Who takes Honor's Physics?  Juniors or seniors that excel in math and science and who are interested in learning the physical principles that explain everyday occurrences.  Officially, students must have satisfactorily completed chemistry and satisfactorily completed, or be currently enrolled in, advanced algebra.  Once these requirements are met, students are selected to be in Honor's Physics based on receiving an A or B in Honors Chemistry or an A in Chemistry, the student’s level of success in previous math courses, teacher recommendation, and test scores.

What topics are covered in Honor's Physics?  In general, Physics is the study of matter and energy.  In non-technical terms, students will study the motion and movement of different stuff.  More specifically, we cover:

• Units and Problem solving
• Kinematics: Description of motion
• Motions in Two Dimensions
• Force and Motion
• Work and Energy
• Momentum and Collisions
• Circular Motion and Gravitation
• Rotational Motion and Equilibrium
• Solids and Fluids
• Temperature, Heat, and Thermodynamics
• Vibrations and Waves
• Sound
• Light and Electromagnetic waves
• Color and Thin Film Interference
• Diffraction, Polarization, Reflection and Refraction of Light
• Mirrors and Lenses
• Electrical Charge, Forces, and Fields
• Electric Potential, Energy, and Capacitance
• Electric Current
• Electric Circuit Basics
• Magnetism

Students will be asked to work in groups and individually to test certain physics principles.  During the investigations, students will utilize high-level math skills and computers to analyze data.

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What is the difference between Honors and Regular Physics? Honors Physics covers more topics than regular physics, therefore we must move at a faster pace.  To do this, students are expected to work hard at using their problem solving skills to successfully complete assignments.  In addition to more topics, we discuss some elements of physics in more detail than the regular physics class.  This higher detail often involves more algebraic manipulation and computation, requiring students to already have a comfortable grasp of algebra and algebraic functions.  Finally, because it is a honors level course, semester grades in Honors Physics are considered weighted grades.

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How are grades determined? All assignments are given point values based on the quantity and difficulty of the work.  Each assignment can be categorized into one of the following types of assignments.  Each category is then weighted according to the chart below to determine the final grade:

Because of this weighting system, it can be difficult for students to keep track of their own grades.  To minimize this effect, and in an attempt to keep both students and parents informed of the student's progress, I post the current grades online at least once a week.

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State Standards There is a growing need to insure that students are meeting state learning standards.  The current Honors Physics curriculum has been aligned with the Illinois State Learning Standards.  If you would like, you can download this file*, which shows how this course meets these standards.