High school Definition and 70 Discussions

A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both lower secondary education (age 12 to 15) and upper secondary education (age 15 to 18) i.e. levels 2 and 3 of the ISCED scale, but these can also be provided in separate schools, as in the American middle and high school system. In the UK, elite public schools typically admit pupils between the ages of 13 and 18. UK state schools accommodate pupils between the ages of 11 to 18.
Secondary schools follow on from primary schools and prepare for vocational or tertiary education. Attendance is usually compulsory for students until age 16. The organisations, buildings, and terminology are more or less unique in each country.

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  1. ClimberT8

    Physicist and Data Scientist in Ed Tech

    How did you find PF?: Searching for "high school and college physics teachers discussion forums" I am a "kiddo" in Physics, like Dr. Jill Biden ;-) and following a highly anti-recommended circuitous path have ended up doing data seance. That should tell you everything you need to know about my...
  2. dlxgains

    Moment of inertia project help- experiment 1: Bifiler Rod

    Homework Statement: So i need to find equations to help me with a bifiler suspension experiment in which i will use a rectangular drop bar as the oscillating object, also any help with the method of this experiment would be greatly appreciated. The end goal is to find the moment of inertia...
  3. KingOfDirewolves

    Intro Physics What textbooks should I do in Physics if I'm in High School

    I'm currently in High School and I want to learn Physics for clearing our local Physics Olympiad then possibly the IPhO. I'm a 11th Grade Student in India. My math is quite strong so I have no problem is using Calculus. I have also noticed that my problem solving skills improve only when I do...
  4. U

    Other I need advice on preparations for studying calculus

    Hello, I am new to physicsforums and I am still a high school student so I would like to have advice on what books should be relevant on preparation for calculus and more math beyond. I have basic algebra and geometry foundation and I would like to learn more high school math and up. So my plan...
  5. Fabrizio Vassallo

    Schools Recommendations of experiments to a high school student.

    Hello! First of all, thank you taking the time to read this. I'm a high school student currently about to begin my last year (I'm from Argentina so here we start in March) and would like to study physics in 2020. Because of that, I contacted a university here and they told me that if I wanted...
  6. doglover9754

    Schools Can I get some guidance for math courses to take? (high school freshman)

    So I’m a high school freshman this school year. We have these little presentations by our counselors about planning out our high school years and beyond. In our high school, you only need 3 credits for math (3 years) to graduate. I am currently in Algebra 1. I heard that my school offers these...
  7. C

    Mouse trap Car

    I am in a high school physics class and have been recently assigned a mouse trap. We were given a mouse trap, that is all, and sent out on our own to create one. The requirements for this specific mousetrap car are to go forward 3 meters, then backwards 2 meters, and finally forward three meters...
    • CGC0805
    • Thread
    • high school mousetrap car
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Mechanics
  8. CaptainAmerica17

    Schools Getting a mathematics mentor in high school?

    High school student here... Over the past year or so, I've developed an intense interest in mathematics. I work problems every day and I am constantly working to grow my knowledge. As a junior, I am currently in AP calculus and will most likely be eligible for Calc 3 my senior year. I'm...
  9. Andromeda9010

    Teaching high school students for the first time

    Hello, I have been accepted for a physics teacher position in a high school. This would be my first job ever. I taught "tutored" students before in my home university for two semesters, and I think I am a good teacher. But, I feel that teaching high school students is totally different. I am...
  10. david3305

    Tips for this geometry problem please

    Homework Statement Find x. L1 and L2 are parallel Choices: a)100 b)120 c)140 d)150 e)135 Homework Equations From the image, the angles of the polygon in blue should satisfy: 6θ + 90 + 4θ + 2θ + 90 + x = 540 12θ + x = 360 x = 360 - 12θ The Attempt at a Solution I couldn't figure out how to...
  11. T

