NCSSM COURSE CAtAlOG - North Carolina School of Science and ...

COURSE OFFERINGS: Physics
Graduation Requirement in Physics
The graduation requirement in physics may be fulfilled by one of these NCSSM
physics courses or course sequences: PH307 Physics, PH355 Physics with
Advanced Topics, or PH404 AP Physics C: Mechanics (I)/PH406 AP Physics C:
Mechanics (II)/Electricity and Magnetism (I).
Placement
Junior students’ physics placement is based on scores on the NCSSM physical
science placement test and NCSSM mathematics placement, and, for PH404
AP Physics C: Mechanics (I), on an NCSSM physics placement test. Senior
students’ physics placement is based on their performance in NCSSM science
and math courses in the junior year, their senior year math placement, and, for
certain courses, on a placement test. Students who have completed, or are
taking, MA430 AP Calculus BC (Advanced Topics I) or higher mathematics are
placed in PH355 Physics with Advanced Topics PH307 Physics and PH355
Physics with Advanced Topics are honors-level physics courses that require no
previous experience in physics.
PH304 Astronomy
One trimester
Credit: One unit core elective credit.
Meeting pattern: Four periods per week or two 90-minute evening class
meetings.
This introductory astronomy course focuses on using observations to create
predictive models. Physics and chemistry concepts are introduced as needed.
Topics include the sky, seasons, phases of the moon, our solar system, and the
search for extrasolar planets. Students use computers extensively to analyze
data and access resources. Opportunities for telescope observations are
available.
PH307a/PH307b/PH307c Physics
One year
Credit: Three units core physics credit.
Meeting pattern: Five periods per week including lab (trimester 1), Four periods
per week including lab (trimesters 2 and 3).
This course provides an algebra-based foundation in the processes of physics,
with an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative reasoning. Topics explored
include mechanics, wave motion, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics.
Laboratory activities, which are a key component of the course, are inquirybased,
meaning students design their own experiments in order to answer
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