Welcome to your Physical Science Class!

Picture
The essence of this class is to see the patterns and relationships in all the things you see and do every day.  We will not only be exploring the “how” but also the “why” behind everything.  We will learn about scientific laws vs. theories, scientific notation, measurements, Galilean Relativity, Newton's Laws of Motion, Work and Energy, Simple Machines, and many other topics.  By looking at these ideas here on Earth, we will also see how they would apply everywhere in the universe.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Science Skills
  • 1.1 - The Scientific Method
  • 1.2 - Measurement
  • 1.3 - The Metric System
  • 1.4 - Unit Analysis
  • Chapter 1 Summary
Chapter 2 - Newton's First Law of Motion or, Galileo's Law of Inertia
  • 2.1 - What causes objects to move?
  • 2.2 - What is a Force?
  • 2.3 - Equilibrium
  • Chapter 2 Summary
Chapter 3 - Linear Motion
  • 3.1 - How fast are you moving right now?
  • 3.2 - Speed
  • 3.3 - Graphing
  • 3.4 - Speed vs. Velocity
  • 3.5 - Acceleration
  • 3.6 - Combining speed and velocity equations
  • Chapter 3 Summary
Chapter 4 - Newton's 2nd and 3rd Laws of Motion
  • 4.1 - Newton's 2nd Law
  • 4.2 - Mass vs. Weight
  • 4.3 - Free Body Diagrams
  • 4.4 - Terminal Velocity
  • 4.5 - Pressure
  • 4.6 - Newton's 3rd Law
  • Chapter 4 Summary
Chapter 5 - Work and Energy
  • 5.1 - Energy
  • 5.2 - Gravitational Potential Energy
  • 5.3 - Kinetic Energy
  • 5.4 - Energy Conversion and Work
  • 5.5 - Riding your bike uphill
  • 5.6 - Power
  • Chapter 5 Summary
Chapter 6 - Simple Machines
  • 6.1 - Principles of Simple Machines
  • 6.2 - Inclined Planes
  • 6.3 - Levers
  • 6.4 - Wheel and Axle
  • 6.5 - Pulleys
  • Chapter 6 Summary
Chapter 7 - The Atom
  • 7.1 - History of the Atom
  • 7.2 - Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
  • 7.3 - From where did all the elements come?
  • 7.4 - Atomic Symbols
  • 7.5 - Isotopes
  • 7.6 - Ions
  • 7.7 - Bohr Model Revisited
  • Chapter 7 Summary
Chapter 8 - The Periodic Table
  • 8.1 - Periodic Table Overview
  • 8.2 - Periodic Trends
  • Chapter 8 Summary
Chapter 9 - Making Molecules
  • 9.1 - Molecules and Molecular Formulae
  • 9.2 - Lewis Dot Structures
  • 9.3 - Electronegativity
  • 9.4 - Diatomic Molecules
  • 9.5 - Molecular Shapes
  • 9.6 - Polar and Non-polar Molecules
  • 9.7 - Properties due to Polarity
  • Chapter 9 Summary
Appendix 1 - Math is the Language of Science

Appendix 2 - Setup for Formal Lab Reports