Physics · Semester 1

Mechanics Foundations

Semester 1 covers the mathematical language of physics, one- and two-dimensional motion, force analysis, equilibrium, circular motion, and gravity.

Semester Themes

  • Measurement, units, and scientific notation
  • Kinematics in one and two dimensions
  • Vectors and projectile motion
  • Newton\'s laws, torque, and equilibrium
  • Circular motion and gravity

Module Range

  • Introductory Remarks
  • Module 1 through Module 7
  • Includes experiments 1.1-7.1
  • Weekly review and practice-problem emphasis

Detailed Pacing

Week 1: Introductory Remarks — Scientific Foundations and Measurement

This opening week establishes the tools needed for the rest of the course: measurement, the metric system, unit conversion, significant figures, scientific notation, and how to keep a good physics notebook.

Week 1

Scientific Foundations and Measurement

Student work before Friday

  • Read the Introductory Remarks on measurement, the metric system, and units.
  • Practice converting units using the factor-label method with common metric prefixes.
  • Review the rules for significant figures and scientific notation, then complete a short exercise set.
  • Set up a physics notebook with sections for vocabulary, worked examples, lab notes, and practice problems.

Key ideas to master

  • Use the metric system and convert units with the factor-label method.
  • Distinguish between accuracy and precision in measurements.
  • Apply the rules for significant figures and scientific notation.
  • Understand how units fit into physical equations.

Friday overview

Introduce the course structure, walk through the metric system and unit conversion, and model how to track units through calculations.

Friday experiment

Measurement practice and unit-conversion drills, plus setting up a lab notebook and basic measuring tools.

Discussion / assessment

Review the student's conversions and significant-figure work, then assign a short opening check on units, notation, and measurement vocabulary.

Detailed Pacing

Module 1: Motion in One Dimension

This pacing block is organized for a homeschool student who works independently during the week and meets on Friday for guided review, discussion, and experiments.

Take Module 1 Test

Week 2

Motion in One Dimension I

Student work before Friday

  • Read the first half of Module 1 on motion, position, distance, displacement, speed, and velocity.
  • Define each new term in a notebook and draw simple motion diagrams on a number line.
  • Complete practice problems comparing distance vs. displacement and speed vs. average velocity.

Key ideas to master

  • Explain the difference between scalar and vector quantities.
  • Calculate distance, displacement, speed, and average velocity from simple examples.
  • Interpret motion in words, diagrams, and basic graphs.

Friday overview

Review the language of kinematics, model one-dimensional motion on a board, and walk through representative examples before checking student reasoning.

Friday experiment

Experiment 1.1: Measuring Average Velocity (full procedure below).

Discussion / assessment

Discuss the practice set, correct misunderstandings, and assign a short oral or written check on distance, displacement, and velocity.

Week 3

Motion in One Dimension II

Student work before Friday

  • Read the second half of Module 1 on instantaneous velocity, relative velocity, and acceleration.
  • Work practice problems involving changing velocity over time and signed quantities.
  • Prepare at least two questions or worked examples to discuss during the Friday meeting.

Key ideas to master

  • Distinguish average velocity from instantaneous velocity.
  • Use relative velocity in simple one-dimensional situations.
  • Calculate and explain acceleration, including positive and negative values.

Friday overview

Connect displacement, velocity, and acceleration, then review how the ideas fit together across the whole module using worked examples and student questions.

Friday experiment

Experiment 1.2: Measuring an Object's Acceleration.

Discussion / assessment

Finish with a cumulative Module 1 review, discussion, and short quiz or verbal assessment before moving into Module 2.

Experiment Procedure

Experiment 1.1: Measuring Average Velocity

This procedure is designed for a ramp and a small ball. It lets the student measure distance and time, then calculate average velocity for different segments of the ball’s motion.

Purpose

Calculate the average velocity of a ball rolling down a ramp and compare how the average velocity changes as the ball travels farther.

