AP Physics I & II Course Syllabus

2018 - 2019

Course Title: AP Physics 1 & 2 Text: Physics Giancoli 7th ed

Grade Level: 11 & 12 Revision Date: 2018

Prerequisite: Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The AP Physics I and Physics II course are each a one semester course covering all

topics in a typical college level introductory physics course. The first semester is dedicated to

the study of classical mechanics, oscillations, mechanical waves, and electrostatics. The

second semester will continue with the study of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity

and magnetism, waves, optics, and atomic physics. A working knowledge of algebra and basic

trigonometry is required for the course. Understanding of the basic principles of selected topics

and the ability to apply these principles in the solution of problems is the major focus of the

course.

This course requires a minimum of one hour of preparation each night. Students must

be prepared to discuss and apply concepts, principles, and readings that have been or will be

assigned during the class period. Acquiring the necessary background of knowledge is

essential for maximizing comprehension and eliminating common misconceptions. Lab and

group work will also be an integral part of the course content. The amount of material to be

covered is quite extensive and can only be successfully completed during a two year study

time frame.

Since this is essentially a college level course the work load and expectations are

higher than those of the academic courses. Students that take this course need to be highly

motivated, independent, and demonstrate the ability to assimilate information into conclusions

and solutions. Students are expected to complete and hand in all assignments within the

allotted time. All lab work must be performed and recorded by the group during the designated

time for that task. Grade will be based on the successful completion of homework

assignments, topic quizzes, chapter exams and completion of lab work and projects.

This course provides the student the opportunity either to have an accelerated college

program, or simply to be better prepared to take a college level course. In addition, The

Advanced Placement Program provides an opportunity for you to pursue and receive credit for

college-level course work completed at the high school level. It is expected that upon

completion of the course you will take the AP Physics exam in May. Students will be

responsible for all the fees associated with the exam. There is however, financial aid and fee

reduction eligibility through the College Board and/or federal or state legislation.

AP Physics I & II Course Syllabus

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Students will:

1. Read, understand, and interpret physical information consisting of but not limited to:

a. Verbal

b. Mathematical

c. Graphical

2. Describe and explain the sequence of steps in the analysis of a particular physical

phenomenon or problem.

3. Describe the idealized model to be used in an analysis.

4. State the principles or definitions that are applicable.

5. Specify relevant limitations on applications of these principles.

6. Perform and describe the steps of an analysis, verbally or mathematically.

7. Interpret the results or conclusions from an analysis or special interest case.

8. Use basic mathematical reasoning in a physical situation or problem.

9. Perform experiments and interpret the results of observations.

10. Prepare an assessment of experimental uncertainties.

RECOMMENDED COURSE MATERIALS:

AP Physics Text: Physics, 7th Ed. Giancoli

Scientific Calculator

3-ring Binder/Notebook:

• All students are required to maintain a notebook to organize class notes, handouts, labs,

assignments.

• There will also be a section for reference pages, and formulas.

Class Structure:

The methodology of the course is designed so that a greater amount of dependence is

placed upon the student. The natural progression of this process is from teacher directed

learning to student discussion to self-dependence. This will ensure that the student has

acquired sufficient knowledge and confidence to solve problems and formulate conclusions

on their own with little or no external assistance. The classroom methodology will reflect

the following order of events:

Self study – student reads text and related materials.

Lecture / Demo. – teacher enhances learning of concepts and provides visual

representation of equations and problem solutions.

Recitation – problems solved in class by teacher and/or students including concept

worksheets.

Experiment – Hands-on interactive applications of physics concepts.

Simulations – students perform interactive problem solving using computer software.

Evaluation – Assessment of knowledge and its application.

AP Physics I & II Course Syllabus

1. CLASS RULES

2. Follow all directions and procedures.

3. Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak or to get up from your seat.

4. Come to class prepared; bring all recommended daily materials to class with you.

Recommended daily materials include three-ring binder, lined papers, pencils/pens, and a

scientific calculator. If you cannot provide these materials, please let me know. You also

need to bring your textbook on the assigned days.

5. Show respect to teacher, other students, and their belongings.

6. No cell phones may be used at any time unless authorized by the teacher.

7. No food, drinks, or gum in the classroom at any time.

8. Keep your work area clean; no writing on tables or other school property.

9. Cheating will NOT be tolerated in any form.

II. CONSEQUENCES

1. If student chooses to break rules #1-8 above, a warning will be given first. If

violation continues, parents will be contacted immediately, and student will be sent

to GLC.

