Honors Physics
Honors Physics Online High School Course
COURSE LENGTH:
Full Year (30 Sessions)
Course Overview
Honors Physics is an advanced algebra-based physics course, designed for students with a strong interest in science, math, and problem-solving looking for a fast-paced and challenging course. It is a full-year course that covers mechanics, electrodynamics, and modern physics over the course of thirty synchronous meetings. The course moves at a fast pace, with three homework assignments and one assessment due every meeting as well as one laboratory assignment every other week. As a prerequisite, students should have completed the equivalent of Algebra II and be comfortable using and solving basic trigonometric functions. Students will be assessed from assessments and labs. The pace of coverage of the course is designed to allow interested students the opportunity to take the AP Exams in Physics 1 and 2, but that is not a requirement of the course. The course is organized into two components, each corresponding to one of the AP exams. Modules 1-5 cover material for the AP Physics 1 exam: mechanics, dynamics, energy and momentum, circular and simple harmonic motion, and sound waves. Modules 6-10 cover material for the AP Physics 2 exam: electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, light and optics, and modern physics. For more comprehensive preparation for the exam, students are encouraged to take the five-meeting long supplement to the course, covering torque and thermodynamics.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Increase students’ understanding of natural laws in mechanics, electromagnetism, and modern physics;
Develop students’ curiosity about physical phenomena;
Enhance students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills;
Enhance students’ scientific language proficiency (e.g., use of scientific discourse, writing of lab reports, etc)
Increase students’ ability to connect physical concepts, principles, and laws to the solution of real world problems