Course Overview:

This Physics course is a rigorous, high school–level science course designed to help students build a strong conceptual and mathematical understanding of the physical laws that govern the universe. Through interactive lessons, real-world problem solving, data analysis, and applied mathematics, students explore motion, forces, energy, waves, electricity, and modern physics concepts. This trigonometry-based online physics course emphasizes critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and practical application, making it ideal for students preparing for advanced STEM coursework, college science programs, or engineering pathways.

Semester 1:  

In Semester 1, students begin by mastering the foundational tools of physics, including the International System of Units (SI), scientific notation, and significant figures. From there, they explore one- and two-dimensional motion, gravity, and Newton’s Laws of Motion to understand how forces influence the movement of objects. Students analyze relationships between force, work, energy, and momentum while applying algebraic and trigonometric problem-solving techniques. The semester concludes with studies in circular motion, energy transfer, and simple machines, reinforcing how physical principles explain both theoretical concepts and real-world technologies.

Semester 2: 

Semester 2 expands students’ understanding of physics beyond mechanics into wave behavior, optics, thermodynamics, fluids, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. Students investigate simple harmonic motion, wave properties, and the dual nature of light as both a wave and a particle. Additional topics include heat transfer, buoyancy, electrical circuits, magnetism, and electromagnetic interactions. The course concludes with an introduction to modern physics concepts such as nuclear science, radioactivity, the photoelectric effect, and relativity, helping students connect classical physics to contemporary scientific discoveries. This semester continues to emphasize mathematical modeling, graphing, and trigonometric analysis to solve complex physics problems.

Required Materials: See list here

Materials listed should be acquired by the student prior to beginning the work in the course.

Prerequisites: Algebra 2