Courses

Physics 20 - Year

This course covers the major concepts in physics while emphasizing practice with scientific and simple algebraic skills. Students will learn kinematics, the laws of motion, momentum, and energy, the properties of sound and light waves, electricity and magnetism, and atomic structure. They will learn how to make measurements in the laboratory and use graphical methods to discover the relationships between quantities. There will be extensive focus on developing good problem solving skills and making scientifically sound predictions. Computers will be introduced for data acquisition and analysis, and for modeling relationships. (PH20 should be taken by all new students. Open to Forms V and VI if the math prerequisites for PH30 have not been met.)

Chemistry -Year

This course covers atomic structure, electron configurations and the periodic table, chemical formulas and bonding, chemical reactions and equations, thermo chemistry, the gas laws and condensed phases, solutions, equilibrium, solubility and precipitation, acid-base chemistry, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Weekly laboratories and problem sets develop and reinforce quantitative problem solving skills. (Open to Forms IV, V, and VI. Prerequisite: Honors grade in PH20 and departmental permission.)

Biology -Year

This course surveys the major themes of biology including the structure of biological molecules, the structure and function of cells, energy transfer systems, reproduction, inheritance, evolution, anatomy and physiology, and ecology. Weekly laboratory exercises, with emphasis on observation, prediction, data collection, and presentation, are an important aspect of this course. As modern biology involves much biochemistry, the Department suggests, but does not require, that Chemistry 30 be completed before this course. (Open to Forms IV, V, and VI. Prerequisite: Completion of CH30 or CH31 with departmental permission.)

Chemistry: Environmental Approach - Year

This year long course introduces the major principles of chemistry through a modified survey approach. Students will study many of the topics discussed in the chemistry course but will do so in the context of the study of various environmental systems. Topics include (but are not limited to) atomic structure, chemical formulas, bonding, chemical reactions, equations, solutions, solubility, acid and base chemistry and gas laws. An applied or thematic approach to these ideas allows students to understand the concepts through the lens of energy consumption, carbon dioxide emission, and global climate change, effects of toxins on water quality and eutrophication of water systems. Weekly laboratory investigations and field studies will supplement the classroom work. Students are placed in this course based on their performance in Physics 20 and/or interest. (Open to students in Forms IV, V and VI. Prerequisite: PH20. Not open to students who have completed CH30.)

Biology: Human Approach - Year

This year long course introduces the major principles of introductory biology through a modified survey approach and is taught as an alternative to the survey biology course listed previous. Students will study many of the topics discussed in biology but will do so in the context of human disease and human evolution. Topics will include chemistry of life, structure and function of cells, cell cycle overview and regulation, energy in living systems, human genetics, evolutionary theory, human phylogeny, human anatomy and physiology. As with the environmental approach to chemistry, the human approach to biology is an applied or thematic approach to the study of biology centered on the human body, human experiences, and our relationship with the living world. Classroom work will be supplemented by laboratory exercises that include experimental design. Students who complete Chemistry: Environmental Approach are recommended for this course. (Open to students in Forms IV, V and VI who have completed CH30 or CH31. Not open to students who have completed BI30.)

AP Physics B - Year

This course is a non-calculus survey of physics which preparesstudents to take the Advanced Placement Physics B Examination. Topics include kinematics, Newton’s laws, conservation of momentum and energy, waves, sound, light, optics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics, atomic structure, quantum mechanics, and the birth of Modern Physics. Laboratory exercises are a feature of this course. Students may also take the SAT II test upon completion of this course. (Open to students in Forms V and VI with departmental permission. Prerequisites: MA50, which may be taken concurrently, and completion of CH30 recommended.)

AP Physics C - Year

This second-Year course in Physics prepares students for both parts of the Advanced Placement Physics C Examination: Part I, Mechanics, and Part II, Electricity and Magnetism. Calculus-based problem solving and laboratory work are emphasized. (Open to Forms V and VI with departmental permission. Prerequisites: An honors grade in a previous Physics course, Calculus, which may be taken concurrently, and completion of core science requirements.)

