OFFICE OF PRECOLLEGIATE PROGRAMS FOR TALENTED AND GIFTED

(OPPTAG)
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

SUMMER 2009
JULY 12 – AUGUST 1

ALGEBRA-BASED PHYSICS FOR TALENTED HIGH SCHOOLERS (CY-TAG)

M-F: 8.30 AM – 4 PM (Phys Rm 18)

Elizabeth Brenneman
elizabeth.brenneman@ames.k12.ia.us

INTRODUCTION
In this course we will have the pleasure of working together to build a working
knowledge in the fascinating subject of physics. My goal is to introduce you to that area
of science, assist you in a deep understanding, and encourage you to continue learning
past this summer. To create understanding as a student you will have to work hard, think
deeply, and be persistent; but we will also have fun. I have taught physics at Ames High
School for three years now, and taught physics for CY-TAG last summer. It was a
fantastic experience.

DESCRIPTION
Each day will consist of two sets of lessons. The first set is in the morning and includes
1.5 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of laboratory work, and the second set is in the
afternoon (after lunch) and includes 1.5 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of laboratory
work. Lunch break will be from 11.30 AM – 1 PM each day. Homework will be assigned
daily and is expected to be completed by the next morning, where we will go over the
solutions at the beginning of the lecture. A quiz or test will be administered twice a day
on the material from the previous day, once during each set of lessons. The final grade
will also depend on the students’ performance on the final project presentation and the
final exam, which will be given on the last day of this course.

Topics covered in the lectures and labs will include conceptual and mathematical
understanding and hands-on application of:
1. Kinetics
2. Waves
3. Force
4. Energy
5. Basic electric circuits
6. Basic electromagnetism
7. EXTRA: Special relativity (if time), etc.
This course also includes a data-gathering field trip to Adventureland (see description
below).
KINETICS
• Introduction to vectors
• Motion in 1D
• Motion in 2D
• Newton’s laws of motion
• Circular motion: angular position, velocity, acceleration; momentum
• Friction: static and kinetic; air resistance
• Force, mass, and acceleration

ENERGY
• Energy of a system
• Conservation of energy
• Kinetic vs. potential energy
• Work

WAVES
• Oscillation and waveforms
• Mass-spring systems
• Sound waves
• Doppler effect
• Superposition of waves

THERMODYNAMICS
• Temperature
• Basic thermodynamics
• Gases and gas laws
• Heat engines and Newton’s 2nd law

BASIC ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

• Kirchoff’s law: voltage, current and resistance

BASIC ELECTROMAGNETISM
• Electromagnetism as a concept
• Motors

SPECIAL TOPICS
• Special relativity (will only be covered if we have time left before the final exam)
• Anything else the students would like to learn if we have time!!!

Prerequisite for this course: Sufficient high school grade point average (GPA 3.00, B
average).
Office Hours: Appointment by email.

Office: CU 268
TEL: (515) 294-1772
Email: elizabeth.brenneman@ames.k12.ia.us

ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION

Time is important, as this course is given at an accelerated pace and students will easily
fall behind in workload if they do not attend class regularly. Lectures are key to
understanding of the material, and labs must be completed on time in order to pass the
course. The final project presentation and all quizzes and exams must be completed in
order for the student to receive a grade in this course. Attendance is thus mandatory, and
an absence will only be excused with a note from a doctor. Students must actively
participate in the course, and will regularly be asked questions pertaining to the material
to check for their knowledge and understanding of the concepts presented to them.

TESTS AND QUIZZES

A short quiz will be given on a daily basis, once during each set of lessons on a concept
from the previous day. Tests will be administered at the end of each unit, bringing
together concepts from all related lessons. Students will receive their corrected tests back
within a day or two and then work in teams to correct their answers as necessary. The
final exam will be comprehensive and test the students’ knowledge of everything learned
in this course. No notes or books are allowed during any quizzes, tests or the exam.

PROJECT
The class field trip will be to Adventureland. Students will travel together in a group and
gather data on various amusement park rides to analyze how the physics concepts they
learn in class have real-life applications. They will be provided with equipment to
measure the amusement park rides to collect data, and then they will use this data in their
final project presentations. The final presentation should consist of a posterboard with all
gathered data, as well as all calculations and final results. Students should be also be able
to explain the driving concepts behind the physical phenomena they are investigating.
Students will then give an oral report in front of their peers, their instructor and their
parents to explain their findings.

LABORATORIES
All labs for this course are mandatory and must be completed in order to receive a final
grade. The student must successfully complete the lab assignment and be able to show all
calculations and steps used to achieve the goal. No written report is required; however,
the student must demonstrate clear knowledge of the concepts by oral evaluation. The
instructor will ask questions about the lab, and the student must provide answers.

ASSIGNMENTS
All assignments must be turned in on time for full points. Instructor will not accept late
assignments unless absence is excused by a doctor’s note. Homework assignments will
be determined by the instructor and given out each day, to be completed by the next
morning. Mandatory problems must be completed each day, and optional problems will
be provided for a chance to gain bonus points toward the students’ final grades.

GRADING:
Attendance / Participation……………………………...… Mandatory
Homework .………...………………………………………. 20%
Labs …………………………………………………..……. 20%
Quizzes and Tests …….……………………………..…….. 20%
Final Project…..…………………………………………… 20%
Final Exam……………………………………………….… 20%

GRADING SCALE:
A: 90-100
B: 80 – 89
C: 70 – 79
D: 60 – 69
F: 0 – 59