    Schools Physics Project Ideas for High School Student

    For the final project I do at a high school level, we are required to construct an experiment regarding any topic of physics. The experiment should yield quantitative data which can then be analysed through equations or trends. Essentially, I need to be able to discuss and critique the work...
  12. hugo_faurand

    Hydrodistillation and (original) uses

    Homework Statement Hello ! I've to do a presentation about hydrodistillation. I've already done an experiment in class to extract essential oil of lavender with hydrodistillation. So, for this presentation I would like to do something original. By original I mean things that you're not used to...
  13. R

    Physics Internships for High School Students

    I am a junior in high school and I am wondering if there are any internships or research opportunities for high school students. Thank you!
  14. Liam C

    Coefficient of Friction when Normal Force is Reduced [HS]

    Homework Statement A 5.0kg block of wood sits on a table with a string running over a pulley suspending a mass. The largest mass that can be suspended without moving the block of wood is 0.75kg. a) Calculate the coefficient of friction in this case. b) What type of coefficient of friction has...
  15. Liam C

    Average Force Question Given Velocities [High School]

    Homework Statement Nikhil is probably eating his daily snack at this time. Old Man Miller comes back from the store and takes the 0.150kg sandwich from Nikhil as he begins to run away. Nikhil is running at 7.5m/s away from me when I hit him in the head with the sandwich that was moving at...
  16. J

    Egg Drop Competition Help Please

    Hey guys! So I will be doing the classic egg drop competition at school and was wondering if I could get some help. The materials I have is : 3 sheets of newspaper 5 popsicle sticks 10 wooden skewers 1m of masking tape hot glue I have to drop an egg multiple times (not sure the heights yet...
  17. xkarinax

    Biology High School Biology Difficulties and my Future Career Plans as a Doctor

    Hello. I plan on being a doctor when I finish high school, but I’ve had some trouble with science. My grades aren’t bad or anything but right now, I find biology dull and boring. We’re learning about cells, mitosis, and similar stuff and I just can’t get into it. Does this mean life sciences...
  18. B

    Other Academic blank slate

    i'm not really sure what academic topic to put this in, sorry. i'm a sophomore in high school right now, and my school only offers physics in junior year. where should i start? I'm taking pre-calc and trig for math right now, and taking chemistry as a science. i took biology last year, and am...
    • bbcream
    • Thread
    • help me please oh m ygod high school student
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: STEM Academic Advising
  19. The Bill

    Algebra Resources for tutoring high school algebra

    I may be doing Algebra I tutoring for high school students soon. What are some good resources for exercises and intuitive/novel explanations for topics some students find sticky, etc.? One resource I'm sure I'll be using is the Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra, 3ed. What I'd also like is...
  20. J

    This is the problem with STEAM (and STEM to a lesser extent)

    Apologies, but this is going to be a long rant to start a discussion. TL;DR: STEM (STEAM), like many forms of government and economics, are great in principle, but terrible when people get involved. At my high school we are required to participate in Professional Learning Communities...
  21. P

    Geometry Could Kiselev's geometry books complete H.S Geometry?

    I was wondering if I read Kiselev's geometry books, would it count as a whole high school geometry curriculum? Currently, I am reading his first book, Planimetry, which is coming out as promising. I am planning to self-study geometry.
  22. A

    Can I be a successful physicist or mathematician?

    Hello, I am in high school in the United States. I am SUPER interested in mathematics and physics, and I have been researching physics and mathematics since middle school. I love it! I love theoretical particle physics and algebraic topology. If I had the choice, I would spend my entire life...
  23. T

    Intro Physics Kleppner Mechanics: am I ready?

    I just finished my junior year in high school. In college, I hope to major in physics and was interested in the honors versions of freshman introductory physics. These all have the prerequisite of a calculus-based mechanics course and use Kleppner as their mechanics textbook. I have so far only...
  24. L

    Programs Summer camps in physics/astronomy for 9-12 graders

    As the title says...I am hoping for recommendations for the 2017 summer. Specifically, Southeast US, one week residential, hopefully under or around 500 dollar physics or astronomy camp for rising 9-12 graders. Thank you very much.
  25. AMuonParticle

    Other I need recommendations for an interesting Senior Project.

