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AP PHYSICS 2011 - 12
COURSE SYLLABUS
Jones College Prep
Ms. Kovacs
[email protected]
773-534-8600 Ext. 26125
Course Overview
Welcome to AP Physics! This is a second year physics course designed to offer students interested in physics the
opportunity to take the Physics B AP exam and to purse more advanced topics. Following the Advanced Placement
guidelines, the course is designed after an introductory college physics course, using a college-level text. Many colleges
use the grade assigned on the AP Exam as a basis for placement and course credit decisions.
Textbook ** Loss of textbook/supplies will result in mandatory replacement fee.**
Physics: Principles with Applications 5th Edition by Douglas C. Giancoli
ISBN 0-13-611971-9
Prentice Hall, 1998
Semester Grading
Each semester grade will be calculated using the following percentages. Progress reports and quarter grades will include
the grade earned from the beginning of the semester to the present.
Tests /Quizzes (50%)
Tests will be given at the end of each unit and will consist of a multiple choice and free response with AP style
questions. These exams will be graded according to the AP scale. Quizzes will be given announced or unannounced
throughout the units.
Formal Lab Reports (20%)
Throughout the year you will conduct numerous lab activities. Some of these will require a formal lab report using the
guidelines listed later in the syllabus. These will not only help you develop skills for designing and conducting
experiments, but will also help you develop scientific writing skills which is essential if you continue in the field of
science.
Homework (10%)
Online assignments through the University of Texas site will be assigned on a regular basis. You are required to
download the assignment, write your solutions in a homework composition notebook and submit your final answers
online.
Final Exam (20%)
A cumulative final exam will be given at the end of the semester which will consist of multiple choice and free response
questions.
Grading Scale
100 -92 = A
91 - 83% = B
82 - 74 = C
73 - 65 = D
64 - 0 = F
Classroom Expectations
I expect each of you to respect your classroom, equipment/supplies, classmates, teacher and yourself.
 Respect the Classroom – This is our communal space and it is all of our responsibilities to keep it clean.
Please pick up any garbage and please push in your seat before leaving.
 Respect the Equipment/Supplies – The equipment and supplies are not only for your use, but the use of
others in other classes and future generations of Jones’s students as well. Please take care when using them and
return them to their rightful place so they are not lost.
 Respect your Classmates – Let other students share their ideas and listen to them. Help your teammates and
classmates with their struggles; just make sure you don’t cheat them out of their learning by solely giving them
the answers.
 Respect your Teacher – Please give me your attention when I am talking. Be an active participant in every
day’s activities.
 Respect Yourself – Always try your best. Come prepared and with an open mind and a positive attitude ready
to tackle the day’s challenges whatever they may be. Please do not do other work for another class or be in
possession of something that will keep you unfocused. If you do not understand, ask questions!
Tutoring
Tutoring is available before and after school on
request. Please see me to set up an appointment
or stop by to see if I’m around. Please ask
questions!!!
Missing/Incomplete Assignments
AP Physics is a very challenging fast paced course. If you get behind it can be difficult to “catch” up. Therefore, it is
expected that all of your homework will be attempted. I don’t expect every student to get every question correct the
first time around. Homework is for practice. However, I do expect you to make an effort which means that you write
down your thoughts about solving the problem. This could include questions that you have about the problem,
information that you feel you need to solve the problem, but do not have, a few calculations that you feel are necessary
to solve the problem, but cannot figure out how to use the new calculated answers to get the “final” result, etc. Please
see the guidelines below for more details. This means that no problem should be blank! I think that this is so important
that if you even have one blank page or writing that has nothing to do with the problem you will attend a mandatory
AP Physics homeowork session. You will be required to come to room 604 at 3:00 – 4:00pm to work on the
problems that you did not complete as well as the homework due the next day. I will be available for help during this
time. This will be mandatory. This means that if you are in any activities during this time you will miss them that day.
AP Physics B Exam
It is a requirement of this course to take the AP Physics B exam on May 14, 2012.