2. If student chooses to break rule #9 above, student will be sent to GLC immediately

and parent conference will follow.

III. CLASS PROCEDURE

1. Take your assigned seat and be ready to begin working as soon as the bell rings.

2. Each day’s class agenda and homework are found on the class Web Site

(www.physicsinmotion.net). If you do not have access to the internet, let me know so I can

make arrangements to give you the necessary materials.

3. You are required to correct all homework problems assigned when presented on the board.

4. When the bell rings at the end of the period, stay in your seat until the teacher dismisses

you. Do not line up at the door prior to the bell.

5. If come in late be sure to notify the teacher. Failure to do this may result you being marked

absent.

IV. HOMEWORK / CLASSWORK

1. All papers must have the proper heading as follows:

Left Corner Center of Page Right corner

Teacher’s Name Assignment Title Name (First and Last)

Chapter Number Date

Period

2. Homework assignments and worksheets are usually due the next day, Lab Simulations are

due prior to the lab, and Lab write-ups are usually due on Mondays, unless otherwise

stated.

3. Turn in all assignments on time to receive a stamp; late assignments will NOT be stamped

and will only receive half credit.

4. File completed / stamped works in your three-ring binder. You will need to turn in these

stamped works as HOMEWORK PACKETS upon completion of a unit (test days) to

receive points. If a homework packet is turned in late, points will be deducted from the total

points possible .

5. When return from an absence, check with the teacher for any missing homework or

classwork. It is your responsibility to make up the work within the grading period. Make-

up work must be labeled with “ABSENT” and the date of the absence in addition to the

normal heading; otherwise it will be considered as a late assignment with no stamp and will

only receive half credit.

6. For a missed lab, you must make up the lab during a time arranged with the teacher.

V. TESTS

1. All tests are based primarily on the notes and homework given in class. In order to do

well on the test, you will need to pay attention in class, study your notes, and do your

homework.

2. A study guide of review questions may be given prior to the final exam. All the

answers can be found in your notes or homework.

3. All tests must be made up prior to the end of the grading period or a zero will be given.

VI. GRADING POLICY

At the end of the grading period, the points earned by students will be calculated based on the

total points possible. The final percentage will then be converted to a letter grade using the

grading scale shown below:

Grading Categories Homework / Classwork 10%

Test / Quizzes 40%

Labs / Projects 35%

Final Exam 15%

Grading Scale 100% - 90 % A

89% - 80% B

79% - 70% C

79% - 60% D

below 59% F

AP Physics I & II Course Syllabus

ABSENCES

• Absence refers to not being in CLASS.

• Students are responsible for any and all work missed that day.

• Refer to the web site or contact a classmate for missed work.

• You have the number of days absent plus ONE day to turn in work

• Work assigned prior to absence is due upon return to school.

• Unexcused absences will result in a ZERO for those assignments.

CHEATING

• Walnut High School implements an Academic Honor Code to encourage students

to value personal integrity and instill individual responsibility for honesty. This is an

integral part of character development for the student.

• Examples of Honor Code infractions

To copy or cheat on any form of graded assignment.

To plagiarize – using someone’s words or ideas without credit.

To give or accept information about, or answers to, any graded assignment.

• Consequences for infractions:

Zero on the given assignment..

Report submitted to GLC/parents

UNITS OF STUDY AP PHYSICS I:

I. Mechanics

A. Intro & Math Concepts ........................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. Nature of Physics

