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Integrated Physics and Chemistry

A combined survey of physics and chemistry — motion, forces, energy, matter, chemical reactions, waves, and electricity. Designed for Foundation-track students who want broad science literacy without the depth of separate Chemistry and Physics courses. TEKS §112.38 aligned.

14 Units

40-55 minutes per unit

What You Will Learn

Two Sciences, One Course

Motion, forces, energy, matter, reactions, waves, and electricity — the essential concepts from both physics and chemistry.

Foundation Track

Meets the FHSP science requirement for students not pursuing Distinguished Level of Achievement.

TEKS §112.38 Aligned

Covers Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for IPC.

All Units

Science, Measurement, and Safety

Explore the scientific method, master SI measurement and unit conversions, and learn essential laboratory safety practices.

•Describe the steps of the scientific method and distinguish between hypotheses, theories, and laws
•Identify SI base units and convert between metric prefixes using dimensional analysis
•Distinguish between accuracy and precision in measurements
+1 more objectives

Properties of Matter

Classify matter by its physical and chemical properties, calculate density, and understand the behavior of solids, liquids, and gases.

•Distinguish between physical and chemical properties of matter
•Distinguish between physical and chemical changes and identify evidence of each
•Calculate density using mass and volume and use density to identify unknown substances
+1 more objectives

Atoms and Elements

Investigate atomic structure, navigate the periodic table, and understand how isotopes and atomic mass connect to the elements around us.

•Describe the structure of an atom including protons, neutrons, and electrons
•Use the periodic table to determine atomic number, mass number, and electron arrangement
•Explain what isotopes are and how they relate to average atomic mass
+1 more objectives

Chemical Bonds and Reactions

Understand how atoms bond through ionic and covalent interactions, classify types of chemical reactions, and practice balancing chemical equations.

•Explain how ionic and covalent bonds form based on electron transfer and sharing
•Predict whether a bond will be ionic or covalent based on element types
•Classify chemical reactions as synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, or double replacement
+1 more objectives

Motion and Forces

Analyze motion using speed, velocity, and acceleration, then explore Newton's three laws to understand why objects move the way they do.

•Calculate speed, velocity, and acceleration from given data
•Interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs to describe motion
•State Newton's three laws of motion and apply them to real-world scenarios
+1 more objectives

Energy and Work

Explore kinetic and potential energy, understand the law of conservation of energy, define work in physics terms, and analyze simple machines.

•Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy and calculate each using appropriate formulas
•Apply the law of conservation of energy to real-world scenarios
•Calculate work done on an object using W = Fd and relate work to energy transfer
+1 more objectives

Waves and Sound

Investigate the properties of waves, understand how sound travels and behaves, and explore the Doppler effect in everyday life.

•Identify the parts of a wave and distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves
•Use the wave equation to calculate wave speed, frequency, and wavelength
•Explain how sound is produced, transmitted, and received
+1 more objectives

Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Explore the nature of light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and how reflection and refraction shape the way we see the world.

•Describe the dual nature of light and its place in the electromagnetic spectrum
•Identify the regions of the EM spectrum and their common applications
•Explain reflection and refraction using the law of reflection and Snell's law qualitatively
+1 more objectives

Understand electric charge, current, voltage, and resistance, then apply Ohm's law to analyze simple series and parallel circuits.

•Explain static electricity in terms of electron transfer and Coulomb's law qualitatively
•Define current, voltage, and resistance and describe their roles in electric circuits
•Apply Ohm's law to calculate current, voltage, or resistance in simple circuits
+1 more objectives

Investigate the properties of magnets and magnetic fields, then discover how electricity and magnetism are unified through electromagnetism.

•Describe magnetic fields, poles, and the behavior of magnetic materials
•Explain how electric currents produce magnetic fields and how electromagnets work
•Describe the basic operation of electric motors and generators
+1 more objectives

Solutions and Mixtures

Classify mixtures by type, explore how solutions form and what affects solubility, and learn techniques for separating mixtures in the lab and in industry.

•Distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures and give examples of each
•Identify the solute and solvent in a solution and describe how solutions form at the particle level
•Explain factors that affect solubility and describe concentration qualitatively and using molarity
+1 more objectives

Acids, Bases, and pH

Investigate the properties of acids and bases, understand the pH scale, and explore neutralization reactions that occur in the lab and in everyday life.

•Identify the characteristic properties of acids and bases
•Use the pH scale to classify substances as acidic, neutral, or basic
•Explain how indicators work and use them to determine pH
+1 more objectives

Earth Science Connections

Apply physics and chemistry concepts to understand Earth's atmosphere, weather, the water cycle, the rock cycle, and plate tectonics.

•Describe the layers of the atmosphere and how they differ in temperature and composition
•Explain how the water cycle connects energy transfer, phase changes, and weather patterns
•Classify rocks by type and trace the rock cycle as a series of physical and chemical changes
+1 more objectives

Environmental Science and Energy Resources

Compare renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, examine the chemistry of fossil fuels and nuclear energy, and evaluate human impact on Earth's systems.

•Classify energy resources as renewable or nonrenewable and describe the advantages and limitations of each
•Explain the chemistry of fossil fuel combustion and its connection to climate change
•Describe the basics of nuclear fission and fusion as energy sources
+1 more objectives

Integrated Physics and Chemistry. Foundation track science credit. TEKS §112.38 aligned.