HONORS PHYSICS - 06-07



Teacher: Brit Britton Phone: 281-634-4563 Email: brit.britton@Welcome to AP Physics 1Welcome to AP Physics 1. This is the 3rd year that this course has existed. This year we will cover everything that college physics would do in 1 semester. It’s a great way to learn physics at a more reasonable pace. So what can you expect to take away from this class? Our emphasis will be on thinking and reasoning; discovering relationships between facts and the patterns that exist in nature, and develop the logic that relates different topics. Simply put, physics is the reason things happen. Physics explains the basic laws of the universe.Like any subject, physics is best learned by doing. A good analogy would be playing the piano. If I lectured about how to play the piano all week long for an hour a day and then I gave you a piano to play you would have a really hard time. Making mistakes is required. “Doing physics” in this class means thinking, reasoning & solving questions by applying what you have learned to answer questions. When you are given a homework assignment, you may be tempted to simply look for a formula, and plug and chug. This isn’t how to do physics; if it was, why would we bother with a whole class? In this class, you will learn to reason, a skill that will be helpful for the rest of your life. If someone tells me an answer I’ll forget it in a few days. If someone teaches me how to logically find a solution, I’ll remember that forever.This year we will cover 10 Topics: Motion, Forces, Gravity, Linear Momentum, Work and Energy, Rotational Motion (A whole bunch of this), Electrostatics, Simple DC Circuits, Oscillations and Mechanical Waves. While that may not seem like much, these topics will be covered in more depth than in previous years so the pace of this class will move quickly. Geometry and Trigonometric functions will be applied regularly, so make sure your math skills aren’t rusty. If you already get math, physics should be fairly easy for you. If you don’t think you’re all that great in math, physics can help. If you ever want to practice a little more, just let me know and I’ll help.In AP Physics 1 there will be one project per semester. Each counts as a major grade. Students will be informed at least 5 weeks in advance of when the projects are due. To be honest the Physics 1 team hasn’t decided which projects we’d like to do this year. We’ll keep you informed.Expectations: Prompt: Be on time to class.Prepared: Do your homework and practice your skills.Polite: Be respectful to each other. Don’t pollute other’s learning environment.Productive: Use class time wisely, and actively work on learning and practicing your physics skills.Never laugh at others for asking questions, no matter how silly they may seem; all questions are good questions…sometimes the weirdest questions are the most interesting. It takes a brave and intelligent person to admit they don’t know something. I admire that characteristic in people. I actually like to write that in recommendation letters for college. Although I seem very easy going I cannot tolerate horseplay in the lab. It is a safety issue. Students are verbally warned once and required to wear safety glasses for the remainder of the lab. Any infractions after that result in a conduct referral and expulsion from the lab. We have some VERY expensive toys and I get mad when they get broken. Grading: As in most classes here at AHS 50% daily grades 50% major grades. Daily grades consist of: Homework, Take Home Quizzes, In-Class Quizzes, Lab Activities, etc.Major grades consist of: Test & Design Projects [pending]How to get an ‘A’ in AP physics: Sign up for my EdX course. Goto , search for Physics, look for the ‘One Egg’Actively participate in class! Take good notes. Make lots of mistakes & learn from them.Ask questions all the time. Apply techniques from class to homework and other assignments.Form study groups/connections/buddies.See me for tutoring as soon as you feel like you need additional help. An excellent resource is the Princeton Review book called “Cracking the AP Physics 1 Exam”Retesting – this option may be made available for students scoring less than 75 percent on a major exam. Students must attend a tutorial session or complete other approved remediation activities prior to taking the retest. The maximum score that may be earned on a retest is 75 percent.Tutorials: I stay after every Tuesday and Thursday until 3:45. No matter how busy I look, my primary duty is to help you succeed. If you stop by and it looks hectic in my room…that’s just how it is. There’s always something going on in my room. Just let me know you’ve got questions and I’ll help; even if it’s not physicsJust so you know, I love my job. I can’t imagine doing anything more rewarding than inspiring young adults like you to learn. My goal is to teach you as much physics as you can possible learn in a year AND I hope we can have a lot of fun doing it. I am confident that you’ll be prepared to pass the AP test in May and be ready to take Physics C or Physics 2 next year.Thank you very much! Brit BrittonAP Physics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The section below is to be signed by you and your parent/guardian. Return to Mr. BrittonThis will be combined with your Lab Safety Quiz.I have read the course description and clearly understand what is expected of me. I agree to abide by these standards and behaviors and understand that my conduct is my responsibility and I will be held accountable for my actions. Student’s Name (PRINTED): _____________________________________________ Class period:_______Student Signature: _________________________________________________ Date: _________________Parent Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: _________________ ................
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