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Homeschool High School Physics Syllabus

Instructor: Donald Ostrowski
School Year: 2006-2007
Hours: Monday 12:30--2:00 p.m.
Textbooks: (1) Exploring Creation with Physics, 2nd Ed; (2) Solutions and Tests For Exploring Creation with Physics, 2nd Ed--Must be brought to every class.
Materials: Physics Science Kit for Apologia Curriculum, Calculator with Trig functions, pencil(s), paper--Lab Kit must be brought to class every time a lab is scheduled.  Calculator, pencil(s), paper must be brought to every class.
Prerequisites: Algebra, concepts of sine, cosine, and tangent
Course Description: This is a college prep physics course for the student that has completed algebra and has been introduced to the concepts of sine, cosine, and tangent.  It provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general high school physics.  It also provides the student with a strong background in basic mechanics, work/energy, periodic motion, optics, electricity, and magnetism.
Grading: Unit Tests = 60%, Homeworks and Labs = 40%
Guidelines for Problems: Most problems will fit approximately into this format.
  1. Given: Write down knowns and unknowns, what's Given (draw a diagram if needed)---for example: F = 10N, m = 5Kg, a = ?
  2. General Formula: Provide a "General Formula"---for example: F = ma
  3. Working Formula: Solve the General Formula symbolically to get a "Working Formula"---for example: F = ma  ---->  a = F/m
  4. Solve: Plug values with the proper units into the Working Formula to get the answer---for example: a = 10N / 5Kg = 2m/ss
  5. Answer: Draw a box around the answer--- a = 2m/ss  (ss here is seconds squared.  I couldn't find a superscript for it)
Course Makeup Policy: Tests and homeworks may be made up on an individual basis due to unforeseen emergency, sickness, etc.  Any tutoring done outside of class for excused or unexcused absences will be charged a tutoring fee of $50 per "minimum" two hour session.
Payment Policy: Payment of $50 is due at the beginning of the first class of the month.  If payment has not been made by the 2nd class meeting of the month, a $5.00 late fee will be charged for each week the payment is late (beginning with the second week).  If payment has not been made by the end of the month, the student will be dropped from the class.
Student Academic/Behavior/Discipline Guidelines: Students are expected to follow the guidelines written down in the SAC Day Handbook.  Cell phones must be in vibrate mode or turned off during class.  Students may not be on their computers or PDA's during class unless explicit permission is given by tutor.
-----To learn more about a particular module, go to http://www.apologia.com/bookextras/ and type in the password given to you in the Student Notes of the Text-----
Tentative Fall Schedule 2006

Date
Lesson/Activities
Work Due (hand in for grade)
August 21
  • Experiments MOD 1
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 1

  • Reading of Student Notes
  • Reading of Introductory Remarks
  • Reading of MOD 1
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 1
  • Review Questions MOD 1
  • Practice Problems MOD 1
August 28
  • Test MOD 1
  • Preview MOD 2, 3

  • Test Review Problems MOD 1

September 4
Holiday-Labor Day, No Class
 
September 11
  • Experiments MOD 2, 3
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 2, 3
  • Reading of MOD 2, 3
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 2, 3
  • Review Questions MOD 2, 3
  • Practice Problems MOD 2, 3

September 18

  • Experiments MOD 2, 3
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 2, 3

  • Reading of MOD 2, 3
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 2, 3
  • Review Questions MOD 2, 3
  • Practice Problems MOD 2, 3

September 25

  • Test MOD 2, 3
  • Preview MOD 4

  • Test Review Problems MOD 2, 3

October 2

Holiday-WVA, No Classes

 
October 9
  • Experiments MOD 4
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 4
  • Reading of MOD 4
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 4
  • Review Questions MOD 4
  • Practice Problems MOD 4
October 16
  • Test MOD 4
  • Preview MOD 5
  • Test Review Problems MOD 4
October 23
  • Experiments MOD 5
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 5
  • Reading of MOD 5
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 5
  • Review Questions MOD 5
  • Practice Problems MOD 5
October 30
  • Test MOD 5
  • Preview MOD 6
  • Test Review Problems MOD 5
November 6
  • Experiments MOD 6
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 6
  • Reading of MOD 6
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 6
  • Review Questions MOD 6
  • Practice Problems MOD 6
November 13
  • Test MOD 6
  • Preview MOD 7
  • Test Review Problems MOD 6
November 20
Holiday-Thanksgiving, No Classes
 
November 27
  • Experiments MOD 7, 8
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 7, 8
  • Reading of MOD 7, 8
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 7, 8
  • Review Questions MOD 7, 8
  • Practice Problems MOD 7, 8
December 4
  • Experiments MOD 7, 8
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 7, 8
  • Reading of MOD 7, 8
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 7, 8
  • Review Questions MOD 7, 8
  • Practice Problems MOD 7, 8
December 11
  • Test MOD 7, 8
  • Test Review Problems MOD 7, 8

Tentative Spring Schedule 2007

Date
Lesson/Activities
Work Due (Hand in for Grade)
January 8
  • Experiments MOD 9
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 9
  • Reading of MOD 9
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 9
  • Review Questions MOD 9
  • Practice Problems MOD 9
January 15
  • Test MOD 9
  • Preview MOD 10
  • Test Review Problems MOD 9
January 22
  • Experiments MOD 10
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 10

  • Reading of MOD 10
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 10
  • Review Questions MOD 10
  • Practice Problems MOD 10

January 29
  • Test MOD 10
  • Preview MOD 11
  • Test Review Problems MOD 10
February 5
  • Experiments MOD 11
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 11
  • Reading of MOD 11
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 11
  • Review Questions MOD 11
  • Practice Problems MOD 11
February 12
  • Test MOD 11
  • Preview MOD 12
  • Test Review Problems MOD 11
February 19

Holiday-President's Day, No Classes

 
February 26
  • Experiments MOD 12
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 12
  • Reading of MOD 12
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 12
  • Review Questions MOD 12
  • Practice Problems MOD 12
March 5
  • Test MOD 12
  • Preview MOD 13
  • Test Review Problems MOD 12
March 12
  • Experiments MOD 13
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 13
  • Reading of MOD 13
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 13
  • Review Questions MOD 13
  • Practice Problems MOD 13
March 19
  • Test MOD 13
  • Preview MOD 14
  • Test Review Problems MOD 13
March 26
  • Experiments MOD 14
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 14
  • Reading of MOD 14
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 14
  • Review Questions MOD 14
  • Practice Problems MOD 14
April 2
  • Test MOD 14
  • Preview MOD 15
  • Test Review Problems MOD 14
April 9
  • Experiments MOD 15
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 15
  • Reading of MOD 15
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 15
  • Review Questions MOD 15
  • Practice Problems MOD 15
April 16

"After the Play" Break, No Classes

 
April 23
  • Test MOD 15
  • Preview MOD 16
  • Test Review Problems MOD 15
April 30
  • Experiments MOD 16
  • Discussion/Questions MOD 16
  • Reading of MOD 16
  • "On Your Own" Problems MOD 16
  • Review Questions MOD 16
  • Practice Problems MOD 16

May 7

  • Test MOD 16

  • Test Review Problems MOD 16

Homeschool Physics Syllabus