2018-2019

Conceptual Physics Syllabus

Park View High School

Mr. Hurrell - Physics Teacher

Room: 314
Phone: 571-434-4500
Email: Jim.Hurrell@lcps.org
Website: www.HurrellPhysics.com
 Table of Contents
Course Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 2-3
Prerequisites ...............................................................................................................................................
Description ..................................................................................................................................................
Required Materials .....................................................................................................................................
Grading Policy ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Grading Scale ..............................................................................................................................................
Grade Breakdown .......................................................................................................................................
Homework..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Expectations ................................................................................................................................................
Obtaining Help ............................................................................................................................................
Project & Lab Work ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Absences and late work policy...................................................................................................................... 6
Absences .....................................................................................................................................................
Late work expectations ...............................................................................................................................
LCPS make-up work policy ..........................................................................................................................
Classroom Expectations ................................................................................................................................ 7
General expectations ..................................................................................................................................
Use of phones during class .........................................................................................................................
Academic Honor Code ................................................................................................................................
Syllabus Signature Page ................................................................................................................................ 8

1
Course Overview

Prerequisites
A desire to have fun and better understand the scientific world around you is the primary prerequisite
for an enjoyable year in the Conceptual Physics classroom. In addition, math skills gained in Algebra-1
and previous math courses will be used to support analytical investigation of the many observations
made by the student throughout the school year. Math review will take place in the classroom to assure
all students are comfortable with the required mathematical skills, and if needed, Mr. Hurrell will gladly
provide additional help before and after school to students seeking additional help with math.

Description
The Conceptual Physics course will provide students with:
• Unique and useful learning opportunities through hands-on activities that provoke students’
thinking and curiosity
• Opportunities to engage in classroom discussion that allows students to discover critical
concepts
• Opportunities to apply knowledge they’ve constructed to their own lives.
• A collaborative working environment that will improve the student’s ability to work effectively
in a team environment

Topics of study in Conceptual Physics will be:

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter

• Introduction to physics • 2-D kinematics (Projectile motion)
• Electric Circuits • Causes of motion (aka Dynamics)
• Review of applicable math topics • Newton's Laws
• 1-D Kinematics • Circular motion
• Work, Energy, and Power
3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
• Work, Energy, and Power (Continued) • Electrical and Magnetic Forces & Fields
• Impulse and Momentum • Electromagnetic Waves
• Rotational Kinematics and Dynamics • Sound
• Optics
• Fluids
• Modern Physics

Projects and laboratory investigation focused on developing critical thinking and reasoning skills, along
with traditional classroom work (i.e. quizzes & exams), and a regular dose of fun (aka homework), will be
the primary assessment tools used during the year.

2
Required Materials
In addition to sharing my passion for Physics this coming year, I also want to teach you valuable
skills and habits that will carry over into other classes. One skill that is indispensable and
necessary in everyday life is organization. This year you will be required to have a 3-ring binder
for Conceptual Physics, with expectations that you will bring it to class daily, keep it updated,
and organized as described below.

Binder contents along with additional items needed for Conceptual Physics are listed below.

Item
3” 3-ring binder + 6 dividers
Description
Large 3-ring binder with 6 sections labeled:
(1) Class syllabus
(2) Classroom Notes
(3) Labs & Activities
(4) Projects
(5) Homework
(6) Quizzes & Exams

Calculator Scientific or graphing calculator

Note: One will be provided for classroom use
Other items - Several mechanical pencils
- Several erasers
- Several #2 pencils
- Colored pencil set
- Ruler

Table 1: Required Materials for Conceptual Physics

3
Grading Policy

Grading Scale
Grade Numerical Equivalent GPA
A+ 98-100 4.3
A 93-97 4.0
A- 90-92 3.7
B+ 87-89 3.3
B 83-86 3.0
B- 80-82 2.7
C+ 77-79 2.3
C 73-76 2.0
C- 70-72 1.7
D+ 67-69 1.3
D 63-66 1.0
D- 60-62 0.7
F 59 and below 0.0
Table 2: Grading Scale for Conceptual Physics

Grade Breakdown
Activity % of grade Description
Homework 5 Homework assignment will be assessed for correctness, completeness,
and timeliness. Late assignments will be accepted but the overall grade
will be docked 10% for each calendar day late.
Classwork 15 Bell ringers, other classroom activities (excluding projects & labs), and
organizational skills (binder checks) will be assessed by Mr. Hurrell.
Effort and correctness will be the primary concerns for these items.
Projects & Labs 50 Projects and Laboratories will comprise a significant portion of the
students learning experience. Pre-lab activities, the data collection
phase, and the analysis phase, will be assessed by Mr. Hurrell. Rubrics
will be provided for each project and lab.
Quizzes 5 Quizzes will be comprised of free response questions that closely
resemble questions available to students in the online quiz bank.
Students will be provided with applicable formulas (including
appropriate constants) during the quizzes.
Exams 25 Exams will be comprised of free response and multiple-choice
questions, which closely resemble quiz bank questions. Students will be
provided with applicable formulas (including appropriate constants)
during the exams.
Table 3: Grading Breakdown for Conceptual Physics

4
Homework
Expectations
Homework is the student’s opportunity to exercise concepts covered in the classroom and/or
laboratory. So Mr. Hurrell can effectively assess your understanding of the concepts, please show all
work. Homework feedback provided and student follow-up are critical components of homework.

