Physics teacher Ryan Pettibone will be instructing a new course called Physics C or Physics HL, which will be offered at CHS next year. Pettibone currently teaches AP Physics and IB Physics SL, but he wanted students to be able to take a more demanding and rigorous physics course. Since so many students were interested in this developing class and physics in general, CHS decided to introduce this class to challenge students who have already taken a physics course.

Physics C and Physics HL are at the same advanced level, but Physics C is geared towards AP students, while Physics HL is a higher-level IB course. If a student wishes to be enrolled in one of the classes, they must have completed AP Physics or IB Physics SL and AP Calculus BC is highly recommended in order to have a better understanding of the topics that will be taught. Despite the new course being separated by AP and IB, the class will still discuss the same topics. Physics C is essentially the same class as AP Physics, but it will be using standard mechanics and Calculus. The course will also teach students about electricity, magnetism, and other types of mechanics.

Other physics classes instruct students on how to solve problems using a specific method or style, but the advanced course will emphasize solving “novel” problems, which means having a unseen problem and using physics principles to come up with a solution. Pettibone is excited to teach this new course because he was able to take this type of class when he was in high school and thought it was very enlightening.

“My goal as a teacher is to inspire students to major in a science field when they are at college, either through my class or one of the activities I advise such as Science Olympiad or Solar Cup.” Pettibone said.

Junior Rory McDermott is currently taking IB Physics SL and is hoping to be able to enroll in IB Physics HL. He is determined to get a better understanding of the mathematical fundamentals and overall concepts involved in physics. McDermott is enjoying his current physics class and wanted to see if the more advanced level course would be interesting. Although this is a new course at CHS, he is confident in the class and Pettibone as the teacher. Although he has not decided what his intended major will be, he is interested in physics or some type of engineering.

“I really like and enjoy Mr. Pettibone because he is a great teacher and shows a huge amount of passion for physics whenever he instructs the class,” McDermott said.

With a number of students wanting to enroll in the course, CHS is hoping to make it into a permanent class. Students will be both academically challenged and enjoy the subject of physics. Although Physics C and Physics HL have many prerequisites, it is an informative and interesting class that should be taken by students interested in physics and mathematics.