Materials

  • A smooth, light ball (marble, toy ball, or small rubber ball)
  • A ramp (ruler, meter stick, or flat piece of wood/cardboard)
  • A stack of books or blocks to prop up one end of the ramp
  • A meter stick or tape measure
  • A stopwatch or phone timer
  • Masking tape or small sticky notes to mark positions

Setup

  1. Place the ramp on a table or the floor. Prop one end up with books so the ramp has a gentle, steady incline.
  2. Use the meter stick to measure along the ramp and mark at least three positions from the starting point, for example 0.20 m, 0.40 m, and 0.60 m.
  3. Place a small piece of tape or a sticky note at each marked position.
  4. Designate a clear starting line near the top of the ramp where the ball will be released from rest.

Procedure

  1. Measure the total distance from the starting line to the first marker and record it.
  2. One person holds the ball at the starting line; another person watches the marker and operates the stopwatch.
  3. Release the ball from rest and start the timer at the exact moment of release. Stop the timer when the ball reaches the marker.
  4. Record the time in your data table.
  5. Repeat the measurement at least three times for that distance and average the times.
  6. Move the marker farther down the ramp and repeat steps 1–5 for each marked distance.
  7. Keep the ramp angle and starting position the same for every trial.

Data to record

For each marked distance, record the distance d, each trial time t, the average time, and the calculated average velocity vavg = d / t.

Analysis

  1. Calculate average velocity for each marked distance using your averaged times.
  2. Compare the average velocities for the short, medium, and long distances. What pattern do you notice?
  3. Explain why the ball’s average velocity is likely greater for longer distances if the ramp is tilted.
  4. Describe at least two sources of uncertainty in your measurements and how you could reduce them.

Safety note

Roll the ball gently. Clear the area at the bottom of the ramp so the ball does not fall onto anything breakable or roll underfoot.

Detailed Pacing

Module 2: Motion Equations and Free Fall

This pacing block keeps the same homeschool structure with independent weekly work, Friday instruction, and live experiments during your meeting time.

Take Module 2 Test

Week 4

Motion Equations and Free Fall I

Student work before Friday

  • Read the first part of Module 2 on the relationships among displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time in one-dimensional motion.
  • Build a formula sheet showing when to use each motion equation and identify what each variable represents.
  • Work several practice problems solving for missing quantities in constant-acceleration situations.

Key ideas to master

  • Choose appropriate motion equations for constant-acceleration problems.
  • Solve for displacement, velocity, acceleration, or time from known information.
  • Interpret the meaning of each variable in context instead of just plugging into formulas.

Friday overview

Review the core motion equations, model how to organize givens and unknowns, and work through representative examples step by step.

Friday experiment

Equation setup and problem-solving workshop using real or modeled motion scenarios.

Discussion / assessment

Check the student's problem setup process, correct equation-selection errors, and assign a short set of mixed motion-equation problems.

Week 5

Motion Equations and Free Fall II

Student work before Friday

  • Read the second part of Module 2 on free fall, reaction time, terminal velocity, and the effects of air resistance.
  • Complete practice problems involving vertical motion under gravity, including upward and downward motion.
  • Prepare notes comparing idealized free fall with real-world falling motion affected by air resistance.

Key ideas to master

  • Apply motion equations specifically to free-fall situations.
  • Explain how gravity affects objects in vertical motion.
  • Describe reaction time, terminal velocity, and the role of air resistance in real motion.

Friday overview

Connect constant-acceleration equations to falling objects, review common sign mistakes, and compare textbook free fall with real-world motion.

Friday experiment

Experiments 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 completed during the Friday meeting.

Discussion / assessment

Finish Module 2 with cumulative review questions, discussion of free-fall reasoning, and a short written or verbal check before beginning vectors.

Detailed Pacing

Module 3: Two-Dimensional Vectors

This pacing block continues the homeschool pattern, with the student studying vectors independently and experiments done during your Friday meeting.

Take Module 3 Test

Week 6

Two-Dimensional Vectors I

Student work before Friday

  • Read the first part of Module 3 on vectors, graphical vector addition and subtraction, and vector components.
  • Draw vectors on graph paper and practice the head-to-tail method for addition and the parallelogram method.
  • Resolve simple vectors into horizontal and vertical components using scale diagrams and trigonometry.

Key ideas to master

  • Explain what a vector is and how it differs from a scalar.
  • Add and subtract vectors graphically using the head-to-tail and parallelogram methods.
  • Find the components of a vector given its magnitude and direction.

