‘Conceptual Physics’ offers science through a real-world lens

--- Published on December 17th 2015 ---
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Ninth-graders at Leroy Greene Academy tested one of Isaac Newton’s laws of physics recently by strapping metal weights onto toy cars and rolling them down makeshift ramps to see if heavier means faster. They documented their findings in bar graphs.

Welcome to “Conceptual Physics,” a 9th grade science class that examines how physics affects students’ lives and the world around them, without focusing on algebra, calculus and other mathematical equations. 

Conceptual Physics meets a University of California and California State University admissions requirement for science by focusing on physics experimentation, collaboration, analytical thinking and problem solving, not on mathematics. The course was piloted at LGA three years ago, then expanded to Inderkum and Natomas high schools this year.

Alex Ellsworth, who teaches the 9th-grade course at LGA, said it gives students the chance to investigate physics in real-world scenarios – such as how cellphones work or how GPS units can track a car. One recent experiment looked at how wave properties affect movement in a  common toy,  “Slinky.”

“I can give them a bunch of materials and give them a problem, then see how they choose to go about solving it,” Ellsworth said. “It gives me more creativity and flexibility with the lessons ..  I always try to tie it back to real-world application.

Later this year, Ellsworth plans to challenge students to create an egg-carrying container that will not break shells in a fall. She’ll discuss how the same forces and physics concepts apply to NASA spaceships returning to Earth from Outer Space, or to parachutes that land skydivers safetly.

Students also may be experiment with solar ovens to show how light energy converts to thermal energy. In past years, students built a miniature roller coaster to study potential and kinetic energy, Ellsworth said.

The one-year course examines the properties of waves, then forces, then energy, then electricity and magnetism. 

Malachi, 14, said he enjoys Conceptual Physics. “Science has always been one of my favorite subjects, so that’s cool,” he said. “I’ve always liked the testing, and I love the lab experiments and everything.”

 Conceptual Physics not only can help students qualify for college admission, it teaches principles that can be useful in science, technology and engineering careers, among others, Ellsworth said.

“I feel it can help us do a lot of things – help us succeed and get the jobs we want,” said Lily, 14.