Welcome to Dr.
B's 9th Grade Honors Physics
Page!
all 9th graders will take the physics MCAS the first week in June.
Review
the 9th grade physics syllabus, curriculum & assignments on the
excel spreadsheet here.
Chapter by chapter worked solutions to the assigned paperback workbook problems can be found in this directory
A PDF of the textbook is available here. It is a large file, so you may want to download it to your own device.
(These and other shared files should be automatically available to anyone signed in to the MGRHS domain on the google cloud. If you can't access it, send a request through google or just email me and I can give you specific access. Make sure you identify yourself so I can validate your access)
Honors Physics is a mathematical algebra-based course,
introducing the basic concepts of physics. Topics include Newtonian mechanics,
waves & vibrations, Thermal physics, properties of matter, electricity &
magnetism, and selected topics in modern physics. Instruction consists of
textbook reading, lectures, labs, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Weekly problem sets give students extensive physical problem solving experience.
This course provides a foundation for future study in a wide variety of
technical disciplines, including physical science, engineering, computers, and
health fields.
Honors chapter tests will almost always consist of both conceptual multiple choice problems and longer more involved free response questions. For the chapter tests you will NOT use equations sheets, but you may use your calculators. To prepare for each chapter test you should READ & STUDY the assigned sections, and do ALL assigned problems AS A MINIMUM. I highly recommend doing MORE problems. I may or may not have time to lecture on every topic in each chapter that you are responsible for and will be tested on. READ THE CHAPTER! Ask questions! Do LOTS of problems! Similarly to most textbooks, your physics book has a good summary and review at the end of each chapter. It is not a bad idea to review this summary of concepts, vocabulary, and key equations.
College Prep physics covers all the same topics, but at a more conceptual, less deeply mathematical level. The homework and tests will be more focused on the ideas and require less complicated math.
Why do 9th graders take physics? Mt. Greylock is on the leading edge of the "physics first" movement. Many scientists and science educators believe that physics should conceptually come first because the rules of physics are the basis for all other sciences: The rules of biology are based on the rules of chemistry and physics, and the rules of chemistry are based on the rules of physics (and the language of science is mathematics!) As current Mt. Greylock students move through their high school science curriculum, they do it in a chronological order that is exactly backwards from their parents' generation. 9th grade physics is offered at two levels: regular college prep physics for those students who have taken the standard middle school math curriculum, and honors physics for those students that have successfully completed the "accelerated" middle school algebra 1 curriculum. Our experience over the past several years has been that "physics first" is greatly successful. Our 9th graders all take the physics MCAS test in the spring.
The most recent version of the MCAS
equation sheet is available from the Mass Dept. of education here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/tdd/phys_formula.pdf
