Your averaged numerical grade will be updated and posted on the grade portal on a regular basis. At the quarter's end, your numerical grade is converted to a letter grade as follows: 100-92.5 = A, 92.4-89.5 = A-, 89.4-86.5 = B+, 86.4 - 82.5 = B, 82.4 - 79.5 = B-, 79.4 - 76.5 = C+, 76.4 - 72.5 = C, 72.4 - 69.5 = C-, 69.4 - 66.5 = D+, 66.4-59.5 = D, < 59.4 =N.C.

Your Semester Grade
At the end of each semester, each quarter's grade will account for 45% of your semester grade. The midterm exam will count for 10% of your first semester grade, and the final project will make up 10% of the second semester grade. There is no final exam in physics class.

What Is a Point Worth?
In physics class, points do not have a consistent value, for different types of assignments. A participation point need not have equal value to a point on a test or quiz. Consider each grade on a percentage basis and don’t compare absolute point values between assignments.

Are Grades Curved?
Grades are NOT curved for individual tests, quizzes, or assignments. Quarter grades may be curved, if the class average is lower than the typical average for Physics, a B–.

Participation
Participation will be graded on a near daily basis in Beta physics class. All students have the opportunity to earn 5 participation points each day. If the student arrives on time, is in his or her seat with physics materials and writing instrument, and begins work at the start of class, he or she earns 4 points. Students earn additional participation points by contributing to class discussion. Students lose points by being late, unprepared, or disruptive. Frequently asked questions about participation grading and their answers are below. The scoring is summarize here: //What is Tardy?// You should be in your seat at the official start time of class. If you are not, you are tardy, even if your binder or your backpack is at your seat.
 * In your seat, start work at start of class || +4 ||
 * Tardy or missing materials || -1 ||
 * Contribution to class discussion || +1 ||
 * Disruption of class || -1 ||
 * Total Possible points per day || +5 ||

//What materials should I have?// You should have your pen or pencil and binder with notes and handouts.

//What is a contribution to class discussion?// You can ask or answer a question. You can volunteer your white board or write a problem on the classroom board. Your contribution must contain physics content and add to the learning environment of the classroom. Guesses and random questions do not count and can result in negative participation points, if they are a disruption.

//What is a disruption?// Disruptions include calling across the classroom, interrupting the teacher or another student, throwing objects, making off-topic wisecracks, and talking when the teacher is teaching and has asked for your attention. Dr. Hair is the judge of what is disruption and her decisions are final. Arguing or heckling about participation points is also a disruption.

//What are the maximum and minimum participation grades?// The maximum is 5 points per day. The minimum is zero points for the day.

//What if I am asked to leave the classroom, to work in the Science Resource Center?// When behavior is excessively distracting, students are asked to work in the Science Resource Center independently or with Ms. Doherty. You can earn back one participation point by working effectively in the SRC and one point by meeting with Dr. Hair immediately after class to make a plan for better behavior the next day.

//What if I am absent?// If you have an excused absence, you earns 4 points. You can earn another participation point from an excused absence by meeting with Dr. Hair outside of class when you return to school. An unexcused absence equals zero participation points for the day.

Homework
Doing homework problems is an important opportunity to learn and practice physics. Problems from the textbook will be assigned for each topic covered. Tests and quizzes will draw on the homework problems and you will be expected to understand and know the material in the Problem Sets.

Your Problem Set Notebook will be checked for completeness, accuracy, and clarity of problem-solving method. Problem solving requires clear communication of your understanding with words, equations, and pictures. . Please show your work and demonstrate your thought process for all problems. Simply writing the correct result will earn a small amount of partial credit on homework (and on tests). Use significant figures correctly and have your homework ready at the start of class on the due date.

Some Problem Sets will be completely graded and some will be spot-checked. After a Problem Set is due, an answer key will be posted and you are advised to check your notebook with the complete key, to assess your understanding. No homework will be accepted for grading after the answer key has been posted in the classroom.

Laboratory
Lab experiments illustrate the concepts and solidify your understanding of physics. We will have at least one lab experiment per chapter. Most experiments will take two or more class periods and include class discussion, recording results, and analysis. Lab experiments will be written up in a worksheet format, rather than a formal lab report.

