Name:
Physics Syllabus
2013-2014
Teacher Information:
Mrs. Alyson Bechtum
BechtumA@usd231.com
Room 514
913-856-2684
Main Ideas:
Mrs.
Bechtum’s
Schedule:
(Schoology
Student Access
Code)
Details:
Before School—Usually available for help.
Block 1: Chemistry (NJ7NG-8SNKP)
Block 2: Chemistry (6Q36G-53XTF)
Block 5: Physics (RPJ79-TFKQ4)
Block 6: Chemistry (J3NDC-J56NX)
Block 7: Physics (NXMC2-XB285)
Block 8: PLANNING (MWF)
Block 9: PLANNING (MTR)
Block 10: Physics (64342-45775)
After School—Available for help until 4pm.
Connections:
Course
Objectives:



Daily
Expectations:

Take responsibility for your learning by:
o attending class
o bringing required materials to class
o participating in all activities
o asking questions
o keeping materials updated and organized
o following lab safety guidelines.
In this course, you will be
asked to practice and
improve the skills
necessary to enable you to
start thinking about the
workings of physics in our
everyday life.
These are expectations and
skills that are needed to be
successful in all areas of
your academic life.


Demonstrate academic integrity.
Most importantly, RESPECT your classmates,
teacher, property, and any other person in the
classroom.
NO FOOD, DRINK, CELL PHONES, or
BACKPACKS are allowed in the classroom!
To be a productive member of a team.
To be a problem solver in physics.
To prepare for entrance into post-secondary
education.
All of these objectives require you to use critical
scientific thinking skills.

Required
Materials:
Please bring the following to class each day:
 Pen/Pencil
 Notebook/Paper
 Scientific calculator (graphing NOT required)
 Assignments/Practice Sheets
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
 3-ring binder with loose leaf paper
 Page/binder dividers (minimum of 5)
 Colored pen (for modifying thinking)
Textbook Information:
Conceptual Physics, 3rd Edition, Hewitt 1999
If you need help, please
just ask and we can set up
a time. Please bring a list
of specific questions/topics
that need to be addressed.
Teasing, Bullying, and
Cursing will NOT be
tolerated.
Being successful means
being prepared and
organized!
Main Ideas:
Grading:
Engineering
Challenges
Supporting Details:
Graded Assignments can be viewed by
logging into Family Access.
Connections:
Missed Exams or
Assignments: If a student
misses an exam he/she will
60% of your course grade is determined have one week from the date
by:
the test was given to make it
up. The student must setup a
 tests
time with the teacher to make
40% of your course grade is determined up the exam. Students will not
be allowed to make up an
by:
exam during seminar.
 quizzes
 practice problems
If a student is sick and
 labs/investigations
misses an assignment then
 engineering challenge (s)
he/she has two class periods
 and other assigned tasks
from the day missed to hand it
in for full credit.
20% of the overall semester grade will
be from the semester final.
If a student is to miss a lab
they are strongly encouraged
Grading Scale
to make up the lab as they are
93-100%
A
learning opportunities. If you
90-92%
Amiss a lab you will be
87-89%
B+
responsible for scheduling a
83-86%
B
time to complete the missing
80-82%
Blab within two weeks.
77-79%
C+
73-76%
C
70-72%
CLate Work:
67-69%
D+
Late work will be accepted up
63-66%
D
until the unit test. Penalty for
60-62%
Dlate work is 50%.
< 59%
F
Retesting Policy:
The student has two weeks from the date they
take their original test to come in and retest.
To be eligible to retest, students will have to
complete a set of “qualifiers” which will be
practice sheets that show student mastery of
concepts presented throughout the unit. Once
students complete the qualifiers, they will be
eligible to schedule a date to retest. The score
from the second test is the final score.
Students may not earn more than an 89% on
the retest.
 1 or more per semester
 Multiple level problems for students to
apply/demonstrate content mastery.
 Will be done in groups with each student
accountable for producing a report.
See Student Handbook for More Information.
The grade of Incomplete
(INC) is given when students
have not completed enough
work for learning to be
assessed. Any work not
completed will earn an
incomplete grade until the
work is completed and
learning can be assessed, this
is due by the end of the unit.
Applying multiple Physics
concepts to everyday life
situations.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com and Microsoft Office.
Main Ideas:
Schoology
and Binders:
Units of
Study:
Supporting Details:
 Most assignments, practice opportunities,
class notes, major announcements, and
resources will be uploaded to the Course
Schoology Page in addition to addressed
in class.
 Students are strongly encouraged to
reference the Course Schoology Page for
missed learning or for additional
resources or clarification.
 Please see student access codes listed
above in Mrs. Bechtum’s schedule.
 All notes and practice work should be
kept in your binder.
 Binders need to be kept updated and
organized.
Unit 1: Measurement
Connections:
If you miss class you
will be responsible for
the learning you
missed. (Please utilize
Schoology)
Schoology is NOT a
substitute for class
time/learning but a
complimentary
resource.
www.schoology.com
Can one move without
accelerating?
Unit 2: Kinematics/ Motion
Unit 3: Projectile Motion and Free-Fall
Unit 4: Forces (Statics and Dynamics)
Unit 5: Momentum and Impulse
Unit 6: Energy, Work, Power
Unit 7: Circular Motion, Torque, and
Gravitation
Unit 8: Properties of Matter
Unit 9: Thermodynamics/Heat
Unit 10: Waves (Light and Sound)
Unit 11: Electrostatics and Circuits
How can an athlete in your
sport improve their
performance using one of
Newton’s three laws of
motion?
What variables can you
manipulate to affect the
movement of objects?
How do you know
something has energy? In
what ways do we witness the
effects of something having
energy?
Where do waves come
from? How do waves carry
energy?
What determines the colors
you see in nature? How can
physical matter impact the
behavior of light?
How are electric currents
used in our everyday lives?
Unit 12: Fission vs. Fusion
See Student Handbook for More Information.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com and Microsoft Office.
See Student Handbook for More Information.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com and Microsoft Office.