On the homework due date:

- Place completed HW in your classes IN-Folder at the beginning of the class period
- Make sure your name is on each piece of paper
- If you have more than one piece of paper staple the pieces together
- Pickup corrected HW from your classes OUT-Folder
- Place corrected HW in your binder

Obtaining Help
Mr. Hurrell will be available before and after school for any student requiring assistance with their
homework. If prior arrangements are made, Mr. Hurrell will also be available during his lunch time or
planning period.

Project & Lab Work

Projects and Laboratory investigations will be used to stimulate student engagement with the physical
world in a team-based environment. On team projects a question that always arises is “If students are
working together on projects what happens if someone doesn’t do their share?”. First and foremost,
every student receives an individual grade on team projects / presentations based on their individual
demonstration of understanding. Also, I always work to have all students contributing equally in team
work. Laboratory investigations will be comprised of:

• Making initial expectations and arguments (aka hypothesis)

• Data collection
• Analyzing observations
• Problems solving
• Presentation of these elements in an organized report

5
Absences and late work policy

Absences
When absence, it is your responsibility to make up all assignments; which includes homework, quizzes,
exams, labs, projects, and classwork (guided notes and/or activities). Please visit Mr. Hurrell’s website
(www.HurrellPhysics.com) to see what you have missed when absent.

Late work expectations

Unplanned Absences: Students who have unplanned absences will be afforded additional days to
complete work that was due while they were absent based on the number of days absent, plus one.

Planned Absences: Students with planned absences (including athletics, school activities, family
vacations, planned medical appointments, etc) must make arrangements prior to leaving to make up
and hand in work.

LCPS make-up work policy

Whenever a student is absent, whether an excused or unexcused absence or a suspension absence, if
the principal requires make-up work, a reasonable amount of time, consistent with the length of the
absence, will be given the student to make up the work missed. Upon return from absence, the student
is responsible to initiate immediate action to make up the work. Upon such request of the student, the
teacher is responsible to provide assignments, tests, and other work that must be made up and to
inform the student clearly when make-up work for which grades will be given is due. Failure to complete
such make-up work within the time allowed will result in a failing grade for those assignments, tests, or
other work. Make-up work turned in within the time allowed will be graded on the same basis as other
work.

6
Classroom Expectations

General expectations
• Respect yourself
o You have been given a great opportunity to prepare yourself for the future
o Be a positive role-model for others
• Respect other students
o Both inside and outside the classroom
o Please do not disrupt another student’s opportunity to learn
• Focus on Physics and the learning process while in class
o Stay positive
o A large percentage of your grade in dependent on your effort, which is directly impacted
by your conduct in the classroom

Use of phones during class

• Rule 1: Please do not use them unless instructed to do so by Mr. Hurrell
• Rule 2: Please put them away during class, or plug them into a charger at the charging station
area located in the back of the room
• Rule 3: No texting or use of apps such as YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, etc. ….
• Rule 4: Never accept or place a phone call during class.

Appropriate consequences, including a call to parent/guardian, will be considered if an above rule is

violated.

Academic Honor Code

• Park View’s goal is to promote a community of trust that will enhance student achievement
and learning. Students who accept responsibility for their own academic integrity learn and
take pride in genuine achievement. As members of the Park View community, we are
dedicated to honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
The Park View Honor Code represents expectations of behavior that are aligned with
effectively preparing community members for success in a global society. The Park View
Honor Council oversees all Honor Code violations. Students have the right to appeal any
violations, as long as their appeal is submitted to the Honor Council within seven calendar
days of violation notification.
• The entirety of the Honor Code can be found on the PVHS homepage at
http://www.lcps.org/pvhs.

7
 Syllabus Signature Page
Academic year: 2018-2019

I have read the syllabus for: Conceptual Physics

_________________________ ________________________ ___________

(Print Parent/Guardian Name) (Parent/Guardian Signature) (Date)

_________________________ ________________________
(Parent/Guardian Email) (Parent/Guardian Phone #)

_________________________ ________________________ ___________

(Print Student Name) (Student Signature) (Date)

Before turning the signature page in:

(1) Please sign up for Remind

 If in the 1st period conceptual physics class text @mrhphy001 to 81010
 If in the 8th period conceptual physics class text @mrhphy008 to 81010

(2) Please detach signature page and return to Mr. Hurrell on or before Friday, August 31st.

Thank you,

Mr. Hurrell