Students learn about ideas such as Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection. Furthermore, they begin to learn about the ways in which the human body functions and is formed. Plants and animals are a matter of discussion, too. For example, some topics in a standard biology classroom might include how DNA controls the cells, the anatomy of small animals and the different types of biomes that exist in the world today.
In chemistry courses, students will be introduced to the periodic table of elements and are expected to memorize various symbols, atomic masses and other information presented on the chart. They also learn about the structure of atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, moles and rates and concentrations. Furthermore, students will delve deeper into certain elements by figuring out how to find their mass number and describing the process through which an element develops an isotope.
Students in a high school physics class work on topics involving speed, momentum and force, such as Newton's Second Law of Motion, kinetic energy and work, projectile motion, simple machines and the Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum. The study of waves is another important part of the physics curriculum, including the vibrations of sound, the polarization of light and the ways in which color and light waves are intrinsically related to one another.
In their senior year or maybe at another time as well, students might take science electives. These vary by school. One popular class that is sometimes used as a substitute for one of the three core science areas is earth science. Other suggestions for high school science elective topics include environmental science, forensics and principles of technology. Students might also elect to take an advanced placement (AP) course in biology, chemistry and physics.