AP Chemistry - Year

The course is designed to afford students extensive backgroundin chemistry comparable to that acquired in a college level introductory chemistry course. This second-year chemistry courseprepares students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Chemistry. In-depth study of the concepts introduced in CH30 and extensive practice in problem solving and laboratory work are required. (Open to Forms V and VI with departmental permission. Departmental permission will be granted based on the student’s performance on a placement test administered during the course sign up process. Prerequisites: Honors grade in CH30 and MA50. MA50 may be taken concurrently.)

AP Biology - Year

This second-year course prepares students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Biology. Readings from a college text, analysis of data available on the Internet, laboratory work, and essay writing are required. (Open to Forms V and VI with departmental approval. Prerequisites: CH30 and BI30. Students who wish to take this course as a first-year biology course may petition the department for entry upon successful completion of CH40.)

Circuit Physics - Spring

Electronic devices surround us, but to most people their workings remain a lifelong mystery. Circuit Physics will expand students’ understanding from a theoretical understanding of Ohm’s law and Kirchoff’s rules, to the practical experience of designing, building and testing electronic devices themselves. Students will become acquainted with various literature reference sources at both the hobby and professional level. A weekly “journal club” will give students a chance to share their reading selections with classmates. They will build up their understanding of circuits in a process analogous to learning the alphabet to write words, then assembling those words into meaningful sentences. First, they will learn how individual circuit elements like resistors, capacitors and semiconductors behave, then how these can be assembled into simple amplifiers, oscillators and rectifiers. Then they will combine these assemblies to make more complex devices such as radio transmitters and receivers, electronic musical instruments or counters. Logic circuits, op-amps, robots and computers will be discussed and explored as time permits. Most class time will be hands-on and will involve learning how to read circuit plans, how to breadboard a prototype, how to use test gear and troubleshoot, and how to solder and package their device. Ambitious students completing this course will be well equipped to choose an individual electronics project and complete it independently. (Open to Forms V and VI. Prerequisite: CH30 or CH31.)

Introductory DNA Science - Fall

The introductory DNA science course will focus on the structure and function of DNA in the life of a eukaryotic cell. We will discuss topics and techniques related to gene expression and gene cloning. In addition, students will learn about current advances in understanding genomes and applications of this knowledge. This is a lab based course that will include the cloning and expression of a particular gene. The practical applications of, as well as the theory behind lab techniques, will be covered as part of the course. Much of the students’ class time will be spent in the lab therefore students will be expected to keep a detailed lab notebook that will account for a portion of the course grade. Students who want to be successful in the course will demonstrate an interest in the topic, an ability to ask thoughtful questions and work with some autonomy. (Open to Forms V and VI. Prerequisite: CH30 or CH31.) Will not be offered in 2009-2010.

Structures and Material Science - Fall

We make use of both public and private infrastructure in our lives daily. It includes residing in homes, working in buildings, and driving on roads and bridges. All these structures were designed and built with specific attention to the environment they would be in and the materials that would be used. Students will discover that a skyscraper in California would need to be designed and built with materials in a certain way so that it can resist an earthquake, while the same skyscraper would be designed and built a different way in Florida to resist hurricanes. Students in this class will work in a project based setting to learn about the strength and properties of different materials including a material’s modulus of elasticity and its tensile and compressive strengths. These substances will include steel, wood, and composite materials. Students will use their knowledge of the properties of these materials to design and build simple structures that will withstand loads mimicking live, shear, and wind. The course will be hands on and will utilize basic computer software that can be used to create simple structures and apply theoretical forces to test them. Students will be assessed based on the projects they built and accompanying written reports for those projects. Upon completion of this course, students will have a better understanding of the design and materials that make up the structures that surround us. (Open to Forms V and VI. Prerequisite: CH30 or CH31.)

Contemporary Biology - Spring

In this semester long course, students will study a number of current issues that have biological backgrounds. Students will be exposed to both mainstream media coverage as well as peer reviewed journal articles with an emphasis on understanding the biological foundation of the topics. Units will include stem cells, the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, immunology and vaccines, cancer, DNA fingerprinting and forensics, and exercise physiology.

(Prerequisite: BI30 or BI31.)