Physics

Course Objective

KET Star Channel's Physics is a one-year high school course with the goal of providing the student with an appreciation and understanding of the physical world. An equally important goal is to prepare students for college courses and careers that require an understanding of physics the sciences, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, education, agriculture, transportation, weather, and many other fields.

One essential tool in developing an understanding of physical principles is mathematics. Mathematical descriptions of motion, force, energy, electricity, magnetism, and light allow us to describe what we observe and predict what we have yet to observe in the most efficient manner possible. In physics we use mathematics as a tool to summarize and extend our observations. So is physics just another mathematics course? No, physics is about concepts and real events around us. Mathematics is just a very useful part of the language of physics. We ultimately want to know why the sky is blue and what gives a saxophone its brash sound. Math just helps us describe what we see. The preparation you need is two successful years of algebra. But a good dose of curiosity and good study habits wouldn't hurt!

Physics will undergo a metamorphosis this year. In an effort to provide students with a more direct experience of the phenomena being studied and a more self-paced learning environment, the teacher has developed a CD-ROM using movies, animations, and a guided workshop approach to take students step by step through the course. The televised portion of the class will be designed to wrap around the computer activities.

(You may view a few of these activities by connecting to the KET Distance Learning Web Site at www.dl.ket.org. When you get there, select the Physics icon to go to the Physics front page. With your mouse pointer, move across the oval buttons at the top of the page until you find the one named "Physics Companion." On the screen that appears, select "View a Sample of the Physics Companion." There are also some notes at the bottom of this screen about plug-ins you might need. These are programs that the Netscape web browser requires to let you operate this software. These are free. Please call us at KET if you need assistance.)

The nature and quantity of the interaction will also change dramatically this year. The CD-ROM uses a sequence of activities and questions to guide student learning. After responding to each question or discussion prompt, the students can see the teacher's suggested response. Working on computers in small groups, students will naturally tend to discuss the activities with one another. Live interaction with the teacher will be in the form of telephone and computer audio. Students are encouraged to call the teacher while they work on the computer activities. In this way, students will have this interaction as the need arises. This interaction will be available during a substantial portion of the day.

Each school will need at least one computer connected to the Internet. This will allow for the sending of tests and other materials. Schools are also encouraged to have all the computers used by the students connected to the Internet. This is to allow an extended form of interaction. With this Internet connection, the teacher will be able to view what the students are seeing on their computer screens and have live discussions over the Internet. Students will also be able to talk to students at other schools through a sort of party line that will be monitored by the teacher.

Instructor:

Instructor BIO:

Chuck earned his MS in nuclear engineering from the University of Kentucky, and his BS in physics from Morehead State University. Chuck is also one of twenty national recipients of the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, awarded by the U. S. Department of Education through the National Education Association, for improvement in education. In addition to his regular satellite physics course, Chuck has produced many hours of televised professional development seminars for high school, middle school and elementary school teachers. As a part-time instructor at the University of Kentucky, he works with pre-service elementary and middle school teachers to prepare them for the physics component of their future teaching careers.

Work Experience: Fayette County Public Schools (Lexington) 1976-Present; University of Kentucky 1973-present; Institute for Mining and Minerals Research, 1974-1975; Environmental Protection Agency, 1974; Morehead State University, 1972-73; Boy Scouts of America and other camping organizations, 1966-1973.

Textbooks & Lab Kit

• Physics Principles & Problems (Student Ed.), Glencoe/Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: (800) 334-7344, FAX: (614) 860-1877, ISBN #0-02-825-4732, $49.49

• Physics Principles & Problems (Teacher Ed.), Glencoe/Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: (800) 334-7344, FAX: (614) 860-1877, ISBN #0-02-825-4740, $68.34
  
  
• Physics Principles & Problems (Problem & Solution Manual), Glencoe/Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: (800) 334-7344, FAX: (614) 860-1877, ISBN #0-02-825-502X, $18.77

• Physics Laboratory Kit, Arbor Scientific, P. O. Box 2750, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-2750, Phone: (800) 367-6695, FAX: (313) 973-6258, Part KE-1000 Lab Kit (one per 3 students), $144.00 plus shipping, and Lab Kit (one per school) $45.00