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Physics | 9th & 10th Grade

A physics-first approach allows subjects to naturally build upon and complement one another, resulting in better learning and longer-term retention of course content.

This course expands on students’ Algebra 1 knowledge by training them to solve basic problems in motion, force, energy, density, and so on. Learning physics concepts such as energy, heat, phases of matter, and light in 9th/10th grade physics will provide a strong foundation that will better prepare students for the oft-dreaded chemistry course. Students will be introduced to the roles of accuracy and precision in scientific measurements and also be able to thoroughly practice basic scientific mathematical skills.

  • Scientific Knowledge

  • Motion

  • Newton’s Laws of Motion

Image by Ananya Ganni

Spring Semester 2025​

Program Dates:

Jan 13, 2025 - May 23, 2025​

Tentative Schedule*:

Mon, Wed, & Fri

11:00am-12:15pm PST

*Class schedule may be modified to meet student needs. See FAQ for more info.

Price**:

$510

**Discount available. See FAQ for more info.

Enrollment Closes:

Jan 27, 2025

The course will be opened based on a minimum enrollment of 6 students. See FAQ for more info.

What You'll Learn​​

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​This robust introductory physics course integrates math, history, and epistemology, guiding students into the advanced world of scientific inquiry. Students will distinguish between different types of knowledge and learn how the Cycle of Scientific Enterprise allows us to discover scientific knowledge. Students will learn how scientists throughout history have discovered scientific knowledge. They will also discover the physics behind atoms of which all matter consists, the motion of objects, and of energy and forces. Part of this is observing how different things interact with each other and understanding practical applications of physics. This course does require an understanding of Algebra 1 in order to complete the various types of math questions. The goal of this course is to educate students on how certain things operate in the world in order to better understand God’s creation and God who created all things.

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This course aims to guide students toward the mastery of the following:

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✓Appreciation and care for the natural world that begins with a sense of wonder.

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✓An understanding of physics as it is integrated with under-represented areas such as basic epistemology, history, and language.

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✓Learning and mastering a modest set of basic physics concepts for long-term retention rather than powering through a larger set of topics that are half learned and forgotten.

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✓Conducting experiments and communicating findings in a technical paper as an introduction to scientific writing.

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✓Preparing a premier lab report with attention to syntax, voice, tense, word choice, technical expression, data analysis, and error prediction.

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✓Experience with operation of programs like MS Word and Excel.

Your Instructor

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Mrs. Duyen Paquette graduated from University of Ottawa with a BS in General Science, and then graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Master of Science degree, specializing in Parasitic Entomology. She was a Program Chair for an IT department and a lead faculty for two different proprietary colleges. She also taught science in public high school. Currently, she is dedicated to teaching online science classes for Veritas Classical Academy and other institutions, such as Northwestern University CTD, and Central Texas College.
She and her husband both coordinate a private cat/kitten rescue to help sick, injured and abandoned cats/kittens. She is an avid jogger and swimmer. Her dream vacation is anywhere with a sandy beach. Her favorite Bible verse comes from Psalm 36:6 :  "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals."

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Course Information â€‹

Course-Specific Required Texts and Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course:

  • Novare Introductory Physics. Classical Academic Press.

  • The Student Lab Report Handbook. Novare Science and Math.

  • Notebook for lab reports

  • Laptop or tablet for research and note-taking

  • Post-it notes and sticky tabs

  • A physical or digital planner

  • Pencils and colored pencils

  • Ruler

  • Protractor

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General Technical Requirements: 

  • Laptop or Desktop

    • Please use a reliable laptop or desktop with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later) or XP (with SP3 or later). An inexpensive laptop or netbook is preferred, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Students are only permitted to use phones for the Zoom sessions in cases of emergency. Note: It is significantly better to use an Ethernet cable to wire into a router rather than using WiFi, as WiFi signals can be notoriously unreliable based on device, distance to router, and interference from other electronics nearby

  • High-Speed Internet Connection

    • You will also need a reliable high-speed internet connection, ideally through an Ethernet cable directly connected to your computer. While Wi-Fi can work, it may not provide the best performance in terms of bandwidth. A faster internet connection will improve your experience, and we recommend a minimum download/upload speed of 5/1.5 Mbps. Depending on your location, you may also need to purchase a VPN to access Google Classroom, Google Suite, and Gmail.

  • Zoom

    • For our classes, we use Zoom, a web conferencing platform that allows students and instructors to connect face-to-face in real time, no matter where they are in the world. Zoom is free to download and simple to use. Click here to download Zoom.

  • See §VII in the VOA Parent-Student Handbook for more information about our technical requirements.​

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