Ever wonder why more massive objects require more force to move? Perhaps you have questioned how new substances are made or how energy is involved in changes in matter? These are some of the concepts students will be exploring in Physical Science. This course teaches the foundational concepts of physics and chemistry. Students will use scientific inquiry, interactive experiences, higher order thinking, collaborative projects, and virtual labs to build and demonstrate an understanding of physical and chemical phenomena enabling them to apply these principles to their everyday lives. Major topics in segment one include: Speed, Velocity and Acceleration; Newton's Laws of Motion; Momentum; Fundamental Forces; Mechanical Work and Power; Energy; Energy Transfer; Conservation of Energy; Electrical Charges; Electrical Current; Electrical Circuits; Magnetism; Relationship Between Electricity and Magnetism; Introduction to Waves; Sound Waves; Mechanical waves; Electromagnetic waves; and Reflection and Refraction.
Prerequisites: None
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Calculate the speed of an object
- Describe the motion of an object relative to a frame of reference, using a distance vs time graph and in terms of speed, velocity and acceleration
- Explain the role of Newton's Three Laws of Motion in the fields of science
- Compare the magnitude and range of the four basic forces—gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and strong nuclear
- Calculate and explain the relationship between mechanical work and power
- Define energy and describe its various forms
- Explain how energy is transferred and changes forms using specific examples
- Describe how to conserve and transfer energy within systems
- Explain the physical basis for electrical charges
- Explain how voltage is related to electrical current
- Describe and calculate electrical power
- Interpret and apply electrical circuit diagrams
- Apply Ohm's law to relate current, voltage and resistance
- Describe the relationship between electricity and magnetism
- Describe various properties of a wave, including frequency, wavelength, and amplitude
- Describe the Doppler effect and apply it to real-world situations
- Differentiate between electromagnetic and mechanical waves
- Identify practical applications of non-visible electromagnetic waves
- Explain how light waves interact with matter and describe various applications of light
Course Outline:
Module 1: Motion
Module 2: Electricity
Module 3: Waves
Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.
Additional Costs: Students will need a scientific calculator with logarithmic functions and scientific notation capabilities. Required lab activities materials include a Stopwatch; Household items for Rube Goldberg machine (books, rulers, cups, toy cars, tracks, string); and Colored pencils.
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.
Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/
Lightweight devices such as Apple iPads, Google Chromebooks, and tablets have limited support for Java or Flash which still appear in a small percentage of our catalog. While FLVS does not offer technical support for these devices, FLVS is working to remove Flash from their remaining course content. Students will need extra work-around steps or alternate browsers to engage with some portions of those courses. FLVS recommends students have a Windows or Mac based computer available to complete coursework in the event that your selected mobile device does not meet the needs of the course. Fully supported Operating Systems for FLVS courses include Windows (10 or higher) and MacOS (11 or higher). Supported Browsers include the most recent versions of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari on devices that support Java and HTML5. Browsers need to be up to date, and some FLVS courses may require installation or enabling of the following Plug-ins: JavaScript enabled, Cookies enabled, Java installed. https://www.flvs.net/student-parent-resources/more/system-requirements
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:
- Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
- Download and install software
- Use a messaging service similar to email
- Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
- Open attachments shared in messages
- Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
- Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Save a file as a .pdf
- Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
- Insert images or links into a file or html editor
- Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
- Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
- Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
- Use presentation and graphics programs
- Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
- Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
- Create and maintain usernames and passwords
Additional Information: None