Clarke County
High School
Physics Syllabus – Fall 2012
Instructor: Ms. Butts
Room: 139
E-mail: abutts@clarkecountyschools.org
Course Description: This course provides students with the fundamental concepts of physics and is
designed for students who are planning to attend college (particularly the sciences, medicine, or
engineering). The major topics covered are mechanics, energy, electricity and magnetism, waves,
and modern physics. Additional topics include motion in a plane, internal energy, optics, and nuclear
physics. This class includes laboratory work and lab reports.
Grading:
40% Test Grades
60% Daily Grades
 Tests may include chapter exams, quarterly notebook checks, and major projects.
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Lab reports are required on some labs. Major lab reports will be counted as a test grade.
Major Projects - projects may be assigned throughout the year. Each project will include a
handout of details, expectations, and grading.
 Daily work may include class work, homework, pop quizzes, labs, activities, random notebook
checks, as well as participation.
 You will also have a nine-week test (cumulative) at the end of each quarter. This test will
count 25% of your quarter grade.
Supplies:
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3-ringed binder (1½ or 2 inch)
Loose leaf paper
Dividers
Pen or pencil
Calculator
Folder (to store all graded test materials)
Class Policies:
• Makeup Work
- If you are absent it is your responsibility to obtain any assignments you missed while you were
gone. You have two school days after your return to make up your daily work. You have four
school days to make up any missed exams. Missed exams must be taken after school within
the time allowed. If you are absent during a lab you must make special arrangements to get an
alternative assignment.
• Cheating/ Plagiarism
- Cheating on a test or assignment will result in a grade of zero for all involved.
- Data for lab reports must be taken during lab. Copying of lab data after lab is not allowed.
- Each student is responsible for individual lab reports unless specifically stated by teacher.
Classroom Expectations:
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BE PROMPT: Students are expected to be in their seat and ready when the bell rings.
BE PREPARED: Materials (textbook, pencil, paper, and notebook) must be brought to class
each day. You will lose participation points if you are not prepared to learn.
BE POSITIVE: The key to success in this class is your attitude, so keep a positive one.
BE PRODUCTIVE: Stay on task, follow the instructions, and get all your work done on time.
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BE POLITE: Treat everyone with respect.
The room must be clean at the end of the period before leaving.
All school rules will be followed as stated in the student handbook.
Keys for Success in Physics
 Have a positive attitude!
 I am here to help you succeed, so feel free to ask me for help. I am available after school in my
room. Ask lots of questions. If you are unclear about something from the textbook, lab, or from
discussion, ask me.
 Start studying for tests early. By studying and reviewing each night you are not only helping to
prepare for the test more effectively, you are also more prepared for class each day and any
quizzes that may be given.
Tentative Schedule
WEEK
Standards/Objectives
(Students will be able to)
Week 1
Aug 20-24
Introduction. Metrics and conversions (dimensional analysis), graphing, data interpretation, types of energy (KE, PE,
and GPE), temperature conversions
Week 2
Aug 27-31
Explain linear, uniform circular and projectile motions using one- and two-dimensional vectors. Explain the
significance of slope and area under a curve when graphing distance-time or velocity-time data.
Week 3
Sept 4 - 7
(4 days)
Week 4
Sept 10-14
Week 5
Sept 17-21
Week 6
Sept 24-28
Explain linear, uniform circular and projectile motions using one- and two-dimensional vectors. Describe forces
acting on an object. Examples: draw a free-body diagram showing all forces acting on an object and resultant effects of
friction, gravity, and normal force on an object sliding down an incline plane.
Define the law of conservation of momentum. Calculate the momentum of a single object. Calculate the momentum
of two objects before and after collision in one-dimensional motion.
Explain planetary motion and navigation in space in terms of Kepler’s and Newton’s laws.
Describe quantitative relationships for velocity, acceleration, force, work, power, potential energy, and kinetic
energy.
Week 7
Oct 1-5
Week 10
Oct 22-26
Week 11
Oct 29– Nov 2
Week 12
Nov 5 - 9
Week 13
Nov 13-16
(4 Days)
Explain the concept of entropy as it relates to heating and cooling, using the laws of thermodynamics. Using
qualitative and quantitative methods to show the relationship between changes in heat energy and changes in
temperature.
Describe wave behavior in terms of reflection, refraction, diffraction, constructive and destructive wave
interference, and Doppler effect. Demonstrating particle and wave duality. (Subatomic particles). Explaining reasons
for differences in speed, frequency, and wavelength of a propagating wave in varying materials. Describing the change
of wave speed in different media.
Describe properties of reflection, refraction, and diffraction constructive and destructive wave interference, and
Doppler effect. Describing uses of different component of the EM spectrum, including radio waves, microwaves, IR
radiation, visible light, UV radiation , X-rays, and gamma radiation.
Describe wave behavior in terms of reflection, refraction and diffraction. Trace the path of a reflected light ray;
predict the formation of reflected images through tracing of rays. Demonstrate the path of light through mirrors, lenses
and prisms. Trace the path of a refracted light ray through prisms using Snell’s law. Describe the effect of filters and
polarization of the transmission of light.
Week 14
Nov 19 -20
(2 days)
Summarize similarities in the calculation of electrical, magnetic, and gravitational forces between objects.
Determine the force on charged particles using Coulomb’s Law. Field lines.
Week 15
Nov 26 –30
Week 16
Dec 3-7
Describe quantitative relationships among charge, current, electrical potential energy, potential difference,
resistance, and electrical power for simple series, parallel, or combination direct current (DC) circuits.