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Upper School Curriculum

  • Advanced (ADV)
  • Science
ADV Physics: Mechanics
Grades: 11, 12
Full-Year
PREREQ: Physics, AP Calculus AB or BC, or concurrent enrollment in ADV Calculus 1 and ADV Calculus 2, or CL Calculus 1 and CL Calculus 2

In this Advanced course, students will gain an understanding of advanced topics in physics built from a calculus-based study of mechanics. Topics addressed will include statics, dynamics, energy, momentum, and rotation. These concepts will be applied to projects and experiments that investigate real-world challenges. The course will introduce and incorporate computer modeling and simulation of physical processes. Some applied topics that may be addressed include efficient vehicle design, air-resistance, and drone parcel delivery. Investigating efficiency will facilitate connections to DA’s focus on sustainability. Each semester, students will apply lessons from the course in research and design projects. The overlap of sustainability, robotics, and even art with the physics content will open up research topics for students to design and pursue their own questions. This class will prepare students to approach interesting and challenging problems in physics at the university level by giving them experience with university-level mechanics concepts and applications.

  • Grade 11
  • Grade 12