Projects
An extensive, independent project is completed in the 4th quarter, in place of a final exam. This out-of class project is worth 10% of your grade for the second semester.

Quizzes and Tests
You will have a quiz or test nearly every week in physics class. At the start of a unit, quizzes may be short or informal. As we near the end of a unit, there will be more challenging quizzes and tests. Having frequent quizzes makes sure that everyone is keeping up and we are learning something in class each week. One quiz each quarter will be designated a Mastery Quiz, which means you may retake a new version of the quiz until the end of the quarter. The lowest quiz grade each quarter will be dropped.

Tests will occur at the end of each chapter or occasionally every other chapter. The tests will emphasize the chapter just completed, but may also include all topics included in the course, up to that point in time. Test material will come from class discussions, demonstrations, reading assignments, homework problems, and labs. Plan to work steadily on physics, as we cover the topics in class. Study on a regular basis, not just the night before a test.

The midterm for the course will be cumulative, on all topics covered in the first semester of the course. There is no final exam in Beta Physics.

Make-up Tests
Students who are absent the day of a test are expected to make up the missed test by the end of the next x-period, unless other arrangements are made. Make up tests are a different test than the original and may be more difficult. You may be required to have an oral exam, rather than a written test. In this case, Dr. Hair will ask you questions and you will answer orally or work problems on a white board or paper.

Late Work
Lab reports and problem sets turned in late, not as a result of an excused absence, will receive a grade penalty of 10% per day late. Students who have not turned in written work are required to attend x-periods until the work is made up. If a student has continual difficulty turning in assignments on time, the course grade will be negatively impacted. Late homework may be turned in on the first day back in school after an excused absence to avoid late penalty. Late work must be turned in to the instructor in person so the date can be established.

X-Periods
X-periods for this class are on Tuesdays. X-periods are used for make-up work, extra help, or finishing lab experiments or write-ups. All students are required to check in at all x-periods, unless alternative arrangements are made, in advance.

Students are required to attend x-periods to make up missing work if they have not turned in a lab report by the due date, missed a homework check, or missed a test or quiz due to absence. If a student with missing work does not attend an x-period, an unexcused absence is reported and the consequences will be imposed.

Excused Absences
For planned absences, have Dr. Hair sign a goldenrod form well in advance. All students, including athletes missing class for competition, are expected to let Dr. Hair know in advanced about planned absences. If you miss class or lab experiments because of an excused absence, you have one day for each day absent to make up missed work. Labs missed due to excused absences should be made up if the lab report can be submitted before other students' labs have been graded and returned. It is to your advantage to make prior arrangements for an absence and to make up the work as quickly as possible. If you need to make up a lab during unscheduled time or an x-period, please make arrangements with Dr. Hair in advance.

Be sure to turn in any homework due during your absence on the day that you return. No homework will be accepted for grading after the answer key has been posted in the classroom. In this case, the student will be excused from the assignment, but is still responsible for learning the material in the missed problem set.

If a test is missed due to an excused absence you must make arrangements to make up the test with Dr. Hair. You may be asked to take an oral exam, rather than a written test. Tests must be made up by the x-period following the missed test, unless other arrangements are made.

Unexcused Absences
Class cuts and tardiness as defined in the Student Handbook will result in the consequences below. Three tardies are equal to one cut; parents are contacted after the second tardy.
 * 1st cut The office and athletic director are notified. No credit will be received for whatever work is evaluated during the missed class, including participation. Parents may be contacted.
 * 2nd cut Same as first cut, plus meeting with Dean of Students and 5-day schedule up. An email or call to parents.
 * 3rd cut Same as first cut, plus meeting with Dean of Students and 10-day schedule up. An email or call to parents.
 * 4th cut Same as first cut, plus a hearing with student, parents, teacher, and guidance counselor to determine whether student should remain in the course. Warning that an additional cut will result in No Credit for the course.
 * 5th cut Student is dropped from the course with an NC on the transcript.

Expectations for Behavior
⇒ Come to class prepared. Bring your binder, homework, calculator, and pencil. Know what is going on in class.

