11th Grade Physics

Students will explore the nature of physics, scientific notation, significant figures, and unit conversions, establishing foundational quantitative skills.

Developing the distinction between scalar and vector quantities while modeling constant velocity and acceleration. Students use motion maps and position time graphs to predict future states of a system.

Students will define and calculate average and instantaneous velocity and speed, interpreting their meaning from position-time graphs.

Students will investigate constant acceleration, using velocity-time graphs and kinematic equations to solve problems.

Students will apply kinematic equations to objects in free fall, understanding the constant acceleration due to gravity.

Students will learn to add and subtract vectors graphically and analytically, essential for two-dimensional motion.

Investigating how orthogonal components of motion operate independently yet simultaneously. Students predict the trajectories of objects launched at various angles.

Students will analyze the trajectories of projectiles launched at an angle, calculating range, maximum height, and time of flight.

Students will explore how motion is perceived differently from various reference frames, particularly in two dimensions.

Students will define force and explore Newton's First Law of Motion, understanding inertia and equilibrium.

Students will apply Newton's Second Law to calculate net force, mass, and acceleration in various scenarios.

Students will explore Newton's Third Law, identifying action-reaction force pairs and understanding their implications.

Students will identify and calculate common forces such as weight, normal force, and tension in various physical systems.

Students will investigate the forces of static and kinetic friction, calculating coefficients and analyzing their effects on motion.

Students will solve complex problems involving multiple objects connected by ropes or interacting through contact forces.

Students will analyze forces on inclined planes, resolving forces into components parallel and perpendicular to the surface.

Extending dynamics to curved paths and the universal law of gravitation. Students model planetary orbits and centripetal forces in mechanical systems.

Students will explore Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, calculating gravitational forces between objects.

Students will apply gravitational principles to understand satellite motion, orbital velocity, and Kepler's Laws.

Defining work as the mechanism of energy transfer and analyzing kinetic and potential energy within closed systems.

Students will define kinetic energy and apply the Work-Energy Theorem to relate work done to changes in kinetic energy.

Students will explore gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy, calculating energy stored in various systems.

Students will apply the principle of conservation of mechanical energy to solve problems involving energy transformations in ideal systems.

Students will define and calculate power, and analyze the efficiency of energy conversion processes.

Analyzing collisions and explosions through the lens of momentum conservation. Students distinguish between elastic and inelastic interactions.

Students will apply the principle of conservation of momentum to analyze elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.

Students will locate the center of mass for various systems and analyze its motion during collisions and explosions.

Students will define torque and apply the conditions for static equilibrium to analyze systems.

Students will analyze oscillatory motion, including the period and frequency of mass-spring systems and simple pendulums.

Examining the physics of periodic disturbances and the transmission of energy through mediums. Concepts include frequency, wavelength, and the Doppler effect.

Students will investigate the behavior of waves as they encounter boundaries and obstacles, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction.

Students will explore constructive and destructive interference, and the formation of standing waves in various media.

Students will investigate the properties of sound waves, including pitch, loudness, and the Doppler effect.

Students will explore the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum, understanding the properties and applications of different types of radiation.

Analyzing the behavior of light as it reflects and refracts at boundaries. Students construct ray diagrams for various optical instruments.

Students will investigate the refraction of light and the formation of images by converging and diverging lenses.

Students will analyze the principles behind common optical instruments like telescopes, microscopes, and cameras.

Understanding the forces between stationary charges and the concept of electric potential. Students map field lines for various charge configurations.

Students will apply Coulomb's Law to calculate the electric force between point charges and analyze its vector nature.

Students will define electric fields and construct electric field lines for various charge configurations.

Students will differentiate between electric potential energy and electric potential, calculating both for various charge arrangements.

Applying Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Rules to series and parallel circuits. Students also investigate the relationship between current and magnetic fields.

Students will apply Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Rules to analyze series and parallel DC circuits.

Students will explore the properties of magnetic fields and the forces exerted on moving charges and current-carrying wires.

Students will investigate electromagnetic induction, applying Faraday's Law to understand how changing magnetic flux generates EMF.

Investigating internal energy, entropy, and the efficiency of thermal systems. Students analyze P-V diagrams for heat engine cycles.

Students will explore the First Law of Thermodynamics, understanding energy conservation in thermal systems.