At a glance
- Usual grade
- Grade 11 or 12 (some schools grade 9)
- Standards
- NGSS HS-PS2, PS3, PS4 or a state's standards
- Math needed
- Algebra and basic trigonometry
- Assessment
- School tests, labs, semester finals
- Next step
- AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C
NGSS forces and interactions expectations (HS-PS2)
These five performance expectations are the core of most high school physics courses that follow NGSS. Energy (HS-PS3) and waves (HS-PS4) make up most of the rest.
| Code | What students must be able to do |
|---|---|
| HS-PS2-1 | Analyze data to show that Newton's second law relates net force, mass and acceleration |
| HS-PS2-2 | Use math to show that total momentum is conserved when there is no net force on a system |
| HS-PS2-3 | Design and refine a device that minimizes the force on an object in a collision |
| HS-PS2-4 | Use Newton's law of gravitation and Coulomb's law to predict gravitational and electrostatic forces |
| HS-PS2-5 | Investigate how an electric current produces a magnetic field and a changing magnetic field produces a current |
Source: nextgenscience.org, checked 6 October 2026. Wording shortened.
A typical year in high school physics
| Part of the year | Usual units | Where students struggle |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Kinematics, motion graphs, vectors, Newton's laws | Reading position and velocity graphs, free-body diagrams |
| Winter | Momentum, work and energy, circular motion and gravity | Choosing between force, energy and momentum methods |
| Spring | Waves and sound, light, electricity and circuits, magnetism | Circuit rules, wave equation units |
Order varies by school. Physics-first courses in grade 9 use lighter math.
Where students lose points
Physics punishes weak algebra and weak graph reading more than any other high school science. Students often understand the idea of acceleration but cannot get it from the slope of a velocity-time graph, or rearrange vf^2 = vi^2 + 2ad to find a distance. Vectors are the next hurdle: splitting a force into components with sine and cosine.
Conceptual questions catch students out too. Common misconceptions, such as believing a moving object needs a force to keep moving or that heavier objects fall faster, survive into grade 11 unless they are directly confronted. NGSS-style questions often ask students to analyze lab data and justify a claim, which needs both the physics and clear writing.
How one-to-one physics lessons work
A tutor who teaches high school physics uses the shared whiteboard for what physics needs most: sketches, free-body diagrams, motion graphs and step-by-step algebra. Your child explains the situation in words first, then picks the principle (forces, energy or momentum), then solves. The tutor watches the working and fixes the step where it goes wrong, which is usually a sign error or a missing force.
If the gap is math, the tutor repairs it in context, for example practicing rearranging equations with the formulas from the current unit, rather than stopping the physics.
When to start
Start as soon as Newton's laws feel confusing, usually in the first quarter. Everything later in the course, from momentum to circuits, uses the same problem-solving habits. Students heading toward AP Physics 1 should note that College Board recommends geometry completed and Algebra 2 at the same time; students headed for AP Physics C will need calculus.
Common questions
Is high school physics harder than chemistry?
It uses more algebra, graphs and trigonometry, so students with strong math often find it easier and students with weak math find it harder. The concepts are fewer but deeper.
What is 'physics first'?
Some schools teach a conceptual, lighter-math physics course in grade 9 before chemistry and biology. Others keep the traditional order with physics in grade 11 or 12.
Should my child take regular physics or go straight to AP Physics 1?
Both are possible; AP Physics 1 can be a first physics course. The deciding factor is algebra and comfort with graphs. A couple of lessons give a good read.
Is there an external exam for high school physics?
No board exam. Grades come from the school's tests, labs and finals. AP Physics exams are the external option for students who take AP courses.
How much do high school physics lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.