Moravian Academy
Dr. Lawlis
Physics is a fundamental science that creates a foundation for other natural sciences. It describes the interactions between matter and energy, predicts particle trajectories, provides a foundation for sound, light and electromagnetism, and explains the natural world around us. We will be focusing on a wide range of topics in Physics, and although the course will involve the use of math up to Algebra 2, it is considered to be introductory in nature. Labs will be a significant part of the course, as will reports that involve scientific writing.
Scoring rubric
| Exams | 20% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Labs (Excel) | 20% |
| Projects | 20% |
| Semester Exams | 20% |
Late assignments
Homework and labs should be turned in through Google Classroom by 3:30 PM on the day it is due. Any homework not turned in by the deadline will receive a late penalty. You must press the "Turn In" button by the deadline for the assignment to count as on time. There will be two late homework exemptions per semester, but students must turn in an assignment to use them. Homework that has not been turned in after two weeks will receive no credit.
Software used in this course
We will make use of Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets for data analysis. Venier's Logger Pro will be used for data acquisition, as well as the program ImageJ for image analysis. Some lab reports, particularly those involving calculations, will be handwritten, while others will be submitted on a Google Doc, which will be turned in on Google Classroom.
Absences
If you are absent from class, you are still responsible for finding out what material you may have missed in class. It is up to you to make up any work you might have missed. If you miss a test, you may be given a different version of the test with questions of similar difficulty. It is expected that missed tests should be made up within a couple days of returning to school.
Calculator and computer policy
We will often work on quantitative problems in class that will require students to calculate an answer. You will not be able to use your computers or tablets as a calculator, so please fully charge your calculators before class so that you can be an active participant in problem solving. I use the time in class to help students use scientific notation on calculators, perform logarithms, etc., and if you don’t bring your calculator, you miss out on the help.
Please remember your calculators on test days! You will not be allowed to borrow a calculator from another physics student and I only have one extra.
I don’t allow students to use computers in class for notetaking, unless they have an IEP that requires it. Computers will be used extensively for labs, however, so please bring a fully charged computer to class on lab days.
Academic Integrity Policy
Moravian Academy has implemented a new academic integrity policy, which covers incidents of cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized sources such as artificial intelligence or answer keys, etc. In physics, such infractions may include sharing Excel workbooks, homework assignments, worksheets, project work or test answers. Examples may also include consulting or using labs or tests from previous years, asking a student from another section what is on a test, or storing information on your calculator. A link to Moravian Academy's Academic Integrity Policy can be found here.