Coverage and Scope

Physics presents physical laws, research, concepts, and skills in a logical and engaging progression that should be familiar to most physics faculty. The textbook begins with a general introduction to physics and scientific processes, which is followed by several chapters on motion and Newton’s laws. After mechanics, the students will move through thermodynamics, waves and sound, and light and optics. Electricity and magnetism and nuclear physics complete the textbook.

Pedagogical Foundation and Features

Physics uses a friendly voice and exciting examples that appeal to a high school audience. The Chapter Openers, for example, include thought-provoking photographs and introductions that connect the content to experiences relevant to student’s lives.

Differentiated Instruction

The writing in our program has been developed with universal design in mind to ensure students of all different backgrounds are reached. Content can be accessed through engaging text, informative visuals, hands-on activities, and online simulations. This diversity of learning media presents a wealth of reinforcement opportunities that allow students to review material in a new and fresh way.

Features

• Snap Labs give students the opportunity to experience physics through hands-on activities. The labs can be completed quickly and rely primarily on readily available materials so that students can do them at home as they read.
• Worked Examples promote both analytical and conceptual skills. In each example, the scenario/application is first introduced, followed by a description of the strategy used to solve the problem that emphasizes the concepts involved. These are followed by a fully worked mathematical solution and a discussion of the results.
• Reading Features
  • Fun in Physics: feature physics applications in various entertainment industries
  • Work in Physics: explore careers in physics as well as other careers that routinely employ physics
  • Boundless Physics: reveal frontiers in physical knowledge and descriptions of cutting-edge discoveries in physics
  • Links to Physics: highlight connections of physics to other disciplines
• Interactive Features
  • Watch Physics: support student’s understanding of conceptual and computational skills using world-renowned Khan videos
  • Virtual Physics: provide inquiry and discovery-based learning by providing a virtual “sandbox” where students can experiment with simulated physics scenarios and equipment using the University of Colorado-developed PhET simulations
• Tips for Success offer students advice on how to approach content or problems.

Practice and Assessment

Physics offers a wealth of assessment options:

• Grasp Checks are formative assessments that review the comprehension of concepts and skills addressed through reading features, interactive features, and snap labs.
• Practice Problems challenge students to apply concepts and skills they have seen in a Worked Example to solve a problem.
• Check Your Understanding are conceptual questions that, together with the practice problems, provide formative assessment on key topics in each section.

Chapter Review includes:

• Conceptual questions that challenge students’ ability to explain what they have learned conceptually, independent of the mathematical details
• Problems that challenge students to apply both concepts and skills to solve mathematical physics problems
• Critical thinking conceptual questions or problems that challenge students to apply concepts and skills to new situations
• Performance Tasks that challenges students to apply the content and skills they have learned to find a solution to a practical situation Test Prep helps prepare students to successfully respond to the format and rigor of standardized tests. The test prep includes multiple choice, short answer, and extended response items.

Core Reviewers

Fatih Gozuacik, Harmony Public Schools

Fatih Gozuacik holds master’s degrees in physics and atomic physics from Texas A&M Commerce and Sakarya University in Turkey. In addition to teaching AP and College Physics at Harmony Public Schools, he is a mentor for the Physics Bowl and the Science Olympiad, and serves as a college counselor for junior and senior students. Fatih was named the 2015 STEM teacher of the year by Educate Texas.

Denise Pattison, Hardin-Jefferson, High School

Denise Pattison was born and raised in Lumberton, Texas. She graduated from Lamar University - Beaumont in 2004 with a degree in science, and teaches Physics, Pre AP Physics, and IPC Physics at Hardin-Jefferson High School. She loves teaching because it offers the opportunity to make a difference in a person’s life.

Catherine Tabor, Northwest Early High School

Catherine Tabor holds Bachelors degrees in Mathematics and Physics, a Master’s degree in Physics and am currently working towards a PhD in Computer Science. She has been teaching for over twenty years, holding positions at a number of high schools in El Paso and colleges including Evergreen State and UT El Paso. At Northwest Early HS, she currently teaches Astronomy, AP Physics, and AP Computer Science.

High-School Teacher Reviewers

Bryan Callow, Lindenwold High School, Lindenwold, NJ

John Boehringer, Prosper High School, Prosper, TX

Wade Green, Stony Point High School, Round Rock, TX

Susan Vogel, Rockwall-Heath High School, Heath TX

Stan Hutto, Southwest Christian School, TX

Richard Lines, Garland High School, Garland, TX

Penny McCool, Robert E Lee High School and the STEM Academy PreAP

Loren Lykins, Science Department Chairman—Carlisle Independent School District, TX

Janie Horn, Cleveland High School, Magnolia, TX

Sean Oshman, Garland Independent School District, TX

Cort Gillen, Cypress Ranch High School, TX