Novare’s Introductory Physics is a rigorous, academic option for any high school student who is currently studying or has completed Algebra 1. Covering fewer topics with more depth, the course provides a mastery approach to Physics and integrates science with math, science history, and English language use. The Novare Introductory Physics Textbook is well-written, with interesting illustrations and photographs. The Text begins with an introduction to the teacher, which is followed with a section written to the student. Chapters begin with clearly stated objectives, key vocabulary, and include textual information divided into smaller digestible pieces, examples and illustrations, and wraps up with a chapter exercise. Answers to computational questions are included with each exercise. The back of the text includes a glossary, reference data, chapter equations and objectives list, experiments with guidelines for keeping a journal, scientists to know, and accurate measurements. Topically students learn the nature of scientific knowledge, motion, Newton's Laws of Motion, energy, momentum, atoms/matter/substances, heat and temperature, pressure and buoyancy, waves/sound/light, introduction to electricity, DC circuits, fields and magnetism, and geometric optics. An overview of the lab experiments is found at the back of the Textbook, but complete teacher instruction is found in the Experiments for Introductory Physics and ASPC, which is a required component for full lab credit on a transcript. The Student Lab Report Handbook is a suggested supplement. This is a very good course that promotes thinking skills in the realm of physics and prepares students for the rest of their high school science and college level sciences.
