8/12/2024

Advanced Physics
2024-2025

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Mr. Szwast
• BSE Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University
• MS Chemical Engineering, Caltech
• MA Teaching, University of Michigan-Dearborn
• Teaching in San Diego Unified School District since 2009
• Teaching at Scripps Ranch High School since 2015
• Previously taught regular physics, advanced physics, AP Physics 1, and
numerous math courses.

Student Introductions
• State your name and tell the class 0, 1, or 2 of the following:
• Fun fact about yourself
• Something exciting about your summer
• Plans/goals for the future
• Hobbies
• Favorite music, food, etc.

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Period 4 – Falcon PRIDE Behavior Agreement

• https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/128RxMk_KMx18kT2_Fg9U
DYACrOQ3CbNV/edit#slide=id.g2f0dd21c268_0_1
• Distribute PRIDE Behavior Agreement
• Due back to Period 4 teacher no later than Friday 8/16
• Grade 9-11 all receive the same form (white paper)
• Grade 12 form is different (blue paper)

Closest Restrooms
• Directly behind the whiteboard.
• You must get a pass to use the restroom during class time.

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Advanced Physics
2024-2025

Typical Class
1) Warm-up on the board when you enter – start it immediately; teacher will
inform you when it is time to discuss with your assigned partner
2) One student presents warm-up
3) Teacher answers questions
4) Teacher presents new information
5) Students solve “You-Try” problems – first individually, then working with
assigned partner
6) One student presents each You-Try problem
7) Teacher answers questions
8) Repeat steps 4-7
9) Occasionally, there will be time to start homework
10) Teacher will inform students when they can pack up their stuff (typically one
minute before the bell rings). Students who pack up early will not earn full
citizenship points for the day.
11) Students remain in or next to their assigned seat until the teacher dismisses
the class. Reminder: the bell does not dismiss the class.

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Beginning of Class
• You are expected to be in your assigned seat and working on the
warm-up when the bell begins to ring.
• You will be marked tardy if you are not in your assigned seat when the
bell begins to ring, except if:
• You were at your assigned seat but got up to do a class-related task (e.g.,
sharpen pencil, get paper, ask Mr. Szwast a question, etc.) or health-related
task (e.g., blow your nose, wash or sanitize hands)
• There is a sink in the room that you may use to wash your hands
• You dropped off your belongings at your assigned seat and received
permission to use the restroom

Canvas
• https://sandiegounified.instructure.com/
• Canvas will be use extensively, including:
• PDF versions of PowerPoints
• Class handouts and other files
• Links to assigned and optional reading
• Links to assigned and enrichment activities
• Assignments (Practice Problems)
• Selected assessments

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Required Materials – Every Class

• District-issued Chromebook
• Personal computers may not be used during class
• May be checked out from the library
• Scientific (non-programmable, non-graphing) calculator
• May be checked out from the library
• You may use a personal scientific calculator
• Cell phones may not be used as calculators
• Two-line calculators such as TI-30XIIS are recommended
• Graphing calculators and calculators with equation-solving capabilities will not be
allowed during any quiz or test.
• Note-taking method
• OneNote
• Using a PDF annotator on the PowerPoint files posted in Canvas is recommended for
students with a touchscreen Chromebook.
• PowerPoint files can be printed at home or in the library before school.
• Notebooks or binders may be used

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Microsoft OneNote
• Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking program with a lot of useful
features.
• There is a course notebook with guided notes. You are highly
recommended to try it out. The link is posted in Canvas:
• https://sdusd-
my.sharepoint.com/personal/mszwast_sandi_net/Documents/Class%20Note
books/Advanced%20Physics%202024-2025
• You may also use OneNote similar to a notebook.
• Basic stylus pens are available to use in class. You may also use your
finger or a personal stylus pen.
• OneNote is also a good place to write out all of your work for Practice
Problem assignments.

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Available Classroom Materials

• Help yourself:
• Lined paper
• Graph paper
• Scratch paper
• Pencils and pens
• Tape (but leave the dispenser on the counter)
• Folders
• Composition books
• Mechanical and electric pencil sharpeners, 3-hole punch, and stapler
may be used before class or during work time. Do not get up to use
them while someone is presenting.
• Do not touch the printer or open any cabinets.

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Available Classroom Materials, cont.

• Available for classroom use (must be returned before you leave):
• Rulers
• Protractors
• Computer stylus pens
• Headphones
• Available upon request (classroom use with deposit of ID or phone):
• Scientific calculator
• Chromebook charger
• Available upon request (for you to keep):
• 3-ring binders
• Other common classroom materials are available for classroom use
upon request.

