PHYSICS
 

Platte Canyon High School
Bailey, Colorado

Physics Main Page

COURSE OUTLINE

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Units and Problem Solving

Measuring, the Metric System, Dimensional Analysis, Unit Conversions, Significant Figures, and Problem Solving

Kinematics: Description of Motion

Distance and Displacement, Speed and Velocity, Acceleration, Kinematic Equations, and Freefall

Motion in Two Dimensions

Components of Motion, Vector Addition and Subtraction, Relative Velocity, and Projectile Motion

Force and Motion

The Concept of Force and Net Force, Inertia and Newton's First Law of Motion, Newton's Second Law of Motion, Applications of Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law of Motion, and Friction

Work and Energy

Work done by a Constant Force, Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, The Conservation of Energy, and Power.

Momentum and Collisions

Linear Momentum, the Conservation of Momentum, Impulse, Elastic and Inelastic Collisions, and the Center of Mass

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Angular Measure, Angular Speed and Velocity, Uniform Circular Motion and Centripetal Acceleration, Angular Acceleration , Newton's Law of Gravitation, and Kepler's Laws.

Solids and Fluids

Solids, Fluids, Pressure and Pascal's Principle, Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle, Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Fluid Dynamics and Bernoulli's Equation, Viscosity, Poiseuille's Law and Reynolds Number.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics Systems, States and Processes; the First Law of Thermodynamics, The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy.

Vibrations and Waves

Simple Harmonic Motion, Equations of Motion, Wave Motion, Wave Phenomena, Standing Waves and Resonance.

Sound

Sound Waves, The Speed of Sound, Sound Intensity, Sound Phenomena, and the Doppler Effect.

Geometrical Optics: Reflection and Refraction of Light

Wave Fronts and Rays, Reflections, Refractions, Total Internal Reflection and Fiber Optics, and Dispersion.

Mirrors and Lenses

Plane Mirrors, Spherical Mirrors, Lenses, and Lens Aberrations.

Electric Charge, Forces and Fields

Electric Charge, Electrostatic Charging, Electric Force, Electric Field, Conductors and Electric Fields.

Electric Potential, Energy, and Capacitance

Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference, Equipotential Surfaces and the Electric Field, Capacitance, Dielectrics, and Capacitors.

Electric Current and Resistance

Batteries and Direct Current, Current and Drift Velocity, Resistance and Ohm's Law, and Electric Power.

Basic Electric Circuits

Resistances in Series, Parallel and Series-Parallel Combinations, Ammeters and Voltmeters, Household Circuits and Electrical Safety.

Magnetism

Magnets and Magnetic Poles, Electromagnetism, Magnetic Forces, and the Source of Magnetic Fields, Magnetic Materials, and Applications of Electromagnetism.

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