Java Applets:
http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/
Ideas for lectures & demos: Professor Walter Lewin (MIT) http://ocw.mit.edu/highschool/demonstrations-on-video/ Professor Paul Hewitt (CCSF)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vUzS9b_0IE&playnext=1&list=PL864C2EB8C035DB4B&
feature=results_main
1 week Intro and Review of the basics and pre-requisites: metric prefixes, dimensional analysis,
precision vs. accuracy, significant figures, dependent vs. independent variables, graphs and
relationships, manipulation of algebraic equations (using variables other than x and y, and
solving before plugging numbers), etc.
2 weeks 1 D motion / kinematics: frame of reference. velocity & acceleration in scalar quantity.
Average vs. instantaneous velocity. Interpretation of the d vs. t relationship in graphs. Freefall, terminal velocity, Galileo’s law of odd integers.
2-3 weeks 2 D motion: projectile, distance vs. displacement, understand vector components and how
to do vector additions (graphically & mathematically), trig functions (SOH CAH TOA).
2-3 weeks Newton’s laws: 1st, 2nd, 3rd laws, weight vs. mass, static vs. kinetic frictions, incline plane,
free body diagram
2 weeks Work & energy: work, potential vs. kinetic energy, conservation of energy, power, simple
machines, dot product (vector), Hooke’s law
2 weeks Momentum & collisions: momentum & impulse, conservation of momentum, recoil,
elastic vs. inelastic collisions.
2 week Rotational motion & law of gravity: angular velocity/acceleration, centripetal
acceleration/force, tangential speed/acceleration, conservation of angular momentum,
Kepler’s laws, inverse-square law, satellite.
1+ week Vibrations & waves: SHM, period/amplitude/wavelength, Hooke’s law, spring/pendulum,
conservation of energy, transverse vs. longitudinal waves, constructive vs. destructive
interferences, free vs. fixed boundary reflections, superposition principle.
1+ week Sound: compression/rarefaction, wave medium/propagation, wave-front, ultra/infrasonic,
Doppler effect, forced vs. sympathetic vibrations, resonance, harmonics, open vs. closed
pipe, pitch/timbre/beat.
3 weeks Electric charge, force & field; Electrical energy & capacitance: charge by conductions vs.
induction, conductor vs. insulator, field force, conservation of charge, Coulomb’s Law,
Faraday’s cage, Van de Graaff generator, electric potential energy, voltage/potential
difference, capacitors, electric dipole, dielectric, permittivity.
3 weeks Current & resistance; circuits: drift speed, direct vs. alternate current, electrical resistance,
Ohm’s law, electric power, load, open/closed/short circuits, schematic diagrams, loop vs.
junction rules, series/parallel/combination, circuit breaker vs. fuse.
3 weeks Magnetism; Induction: magnetic field, permanent vs. temporary magnets, magnetic
domain, right-hand rule, solenoid, Oersted’s discovery, electromagnetic induction, emf,
magnetic flux, generator vs. motor, transformer, Lenz’s law.
3 weeks Heat; Thermodynamics: temperature vs. internal energy vs. heat, thermal equilibrium,
specific heat capacity, latent heat, heat of fusion, heat of vaporization, phase change, 1st
law, 0th law, 2nd law, thermal conduction, convection, radiation, heat engine, refrigerator,
cyclic process, efficiency, entropy, isothermal vs. adiabatic processes.
3 weeks Light (reflections & refractions): EM spectrum, plane/concave/convex mirrors, law of
reflection, ray diagram, mirror equation, spherical aberration, glare, polarization, index of
refraction, critical angle, real vs. virtual images, diverging/converging lenses, Snell’s law,
chromatic aberration.