PHYS.INFO.92.93 LASER



PHYSICS FIRST INFORMATION PACKET 2020 - 2021

Welcome to Physics First with me, Tom Vining, as your guide. This class is designed not only to teach you about physics but also to challenge you like you have never been challenged before. You will learn how to evaluate, analyze and solve problems, which will lead you to become a more comprehensive scholar that thinks on a higher level. We will explore many concepts, such as motion and sound, that you may have studied before only we will delve deeper into them and hopefully correct any misconceptions that you might have. Many students have told me that by the end of the year I had infected their minds to the point that almost everything they experience in their daily lives they now evaluate the physics involved. It is my goal to get you successfully through this new learning process and I will do everything I can to get you there. What I ask from you is that you try this new way of learning and question everything. Take notes at all times - there will be times that I am discussing a lab concept with you and this will actually be the lecture on the concept. Review your notes frequently (daily/weekly). When we start a new chapter read the chapter in your textbook over very quickly (do not read it for details). After we have discussed a specific concept in class go back and read the section(s) very carefully and take notes on your reading. Study your vocabulary list and LEARN the vocabulary – most of the vocabulary words will be used throughout the year so learn and understand them the first time. If you have a question do not be afraid to ask it, chances are several other students have the same question. If you don’t ask questions, I will assume you understand the material and will move on to new information which will only compound your misunderstanding, since most concepts build on prior concepts. Also if you encounter a word you are unfamiliar with look it up in the dictionary, on line, etc.. If you become frustrated or overwhelmed please come in and talk with me. You can either talk to during my office hours or email me at tvining@.

Some people say that I am intimidating - well yes, I guess I am - get over it. I am very direct and some people take this to mean I’m intimidating which can’t be further from the truth. You are going to meet numerous intimidating people in your life and most of us are real people who care about you and want the best for you, we just don’t show our emotions well. I tend to answer questions by asking you questions to get you to discover the answer yourself. When doing this it sometimes requires me to think very carefully about how to get you to the correct answer so if I give you a “you must be stupid” look that is not what I’m thinking, I am analyzing where to go with your question to lead you to the correct answer. One last thing that you should know about me, I am “somewhat” sarcastic and it should be taken as humor.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Students need to be ready for class when it starts with homework, lab materials, and any other necessary materials ready.

Appropriate conduct is expected at all times. Students must follow the SUSD Uniform Code of Conduct and dress code at all times.

Grades will be posted on Student View and I will attempt to post grades as quickly as possible.

We will be using computers in this class quite frequently. Along with other programs we will be using Microsoft Word and Excel.

Homework assignments will be posted on my web page as Microsoft Word documents or PDF files. At times you will be required to download and type your responses to the conceptual questions (the mathematical questions should be written out by hand). All assignments are posted online at . Since everything is posted online I will not accept any excuses for not having your work done.

Calculators are a useful tool in this class and each student must have their own calculator in class daily. It does not have to be a graphing calculator but it must have scientific and trigonometric functions (sine [sin], cosine [cos], tangent [tan] etc.) on it.

WORK LOAD

All assignments, due dates, and test dates will be posted on my web page in the form of a syllabus (class schedule). I will also post the unit vocabulary.

Homework will be assigned VERY frequently. Homework will be graded using multiple methods such as checked for completion, specific questions graded along with checking for completion and or collected and graded. YOU MUST ALWAYS SHOW YOUR WORK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT!!!

Laboratory is an extremely important component of this class and at times we will be in lab every day of the week.

There will be a test at the end of each unit and cumulative tests at the end of each semester. Unit tests will usually consist of both objective (multiple choice) questions and problems. Most of the problems will be similar to the homework and vary in difficulty. The last couple of problems will be less familiar and the most difficult. ALL TESTS ARE CUMULATIVE. A semester final will be given, that will be worth 15% of your final grade.

GRADING

Final grades will be determined on a 60% - 70% - 80% - 90% scale. Therefore 90% and above of the total points possible will earn an A, 80% - 89.9999% will earn a B, and etc.

ATTENDANCE and Preplanned absences

You will need to be on Teams at the start of your class period. If you are having problems getting online you must email me at tvining@ in the first 10 minutes of class. You must have your camera on at all times unless I instruct you otherwise. If a student misses a class, they are responsible for all material covered during that class session and should check the syllabus for any assignments. The student should obtain any missed notes from another member of the class.

If you know you will be missing class in advanced (preplanned absences) because of a field trip, sporting event, medical appointment, family trip etc. you MUST MAKE UP YOUR WORK BEFORE YOUR ABSENCES unless other arrangements have been made with me prior to your absences.

