IB SL Physics

Instructor:
Email:
Phone:

Mrs. K Roley
kroley@midpac.edu
441-3789 (office)

Text:

Hamper, Standard Level Physics

ISBN 978-0-435994-47-1
Optional: Physics for the IB Diploma Exam Preparation Guide
ISBN 978-1-107-60261-8

Materials:

A scientific calculator
Selected iPad apps (as requested)
Pencils and Pens
Folder for IB Handouts
Paper copy of the IB equation sheet

Syllabus:

Physics and physical measurement

Mechanics
Thermal Physics
Oscillations and waves
Electric Circuits
Fields and Forces
Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Energy, Power, and Climate Change
Sight and wave phenomena
Astrophysics

TUTORIAL TIME: Friday tutorial time is PART OF THE COURSE and is reserved for AP/IB science students
and you are expected to be available to attend these sessions as and when your teacher requires (probably
not every week.) You may have labs to do, test corrections to make or special study sessions during this
time.
Your dean may assign you to attend MANDATORY TUTORIAL PERIOD. If it is mandatory, then absences
will be reported to the dean.
If you are unable to attend, please email me to notify me of your absence. Tutorial ends at 3:30 PM.
Students are expected to stay until their work is completed OR until the period ends. Tutorial period is not
only reserved for those who are required to attend. They can be a great source of help if you require
more individualized attention.

Grades:

Quarter Grades will be computed as follows

Homework = 20%
Classwork/Labs=40%
Quizzes/Tests/Projects=40%
Each quarter contributes 40% to the semester grade.

The Final Exam contributes 20% to the semester grade. Students should expect a
comprehensive SL exam for the final. First semester topics will be tested in the
spring. Maintain comprehensive notes.
Students should maintain a digital portfolio of all lab work.
Grades and classroom assignments will be updated weekly online at
www.midpac.edu/mypueo
Extra credit opportunities will be offered at a minimum of one per semester.
These will be announced on My Pueo.
The grading scale used for this course is the standard Mid-Pacific High School
grading scale.

Expectations:

This is a rigorous academic class. You are expected to keep up with assigned
reading/daily homework/projects/labs.
Maintain all handouts in a neat/organized matter.
My Pueo should be checked regularly, chapter syllabus as well as any pertinent
papers will be available
Follow the rules as outlined in the MPI student handbook.
Be respectful to your fellow students, to the teacher, to the equipment, to
yourself.
All work should be shown on homework and tests-do not expect full credit if you
have not shown your work (to include drawing/relevant equations/substitutions).

Turning in Assignments:

All work missed during excused absences are expected to be made up during
period 8 in a timely manner (within one week of your absence). Students who
are absent should check Edline and come to period 8 on your return to discuss
make-up work.

Late homework assignments or labs (unless your absence was excused) WILL
lower your grade. You will receive a 50% maximum for assignments not turned in
ON TIME. If it is late because you need extra help you can complete the
assignment in 8th period for a C (only if I sign it).

Academic Honesty Policy:

Students at Mid-Pacific shall not cheat (dishonest production of schoolwork
including copying homework, sharing answers during tests, or turning in work
that someone else produced) or plagiarize (using others ideas and words without
clearly acknowledging the source of that information). In the case of group work
such as labs, feel free to share IDEAS but do not share word for word answers,
graphs, or conclusions.
In case of an absence, please check Edline and email or see me during period 8 upon return.

Course Outline
1.

Topic 1- Physics and physical Measurement

a. The realm of physics
b. Measurement and uncertainty
c. Vectors and scalars

2.

Topic 2 Mechanics
a. Kinematics
b. Forces and dynamics
c. Work, energy and power
d. Uniform circular motion

3.

Topic 3 Thermal Physics

a. Thermal concepts
b. Thermal properties of matter

4.

Topic 4 Oscillations and waves

a. Kinematics of simple harmonic motion (SHM)
b. Energy changes during simple harmonic motion (SHM)
c. Forced Oscillations and resonance
d. Wave characteristics
e. Wave properties

5.

Topic 5- Electric Currents

a. Electric potential difference, current and resistance
b. Electric circuits

6.

Topic 6 Fields and Forces

a. Gravitational force and fields
b. Electric force and fields
c. Magnetic force and fields

7.

Topic 7 Atomic and Nuclear Physics

a. The atom
b. Radioactive decay
c. Nuclear reaction, fission and fusion

8.

Topic 8 Energy, power and Climate change

a. Energy degradation and power generation
b. World energy sources
c. Fossil fuel power production
d. Greenhouse effect
e. Global warming

9.

Option A Sight and Wave phenomena

a. The eye and sight
b. Standing waves
c. The Doppler effect
d. Diffraction
e. Resolution
f. Polarization

10. Option E Astrophysics

a. Introduction to the universe
b. Stellar radiation and stellar types
c. Stellar Distances
d. Cosmology

Tentative Schedule

Time Line

Topic

Lab

Week 1

Introduction to class
Realm of physics
Measurement and uncertainty
Vectors and scalars
Kinematics
Newtons three laws
Newtons three laws
Forces and Dynamics
Forces and dynamics
Work energy Power
Uniform circular motion
End Q1
Thermal concepts
Thermal properties of matter

Accuracy vs Precision
Measurement Activity
Estimation activity
Graph manipulation
Living graphs lab
Newtons law activity
Acceleration of gravity lab
Force vs. time activity
Conservation of momentum lab
Work power investigation

Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18

Week 1
Week 2

SHM
Forced Oscillation
Wave characteristics
Wave properties
Nature of EM Waves and light sources
Light and color
End Q2
FINALS
Winter Break
Astro concepts review/Stellar distances

Week 3
Week 4

Electrical Potential
Electrical Circuits Electrical Circuits
Electrical Circuits
Electrical Circuits

Week 5

Fields and Forces

Week 6

Fields and Forces

Week 7

The Atom
Radio Active Decay

Week 8/9

Nuclear Reactions/Binding Energy

Week 10
Week 11
Week 11

Fusion / Fission
End Q3
Energy Power and Climate change:
Degradation, power generation, world
power production
Rube Goldberg devices
Greenhouse effect
Global Warming
Rube Goldberg devices
Rube Goldberg devices
The eye and sight/waves
Doppler
Effects/Diffraction/Resolution/Polarization
Test Practice
Exam Practice for not IB/SL Students
IB Exams

Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18

PV=nRT lab
Thermal equilibrium
investigation
Hooks Law lab
Design Lab

Diffraction lab ( water tank)

Color investigation simulation

Kirchoffs laws lab

Magnetic Field lab
Elector magnet lab

Radio Active Decay Simulation

Half Life Activity

Design Lab

Database Lab
Greenhouse effect simulation

Single Slit Lab

Week 19
May 20-24

Review
Final Review and Finals