Middle School JP007 - Inquiry-based Physics (Seminar: 10 units) In this year-long course, students explore the fundamentals of physics through experimentation and discussion guided by the instructor. Through the process, the instructor poses questions and counterexamples until the students reach a consensus in their experimentation, after which concepts are formally summarized. This course provides a strong foundation for work in more advanced-level physics courses by introducing a number of basic skills, including significant figures, interpretation of graphs, problem solving, and basics of laboratory work. Concepts covered include: Newtonian physics, fluids, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism. JS008 - Foundations in Science: Energy and Matter (Seminar: 10 units) This year-long seminar style course introduces students to the concepts that provide the foundation for physics, chemistry, and biology. Students will explore the ideas that unify the sciences, such as energy and matter, and examine these core ideas from the perspective of each discipline. Students will use an inquiry-based approach with an emphasis on acquiring the background knowledge and perspective to develop research problems. Through exploration of the central themes of the course, students will additionally become familiar with the basic principles of scientific reasoning. The primary goal of the course is to provide students with a well-informed introduction to science that prevents common misconceptions and that prepares students for high-school and AP-level laboratory sciences High School OC005 - Honors Chemistry (Seminar: 10 units) Honors Chemistry is a year-long seminar-style course that introduces the fundamental language, ideas and tools used in the study of chemistry. This advanced introductory high school chemistry course covers key topics such as chemical nomenclature, stoichiometry, the periodic table, chemical bonding, equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry, and common laboratory practices. Emphasis is placed on the use of chemistry in the natural world, the physical world and our daily lives. The course fosters skills necessary to describe chemical processes and behaviors and to solve numerical and verbal problems in chemistry. Upon completion, students will have a solid foundation in chemistry and will be prepared for AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and college-level chemistry courses. Prerequisite: Middle-school or high-school science course; Co-requisite: Intermediate Algebra Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OCL05 - Honors Chemistry Lab). OC010 - AP Chemistry (Seminar: 10 units) AP Chemistry is a year-long seminar-style course that teaches students the fundamental ideas and tools of modern chemistry and covers college-level introductory chemistry topics. Students become fluent in the language, symbols, laboratory skills, and concepts of chemistry. They learn to describe chemical names, the periodic table, types of reactions, chemical reactivity, structure, bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Throughout the course they are exposed to applications of chemistry in organic chemistry, materials science, environmental chemistry and biochemistry. This course stresses problem solving in chemistry using verbal descriptions and mathematical relationships to describe chemical ideas and processes. AP Chemistry gives students hands-on laboratory experience by requiring students to perform experiments at home using lab equipment and reagents purchased from a chemical supplier or household chemicals. This course prepares students for the AP Chemistry exam. Prerequisite: Honors Chemistry or passing score on AP Chemistry placement exam Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OCL10 - AP Chemistry Lab). OCL05 - Honors Chemistry Lab (Summer session at Stanford: 2 units) Honors Chemistry Lab is a residential summer course held on the Stanford campus that allows students to explore college-level introductory chemistry topics through hands-on experimentation. Experiments correspond with topics covered in OC005: Honors Chemistry, and the course is designed to be taken after completion of the year-long course. Students gain a variety of skills needed in a cutting-edge research lab, including experience with modern tools and techniques and effective communication of results. OCL10 - AP Chemistry Lab (Summer session at Stanford: 2 units) AP Chemistry Lab is a residential summer course held on the Stanford campus that allows students to explore college-level introductory chemistry topics through hands-on experimentation. Experiments correspond with topics covered in OC010: AP Chemistry, and the course is designed to be taken after completion of the year-long course. Students will gain a variety of skills needed in a cutting-edge research lab including experience with modern tools and techniques and effective communication of results. OB010 - AP Biology (Seminar: 10 units) AP Biology is a year-long seminar course that covers college-level introductory biology topics in molecular and cellular biology (including anatomy, physiology, and diversity of plants, animals, and