Science

Science — Grade 11

American Curriculum · Ages 16-17

Eleventh grade science is most commonly Physics, or an AP science course such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry or AP Physics. Physics covers kinematics, Newton's laws, work, energy and power, momentum and collisions, circular motion and gravitation.

It continues into waves and sound, optics, electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, and often an introduction to modern physics. The course is algebra-based in most districts and calculus-based in AP Physics C, and success depends heavily on translating a written scenario into the right equation.

Key topics covered

• Kinematics — Displacement, velocity, acceleration, motion graphs and projectile motion.
• Newton's Laws — Force diagrams, friction, tension, inclined planes and equilibrium.
• Work, Energy & Power — Conservation of energy, work-energy theorem and power calculations.
• Momentum — Impulse, conservation of momentum, and elastic and inelastic collisions.
• Circular Motion & Gravitation — Centripetal force, orbits and universal gravitation.
• Waves, Sound & Optics — Wave behavior, resonance, reflection, refraction and lenses.
• Electricity & Magnetism — Electrostatics, circuits, Ohm's law, magnetic fields and induction.