Class Information for Advanced Physics- Teacher: Karen Gill, karen.gill@fayette.kyschools.us
Class Calendar, Assignments, Study Tips, Unit Reviews, an electronic copy of this sheet, etc. are on the class web page: www.staff.fcps.net/kgill

Welcome to Advanced Physics, this class is designed to give you a strong understanding of forces and motion (first semester) and an introduction into energy, waves, electricity and cosmology (second semester). As a student in Advanced Physics you should be prepared to work with others, work with lab equipment, work with computers and present and justify your work in front of the class. You will work with a lab group of 3-4 people; these groups will change every 6 weeks. The adopted textbook for this site is Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems. You will be assigned a print copy of the textbook, an online copy of the textbook including self-check quizzes is also available (physicspp.com, for access code see iSchool site).

Basic Class Rules
*When the bell rings be in your seat with proper materials - stay in the correct designated area for all class activities.
*Do Not Sit On Tables
*Work during Work Times (do not talk off task, sleep, play computer or calculator games or work on homework for another class unless you have explicit permission to do so). 
*Show responsibility and integrity in your work and your actions.
*Follow all school rules. 
Reminder - Students may not use electronic devices or have them in public view during the instructional day.

Failure to comply with rules can result in one or more of the following: loss of "padding points" for the class, verbal warning, change in seating, confiscation of materials, failure to earn participation points, alternative assignments, conference, notification of parents, formal discipline report, removal from class.  

Grading (Grading Scale: Below 65: F, 65-73: D, 74-82: C, 83-91: B, 92-100: A)

Test Points- Tests and Projects: (50% of class grade)

• Written Tests (100 test points) will consist of multiple choice questions, problems and open response questions. Tests will be given at the end of each unit; each unit takes approximately three weeks. 
• Tests may also have a “Lab Practicum” (10 test points) section.  Lab Practicums involve students working together and using what they have learned to solve a physical challenge.  For example students may be asked to set up a projectile launcher to hit a given target.  
• Special Projects, such as Writing Portfolio Entries, may also be assigned and could count as a test grade.

Work Points- Labs, Activities, Homework, Warmups and Participation : (50% of class grade)

• LABS-  Students will design, conduct and evaluate an average of one laboratory activity per unit.  Labs (70-140 Work points) will often involve the use of technology and generally take several days.  Each unit may also include shorter hands-on activities (20-50 Work Points).
• WORKSHEETS/PROBLEMS- Some graded for accuracy, some checked for good faith effort, often the grade depends on a mix of both (10-100 Work Points each)
• INTERNET HOMEWORK- At least one set of graded problems will be assigned for each unit (40-140 Work Points)  using the University of Texas Web Homework site.
  • Step 1- Sign Up for University of Texas EID (Electronic Identification) at https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help/ select the "get a UT EID" option. Follow the directions provided there. Note: You MUST accept cookies in order to communicate with the EID web pages.
    • Record EID and password somewhere to keep for your records -- this is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
  • Step 2- Go to https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/
    • When you view "My Courses", if you don't see any courses listed, click "Enroll in new course".
    • Obtain the unique number for your class from your instructor and enter this when prompted.  Your instructor will be notified that you want to register, and you will see a status message indicating that your enrollment is pending. CLASS NUMBER: 40501
    • Your first graded assignment is to sign up for web homework before the end of the day on Friday, if you have difficulties and are unable to get signed up write an explanation of your experience and turn it in on Monday, also plan on coming in to class before or after school on Monday to work out the trouble.
  • Step 3- Read the Student Help Sheet https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/student/help/view (this is VERY IMPORTANT!)
  • Step 4-   After your enrollment is approved you will be able to go to https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/ "Pick up" homework and begin submitting answers. Choose My Courses to view your course listings, and then choose a course to see the assignments associated with that course.  Click on an individual assignment to see problems (if you wish to print choose .pdf option) and a form to submit your answers.  Problems have many different variations, so your assignment will be different from another student in your class. All assignments have due dates and your instructor has the option of displaying solutions after the due date has passed. You will NOT be able to submit work after the due date.  If you are unable to access the web homework site from home you may use the physics lab computers 8:00-8:25 a.m. and 3:15-3:40 p.m., the HC computer labs, or the Public Library. One homework grade may be replaced with an optional web homework assignment grade which will be given at the end of each semester.