LATE WORK

Any extended assignments that you have more than 48 hours to complete will not be given late credit!  The extended assignment due dates are hard deadlines.  Students will be given these extended assignments in advance and they are responsible for getting the assignment in on time.  If you are ill or absent on the deadline for an extended assignment, or missing class for some other reason, it is your responsibility to get your assignment to me somehow on or before the due date. Failure to turn them in by the due date will result in receiving a zero on that extended assignment.  All assignments are posted online at .

Any assignment that is made and is due by the next class period will be graded based on the district science policy.

The district science policy on late work is that it will be accepted one day (24 hours) after the due date for 70% of the earned credit. After that time, students will receive an “NS” and it will be calculated as a zero for failure to submit the assignment. If a student has an unexcused absence on the day of an assessment (test, quiz or lab) the student will receive a zero for that assessment and will not be given the opportunity to make it up.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

All labs, homework assignments and a daily schedule (syllabus) are posted on my web page at .

There will be NO retakes on assesments.

To join remind text to the remind number is 81010. In the text put in the class code. For example period 7 would text @ a39chk to 81010.

You need to self-enroll in your Gizmos class. Use the Class Code below for your class and the Gizmos web address, . On the website, they should select Login/Enroll and enter their Class Code. The student will get two choices:

• I already have an ExploreLearning account, Login Now to Enroll

• I need to create an ExploreLearning account, Register Now to Enroll

Sign ups Remind Gizmos Google Classroom

Period 3 @ 902daf PLXLFF 2jv5wiy

Period 4 @ 902daf6 2P58PB 4xdxoau

Period 5 @ 902daf68 GB8PHH rb3mu6e

Period 7 @ a39chk XPT2P7 2fyangs

Contact information

Voice mail 484-7000 ext. 6977

Email Tvining@.

School Fax # 484-7001

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Disclaimer: Course information listed in this syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor will explain the rational for any variance as it occurs.

Dear Desert Mountain High School Parents,

Wonderful new technology is available that will allow the students of DMHS to truly understand the relationship between science and their everyday world, technologies that also give our children a competitive edge over students who do not have the same support. In the past, the Science Department had to rely on financial donations from the DMPTO and the “Wish List” in the Desert Mountain High School Wolf Pack Pride. Even with these infusions and the fact that SUSD continues to provide significant dollars for science, science department expenditures have continued to grow.

With the formation of a non-profit organization called the “Desert Mountain Boosters of Arts and Academics Inc.” (DMBAA), mechanisms are now in place for individuals and/or corporations to make donations that are fully tax deductible that will directly aid in funding the DMHS Science Department. These donations will allow DMHS to fund enriching lab experiments and other classroom activities that require new materials, instruments and supplies that are currently beyond DMHS’s budget. These new activities/supplies will give teachers greater flexibility within the lab to create new experiments and/or revise old experiments. Most importantly, the money collected will have an immediate impact on the education received by our children. The science boosters work directly with Stacey Rosenfeld, a veteran science teacher and a site Teacher Instructional Leader, who will be aided by the entire science department to ensure that all funds collected will be used to the best advantage of our children’s science education. Without funding, we risk stifling the scientific education necessary to encourage and stimulate the minds of our future scientists here at Desert Mountain High School.

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the “DMBAA – Science Boosters”, please complete the bottom section of this form and return it to:

DMBAA – Science Boosters

Attn: Stacey Rosenfeld

Desert Mountain High School

12575 E Via Linda

Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Sincerely,

DMBAA – Science Boosters

Name: ____________________________ Telephone:_______________ E-mail: ___________________

Yes, I would like to support my child’s science class with the following tax-deductible donation to the DMBAA – Science Boosters

$12.00 $25.00 $50.00

$100.00 Other

My company makes matching donations to 501 (c) 3 non-profit organizations

I know companies that give grants to science classes or non-profits that benefit the sciences.

DESERT MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

“WISH LIST”

Physics teachers are well known for their use of a wide variety of equipment, apparatus, and ‘stuff’ in the classroom.

We are always on the lookout for the material that will help to make a more powerful demonstration, or can be utilized in an investigative lab. If you have any of the below items cluttering up your garage, or something else that you feel we might be able to utilize, and would like to give them a good home, please send them our way and we will be happy to put them to good use.

The DMHS Physics Department

-Kite String

-Tissues (Kleenex)

-Pencils

-Plastic drop cloths

-Batteries (AAA, AA and 9 volt)

-Tennis Balls

-Marbles (glass)

-Blue Painter (Masking) tape ¾ inch and ½ inch

-Balloons 4”, 5”, 9” and air ship (long balloons but not the animal type)

-Match Box/Hot Wheels track, launchers, loop and jumps.

-Wind up cars (or the pull back type)

-Music boxes

-Any miscellaneous stuff you think we might use

-Freshly baked cookies & brownies

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