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Lost and Found

• Lost and Found box is in the northeast corner of the room.
• If you find something left at your seat, please place it in the Lost and
Found box.
• If you think you lost something, check the Lost and Found box.

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Classroom First Aid Kit

• All classrooms have a first aid kit containing bandages, tampons, and
pads.
• Ask if you need anything from the first aid kit.
• There is also a sink in the room you may use whenever needed.

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Labs and Projects

• There will be approximately one lab or project per unit.
• Lab report and project grades are final – no redo’s or revisions.

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Question Levels
• Most assignment and assessment questions will be assigned a Level.
These will roughly correspond to:
• Level 2 (required to earn a C or higher): Vocabulary questions, one-
step problems, simple concepts
• Level 3 (required to earn a B or higher): Routine multi-step problems,
thought-inducing conceptual questions
• Level 4 (required to earn an A): Advanced multi-step problems,
problems combining multiple learning objectives, complex conceptual
questions

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Assignments / Practice Problems

• Practice problems do not count towards your academic grade.
• Practice Problems sets may be repeated an unlimited number of times,
both before and after the due date. Most computational problems will give
you different numbers on each attempt.
• Level 2 Practice Problems and Level 3 Practice Problems will be assigned
for most sections (as two separate assignments).
• Practice problems will typically be due at 10:00 PM about a week after they are
assigned.
• Failure to earn a 75% or above on the assignment before the due date will negatively
impact your citizenship grade.
• You must earn at least a 75% on every corresponding Level 2 and Level 3 Practice
Problems set in order to retake a Unit Test.
• Level 4 Practice Problems will be assigned less often and are always
optional – choosing not to complete them will not lower your citizenship
grade; completing them will not raise your citizenship grade

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Quizzes
• There will typically be one quiz for each chapter.
• Chapter quizzes will generally be worth 20-25 points.
• Chapter quizzes will typically contain one Level 4 problem,
constituting 10%-20% of the total points.
• Chapter quizzes may not be retaken.
• There are two types of quizzes that you will take at home through
Canvas. These may be taken an unlimited number of times (i.e., you
should keep taking it until you get 100%).
• Calculator quiz – Checking whether you can enter semi-complicated
expressions into your calculator accurately and then round appropriately.
• Units of Measurement quizzes – Checking that you know the units of
measurement and what they are used for (such as newtons are used to
measure force), along with SI prefixes (kilo, centi, etc.)

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Academic Honesty
• The following actions constitute cheating and will result in a zero for
all involved students:
• Using or attempting to use any outside assistance during an assessment.
• A 1st period student telling a 5th period student any information about the
contents of an assessment. Telling your friend, “There were more Chapter 3
questions than Chapter 2 questions” is cheating.
• Other actions as listed in the Student Handbook.
• You may not discuss any assessment with anyone between 8:35 on
the first day the assessment is given until after the graded assessment
has been returned to you.
• This includes discussions with classmates who were taking the assessment at
the same time. Some students in the room may be entitled to extra time, and
should not overhear any discussion about the assessment.

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Unit Tests
• Each unit will have a unit test, worth approximately 100 points.
• About half of all test questions come directly from the Practice
Problem sets (but with different numbers).
• Unit tests will have one or more Level 4 problems, adding up to
15%-20% of the total test points.
• There will be a retake opportunity for most unit tests.
• The retake will be scheduled for a Modified Monday. If you cannot make
the scheduled retake for any reason, you will not get another retake
opportunity.
• The last unit test of each semester typically will not have a retake
opportunity (due to lack of time remaining).
• There will be eligibility requirements you must meet in order to retake a
unit test (see next slide).

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Unit Test Retakes

• Retakes will typically be scheduled for 1-2 weeks after graded tests
are returned to students.
• There will not be any Level 4 questions on the retake. This will lower
the total number of points available on the retake.
• Retake grades are capped at 80%.
• Scoring higher on a retake replaces your original test score.
• If you score lower on a retake, the two grades will be averaged.
• Students must meet required criteria by the Friday before the
scheduled retake.
• 75% or above on all corresponding Level 2 and Level 3 Practice Problem sets.
• 100% on Calculator Quiz and the most recent Units of Measurement quiz.
• Sign up on the Google Form posted on Canvas.
• Some retakes may have additional requirements.

