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Scholars High School Physics: Foundations

This course creates a foundation for learning advanced physics by focusing on the fundamental tools used in high school physics and beyond. For example, students will learn how physicists apply tools such as dimensional analysis, extreme case reasoning, and symmetries to understand the relationship between mathematical models and the real world. They’ll also learn the elements of experimental physics, including designing experiments, measuring uncertainty, and analyzing data. Learning core physics practices, like estimation and techniques for physics problem solving, are built into the course curriculum as well.

12 weeks

Diagnostics

ARE YOU READY? DO YOU NEED THIS?

Documents

SYLLABUS
12 weeks ARE YOU READY? DO YOU NEED THIS? SYLLABUS  

Schedule

Friday
May 22 - Aug 14
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
May 22 - Aug 14
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
CLOSED
Sunday
Jun 21 - Sep 20
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Jun 21 - Sep 20
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
CLOSED
Thursday
Sep 17 - Dec 10
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Sep 17 - Dec 10
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
ENROLL
Sunday
Oct 25 - Jan 31
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Oct 25 - Jan 31
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
ENROLL
Wednesday
Dec 2 - Mar 3
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Dec 2 - Mar 3
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
ENROLL
Monday
Feb 8 - May 3
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Feb 8 - May 3
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
ENROLL
Sunday
Apr 4 - Jun 27
7:30 - 9:00
PM ET
Apr 4 - Jun 27
7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:30 - 8:00 PM Central
5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain
4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific
Click here to see more time zones
$415 (~$35/lesson)
$415 (~$35/lesson)
ENROLL
Summer 2027This course will be offered in Summer 2027. Click here to join our mailing list to be notified when the course schedule is available.

AoPS Holidays

There are no classes September 5 ‐ 7, November 23 ‐ 29, December 21 ‐ January 3, February 13 - 15, May 29 ‐ May 31, and July 3 - July 5, 2027.

Who Should Take?

This is our foundational course for learning physics. It is intended for high school-level students who want to explore the way that physicists approach problems and prepare to study specific physics topics (like Mechanics or Electricity and Magnetism) in future courses. This course does not assume specific knowledge of physics. This course assumes competency with algebra; we recommend having taken at least Honors or Scholars Math 7: Introduction to Algebra (Part 1) at AoPS or having equivalent knowledge.

Lessons

1 Designing Experiments
2 Measurement
3 Communication in Physics
4 Uncertainty
5 Working with Equations
6 Building and Using Models
7 Problem Solving
8 Estimation
9 Working with Graphs
10 Analyzing Nonlinear Data
11 Thought Experiments
12 Conservation Laws

I really enjoyed taking my first AoPS class. I always thought that online classes weren't very good. I was mistaken after I took this class. Not only did Introduction to Geometry help me become a better math student, it also helped me to think more abstractly and look for multiple roads to solve a problem. I enjoy the way the classroom is run and the pace was very nice. The class wasn’t boring at all. This class challenged me to become a better thinker and was way more challenging than regular school courses. I am also very glad that AoPS also included a little bit of a social aspect to math with the message boards. I made a lot of friends through this course. In school, I am always made fun of for being ahead of all of the other students. On AoPS I actually feel accepted for once because I can interact with kids that are more advanced than I am and also I learn from them. I will definitely take another AoPS class.