 Physics 2008-2009 |
Physics 2008-2009 |
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General Information Student Scores How to Fail This Class --- PDF Library --- General Information Syllabus Writing a Physics Lab Report How to Graph (Middle school handout, but still very helpful!) Lab Safety Assignment Sheets: |
General InformationClass Time: Wednesdays, 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.Location: Bethany Collegiate Church, Route 1 & Concord Road, Havertown, PA Teacher: Lisa Swieson (610.355.9174, LSwieson@science-resources.org) Textbook: Physics: Principles and Problems (Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, ©2002) and Student Lab Manual Overview. This is a rigorous physics course, appropriate for all college-bound students, especially those planning to major in science or engineering. Students should be motivated and willing to work hard. Students will gain an understanding of basic principles and apply math skills to the solution of physics problems. Weekly labs will give students hands-on opportunities to apply concepts learned. Class Particulars: Each week, the first 45-60 minutes of class will be spent reviewing assignments and preparing for lab. The remainder of the time will be in lab. I hope to schedule a field trip at the end of the school year. The last class session of each term will be devoted to a practical lab exam. Supply List: The following items will be necessary for most labs – each student should have:
Dress Code: Students should wear comfortable (not baggy) clothing that is easily washable or that you don’t mind getting dirty. Long hair must be tied back. No open-toed shoes, bracelets, rings, or loose jewelry should be worn. Protective gloves, aprons, and safety glasses will be provided when needed. Assignments: Each student will receive an assignment sheet, which will list all of the assignments for several weeks at a time. (Assignments will also be posted in the PDF library on the left.) The assignment sheet can also be used to track hours or days, if desired. Assignments will include:
Grades: All written work will be used to calculate each student’s grades. Class participation will be used to determine borderline grades, and lab technique figures into the lab scores. In calculating grades, I will drop each student’s lowest lab score each semester (two per year) and his/her lowest test score for the year. Grades will be calculated as follows: General
Absence: I realize that students may need to miss class once or twice for illness or family obligations. If your child must miss class, please let me know ahead of time. Even so, students are responsible for the material they missed – homework assignments must still be completed and handed in, and, though the lab itself cannot usually be made up, students must understand the principles investigated during lab. Note that, since the student’s lowest lab score will be dropped each term, absence need not affect that portion of the student’s grade, unless the student misses more than one lab each term. Lab Safety: It is essential that lab safety rules be followed carefully. Remember, students who repeatedly ignore these rules are putting themselves and their classmates at risk and will be suspended from class with no refund. In addition, students will be expected to pay for equipment that they break. About Your Textbook: Within each chapter is a one-page feature about real-world physics (“How It Works,” “Physics and Society,” etc.). I encourage you to read these when you get to them, but you do not have to answer the questions. In the back of your textbook is a Math Handbook. All of these pages should be review, so if your math is a little rusty, please go over pages 737-747 before our first class. SCIENCE Resources will buy back your textbook at the end of the year for one-half the price you paid for it (i.e., for $31.00) if it is in good condition – no writing (other than your name in the front), no dog-eared or torn pages, no spills, etc. To help keep it in good condition, I recommend putting a book cover on it. I plan to teach this class again in 3 years, so if you have a younger sibling, you may want to keep it. The Lab Manual is a consumable workbook and cannot be sold back. (This does not apply to Cornerstone students, who did not purchase their textbooks.) |
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by Lisa Swieson ©2008 SCIENCE Resources Last modified: 6 January 2009 |