Introduction to Physics: The Forces of Nature

This eight week course will use the lectures Michael Faraday delivered in 1859 as a starting point to discussclassical mechanics, chemical bonding, electricity and magnetism, and gain experience using the scientific method of experimentation and writing lab reports. Faraday is still regarded as one of the greatest experimental scientists of all time, and his lectures are filled with his excitement over the wonders of natural phenomena, as well as very practical instruction on the nature of gravity and the interaction of electrical and magnetic forces, as well as practical demonstrations of experimental observational methods. All students will have the opportunity to perform adaptations of Faraday's experiments to develop proper experimental techniques then submit their lab reports for teacher and peer review, and discuss their experiences in online class sessions. This is an excellent opportunity for junior high and early high school students to prepare for high school level science courses. Advanced students can use this course to jump-start their lab work for the AP Physics 2017-2018 academic year course by covering lab techniques, data manipulation methods, and critical concepts. Those students planning on taking AP Pbysics will be given more challenging assignments and experiment options which can be used to fulfill Scholars Online Physics AP course requirements to help develop an appreciation for the fundamental principles underlying modern chemistry. However, these students should be prepared to commit up to eight hours a week in reading, homework, and lab work.