Download PACING_GUIDE_HONORS_PHYSICS_10_12

NNPS Curriculum
Honors Physics
Grades 10-12
Revised by: Danielle Morgan / Tina White/Bruce Davidson
Date: 6/27/2017
Newport News Public Schools
12465 Warwick Blvd.
Newport News, Virginia 23606
http://sbo.nn.k12.va.us
NNPS Curriculum
Honors Physics
Course Description for Honors Physics
Course Level Information
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Course Description
Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions for the Course or Grade Level
Scope and Sequence for the Course
Unit Level Information
Desired Results
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Standards for the Unit
Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions for the Unit
Assessment for the Unit
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Evidence of Student Achievement of the Desired Results
Sequenced Teaching/Learning Activities
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Activities to Promote Achievement of Desired Results
Specific Lesson Plans for the Unit Activities
Resources for the Unit
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Specific Resources for the Unit Activities
Revised by: Danielle Morgan / Tina White /Bruce Davidson
Revised on: 9/4/2007
Course - Page 1
NNPS Curriculum
Honors Physics
Course Description for Honors Physics
The Physics standards emphasize a complex understanding of experimentation, the analysis of data, and the use of reasoning and logic
to evaluate evidence. The use of mathematics, including algebra 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. Key areas covered by the standards include force and motion, energy
transformations, wave phenomena and the electromagnetic spectrum, light, electricity, fields, and non-Newtonian physics. The
standards stress the practical application of physics in other areas of science and technology and how physics affects our world.
The Physics standards continue to focus on student growth in understanding the nature of science. This scientific view defines the idea
that explanations of nature are developed and tested using observation, experimentation, models, evidence, and systematic processes.
The nature of science includes the concepts that scientific explanations are based on logical thinking; are subject to rules of evidence;
are consistent with observational, inferential, and experimental evidence; are open to rational critique; and are subject to refinement
and change with the addition of new scientific evidence. The nature of science includes the concept that science can provide
explanations about nature, can predict potential consequences of actions, but cannot be used to answer all questions (VDOE, 2003).
Revised by: Danielle Morgan / Tina White /Bruce Davidson
Revised on: 9/4/2007
Course - Page 2
Course Pacing Guide
Quarter 1
Standards
Including SOL
Enduring Understandings
(Unit-Level)
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PH.1 a-h;
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PH.2 a-e;
PH.3 a- e;
PH.4 a, b
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.
Standardized
measures are used to
precisely and
accurately describe
the physical world.
Scientists use
research, logic and
experimentation to
formulate and test
hypotheses.
Scientists interpret,
organize, and clarify
experimental
observations, by use
of appropriate data
analysis tools.
Scientific claims must
be verified by
independent
investigation.
Scientists develop
models to explain the
physical world.
Essential Questions
(Unit Level)

Why is standardization in
measurement necessary in
science?
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How do scientists formulate
and test hypotheses?
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What method of data analysis
best fits a given set of data?

Why is physics viewed as the
basis for all other science
disciplines?

Which topics in physics are
currently being studied and
revised?

What contributions have the
study of physics made in
technological development?
Topics and/or Strands (i.e.,
Unit Big Ideas)
Time
Estimate
Scientific Investigation and
Development
 Formulating and
testing hypotheses.
 Statistical data
collection and
analysis.
8 blocks
 Measurement and
dimensional analysis.
 Scientific reasoning
and logic.
 Real – world
applications of
physics.
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PH.5 a, b, c
Linear motion in one and
two dimensions can be
studied by vectors and
graphical analysis.

The concept of motion
is described in terms
of position,
displacement, velocity,
and acceleration
vectors as well as and
their dependence on
time.
 Why is graphical analysis used
in understanding the motion of
an object?
 How do vector components
describe linear motion in one
dimension.?
Kinematics in One
Dimension
 linear motion
(displacement,
velocity and
acceleration) and
vector components
 graphical analysis
 kinematic equations
 vector math
12 blocks
Quarter 2
Standards
Including SOL
Enduring Understandings
(Unit-Level)
Essential Questions
(Unit Level)
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In a uniform vertical
gravitational field with
negligible air resistance, a
projectile moves with constant
horizontal velocity and
constant vertical acceleration.
PH.5 a, b, c
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Free-fall acceleration is the
same for all objects,
regardless of mass.
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Force is a vector quantity
that can act as either a
contact or field entity.

How does gravitational
acceleration affect the motion
of an object?
 What factors affect free-falling
bodies?
Topics and/or Strands (i.e.,
Unit Big Ideas)
Kinematics in One
Dimension
 projectile motion
 kinematic equations
 vector math
Time
Estimate
8 blocks
____________________________
__________________________
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PH.5 d, e, f;
PH 12a
Centripetal force is a “true”
force acting on a body in
circular motion.
Newton’s three laws of
motion are the basis for
understanding the
mechanical universe.
 Newton’s Law of Universal
Gravitation describes the force
that determines the motion of
celestial objects.
 The total force on a body can
be represented as a vector
sum of constituent forces in a
free-body diagram.
How are force and motion
related?

