Devenney, Jon | HS Chem & Physics

Chemistry

Chemistry is the science of matter at or near the atomic scale. (Matter is the substance of which all physical objects are made.)

Chemistry deals with the properties of matter, and the transformation and interactions of matter and energy. Central to chemistry is the interaction of one substance with another, such as in a chemical reaction, where a substance or substances are transformed into another. Chemistry primarily studies atoms and collections of atoms such as molecules, crystals, or metals that make up ordinary matter. According to modern chemistry, it is the structure of matter at the atomic scale that determines the nature of a material.

In Chemistry 1 students will start the semester learning about density and putting all types of matter into subcategories like elements, compounds, and mixtures. You will then move into learning about the history of the atom and the structure of an atom. The next unit focuses on the organization of the periodic table. You will be amazed at all that can be learned about an atom based on its location on the periodic table. You will finish the semester out by learning about two main types of compounds, and how they bond, and learn the basic skills to name and write the formula of common compounds. Building on the information, students will identify reaction types and predict the products formed by the reaction.

Chemistry 2 is very different compared to Chemistry 1 because there is a heavy focus on calculations in the world of chemistry. You will start out building on where you left off. You will not only be able to predict products but also calculate how much product is produced or how much of each reactant is needed. You will then revisit matter but now focus on the energy needed to change parades between solids, liquids, and gases. Keeping up with energy, you will then calculate the energy released or needed for different reactions to take place. The next unit will cover the gas laws followed by two units that focus on a couple of different types of reactions not covered in the first semester.

Physics

Physics is the study of the natural world. It deals with the fundamental particles of which the universe is made, and the interactions between those particles, the objects composed of them (nuclei, atoms, molecules, etc), and energy.

Physics is the science of Nature - of matter and energy in space and time. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena covering enormous scales: from the subatomic particles to the Universe as a whole. All laws and forces of nature originate from mathematical symmetries of space and time, so modern physics currently focuses on studying these symmetries.

Physics is very dependent on mathematics. Models and theories in physics are expressed using mathematical equations. However, while physics uses mathematics to describe the material world, mathematics may deal with strictly abstract concepts and patterns. There is a large overlap between the two fields, known as mathematical physics.

Physics 1 can really be broken down into two parts. The first 2 real units focus on describing motion. You will learn to use equations and graphs to describe the position, velocity, and acceleration of moving objects. These objects can be moving horizontally, falling freely on Earth, or doing both at the same time. The second half of the course focuses on why objects move. Through force diagrams and more calculations, you will discover the cause of all those different types of motion and be able to predict how the objects will change their motion.

Physics 2 starts off by looking at a different way to analyze how objects move by using the concept of energy. The next unit will be all about the how and why of objects moving in a circular path. The last unit to deal with the motion of objects focuses on the collision of objects and how they affect each other. The last two units are unique compared to the other topics covered. You will study the forces that exist between objects that have an electric charge from gaining or losing electrons. The last unit is all about electricity. How much current travels through a circuit and what causes that current to flow?