This course will cover major areas of physics including kinematics, forces, energy, momentum, rotational mechanics, fluids, heat, thermodynamics, waves, sound, optics, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. Students will use a textbook and materials like notebooks, calculators, graph paper, rulers, and protractors. Students are expected to behave appropriately, follow all school rules, and conduct labs safely. If absent, students are responsible for making up missed work, notes, tests, and labs within a specified timeframe. Academic honesty is stressed, and cheating will result in a zero. Assignments are due by the stated deadline.

1. Honors Physics-- Gridley 2010-2011
In this course the student will study the major areas of physics—Kinematics, Forces, Work, Energy, Momentum,
Rotational Mechanics, Fluids, Heat and Thermodynamics; Wave Phenomena, Sound, Optics; Electricity;
Magnetism and Modern Physics.
Materials: Text— Honors Physics: Holt Physics
Other materials: Notebook of your choice, calculator with trig functions, graph paper, ruler, and a protractor.
Class time:
• Students are expected to maintain appropriate classroom behavior at all times.
• All school rules will be followed in class.
Safety First:
• Labs are to be conducted in such a way that equipment and students are safe.
• Inappropriate behavior during labs or misuse of lab equipment will have serious consequences for the student,
including but not limited to zero for the lab, and exclusion from other labs.
Absences:
• It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to determine what is missing and the due dates.
• Most of my notes are given on the overhead and therefore erased. You will need to get class notes from someone in
class or take careful notes from the text. You are expected to get notes within two day of the absence.
• If a student misses classwork, homework, a quiz or a test it is expected to be completed and turned in within two days
of absence. An extension may be granted by the teacher if requested by the student.
• If a student misses a lab it is to be made up within one week of the absence.
• A student that is absent for a school related activity (field trip, band, athletics…) is responsible for the work
done that day and should be prepared for the next days work—including turning in any homework that is
assigned, getting any missed notes and being prepared for any quiz or test.
Academic Honesty (cheating)
• Keep in mind that maintaining academic honesty and integrity will benefit you more than anyone else.
• Students are encouraged to actively work together to finish a problem, lab or other assignments.
• Students that are suspected of cheating will receive a zero for that assignment. Be aware that I consider a student
cheating if the student is copying or allowing someone to copy.
• If a student gives an assignment to another student to copy that student that gave the assignment and the student that
copied the assignment will both receive zeroes and an academic referral.
• If a student takes another student’s assignment without their consent the student that is cheating will receive a zero for
the assignment and a disciplinary referral for stealing and the other student will not be penalized.
Turning in assignments:
• The due date and deadline for all assignments is the same date.
• If a student is working on an assignment in the five minute passing period it will be considered incomplete and will
not be accepted.
Grading: Please note I grade using weighted categories and percents, not total points.
For all graded assignment NO WORK = NO CREDIT
To ensure full credit for word problems:
• Indicate what is given.
• Identify what is unknown.
• Identify the formula to be used.
• Substitute.
• Solve—include appropriate number of significant figures and appropriate units.
To ensure full credit for conceptual questions justify answers and include appropriate Physics terms.
See additional handout regarding arriving at student grade.