How do Newton’s three laws of
motion aid in understanding the
mechanical universe?
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How does Newton’s Law of
Universal Gravitation describe
celestial forces and motions?
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Why are free-body diagrams
necessary in understanding
Newton’s laws?
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How does weight affect the
acceleration of falling objects?
_____________________
Dynamics
 Uniform circular
motion
 Types of forces
(linear, centripetal,
frictional, etc.)
 Free-body diagrams
 Newton’s Laws of
Motion
 Newton’s Law of
Gravitation
12 blocks
Quarter 3
Standards
Including SOL
PH.5 g:
PH 6a,b;
PH 8a,b
Enduring Understandings
(Unit-Level)
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Energy is the capacity
to do work.
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When work is done,
energy converts from
one form to another
and energy is
conserved.
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Momentum (mass x
velocity) is equivalent
to the net external
force applied to an
object for a time
interval (impulse).
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Energy can be
transformed from one
form to another.
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Power is the rate at
which work is done.
Essential Questions
(Unit Level)
Topics and/or Strands (i.e.,
Unit Big Ideas)
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How are work, power and
energy related?
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How is energy conserved?
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How can conservation of
energy and momentum be
modeled?
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How is energy transformed
from one form to another?
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How is efficiency used to
analyze energy in a process?
Energy
 Kinetic and potential
energy
 Transformation of
energy among forms
 Work
 Conservation of
energy
 Gravitational and
elastic potential
energy
 power
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How are impulse and
momentum related?
Impulse and Momentum
 Conservation of
momentum
Time
Estimate
8 blocks
Quarter 3
Standards
Including SOL
PH.9 a, b, c
PH.10 a, b
Enduring Understandings
(Unit-Level)
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Essential Questions
(Unit Level)
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How do mechanical waves
transport energy?
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What types of energy do
transverse and longitudinal
waves transport?
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In a transverse wave
(e.g., light), particles of
the medium move in a
direction perpendicular
to the direction the wave
travels.
How do waves change with
interfering with one another or
interacting with other media?
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What happens as a result of
wave interference?
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In a longitudinal wave
(e.g., sound), particles of
the medium move in a
direction parallel to the
direction the wave
travels.
What factors can change the
frequency, period, amplitude or
velocity of a wave?
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What are the components of
the electromagnetic spectrum
and how does this continuum
describe the frequency, energy
and wavelength of waves?
Mechanical waves
transport energy as a
traveling disturbance in a
medium.
Electromagnetic waves
do not require a medium
to transport energy.
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With waves, velocity
equals the product of the
frequency and the
wavelength; and
frequency and period are
reciprocals of each
other.
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Waves are reflected and
refracted when they
encounter a change in
medium or a boundary.
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Standing waves are
produced by
interference.
 Frequency, wavelength,
and energy vary across
the entire
electromagnetic
spectrum.
Topics and/or Strands (i.e.,
Unit Big Ideas)
Time
Estimate
Waves/Sound/Light
13 blocks
 Wave anatomy and
behavior
 Transverse and
longitudinal waves
 Relationship among
frequency, period ,
wavelength and
amplitude
 Interference patterns
 Electromagnetic
spectrum
 Sound as a wave
 Light as a wave
 Doppler effect
Quarter 4
Standards
Including SOL
Enduring Understandings
(Unit-Level)
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Electrical charge
moves through
electrical circuits and
is conserved.

The electrostatic force
(Coulomb’s law) can
be either repulsive or
attractive, and is
related to Newton’s
Law of gravitational
force.
PH.13 a, b, c
PH 6c
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Electric potential
difference (voltage) is
the change in electric
potential energy per
unit charge
Current is the flow of
electrical charge over
time and voltage
provides the energy
that drives the current.

Elements in an electric
circuit are configured
in series or parallel
arrangements.
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Electric power (watt) is
change in electrical
energy over time.

Certain materials at
very low temperatures
exhibit the property of
zero resistance called
superconductivity.
Essential Questions
(Unit Level)

How does the conservation of
energy apply in electric
circuits?
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Why do electric charges follow
rules that govern the
mechanical universe?
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What determines the attractivity
or repulsivity between electric
charges?
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What are the basic components
of an electric circuit and how is
Ohm’s Law used to analyze
them?
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In what situations is it
advantageous to employ either
series, parallel or complex
circuits?
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How do superconductors aid in
technological advancement?
Topics and/or Strands (i.e.,
Unit Big Ideas)
Time
Estimate
Electricity
10 blocks
 Coulomb’s Law
 Electric potential and
potential difference
 Circuit theory and
Ohm’s Law
 Electric Power
 Superconductivity
 Applications of
electricity
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An electric current can
be induced by a
magnetic field; a
magnetic field is
produced by an
electric current.
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How are electricity and
magnetism interrelated?
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How is electric power
generated?
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What are the technological
implications of
electromagnetism?
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The wave model is
used to describe
quantum mechanics.
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Why are subatomic processes
described in terms of wave
behaviors?
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The special theory of
relativity predicts that
energy and matter can
be converted into each
other.
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What are the implications of
special relativity?
PH 12b;
PH.14 a-i
Electromagnetism
 Magnetic fields
 Electromagnetic
induction
 Faraday’s Law
 Lenz’ Law
6 blocks
Modern Physics
 Special Relativity
(E=mc2)
 Quantum Mechanics
4 blocks