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Why College BoundStudents should takePhysics in HighSchoolPatriot High SchoolApr 22, 2011Harry TomChair, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, UCR
GoalsIE students should be taking HS Physics atthe State and National averageExplain the advantage of taking HS PhysicsExplain barriers to more students taking HSPhysicsExplain UC admissions Lab Science coursecriterion
Why should we increase # ofHS students taking physics?Inland Empire HS Physics enrollments lagState by 2X and lag nation by 3XInland Empire youth are deprived of theadvantages that others have:Increased success in college prep coursesIncreased success in college science majorsIncreased access to physical science andengineering careers
US HS Physics Enrollments36% ofPublic HSseniorshave takenPhysicsVirtually100% ofPrivate HSseniors takePhysics
Female Student EnrollmentFemale enrollment in Physics matches other classes
Riverside County 2007-8RiversideFemaleMaleEthnic Intermediat Advanced 1st Year1st Year9-12Intermediat Advanced 1st Year1st Year9-12Total 9-12Groupe AlgebraMathChemistry Physics Enrollment e AlgebraMathChemistry Physics Enrollment Enrollment60 (13.340 (10.0AM IND37 (8.2 %) 44 (9.8 %) 12 (2.7 %)45127 (6.8 %) 24 (6.0 %) 11 (2.8 %)399850%)%)365 (20.8 575 (32.8 426 (24.3143 (8.2392 (20.8 580 (30.8 403 (21.4 207 (11.0ASIAN1,7511,8853,636%)%)%)%)%)%)%)%)57 (19.733 (11.456 (19.342 (13.742 (13.7PAC ISLD6 (2.1 %)29029 (9.4 %)6 (2.0 %)307597%)%)%)%)%)309 (22.4 378 (27.4 308 (22.3307 (22.2 310 (22.4 277 (20.0114 (8.2FILIPINO83 (6.0 ,9072,6403,012748HISPANIC33,62335,25668,879(13.6 %)(9.5 %) (11.0 %)(2.1 %)(11.1 %)(7.5 %)(8.5 %)(2.1 %)839 (15.3517 (9.4 881 (16.1104 (1.9744 (12.8358 (6.2 708 (12.2106 (1.8AFR 093,3913,2742,9341,112WHITE20,37121,40741,778(17.9 %) (17.4 %) (16.3 %)(3.5 %)(15.8 %) (15.3 %) (13.7 %)(5.2 %)MULT./NO 181 (14.5 175 (14.1 212 (17.0166 (12.8 163 (12.6 168 (13.035 (2.8 %)1,24451 (3.9 15.5 %) (13.1 %) (13.8 %)(2.8 %)(13.3 %) (10.9 %) (11.2 %)(3.5 56,632State Total979,8861,032,653 2,012,539(17.6 %) (14.3 %) (14.6 %)(5.1 %)(15.5 %) (12.4 %) (12.4 %)(5.5 %)
Riverside Physics EnrollmentUSA:CA State:Riverside:36% of public HS graduates take Physics21.2% of graduates take Physics (5.3%X4)12.6% of graduates take Physics (3.15%X4)Slightly Lower for San Bernadino CountyAll Students:93% of State Average in Chemistry60% of State Average in PhysicsFemale Students:92% of State Average in Advanced Math95% of State Average in Chemistry55% of State Average in PhysicsMale Students:88% of State Average in Advanced Math90% of State Average in Chemistry64% of State Average in Physics
US Enrollment by Ethnic GroupRCOE38.5%17.4%7.4%8.4%
Impact to IE Youth3X lower access to high tech education, jobs,and careers than national averageLess competitive for better 4-year collegeswhich look favorably on harder college prepLack experience with quantitative science,applied math, physical intuition and technicalproblem solvingQuality of HS Physics teaching is lowerbecause teachers do not teach Physics fulltime
Why is Physics important for allstudentsPhysics is one of three fundamental coresciences, with biology and chemistryEqually important to understanding modern lifeand technology than biology and chemistryMore fundamental to modern technology andmodern economyBuilds physical intuition and physical problem andanalytical solving skills—different but as importantas mathematical skills
Physics teaches important skillsfor all college bound studentsUses math in practical, meaningful way: givesstudent practice in algebra and geometryuseful for SAT prepUses word-problems, combining math,physical intuition and analytical reading skillsExposes students to fundamental principlesunderlying all technology—technology theywill use, purchase, create or sell
Physics is the gateway tophysical science, engineering,and computer science careersStudents are unlikely to find these careersinteresting if they don’t take Physics in highschool.Middle School physical science is the lastphysics course 88% of IE students take!
