We currently offer three levels of physics at Acton-Boxborough. They are all first year courses, and the students are 99% seniors. There is no second year of physics offered. The levels are primarily determined by the mathematical content of the course. The levels are as follows:
| honors physics |
Text: Fundamentals of Physics, 8th Editionby Halliday, Resnick and Walker |
This is the most challenging physics course at Acton-Boxborough. It is calculus-based for mechanics and algebra-based for electricity and magnetism. It is geared for those students currently taking calculus and who are interested in majoring in science or engineering in college. The past few years, there have been only about 70 or so students out of almost 500 seniors who take Honors Physics. We cover the following topics:
- Motion in One Dimension
- Motion in Two Dimensions
- Newton's Laws
- Work and Energy
- Momentum
- Rotational Mechanics
- Oscillations
- Astronomy
- Gravity
- Special Relativity
- Electrostatics
- Electric Circuits
- Magnetism ?
This is not an AP course; however, students who do well in the first half of the year would be prepared for the AP Physics C exam in mechanics. This course does not prepare the students for the electricity and magnetism portion of the Physics C exam, which requires vector calculus.
Generally, we cover about three topics each term. For each topic, or unit, there are a number of labs and activities.
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| accelerated and enriched physics |
Text: Physics, 6th Editionby Wilson, Buffa and Lou |
This is a challenging algebra based physics class in which the majority of physics students are enrolled. This year, there are about 150 students in Accelerated & Enriched Physics. It is assumed that they have had two years of algebra and geometry and are currently taking trigonometry. This course is geared for a college bound student with a strong interest in science, but not neccessarily planning to major in a science.
- Motion in One Dimension
- Vectors and Projectile Motion
- Newton's Laws
- Momentum
- Work and Energy
- Centripetal Forces and Gravity
- Electrostatics
- Electric Circuits
- Magnetism
- Waves and Sound
- Geometric Optics and Light
Generally, we cover about three topics each term. For each topic, or unit, there are a number of labs and activities.
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| college prep physics |
Text: Conceptual Physics, 3rd Editionby Hewitt |
This is an algebra based physics class. This year, there are about 100 students in College Prep Physics. It is assumed that they have had two years of algebra, but there is no trigonometry used in class. This course is geared for a college bound student with an interest in science, but not neccessarily planning to major in a science.
- Motion in One Dimension
- Vectors and Projectile Motion
- Newton's Laws
- Momentum
- Work and Energy
- Centripetal Forces and Gravity
- Electrostatics
- Electric Circuits
- Magnetism
- Waves and Sound
Generally, we cover about three topics each term. For each topic, or unit, there are a number of labs and activities.
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