SYLLABUS FOR HONOR AND REGULAR PHYSICS I
Science Skills and Attitudes, Applications, and Contexts of Physics
Observation. Exploratory activities. Identification of variables. Development of problem statements. Types of investigation designs. Hypotheses. Analysis. Collection and organization of data. Qualitative and quantitative data. Interpretation of experimental data using mathematics and statistics. Conclusions. Analysis of conclusions. Identification, function, care, and use of scientific equipment. Accurate measuring. Safety precautions and procedures. Research, and long range experimental investigation. Scientific report in Physics.*
Beneficial and detrimental effects of discoveries made by physicists on the quality of human life. Technology and conservation affecting the rate of consumption of renewable and nonrenewable resources. Research and career opportunities in the field of Physics. Contributions of physicists from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Importance of continuous development and sharing of scientific information. Analysis of information from public media. Newton's conception of the Universe, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, and concept of radioactivity and their impact on modern science.
Kinematics
Average speed, instantaneous speed, and change in speed. Representation of linear motion by use of graphs. Use of graphs to determine real values. Frames of reference. Use of vectors, graphics, and trigonometric functions.
Dynamics and Forces
Vectors expressed with magnitude and direction. Resultant of two component vectors. Resolving vectors diagrams into x and y components. Velocity, acceleration, and displacement as vector quantities. Acceleration variations with force and mass. Plots of acceleration. Newton's Laws of Motion. Velocity dependent forces. Friction and properties that affect it. Torque and equilibrium. Gravitational force. Projectile's motion. Factors affecting period in periodic motion. Relationship between restoring force and displacement in simple harmonic motion. Effects on the period from changes in the amplitude in harmonic motion. Velocity, force, and acceleration in uniform circular motion. Stress resulting from applying a given force. Central force in circular motion. Nonparallel forces acting on an object moving on a rough inclined plane.
Conservation of Momentum
Conservation of momentum in a two-body collision. Types of collision (inelastic, elastic, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional). Conservative systems. Relationship between potential and kinetic energy in an object in free fall. Conversion factor from mechanical energy to thermal energy. Problems involving work energy relationships. Energy transformation in a conservative system. Relationship between mass and energy conservation in relativistic terms. Changes in mass, length, and time that occur at relativistic speed.
Energy
Mathematical relationship among heat, phase change, energy, and work. Phenomena explained by the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Effects of enthalpy, temperature, and entropy on free energy. Steps and proper sequences in the Carnot cycle. Application of the Second Law of Thermodynamics to practical situations. Calculation of specific heat of a substance. Charles' Law and Boyle's Law.
Waves
Relationship between frequency of a wave and the period of a wave. Supporting medium and transmission of mechanical waves. Behavior of transverse and longitudinal waves. Calculation of length, frequency, and period. Nodal and antinodal lines produced by the interference of sound waves and light waves. Similarities and differences between theories of light propagation. Young's single and double slit diffraction equations. Patterns resulting from various diffraction gratings. Contributions of Roemer, Michaelson, Morley, and Huygens to our understanding of the nature and speed of light. Light rays reflecting off a plane, concave, or convex mirror, focal point, and location and orientation of the images. Light rays passing through concave or convex lenses, focal point, and location and orientation of the images. Calculation of factors in refraction of light, including indexes of refraction. Operating principles of a gas laser, including population inversion, superposition, optical cavity, and characteristics of laser light. Production, propagation, reception, detection, and characteristics of sound. Use of sound to demonstrate such properties of waves as reflection, diffraction, interference, and the Doppler effect. Wave phenomena of sound (e.g., frequency, loudness, overtones, etc.) in everyday settings.
Nuclear Energy
Examples of more than three subatomic particles. Measuring various forms of nuclear radiation. Technological uses of radioactive materials. Problems in radioactive decay using half-life data. Quark theory of elementary particle structure. Fission and fusion in terms of the initial particles, final products, and relative energy released. Balance of nuclear transmutation equations. Nuclear energy sources. Applications of nuclear reactions, including power generations. Prediction of the products, and balance nuclear equations. Characteristics of electron capture, pair production/annihilation, neutron decay, Bremsstrahulund and Compton scattering.
Electricity
Force between two spherical charges using Coulomb's Law. Characteristics of static electricity. Electric field due to a static point charge. Diagrams of complete circuits. Motion of electrical charges in terms of electric current. Calculation of voltage, current, and resistance, using Ohm's Law. Elementary parallel or series circuits containing resistors. Calculation of the work done in transferring a given charge through a given potential difference. Design of different combinations of series and parallel circuits in terms of total resistance, current through the various branches, and voltage at various junctions. Relationship between the heat developed, the current through, and the resistance of the conductor over a specified time period. Solving for an unknown resistance using a Wheatstone Bridge. Solving a three power source Kircholl's mesh (loop) problem. The way capacitors store electric charge. Inductance.
Magnetism
The field around a magnet. Magnetic field around a moving electric charge. Relationship between alternating and direct current. Magnetic field around a permanent magnet, current carrying straight wire, and solenoid. Domain theory of magnetism. Theory of electric motors and generators, in terms of the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
*NOTE: The topics written in Italics will be mostly covered in the Honor classes.