The Higher Level Physics class will provide the students with the opportunity, knowledge and incentive to apply mathematics and technology toward the appreciation, analysis and solution of real world technological and scientific problems.

1. To provide the opportunities for scientific study in the various fields of Physics.

2. To provide a stimulating challenge for all students.

3. To raise the awareness of the implications of new technology.

4. To encourage an understanding of the interactions between Physics and other scientific disciplines.

5. To appreciate the equipment and technology developed by modern scientific investigation.

1. Develop the skills and techniques associated with scientific investigation and instrumentation.

2. Develop the concepts necessary for the independent verification of the natural laws of physics.

3. Gain an appreciation of the physical laws of nature through mathematical applications.

4. Apply the concepts and techniques necessary to make independent judgments and verifications.

5. Develop an ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize scientific information through applications found in the real world.

6. Appreciate the historical background of modern society's technology.

Texts:

College Physics, Serway

College Physics, Sears, et. al.

Physics for the Inquiring Mind, Rogers

College Physics, Miller

Physics, Its Methods and Meanings, Taffel

Physics - Principles and Problems, Zitzewitz and Neff

Laboratory Manual - Advanced Physics Experiments, R. Coleman (Portions attached)

Suggested Reading:

Mr. Tompkins in Paperback by Gamow

Flatland by Abbott

Internal Assessments:

Tests

Laboratory experiments

Portfolio

Outside projects

Participation in various contests, i.e. International Bridge Building Contest, Mouse Trap Car Races, IIT100, etc.

Alternate assessments, i.e., student demonstrations and presentations

Homework

1. Measurement (2 hours)

Standards

Graphical techniques

Error analysis

2. Vectors (3 hours)

Introduction to Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration and Fields

3. Mechanics (35 hours)

Uniform and accelerated motion in one and two dimensions (Experiments 1, 3 and 5)

Newton's laws of motion (Experiment 7)

Friction

Simple harmonic and circular motion (Experiments 6, 8 and 9)

Work, energy and power

Conservation principles including momentum (Experiment 4)

Mechanics Extension (20 hours)

Statics (Experiments 13 and 14)

Linear equilibrium

Rotational equilibrium (including torque)

Rotational dynamics (Experiments 16, 17 and 18)

Newton's law of universal gravitation and gravitational fields

Energy (20 hours)

Conservation principles

Sources of useable energy

Transmission

Conversion methods and efficiency

Conservation

Einstein's equations

Biomedical Physics (20 hours)

Fluid statics and dynamics (Experiment 12)

Skeletal and muscular interactions

Human limitations

Simple and complex machines

Effects of weightlessness and long term space travel

Radiation effects

4. Heat and Thermodynamics (25 hours)

Thermal concepts (Experiments 23 and 24)

Thermal properties of gasses (Experiment 25)

The gas laws (Experiments 19 and 20)

Heat capacity and transfer (Experiments 21 and 22)

The three laws of thermodynamics

5. Waves and Optics (35 hours)

Travelling wave characteristics and behavior (Experiment 39)

Standing waves and resonance

Sound and hearing (Experiment 40)

Light (Experiments 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46)

Mirrors and lenses

The Doppler effect

6. Electricity and Magnetism (45 hours)

Electrical charge and fields (Experiments 26, 27, 28, 32 and 33)

Static electricity including Coulomb's Law (Experiment 29)

Electric current

DC circuits, including series and parallel resistors and cells

(Experiment 31)

AC circuits, including capacitors and RC oscillators (Experiment 36)

Magnetism and magnetic fields (Experiment 34)

Electromagnetic induction (Experiment 35 and 37)

Transformers

Resonance (Experiment 38)

Electromagnetic transmission and reception (Motorola electronics kit)

Logic circuits

Computer electronics

7. Atomic, Nuclear and Modern (15 hours)

Atomic structure (Experiments 47 and 48)

Nuclear interactions (Experiments 49 and 50)

Modern Physics

8. Group 4 Project (20 hours)

A mechanical and environmental study of the swimming pool area with the goal of providing suggestions to reduce the maintenance required and improve health and safety factors. The mechanical study will focus on two main areas: 1) pumps and filters to provide engineering suggestions to improve the reliability of the system and 2) the structural problems for a high humidity interior. The environmental study will focus on the effects of the varying amounts of chlorine in the water and the methods needed to insure both clean water and clean deck areas without producing adverse effects on the students and faculty that use the pool. (Experiment 41)

 9. Facilities and Resources

The Physics classroom/laboratory is currently set up and equipped to teach Advanced Placement Physics. In addition, through the contacts which have been established with the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago State University (CSU), the equipment needed for the most sophisticated experiments can be made available for student research.

Needs:

Upon the successful completion of the proposed rehab of the labs, the physical facilities will be among the best in the city. With the exception of those pieces of equipment available on a limited basis through IIT and CSU, the only item which will be needed to completely implement the proposed experimental research is one or more quality oscilloscopes.