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Semester Academic Grade

• Your semester grade (and progress report grades) is a point-based
calculation (earned points divided by total points available) of all
entries in the Academic category of PowerSchool.
o A: 90.00%-100%
o B: 80.00%-89.99%
o C: 70.00%-79.99%
o D: 60.00%-69.99%
o F: 0-59.99%

• These cutoffs may be lowered at the end of each semester, solely at

the teacher’s discretion.
• The cutoffs will not be lowered for progress reports.

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Citizenship Grades
• Unsatisfactory (U): Does not meet expectations: work is habitually late, not
prepared to learn, does not participate, and does not work well with others.
• Typically below 70% citizenship average
• Inconsistent (I): Inconsistently meets expectations: occasionally completes work
on time, not always prepared to learn, participates irregularly, and rarely works
well with others.
• Typically 70%-84.99% citizenship average
• Meets (M): Consistently meets expectations: completes work on time, prepared
to learn, participates regularly, shows respect for others, and contributes to
building a positive community.
• Typically 85%-100% citizenship average
• Exceeds (E): Consistently exceeds expectations in work completion, preparation,
and participation, and actively contributes to the learning experiences of their
peers (e.g., by presenting solutions to classwork problems).
• Only students with a citizenship average above 100% will be considered for an E.

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Athletics and Other School-Related Absences

• If you want to miss class for any school-related event (e.g., athletic
competition, field trip, ROTC Field Day), you need teacher permission
before the absence.
• Your coach cannot excuse you from your classes.
• The athletic director cannot excuse you from your classes.
• Students must have an A or B academic grade and an E or M
citizenship grade in order to be excused on any day.
• You do not start with any academic grade, so no student will be excused for
any school activity before the first quiz.
• Students will not be excused on lab days.
• Students will not be excused on quiz/test days.
• Students will not be excused during the last two weeks of each
semester.

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Electronics Use Policy

• The Board of Education approved Policy H-6980 allows students possession and use of cell phones
and other electronic signaling devices (such as smart watches) on campus before school, during
lunch, and after school. Scripps Ranch allows students to use their electronic devices during
passing periods.
• These devices must be kept out of sight, silenced or turned off during classroom time unless
specified by the teacher for authorized academic purposes. Unauthorized use of electronic
devices is grounds for confiscation of the device by school officials and/or classroom teachers.
• Consequences for confiscated devices;
• 1st Offense - Teacher keeps the phone until the end of the period, counsel’s student, and contacts the parent.
Citizenship grade may be affected.
• 2nd Offense -Teacher turns cell phone to associate principal, parents are contacted, and student will pick up
device after 3:30 p.m. Citizenship grade will be lowered by a letter.
• 3rd Offense - Teacher turns device into office. Device remains in the office until parent/guardian picks it up.
Citizenship will be lowered by a letter.
• 4th Offense - Any further instances involving electronic devices will result in a parent, student, and
administrator conference.
• If a student refuses to give a cell phone, smart watch, or any electronic device to the teacher, the
matter will be referred to the associate principal for additional followup and intervention if
needed.
• Students and parents are notified of this policy each year through the Facts for Parents booklet
that is available for download on the district website: https://www.sandiegounified.org/ .

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Math Requirements
• Advanced Physics is a very math-intensive course.
• We will be solving a lot of equations – mostly linear, some quadratic,
some trigonometric, some logarithmic.
• You will learn some math in this course that is not taught until
IM2/AIM2 and IM3/AIM3.
• SDUSD recommends that students not take Advanced Physics unless
they passed IM1 with an A or B, or passed AIM1 with a C or higher.
• Students who have not yet passed IM1/AIM1 often struggle more than other
students.

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Office Hours
• During office hours, you may:
• Ask questions about anything related to the class (classwork, assignments,
quizzes, tests, etc.)
• Receive tutoring
• Work on your assignments (alone or with other students)
• Study for upcoming assessments
• Initial office hours (which may change during the year):
• Mondays 8:00-8:30
• Tuesdays 8:00-8:30
• Fridays 8:00-8:30

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“Optional Extra Assistance and Extensions”

• In Canvas – Under “Pages”
• Generally one page per chapter
• Additional reading – Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5
• Additional practice problems are located at the end of each
• Links to Khan Academy videos

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“I don’t know what to ask.”

• Examples of good things to ask during class or office hours:
• “Can you repeat what you just said?”
• “Can you reexplain Newton’s First Law?”
• “Can you resolve You-Try #3?”
• “Can you explain the problems I missed on the 3.2 Practice
Problems?” (office hours only)

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Assignment
• Read through the syllabus posted on Canvas.
• Have at least one parent/guardian read through the syllabus posted
on Canvas.
• Complete the Syllabus Agreement Form
• Due Monday

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