microbes) and ecology and evolution. Emphasis is placed on the themes that unify biology, including regulation of biological processes, energy transfer, continuity and change, evolution, the relationship between structure and function, emergent properties, interdependence in nature, the scientific process, and the relevance of biology in our everyday lives. Through at-home and virtual lab work, students learn useful biological techniques, gain the ability to design scientific experiments, effectively communicate results, and strengthen their knowledge of material presented in lecture. This course prepares students for the AP Biology exam. Prerequisite: OC005 Honors Chemistry, OC010 AP Chemistry, or consent of instructor Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OBL10 - AP Biology Lab). OBL10 - AP Biology Lab (Summer session at Stanford: 2 units) AP Biology Lab is a residential summer course held on the Stanford campus that allows students to explore college-level introductory biology topics through hands-on experimentation. Topics include molecular and cellular biology; physiology of plants, animals, and microbes; and ecology and evolution. Emphasis is placed on understanding the process of science, experimental design and interpretation, and the relevance of biology to our everyday lives. Students gain experience with modern biological techniques currently used in molecular biology and medical diagnostic labs, as well as learning to effectively record and communicate results. This course is designed to be taken after completion of the AP Biology year-long course. B011 - Research Topics in Biology (Seminar: 2.5 units per semester) Research Topics in Biology is a year-long seminar course that explores a variety of biological concepts in depth through discussion of scientific research. Topics will be chosen from the breadth of the discipline and will build on the foundation of knowledge acquired in AP Biology. Students will study molecular and cell biology, genetics, plant biology, animal physiology, evolution and ecology by reading current and landmark research publications and discussing these works as a group. Not only will students gain an appreciation of relevant research topics in modern biology, but they will also learn about valuable research tools and the skills necessary to understand the frontiers of the science. Prerequisite: AP Biology or consent of instructor Syllabus syllabus OB001 - Health (Directed study: 5 nonacademic units) The EPGY OHS Health and Wellness course is a self-paced course for students without a previous health class or AP Biology at EPGY OHS. In this course, students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a long and healthy life by identifying and avoiding dangerous environments and risky behavior and by preventing common communicable and chronic diseases. Students also gain an appreciation for how the body and mind work and learn about the changes to be expected in the future. Finally, students learn about the role individuals play in public health and maintaining the health of a community. Using the course workbook as a guide, the course can be completed in less than a semester. OP010 - AP Physics B (Directed study with discussion: 10 units) AP Physics B is a year-long non-calculus-based physics course that covers a broad range of introductory physics topics. By the end of the year, students will be prepared to take the AP Physics B exam, though the scope of the course is not limited exclusively to the AP curriculum. A strong background in algebra is required, and some knowledge of trigonometry is recommended. The first semester covers mechanics, including study of kinematics, force, circular motion, momentum, energy, rotation, gravitation, and simple harmonic oscillation. During the second semester, the main focus is on electricity and magnetism, including exploration of electrostatic force, electric fields, electric potential, simple circuits, magnetism, and EM Waves. The second semester also covers basic thermodynamics, optics, and nuclear physics. By completing lab work (a mixture of at-home labs, on site labs as part of a summer session, and virtual labs), students reinforce their understanding of concepts, gain hands-on experimentation experience, and develop their written communication skills. Prerequisite: completion of OM011 Honors Beginning Algebra or equivalent Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OPL10 - AP Physics B Lab). OP051 - AP Physics C: Mechanics (Directed study with discussion: 5 units) AP Physics C: Mechanics is a semester-long calculus-based physics course designed to be equivalent to an introductory university-level physics course when taken in conjunction with AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. In this course, students explore mechanics, including study of kinematics, force, circular motion, momentum, energy, rotation, gravitation, and simple harmonic oscillation. By completing lab work (a mixture of at-home labs, on-site labs as part of a summer session, and virtual labs), students reinforce their understanding of concepts, gain hands-on experimentation experience, and develop their written communication