2. Units

3. Units and Problem solving

4. Metric System

5. Significant figures

6. Scientific notation

7. Accuracy and precision

8. Vectors & scalars

9. Components of vectors

B. Kinematics …………………..................................................... 12 days/3 wks

1. One dimensional Motion

A. Displacement, velocity, & acceleration

B. Application of kinematic equations

C. Free fall

D. Kinematic graphical analysis

AP Physics I Course Syllabus

2. Two dimensional Motion

A. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration

B. Equations in two dimensions

C. Projectile motion

D. Relative velocity

C. Dynamics ................................................................................ 8 days/2 wks

1. Force & mass

2. Newton’s laws of motion

3. Applications of Newton’s laws

A. Equilibrium

B. Nonequilibrium

4. Types of Forces

5. Forces

A. Gravitational

B. Tension

C. Normal

D. Frictional

1. Static

2. Kinetic

D. Circular Dynamics .................................................................. 4 days/1wk

1. Centripetal force & acceleration

2. Banked curves

3. Satellites

4. Weightlessness

5. Vertical circular motion

E. Work & Energy ........................................................................ 5 days/1wk

1. Work done

A. Constant force

B. Variable force

2. Work-Energy Theorem

3. Forces

A. Conservative

B. Nonconservative

4. Conservation of Energy

A. Potential

B. Kinetic

C. Mechanical

5. Power

AP Physics I Course Syllabus

F. Impulse & Momentum ............................................................. 6 days/1.5wks

1. Impulse-momentum theorem

2. Conservation of linear momentum

3. Collisions

A. One dimensional

B. Two dimensional

4. Center of mass

G. Rotational Kinematics ............................................................. 4 days/1wks

1. Angular measurement

2. Angular quantities

A. Displacement

B. Velocity

C. Acceleration

3. Applications

4. Angular and tangential kinematics

5. Rolling motion

H. Rotational Dynamics ............................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. Rigid bodies

A. Translations

B. Rotations

C. Torque & moment of inertia

2. Center of gravity

3. Dynamic applications

4. Rotational work & energy

5. Angular momentum

I. Elasticity & SHM ....................................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. Elastic deformation

2. Stress, strain, & Hooke’s law

3. SHM

A. Ideal spring

B. Reference circle

C. Conservation of energy

4. Pendulum

5. Harmonic motion & resonance

II. Fluid Mechanics…………………………………………………….. 4 days/1wk

A. Phases of Matter

B. Density and Specific Gravity

C. Pressure in Fluids/Gauge Pressure

D. Pascal’s Principle

E. Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle

F. Bernoulli’s Equation

III. Waves & Sound

A. Waves & Sound ...................................................................... 12 days/3wks

1. The nature of waves

A. Periodic waves

B. Speed of a wave

2. The nature of sound

A. Speed of sound

B. Sound intensity

3. Doppler effect

4. Applications of sound

B. Superposition & Interference .................................................. 4 days/1wk

1. Principle of linear superposition

A. Constructive

B. Destructive

2. Diffraction

3. Beats

4. Standing waves

A. Transverse

B. Longitudinal

This marks the end of the first semester

IV. Electricity

A. Electrostatics ........................................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. Charged objects & electric force

2. Conductors and insulators

3. Coulomb’s law

4. Electric field

A. Field lines

B. Electric PE & Electric Potential ................................................ 4 days/1wk

1. PE & potential difference

2. Equipotential surfaces

3. Capacitors & dielectrics

C. Electric Circuits ....................................................................... 8 days/2wks

1. EMF, current, & resistance

2. Ohm’s law

3. Resistance & resistivity

4. voltmeters/ammeters

5. Electric power

6. Circuits

A. Series

B. Parallel

C. Combination

7. Capacitors

A. Series

B. Parallel

8. RC circuits

D. Magnetic Force & Fields ......................................................... 8 days/2wks

1. Magnetic fields

A. Force on a moving charge

B. Motion of a charged particle

2. Current in a magnetic field

A. Force

B. Torque

3. Fields produced by currents

4. Ampere’s law

AP Physics I & II Course Syllabus

E. Electromagnetic Induction ...................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. Induced EMF & current

A. Motional EMF

B. Magnetic flux

2. Faraday’s law

3. Lenz’s law

4. Inductance

A. Mutual

B. Self

5. Transformers

V. Light & Optics

A. Electromagnetic Waves ...................................................... 4 days/1wk

1. The nature of EM waves

2. EM spectrum

3. EM waves

A. Energy

B. Doppler effect

4. The speed of light

5. Polarization

B. Geometric Optics ................................................................. 8 days2wks

1. Reflection: Mirrors

A. Reflection

B. Plane mirror

C. Spherical mirror

D. Mirror & magnification equation

2. Refraction: Lenses

A. Index of refraction

B. Snell’s Law

C. Total internal reflection

D. Polarization

E. Dispersion

3. Lenses

A. Image formation

B. Thin lens equation

C. Lens systems

4. Optical devices

A. Human eye

B. Telescope

C. Compound microscope

D. Lens aberrations

F. Physical Optics .................................................................... 8 days/1wk

1. Linear superposition

A. Thin-film interference

B. Double-Slit interference

C. Interferometer

2. Diffraction

A. Resolving power

B. Grating

C. X-ray

VI. Modern Physics

A. Particles & Waves ................................................................ 4 days/1wks

1. Wave-particle duality

2. Blackbody radiation & Planck’s constant

3. Photons

A. Photoelectric effect

B. Momentum

C. Compton effect

4. De Broglie wavelength

B. Nature of the Atom ................................................................ 2 days

1. Rutherford scattering

2. Bohr model

3. Quantum mechanics of hydrogen

C. Nuclear Physics ........................................................ …….…8 days/2wks

1. Nuclear structure

A. Nuclear force

B. Binding energy

C. Stability of the nucleus

2. Radioactivity

A. Decay & activity

B. Decay series

D. Nuclear Energy .................................................................... 3 days

1. Nuclear Reactions

A. Fission

B. Reactors

C. Fusion

2. Elementary particles

3. Ionizing radiation

This marks the end of the second semester

Labs:

