James Emerian
Physics students test the voltage of their homemade batteries in hopes of extra credit.
Most Fresno Christian students finish their high school science credits by taking chemistry. Some move on to anatomy and a few advance to AP biology, but even fewer embark on the challenge of taking physics. Last taught in the ‘21-’22 school year, a lack of interest and low enrollment led to the diminishment of the class at FCS. This year a group of nine ambitiously signed up for the the class.
Physics Students:
Jacob Christensen
James Emerian
Luke Hall
Austin Kinzle
Joshua McCreary
Tycen Ramirez
Drew Russo
Hayden Spurrier
Grace Tienken
Physics teacher Scott Bucher couldn’t wait to teach this course after a two-year hiatus.
“I’ve been teaching for 40 years and teaching physics for about 20 years, offering it every other year,” Bucher said. “This year’s physics class was a great class; nine is a good number for physics labs, and I’m glad to say everyone stayed with it all the way through.”
Throughout the year swamped by tests, note taking and labs, students get their one and only opportunity to gain extra credit in physics. To close out the school year, physics students are able apply their knowledge of electricity and magnetism to create homemade batteries and motors for credit. Seemingly challenging, creating a low volt battery is quite simple. Using learned principles, three students took on the challenge of using the principles of electromagnetism to design and produce an electric motor.
Junior Hayden Spurrier put his learning to the test, jumping at the opportunity to make a 7-volt battery, using copper, zinc and saltwater, receiving many compliments from his teacher.
“It was exciting to put Mr. Bucher’s lessons into practice through this project,” Spurrier said. “I would highly recommend this class because you learn things that seem foreign, but as you learn you get to see how these topics are relevant in the real world. Hearing something work and making something work is a completely different experience.”
Diving deep into the world of electrons over two semesters, students are taught beyond the basics of static electricity, the movement of electrons and the behavior of magnets.
Josh McCreary, ‘25, joined physics this year, excited to learn how certain aspects of the world work from one of his favorite teachers.
“I only understood electricity and magnetism at a base level before, but now I can see how a lot of mechanisms in our world work,” McCreary said. “I would definitely recommend this to any student who likes how Mr. Bucher teaches or just likes learning about the world around us.”
Physics students finish off the year with this final opportunity before completing the course. Physics will again be offered in the ‘26-’27 school year, statistics being the replacement course switching off every other year.
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