    I'm currently a junior in high school, and I'm really interested in physics, especially particle physics and quantum mechanics. At my school, everybody needs to do a big senior project to graduate, involving multiple papers and about 30 hours of work, usually to build something or organize a...
  26. S

    What should be taught in school -- math/physics

    As someone who taught math and physics for about 20 years, I've given this some thought, and I'm convinced that the whole idea of what and how we teach these in high school is upwhacked. One of the common complaints from kids, "what is this good for". And you, know, they are right. I've had...
  27. A

    Russian Mathematics Textbook

    I have been learning how to read scientific Russian, and my reading material is the Soviet high school math textbook Algebra and Beginning Analysis, (1976), edited by Kolmogorov. (I've seen the title also translated as Algebra and Elements of Analysis). The Russian title is Алгебра и Начала...
  28. Liam C

    B What do Sine, Cosine and Tangent do?

    When I press these buttons on my calculator to find the third side or an angle in a triangle, what calculation is happening? What is the logic behind it all? I know it's a very basic question, but I am only in grade 10 and have not started Math yet this year.
    • Liam C
    • Thread
    • basic high school math trigonometery
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: General Math
  29. S

    Schools Math Research for High Schoolers

    Does anyone here have any experience in mathematical research since high school? Or even if you only started as an undergrad, do you have any advice? 1. How did you secure the research position? Who did you talk to? 2. What area of math did you do research in? Was it necessary to know a lot...
  30. Biscuit

    Other Senior Project (HS)

    Ok I can't tell if this should go in academic guidance or homework questions so I'll just put it here. I decided to do my high school senior project writing a paper on a recent discovery in physics. I narrowed my topic choices down to either photonic particles, exotic hadrons, or the Higgs. I...
  31. casualluchador

    Courses Should I take calculus 2,3 and diff. eqs at CC while in HS?

    Hi I was wondering if taking calculus 2,3, and differential equations by the end of my senior year at the local community college would be a wise choice. Would taking these math classes before i use them in physics hinder my learning? (I want to be a physicist). Would I gain an advantage in...
  32. RooksAndBooks

    News School Shooting at Alpine High School

    There is a tragic story coming out today about a school shooter in Alpine, Texas. http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/08/us/texas-high-school-shooting/ Her name is not revealed, nor are her motives. The article just says she wounded a female student and that she shot herself. The wounded student...
  33. Mastermind01

    Studying Understanding physics and problem solving

    Hello, I would like to have a good understanding of physics at my level (level of Halliday-resnick) and to be able to solve problems. It so happens that I read a chapter and solve the all the problems and exercises and I feel I am done, I know the stuff. But then up comes a problem and I get...
  34. Biscuit

    Schools High school senior project

    So at my high school we have to do a senior project. My initial plan was to write a book and then a piano song to go with it but I'm having second thoughts. Although mine is plenty difficult enough I see people doing internships and all this stuff that looks great on a college app. For example...
  35. micromass

    Challenge Micromass' big high school challenge thread

    Here is a thread of challenges made especially for high school students and first year university students. All the following problems can be solved with algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry, precalculus and single-variable calculus. That does not mean that the question are all easy. For...
  36. TheAnt

    B Recommendations to study Special Relativity

    Hello, I have often heard special relativity was not too difficult to study. I was wondering as a 6th former what knowledge is needed to do so and if it was even possible at my level. If yes does anyone suggest any good books or websites? I am searching for a more in depth mathematical...
  37. G

    Schools How many college courses are "TOO" many?

    I am in high school and my school offers very little in the way of higher level STEM classes. I want very badly to delve deeper into this topics so I want to take college classes over the summer. I want to take a Computer Science class and if possible I want to take an Enginnering or Science...
  38. Liam C

    B How does the double slit experiment prove super position?