Labs are often open-ended but sometimes have a laid out procedure with a set goal or

objective in mind. In an open ended lab the students are given an objective, e.g. “Determine

the coefficient of static friction of wood on wood”, and materials – string, ruler, protractor, mass

set, light pulley, etc. Students are allowed to create their own experimental design, but

ultimately the lab designs must lead to the collection of data which can be analyzed through

graphical methods. Students often use Fourier probes and laptop computers to graph and

analyze their data. Students work in pairs or groups, but each student must submit a lab

report, then graded and returned. The report design and format include:

• Statement of the problem/Objective

• Hypothesis

• Materials required

• Procedure used

• Data recorded

• Data analyzed

• Discussion or outline of how the data was analyzed

• Conclusion including error analysis

.

Students are required to keep the reports in their notebooks in case the college of their choice

requires evidence, artifacts or documentation prior to awarding college credit for physics.

The below table lists the formally graded labs/projects that students will be expected to

perform. There will be several labs performed in more of an informal way to prepare students

for these labs.

General Area of Study Specific Topic Lab Title Demo or

Hands On

Time

(minutes)

Measurement Timing Measuring time Hands on 30

Mechanics Motion in 1-D Motion in One Dimension Hands on 50

Mechanics Motion in 1-D Acceleration Hands on 50

Mechanics Gravity Determining the Acceleration due to

Gravity

Hands on 90

Mechanics Projectile

Motion

Launching a Projectile. Predicting range

with a calculated Vo

Hands on 90

Mechanics Projectile

Motion

Calculating force, velocity, range, and

height using a self-designed trebuchet

Hands on 90

Mechanics Force Confirming Newton’s 2nd Law Hands on 90

Mechanics Stress & Strain Calculating stress and strain through the use

of a balsa wood bridge

Hands on 90

Mechanics Work Determining the work using an inclined

plane

Hands on 90

Mechanics Energy Determining the conservation of energy Hands on 90

Mechanics Momentum Determine the momentum of a cart Hands on 90

Mechanics Collision &

impact

Build a self-powered car and measure the

collision against an opponent

Hands on 90

Mechanics Circular Motion Measuring Circular Motion using an applied

force

Hands on 90

Mechanics Friction Determine the coefficient of static friction Hands on 90

Mechanics Power Measuring the student’s power output Hands on 90

Mechanics Hooke’s Law Determining the force constant of a spring Hands on 45

Mechanics Pendulum Determining the period vs. length Hands on 45

Fluid Mechanics Flow rate Calculating flow rate, water velocity, and

pressure using 2 liter bottles and valves

Hands on 90

Waves SHO-spring Simple harmonic motion of a spring Hands on 45

Waves SHO-Pendulum Simple harmonic motion of a pendulum Hands on 45

Sound Speed of sound Determining the speed of sound Hands on 90

Electricity Coulombs Law Measuring electrical forces Hands on 60

Electricity Ohm’s Verifying Ohm’s Law Hands on 90

Electricity Circuits Creating series and parallel circuits and

determining I, V and R

Hands on 90

Electricity Circuits Developing simulated circuits Computer 45

Electricity Kirchhoff’s Examine Kirchhoff’s law in circuits Hands on 90

Magnetism Magnetic fields Determining the magnetic fields Hands on 45

Plane Mirror Virtual image Examining the image in a plane mirror Hands on 45

Plane Mirror Virtual image Computer simulation of virtual images Computer 30

Spherical Mirror Real & Virtual Images associated with spherical mirror Hands on 60

Spherical Mirror Real & Virtual Computer sim of real & virtual images Computer 30

Lenses Real & Virtual Images associated with convex lens Hands on 60

Lenses Real & Virtual Computer sim of real & virtual images Computer 30

Diffraction Grating Wavelength Wavelength of light through diffraction Hands on 60

Nuclear Decay Decay series Decay series using dice Hands on 45

Quantum Mechanics Specific topic presentations Oral 20

Total Labs 36

Return this page to your teacher

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WALNUT HIGH SCHOOL

AP Physics 1 & 2

Program

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