skills. This course prepares students for the AP Physics C Mechanics exam, though the scope of the course is not limited exclusively to the AP curriculum. Prior completion of AP Physics B and/or AP Calculus BC is advantageous but not required. Co-requisite OM40A Calculus A or equivalent Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OPL50 - AP Physics C Lab). OP053 - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (Directed study with discussion: 5 units) AP Physics C: Mechanics is a semester-long calculus-based physics course designed to be equivalent to an introductory university-level physics course when taken in conjunction with AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. In this course, the main focus is on electricity and magnetism, including exploration of electrostatic force, electric fields, electric potential, simple circuits, magnetic fields, induction, and EM Waves. By completing lab work (a mixture of at-home labs, on-site labs as part of a summer session, and virtual labs), students reinforce their understanding of concepts, gain hands-on experimentation experience, and develop their written communication skills. This course prepares students for the AP Physics C Mechanics exam, though the scope of the course is not limited exclusively to the AP curriculum. Prior completion of AP Physics B and/or AP Calculus BC is advantageous but not required. Prerequisite OM41B Calculus B or equivalent Syllabus syllabus Related course: Students also have the option of doing additional laboratory work during the residential Summer Session at Stanford University (see OPL50 - AP Physics C Lab). OPL10 - AP Physics B Lab (Summer session at Stanford: 2 units) AP Physics B Lab is a residential summer course held on the Stanford campus that allows students to explore college-level introductory physics topics through hands-on experimentation. Experiments correspond with topics covered in OP010: AP Physics B, and this course is designed to be taken after completion of the year-long course. Students gain a variety of skills needed in a cutting-edge research lab including experience with modern tools and techniques and effective communication of results. OPL50 - AP Physics C Lab (Summer session at Stanford: 2 units) AP Physics C Lab is a residential summer course held on the Stanford campus that allows students to explore college-level introductory physics topics through hands-on experimentation. Experiments correspond with topics covered in AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, and the course designed to be taken after completion of the OP051 and OP053. Students gain a variety of skills needed in a cutting-edge research lab including experience with modern tools and techniques and effective communication of results. University UP055 - Light and Heat (Directed study: 7.5 units) An introduction to optics and thermodynamics. Topics: temperature, properties of matter, introduction to the kinetic theory of matter, light and electromagnetic waves, reflection and refraction of light, lens systems, interference, and diffraction. Prerequisite: OP053 AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism and consent of the instructor UP070 - Modern Physics (Directed study: 7.5 units) An introduction to the ideas of modern physics. Topics: key concepts in special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, high-energy particle physics, and cosmology. Prerequisite: UP055 Light and Heat and consent of the instructor UP110, UP111 - Intermediate Mechanics I & II (Directed study: 7.5 units each) A thorough exploration of the mechanics of systems of particles and rigid bodies. Topics: coordinate transformation and vectors, Newtonian mechanics, linear and nonlinear oscillations, Hamilton's principle, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, non-inertial reference systems, rigid-body dynamics, coupled oscillations, and introductory fluid mechanics. Prerequisites UP070 Modern Physics and UM53A Differential Equations or equivalent and consent of the instructor UP120, UP121 - Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I & II (Directed study: 7.5 units each) An exploration of electricity and magnetism. Topics: vector analysis, electrostatic fields, including multipole expansions, dielectrics, special relativity, and transformation between electric and magnetic fields, Maxwell's equations, static magnetic fields, magnetic materials, electromagnetic radiation, and plane wave problems. Prerequisite UP111 Intermediate Mechanics II and consent of the instructor UP130 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Directed study: 7.5 units) A sophisticated introduction to quantum theory. Topics: origins of quantum mechanics, wave mechanics, and the Schrodinger equation, Heisenberg's matrix formulation of quantum mechanics, solutions to one-dimensional systems, separation of variables and the solution to three-dimensional systems, the central field problem and angular momentum, eigenstates, spin and the coupling of angular momentum, invariance principles, and the conservation laws in the context of quantum theory. Prerequisites UP111 Intermediate Mechanics II and consent of the instructor