Welcome to York High School

IB Physics HL 12
Download Printable Syllabus (MSWord Document)
Text(s): Textbook: (issued) Cutnell & Johnson, Physics 6e, 2004

Study Guide: Tim Kirk, Physics for the IB Diploma, Oxford, 2003

Course Description: Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences as it seeks to explain the universe itself, from the very smallest particles-quarks (perhaps 10-17 m in size) which may be truly fundamental-to the vast distances between galaxies (1024 m).This course continues the introduction into the traditional topics of physics began in the 11th grade year. Observations remain essential at the very core of physics, and models are developed to try to understand the observations. These models can become theories which attempt to explain the observations, and the predictions of these theories or ideas must be tested by careful experimentation. Without these tests a theory is useless. A general or concise statement about how nature behaves, if found to be experimentally valid over a wide range of observed phenomena, is called a law or a principle. The use of mathematics, including algebra, inferential statistics, and trigonometry, is important, but conceptual understanding of physical systems remains a primary concern. Students build on basic physical science principles by exploring in depth the nature and characteristics of energy and its dynamic interaction with matter.

Competencies: Upon completion of this course, you will be better able to do the following:
The student will investigate and understand: (12 Core Topics and 2 Additional Topics D-H)

TOPIC 1 Physics and Physical Measurement
TOPIC 2 Mechanics
TOPIC 3 Thermal Physics
TOPIC 4 Waves
TOPIC 5 Electricity and Magnetism
TOPIC 6 Atomic and Nuclear Physics
TOPIC 7 Measurement and Uncertainties
TOPIC 8 Mechanics HL
TOPIC 9 Thermal Physics HL
TOPIC 10 Wave phenomena
TOPIC 11 Electromagnetism
TOPIC 12 Quantum and Nuclear Physics
TOPIC D Biomedical Physics
TOPIC E History and Development of Physics
TOPIC F Astrophysics
TOPIC G Relativity
TOPIC H Optics

Course Outline:

I. First Quarter
- A. Review of Physics and Physical Measurement (Topic 1 & 7)
- B. Review of Mechanics & Mechanics Extension (Topic 2 & 8)
II. Second Quarter
- A. Thermal Physics (Topic 3 & 9)
- B. Review of Waves & Optics (Topic 4 & 10 and Option H)
III. Third Quarter
- A. Review of Electricity and Magnetism (Topic 5 & 11)
- B. Atomic and Nuclear Physics (Topic 6 & 12)
IV. Fourth Quarter
- A. Relativity (Option G)
- B. Exam Review
- C. Seminar of Physics Topics

6. Course Requirements Students are expected to be seated with required materials (text, notebook, pencils, assignments, etc.) available at the start of class. Students will be asked to keep a loose-leaf notebook with dividers of all work (notes, homework, lab reports, quizzes and tests). Additional materials that students will find usefully in class include: a Scientific/Graphing Calculator, USB flash drive, colored pencils, metric rule, protractor and compass. Proper school conduct (refer to student handbook) is expected. Additional regulations will be announced as needed for proper safety precautions required for a given lab. Students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of lab work over the 2 years of IB Physics HL. Ten of those hours will come from the group 4 project begun in the spring of the Junior year and completed in the fall of the Senior year. The remaining 45+ hours come from the lab work that accompanies the various topics covered and will be distributed evenly among the topics. A portfolio of lab work known as the Practical Scheme of Work is submitted in March to IBNA for internal assessment and counts for 24% of the students IB Physics grade. The remaining 76% comes from the External Assessment IB tests administered the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20th (paper 1 - multiple choice, worth 20% & paper 2, extended response, worth 36%: core topics 1-12) and morning of Wednesday, May 21st (paper 3 - options D-H, 20% extended response).

7. Attendance Policy: To comply with Virginia State Law, students are expected to attend school every day and to be on time unless there is illness or death in the immediate family.

8. Evaluation

Classwork & Homework 10%
Quizzes 20%
Labs 30%
Tests & Projects 40%

(Revised 08/27/07)