    Tech Note: The UT EID System requires a standards-compliant web browser with support for SSL and with Javascript and cookies enabled. These are the browsers they support:

    • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher for Windows
    • Firefox 1.05 or higher
    • Mozilla 1.7 or higher
    • Safari 1.2 for Macintosh, not that IE on the Mac is not supported
• WARMUPS-  Warm-ups are 1 to 5 questions given almost every day during the first 5-10 minutes of class.   Students who work quietly during warmups, keep clear warm-up notes, work and corrections in their physics notebook, and get at least 50% of their answers correct will receive full credit for their warmups. (20-100 pts each unit)
• PARTICIPATION POINTS- At the end of each unit students will receive points based on being prepared for class, asking questions in class,  presenting their work, paying attention in class, contributing to class discussions, taking proper care of equipment, and contributing to a positive classroom environment.  (20-100 pts each unit)

Behavioral Expectations

Entering the Classroom- As you enter the classroom you are expected to check the table next to the door to see if there are any worksheets.  Pick up any new sheets and then move on into the room; do not linger in the doorway.  Pick up your designated "Clicker" devise and proceed to your seat.   When you get to your seat you should take out your writing utensil, paper and calculator and get ready for the warm-up. All students should be quiet and ready to begin class when the bell rings.

During Warm-ups- Do your own work.  No Talking—stay quiet until time is called.  If you finish early you may work on something else- quietly.

During Lecture or Student Presentations—no side conversations, raise hand to ask question or make comments.

During Lab or Group Work—work with lab group; do not wander around the room, stay on task.  Each student receives an individual grade for lab/group work based on their contribution and demonstration of understanding. Unsafe actions in lab will result in a zero for the lab.  A fee may be charged for broken lab equipment. To get help during a lab put your group’s numbered tile into the slot on the center lab island.

Use of Computers- The computers in the physics room are for academic purposes.  Students using computers must abide by Henry Clay’s “Acceptable Use” policy for technology.  Student’s violating the acceptable use policy will have technology privileges revoked.

End of Class- Do not pack up materials until the class has been verbally told it is OK, or the bell rings.  Stay in your seats, or standing next to your seats, until the bell rings.

Tests- all tests are individually taken, no talking/ communicating with others during a test.  Once you have turned in your test you will not be allowed to add any additional work -- make sure you have completed all parts of the exam before turning in your work! You must finish your test in the time allotted.

Materials:  Each student should have their own Graphing Calculator, writing utensils, paper, and 3-ring class notebook.  If a student occasionally needs to borrow materials they must do so discretely without disturbing the class.  A few calculators, pens and pencils and scrap paper will be available on the front bookcase.  Students may NOT share calculators with another student during warm-ups or tests.

After an Absence:

• If you have been absent and need to find out about assignments check the web page.  If you need more help, write down what the web page calendar says for the day you were absent, then bring this note and in and discuss the assignment with Ms. Gill before or after school.  Do not interrupt class time.
• Any sheets that were handed out on the day(s) you were absent will be in the paper stacks next to the printer in the entryway, you should pick them up the next time you enter the classroom.  Some sheets are also posted on the class web page.
• Any work due the first day you were absent is due the day you return. If you are absent the day before a test- you must take the test with the rest of the class. After you return to school you have the same number of days that you were absent +1 to make up missed work. Always turn in any missed work; even if the assignment is late some credit may be given for late assignments turned in within a reasonable time.
• If you miss a test on the first day of your absence be prepared to take the test during class on the day you return.

General Information about Physics Classes
Physics is the most basic of all the sciences in that it deals with the principles of energy and matter. It is also the most precise and mathematical. Physics and math compliment each other but are each unique in their own right. Mathematics  primarily focuses on the mechanics of solving equations. Physics involves being able to visualize problems, think creatively in general concepts, and set up the mathematics as a tool to get to the final answer.  Hopefully you will learn and understand mathematical concepts better after taking physics, but a physics class is not meant to be a step-by-step explanation of the mechanics of solving equations.  You should know how to solve basic equations before taking physics.

Because of the use of math, and the degree to which mathematical level predicts logic ability, Advanced/Academy Physics at Henry Clay requires that a student has completed Algebra II and is concurrently enrolled in the equivalent of  Pre-Calculus or higher. The Advanced/ Academy Physics class at Henry Clay combines aspects of a traditional Honors Physics course, the Mechanics portion of AP Physics C, and the Kentucky Program of Studies. If a student chooses to take a second year of Physics Henry Clay offers an AP Physics class which completes the AP Physics B and AP Physics C - Mechanics curriculum.  For more information about the AP curriculum see http://staff.fcps.net/kgill/ap.htm

Syllabus: Fayette County Curriculum Framework

1. Graphing/Mathematical Models/Scientific Methods/Technology (integrated into all units)–Weeks 1-3
2. Constant Velocity – Weeks 4-6
3. Constant Acceleration – Weeks 7-10
4. Forces (Statics) – Weeks 11-14
5. Forces (Dynamics) – Weeks 15-18
6. Energy – Weeks 19-22
7. Momentum – Weeks 23-25
8. Waves/Stars – Weeks 26-29
9. Electricity & Magnetism – Weeks 30-33 (This unit may be omitted due to time constraints)
10.  Multi-dimensional Motion (Projectiles, Circular Motion) – Weeks 34-36