Unit 3: Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics

     We'll start off this unit with the fundamental principles of fluids.  You'll find out why boats float and airplanes fly.  Then it's time to move to another important branch of physics that again deals with motion, but this time the motion of the microscopic atoms and molecules that are contained in the macroscopic objects around us.  The concept of heat helps us understand the energy associated with the motions of these tiny entities that make up your desk, your computer and even your body.  Once we know how heat works, we can move on to the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics...and after you know them well, your world will never look the same.

Suggested timeframe: 5 weeks

Big Ideas:
•Physical systems (that may have internal structure) and objects (that do not have internal structure) can be characterized by certain properties.
•The concept of force can be used to describe the interactions between objects in systems or between systems themselves.
•Systems can change due to interactions with other systems.
•Laws of conservation of certain properties of systems restrict the manner in which systems can change due to interactions.
•Insight into both the behavior of complex systems and the interpretation of quantum mechanical systems is gained by using the mathematics of probability.