2025 Winter/Spring Classes

• AAPT Physics Competition F=MA Exam Preparation

  01/25 to 02/08  3 Classes Saturday 3:30pm-5:00pm $150/exam Location: 15320 NW Central Dr. Ste D6 Room 2

  Course Description

  This is a new course to teach AP Physics Mechanics, with a focus to prepare for F=MA exam by practice on F=MA exam problems. The Course is designed to finish in one school year from Sep to May.

  Prerequisite: 
  1. Calculus (Easy version, could parallel taking it at Sunshine, text 503-915-2956 for detail)
  2. Have finished the Copceptual Physics Mechanics units
  3. Be motivated to work on F=MA problems.

  Textbooks:
  1. Customized teaching material in class
  2. 5th edition of Halliday, Resnick, and Krane’s Physics Volume 1
  3. Morin’s Problems and Solutions in Introductory Mechanics
  4. Past years of F=MA exams

  Note: The PDF file of the textbook will be loaded to the class page before the term starts.

  Reference Information:

  Our Teaching Philosophy: "Teaching Physics in the right way is hard, and finding the right teachers is even harder. Teaching formulas is very easy, but that does not help in understanding the concepts, and good physics is all about concepts. F=ma focuses a lot on conceptual depth."  

  The pathway to International Physics Olympiad:
  F=MA -> USA Physics Olympiad -> Physics Team -> IPhO

  Our Course Sequence to qualify for USA Physics Olympiad:
  1. PreAlgebra -> Introduction to Physics;
  2. Algebra1 -> Conceptual Physics, at least the mechanics units
  3. Algebra 1 plus Basic Trigonometry or Algebra2 -> AP Physics 1+2 plus F=MA practice;
  4. Calculus (Easy version is ok)-> AP Physics C Mechanics plus more F=MA Practice

  
  
  

• 2025 AAPT Physics Team Competition Event: F=MA exam (waiting-list)

  02/12 to 02/12  1 Contest Wednesday 4:30pm-6:00pm $75/exam Location: 15320 NW Central Dr. Ste D6 Room 2

  Event Description

  Sunshine Elite is hosting the F=MA exam for high school students this year! Any students who have learned AP Physics may try out the F=MA exam.

  AAPT and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) sponsor a competition each year for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. 

  The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad.

  The Pathway to International Physics Olympiad Team is:
  F=ma for any motivated high school students =>
  Top 400 students  are invited for USAPhO =>
  Top 20 students are selected to U.S. Physics Team =>
  Top 5 students are selected to represent the team at IPhO

  Below are more details for the several round of exams:

  1. The F=ma exam is a 75-minute exam with 25 multiple choice questions focusing on mechanics. Two versions of the exam are given, the F=ma A and F=ma B.
  2. Approximately 400 students will be invited to take the USA Physics Team (USAPhO) exam, based on their scores on the F=ma exam. The USAPhO is a 3-hour free response exam where students are required to justify their answers. The exam is divided into two parts of 90 minutes each.
  3. Approximately 20 students will be invited to be a part of the U.S. Physics Team, based on their USAPhO and F=ma scores, and attend a ten-day training camp at the University of Maryland. At the end of the camp, five students will be selected to represent the team at the International Physics Olympiad.
  4. Students must be either U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), or currently attending a U.S. school, to take the F-ma exam.
  5. Students must be either U.S. Citizens, or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to take the USAPhO exam. Students must also be located in the U.S. to take the USAPhO exam.

  To check the F=MA exam rules, please check here: https://aapt.org/Common2022/rules.cfm 

  Instructor: Ellen Zhou
  
  

• Stem Physics B for Grade 7-9

  01/17 to 06/13  20 Classes Friday 4:30pm-6:00pm $915/term No classes on Mar. 21 and 28Location: Online8

  Course Description

  Course Objective: This is a one year course for students who want to learn more advanced science and prepare for high school AP physics. The curriculum is corresponding to the first-year high school STEM physics. It's a great class for students who have learned advanced math therefore use math to solve complex and interesting real-world problems.

  (1) To build a solid conceptual understanding of physics.
  (2) To apply math skills to solve Physics problems.
  (3) To prepare students for AP/IB Physics classes in High School.

  Prerequisite: Algebra 1

  Stem Physics B will continue from Stem Physics A. It will cover Units 2-6 in about 20 weeks.

  Textbook: Conceptual Physics
  Unit 1: Mechanics
  Chapter 2-3: Equilibrium and Linear Motion
  Chapter 4-6: Newton's Laws of Motion
  Chapter 7-9: Momentum and Energy
  Chapter 10-14: Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites
  Chapter 15-16: Special Relativity

  Unit 2: Properties of Matter
  Chapter 17: Atomic Nature of Matter
  Chapter 18-20: Solids, Liquids, Gas

  Unit 3: Heat
  Chapter 21-23: Heat Transfer
  Chapter 24: Thermodynamics

  Unit 4: Sound and Light

  Chapter 25-27: Waves, Sound, Light
  Chapter 28-31: Color, Reflection, Lenses
  
  Unit 5: Electricity and Magnetism
  Chapter 32-35: Static and Current Electricity
  Chapter 36-37: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

  Unit 6: Atomic and Nuclear Physics
  Chapter 38: The Atom and the Quantum
  Chapter 39: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity
  Chapter 40: Nuclear Fission and Fusion

  We will use a few weeks for the final review and test.

  Text Books: (Free rental from Sunshine library)

  

  The PDF file of the textbook will be loaded to the class page before the term starts.