    I know this question has been asked before but I have only found threads for it at an undergraduate's level of understanding and I am just finishing ninth grade. How does the double slit experiment prove superposition? What led me to ask this question, was that, since when you close one slit the...
    • Liam C
    • Thread
    • basic double slit experiment high school physics quantum
    • Replies: 10
    • Forum: Quantum Physics
  39. MegaAmpharos

    Courses Is taking AP Chem and both Physics C's a good idea?

    I got accepted into my states's residential high school and am going there next year for my junior and senior years. For my junior year I am doing: AP English Lang AP US History AP Calc BC AP Chemistry AP Physics C M and EM (combined) AP Comp Sci I am taking these courses to satisfy prereqs...
  40. Peter25samaha

    Other International math and physics high school books

    I want to learn high school physics and math but using the international curriculum I want to see everything taught at high school in those books from grade 9 to 12 any suggestion ?
  41. Calaver

    Schools Math Competitions (High School)

    Hello everyone! Firstly, I couldn't find a thread on my exact question elsewhere on these forums even after using the search feature, so if there is one that was previously posted please point me in the right direction. Secondly, I want to say that I am not against having math competitions in...
  42. P

    Other Math Books Required for Physics

    I am self taught, and would like to know more about physics, and engineering, the biggest issue I have been having is that for most physics courses, and textbooks I read, I do not understand the math behind. My highest math education was calc ab ap in high school. I was wondering if you all...
  43. T

    Is Engineering for me?

    Hi all. I'm currently a high school senior who has been accepted to Virginia Tech's college of engineering. I originally applied here because I was interested in computer science. Computer science for some reason is under their college of engineering. I also feel like its a good STEM school...
  44. Chahunda

    High School Thesis - Physics

    Hello, I didn't know if this is the right place for this question but here it is. I have a thesis due by June sometime. The thesis is in an astronomy course so I would like to do something on physics. I have just started learning the basics and would like to impress the teacher (this might help...
  45. Erin Pashanov

    B Kinemthics question Grade 11

    Driving along a steady speed of 26m/s and suddenly see a child 150m from you. Breaks can produce acceleration of -2.5m/s^2 but it takes time to get the foot from the gas to the brake pedal. How much time do you have, if to avoid hitting the child?
  46. M

    Taking AP Phys (Mech) in 11th grade with no Phys experience?

    Would it be a bad idea to take AP Physics (Mechanics) in 11th grade with no prior Physics experience? I'm currently in 10th grade taking Honors Precalc and Honors Chem. I'm taking AP Calculus BC next year, but I'm not sure what science classes I want to take for 11th/12th grade. I was also...
  47. T

    Math ideas for NCCTM Math Fair Contest?

    I've been debating against myself whether to use my Chaos Project Design to enter the contest but I don't have enough time to complete it at the moment and could leave some clueless as this is a High School level Math Fair. Does anyone know any other Ideas for me? I'm rather out of ideas and...
  48. S

    I love physics but I suck at it

    I'm a Junior in high school trying to pick my undergrad program. I always thought I'd go into biology. I love it an I'm good at it. Then I took physics just to try it. I started looking up stuff online and, it's just so cool and amazing. Like I'm infatuated with it. I want to know all I can. But...
  49. B

    Grade 12 Physics

    Hi, I was wondering how hard grade 12 physics might be for someone who took grade 11 physics in summer school. I'm afraid that I won't do well in grade 12(the class starts in a few days) because I did grade 11 physics in the summer and we rushed through a lot of units like energy and electricity...
  50. I

    Schools How Rigorous are High School Calculus classes?

    Hello everyone, I'm a high school student and wondering about the rigor of the AP Calculus classes that U.S. high school students often take. When I say rigor here, I'm talking about mathematical rigor as is commonly talked about with regard to math classes, and also whether or not the class is...
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