Friday overview

Introduce the idea of quantities with magnitude and direction, demonstrate graphical vector operations, and practice breaking vectors into components together.

Friday experiment

Experiment 3.1: Vector Components.

Discussion / assessment

Review the student's component calculations, verify graphical methods are being applied correctly, and assign a short practice set on vector components.

Week 7

Two-Dimensional Vectors II

Student work before Friday

  • Read the second part of Module 3 on analytical vector addition and applying vectors to physical situations.
  • Work practice problems using trigonometry to add and subtract vectors without relying on scale drawings.
  • Complete a few physical-situation problems where two or more vectors act on the same object.

Key ideas to master

  • Add and subtract vectors analytically using components.
  • Calculate the magnitude and direction of a resultant vector.
  • Use vectors to describe simple physical situations such as forces or displacements in two dimensions.

Friday overview

Show how to combine components to find resultants, then work through physical-situation examples where vectors model real quantities in two dimensions.

Friday experiment

Experiment 3.2: Vector Addition.

Discussion / assessment

Finish Module 3 with a cumulative review of vector operations and a short written or verbal check before moving into two-dimensional motion.

1

Introductory Remarks

Scientific Foundations and Measurement

Topics: Metric system, factor-label method, units in equations, measurements, accuracy, precision, significant figures, and scientific notation.

Lab / activity: Measurement practice and unit-conversion drills.

2

Module 1

Motion in One Dimension I

Topics: Distance and displacement, speed and velocity, average and instantaneous velocity.

Lab / activity: Experiment 1.1: Measuring Average Velocity.

3

Module 1

Motion in One Dimension II

Topics: Relative velocity, acceleration, and average versus instantaneous acceleration.

Lab / activity: Experiment 1.2: Measuring an Object's Acceleration.

4

Module 2

Motion Equations and Free Fall I

Topics: Relating velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement in one dimension.

Lab / activity: Equation setup and problem-solving workshop.

5

Module 2

Motion Equations and Free Fall II

Topics: Free fall, reaction time, terminal velocity, and air resistance.

Lab / activity: Experiments 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3.

6

Module 3

Two-Dimensional Vectors I

Topics: Vectors, graphical addition and subtraction, and vector components.

Lab / activity: Experiment 3.1: Vector Components.

7

Module 3

Two-Dimensional Vectors II

Topics: Analytical vector addition and applying vectors to physical situations.

Lab / activity: Experiment 3.2: Vector Addition.

8

Module 4

Motion in Two Dimensions I

Topics: Navigation in two dimensions, projectile motion, and the range equation.

Lab / activity: Experiment 4.1: Rubber band projectile flight.

9

Module 4

Motion in Two Dimensions II

Topics: Non-ideal projectile situations and measuring horizontal speed experimentally.

Lab / activity: Experiment 4.2: Measuring horizontal speed without a stopwatch.

10

Module 5

Newton's Laws I

Topics: Newton's first and second laws, inertia, mass, and weight.

Lab / activity: Experiment 5.1: Inertia.

11

Module 5

Newton's Laws II

Topics: Normal force, friction, friction equations, and Newton's third law.

Lab / activity: Experiment 5.2: The Frictional Force.

12

Module 6

Applications of Newton's Second Law I

Topics: Translational equilibrium, measuring weight, and rotational motion with torque.

Lab / activity: Experiments 6.1 and 6.2.

13

Module 6

Applications of Newton's Second Law II

Topics: Rotational equilibrium, inclined planes, and multi-object systems.

Lab / activity: Experiment 6.3: Static friction on an inclined surface.

14

Module 7

Uniform Circular Motion

Topics: Centripetal force, centripetal acceleration, and sources of circular-motion forces.

Lab / activity: Experiment 7.1: Centripetal Force.

15

Module 7

Gravity and Planetary Motion

Topics: Gravity, circular motion terminology, fictional forces, and planetary motion.

Lab / activity: Problem set synthesis and orbital-motion applications.

16

Cumulative Review

Semester 1 Review and Assessment

Topics: Review of modules 1-7 with cumulative problem solving, concept integration, and exam prep.

Lab / activity: Semester exam, project wrap-up, or targeted reteaching.

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