Why HS Physics is Important forPhysical Scientists and EngineersEngineering is Applied PhysicsAnalytical thinking, problem solving, andmathematical training are the heart of thediscipline of engineeringToday’s engineers need physical intuition,differential equations and computer modelingmore than “hands-on” mechanical experience
STEM Careers are dominated byPhysics and Computer1.65M3.1M
Engineering and ComputerScience sectors LifeScience/Chemistry sectors1.1M0.7M
Compare to other sectors: earthscience, social science, math
Summary of STEM job future1.5X more Physics-Related jobs than LifeScience-related3X more Computer-Related jobs than LifeScience-relatedLife Science and Chemistry jobs are 30% ofSTEM totalHS students who don’t take Physics areunlikely to pursue the majority (70%) ofSTEM careers
The job market for people with skillsin physics is strong and largeEngineers are applied physicists andcomprise the second largest profession inAmerica (second only to teaching) with about1.4 million members. By comparison, thereare about 600 thousand medical doctors andonly around 100 thousand biologists.Knowledge of physics is a prerequisite formany forms of employment.
US Competitiveness:America Competes ActFirst University EngineeringDegrees, by selected country:1985-2005US has not increased number in 20years, per capita EngineeringBS has decreased despiteSilicon Valley, Dot.com,BiotechnologyUSAChinaS ingBS/year(1000)% per 08%0.03%0.01%
Impact of US Engineering andPhysics competitivenessUS needs to increase per capita Engineeringand Physics BS production to sustain its #1technology position in the worldLack of US-trained engineers has forcedhiring of large numbers of foreign-trainedengineers. Engineering BS and PhD haveexcellent job prospectsThreshold for good positions is “lower” inEngineering/Physics than for Medical School
Salaries for BA/BS grads reflect sp
Physics is essential for collegebound studentsSuccess in school and on SAT is built on skills—physicsbuilds analytical, critical reading, and problem solvingskills.All science and engineering majors must take a 1 yearcollege level Physics course. Not taking high schoolPhysics puts students at disadvantage—lower grades,higher rate of changing majors.All non-science majors must take a Physical Sciencecourse
College Physics Course requirementsEngineering is applied Physics:2 years Math, 1 year Chemistry, 1 year PhysicsEngineering uses Physics content and analytical skillsMechanical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringAeronautical EngineeringCivil EngineeringLife Science majors1 year math, 2 years Chemistry, 1 year PhysicsMedical/Dental/Pharmacy School1 year math, 2 years Chemistry, 1 year Physics, 1course in BiochemMCAT or similar Admission Test: 25% of the scienceknowledge tested is based on Physics
Physics is a literal gatewayAll College Science and Engineering Majors require aminimum of 1 year of College Physics—in UC this is aCalculus-Based Physics CourseLower Division Requirements include Physics must becompleted before advancing in the majorSuccess rate in Science and Engineering majors is lowdue to poor performance in lower division courses:Students who have a high quality HS Physics course do better inCollege Physics (typically 1/2 -2/3 of letter grade)Junior Transfer students must have completed Physicsto be accepted in UC
Why aren’t more IE studentstaking PhysicsParents and Students don’t know howimportant Physics isPhysics has changed in importance in economyas technology has become increasingly importantSilicon Valley is the 7th largest economy in the world!Physics-related careers are growing relative topopulationCollege Physics courses are required andassume HS Physics31% of nation’s HS graduates have taken Physics,i.e., ALL college majors in Science and Engineering
Why aren’t more IE studentstaking PhysicsSchool administrators and counselors think Physicsis too difficult: lowers school test performance,worried that low grade in Physics will lower studentGPA and derail college admissionBEST advice to student is to take Biology, Chemistryand Physics (not anatomy, earth sci, env sci.)School should build a student culture that expects 2030% will take Physics and succeed in PhysicsSchools should hire good HS Physics teacher whocan teach Physics full time (5-6 periods/day)
UC Admissions D requirement: Lab science2 years (3 recommended) in 2 of the 3 foundationalsubjects, biology, chemistry and physicsNOTE: 9th grade Earth Science, Anatomy,Physiology, non-AP Environmental Science doNOT count. Some integrated science coursescount but aren’t really competitiveNon-science students should take biology andchemistry and a 3rd allowed science: Physics orAP Bio or AP ChemScience students should take: Biology (9th),Chemistry (10th), Physics (11th). Most competitivewill take 4th, AP Bio, Chem or Physics
Special role for AVIDAdditional counselor opportunity to putstudents on college bound tracksCan inform students about careers and job marketCan inform students that success in college inANY science (including pre-med) requires Physicsin college and therefore HS PhysicsCan create a culture of students taking Physics,helping each other to learn/study Physics, and tosucceed in Physics. AVID resources can be usedto tutor students in Physics (same as for math).Can help students apply for STEMawards/fellowships/scholarships
Want to learn more?Get information on the web:www.physics.ucr.edu (UCR Physics and Astro)www.aps.org (American Physical Society)www.aip.org (American Institute of Physics)http://www.spsnational.org/cup/ (Society for PhysicsStudents, Careers Using Physics)Contact me directly by email or phone:harry.tom@ucr.edu951-827-2818
Success in school and on SAT is built on skills—physics builds analytical, critical reading, and problem solving skills. All science and engineering majors must take a 1 year . Engineering is applied Physics: 2 years Math, 1 year Chemistry, 1 year Physics Engineering uses Physics content and analytical skills Mechanical Engineering