⇒ Be on time. Repeated tardiness has a stiff penalty, both to your participation grade and to your free time, if you are scheduled up. If you miss the first part of class, you won’t know what is going on.

⇒ Come to class ready to learn. Be awake and alert. Pay attention and have a good attitude. Start working on the class warm-up as soon as you get to class.

⇒ Listen when others are speaking. If you have a question, raise your hand. Side conversations are distracting to everyone.

⇒ Study outside of class and think hard. Study for a short time every day, rather than a long time the night before a test.

⇒ Make up work quickly, if you are absent. Plan ahead for absences you know about and communicate with the teacher about all absences.

⇒ If you are having trouble with the class, ask for help. Come in outside of class or for an x-period. Come sooner, rather than later.

⇒ Be a good citizen. Respect others and the class. If everyone works together, we will all enjoy physics more.

Behavior to Avoid
Cartoon by Matt Groening

Consequences

 * Students who do not meet class expectations will experience the following consequences:
 * Individual conference with Dr. Hair to discuss the problem and plan solutions.
 * Phone call to parents about the problem and planned solutions.
 * Behavior that distracts others or the teacher will result in the student being placed in an “observer” role in the classroom or spending the class period working independently in the Science Resource Center.
 * Repeated problems will mean a conference with student, parents, and Dean of Students or Guidance Counselor to discuss whether student should remain in physics class.

Expectations for Student Learning (Core Competencies)
1. Students will understand the mathematical formulas that apply to linear motion and apply these formulas in analyzing real life situations both in experiments and in real life applications.

2. Students will comprehend the independence of vertical and horizontal velocities in projectile motion and the two dimensionality of projectile motion as vertically accelerated motion and horizontally constant velocity, applying this knowledge in analyzing projectiles in a computer simulated environment and in real life experimentation.

3. Students will evaluate the correlation of math with real motion by verifying mathematical prediction by actual experimentation.

4. Students will apply their knowledge of vectors, forces, and motion to predict the motion of moving objects tugged by centripetal force to the center of a circle, analyzing this motion using vectors and applying their knowledge of motion equations to predict the outcome of circular motion in an experiment. They will evaluate the correlation of math to actual motion by observing the synthesis of one with the other.

5. Students will comprehend Newton's Three Laws of Motion, applying this knowledge by creating force vectors in an experiment and evaluating the results to demonstrate their synthesis of the knowledge of Newton's Laws of Motion and the mathematical application of those laws.

6. Students will comprehend the transformation of energy by doing work.

7. Students will understand work as simply an application of force over distance. In addition, students will apply force to an object and evaluate its final motion.

8. Students will evaluate force, motion, and energy using a computer program which simultaneously follows the force applied to the object and its motion. Their evaluation of this situation will result in their comprehension that application of force over time creates motion through the physics concept called Impulse, and that an application of Impulse changes an object’s momentum and kinetic energy. The final evaluation of this process will be mathematical, and the motion created will be followed via the concepts of momentum and momentum transfer.

9. Students will demonstrate their understanding that all forms of energy result in heat. They comprehend this natural process by understanding the Laws of Thermodynamics.

10. Students will demonstrate appropriate uses of the Laws of Thermodynamics, and relevant consequences (such as adiabatic compression and expansion), by analyzing real life situations, such as condensation of atmospheric moisture as an air mass ascends up a mountain. This will lead to their evaluation of the processes occurring in Carnot engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps.

11. Students will comprehend the application of wave motion in creating every kind of musical instrument.

12. Students will analyze how waveforms created in musical instrument create sound. Students will analyze vibrations in strings, air columns, and mechanical objects to demonstrate their understanding of the application of wave motion and its transfer of energy to create sound. Students will apply wave formula mathematics to their observations in describing sound.

13. Students will identify the properties of light, such as reflection, refraction, dispersion, scattering, polarization, and interference and apply their knowledge of waves to describe how some of these processes demonstrate light acting as a wave and some don't.

14. Students will apply their knowledge of motion, force, work, and energy, and integrate all of these ideas, by creating an electric circuit and an electromagnet. Their analysis of their electric circuit and electromagnet will demonstrate their ability to apply the total sum of knowledge of this course in a synergistic manner.