Course Content
Kinematics Learning Objectives
 Define and apply definitions of displacement, average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and average acceleration
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems using kinematics equations, including problems involving free fall by using
the value of the acceleration due to gravity
 Analyze motion graphs qualitatively and quantitatively, including calculations of the slope of the tangent of an x-versus-t
graph, the slope of the v-versus-t graph, the area under the v-versus-t graph and the area under the a-versus-t graph
 Distinguish between vectors and scalars
 Add & subtract vectors graphically and using the component method
 Describe the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems of situations involving projectiles fired horizontally and at an angle
 Apply the concepts of vectors to solve problems involving relative velocity
Newton’s Laws Learning Objectives
 Identify types of forces (contact: normal, friction, tension, etc; field: electric, gravitational, magnetic) by identifying the
agent that causes the force
 Proficiency in accurately drawing and labeling free-body diagrams
 Distinguish between mass and weight, and calculate weight using acceleration due to gravity
 Differentiate between static and kinetic friction
 Know and apply the relationship between static friction and the normal force and kinetic friction and the normal force in
order to calculate the force of static friction, kinetic friction or circumstances an object will start to slip.
 State and apply Newton’s first law of motion for objects in static equilibrium
 State and apply Newton’s second law of motion
 Demonstrate proficiency in writing Newton’s second law equation and solving problems that involve objects in motion
with constant acceleration by analyzing the resultant force(s) in horizontal surfaces, inclined planes, and pulley systems
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving for a change in velocity, an acceleration, net force, mass, a specific force, coefficient of
friction, etc. using Newton’s second law equations
 State and apply Newton’s third law of motion to identify force pairs and state the magnitude and direction of each force
 Apply understanding of drag force to calculate the terminal velocity of an object moving vertically under the influence of a
retarding force dependent on velocity
Work, Energy & Power Learning Objectives
 Define and apply the concepts of work done by a constant force, potential energy, kinetic energy, and power.
 Calculate the work from the area under the curve of a force-versus-displacement graph.
 Calculate the potential energy stored in spring when compressed or stretched.
 Calculate the potential energy of an object in a uniform gravitational field.
 Distinguish between conservative and nonconservative forces.
 State and apply the principle of conservation of mechanical energy in connected objects (Atwood’s machine), objects that
move under the influence of springs.
 Apply work-kinetic energy theorem in problems to calculate the change in kinetic energy, speed, net force, or amount
work performed that involve conservative and nonconservative forces.
System of Particles & Linear Momentum Learning Objectives
 Define and give examples of impulse and momentum
 Restate Newton’s second law of motion in terms of momentum
 Calculate the change in momentum from the area under the curve of a force versus time graph
 Derive a statement of the conservation of momentum between two objects by applying Newton’s third law
 Define and recognize examples of elastic and inelastic collisions
 Apply conservation of momentum and kinetic energy to elastic collisions
 Apply conservation of momentum to inelastic problems to determine the amount of kinetic energy lost in the collision
 Analyze situations in which two or more objects are pushed apart by a spring and calculate how much
 energy is released in the process
Circular Motion Learning Objectives
 Explain the characteristics of uniform circular motion
 Derive the equation for centripetal acceleration of an object moving in a circle at constant speed
 Describe the direction velocity & acceleration of a particle in circular motion at any instant during the motion
 Determine components of velocities & accelerations of the particle and sketch graphs of these quantities.
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Understand that centripetal force is not a new type of force
Understand that centrifugal force does not exist
Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving banking angles, motion in a horizontal circle, and motion in a
vertical circle
Define and calculate the torque of a given force about an axis of rotation
State the two conditions of equilibrium (translational and rotational) and apply them to solve for unknown forces and/or
distances in a variety of situations
Oscillations & Gravitation Learning Objectives
 Define and identify the following terms on a displacement-versus-time graph: equilibrium position, amplitude, period, and
frequency
 Define simple harmonic motion
 Use the reference circle to describe the displacement, velocity and acceleration
 Describe and apply Hooke’s law and Newton’s second law to determine the acceleration as a function of displacement
 Apply the principles of conservation of mechanical energy for an object moving with simple harmonic motion
 Apply the equation for period of oscillation of a mass–spring system
 Apply the equation for period of oscillation of a simple pendulum and state what approximation must be made in deriving
the period
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving horizontal and vertical mass–spring systems
 Be able to graph the potential and kinetic energies as a function of time for mass-spring system and pendulum.
 State and apply Newton’s law of universal gravitation
 Describe Cavendish’s experiment to determine the value of the universal gravitation constant
 Derive the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the earth or other planets
 Describe qualitatively how the velocity, period of revolution, and centripetal acceleration depend upon the radius of the
orbit
 Derive expressions for the velocity and period of revolution in such an orbit
 Explain and apply the relationship between the speed and the orbital radius of a satellite
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving apparent weightlessness in a satellite and in an elevator
 State Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion
 Derive and apply Kepler’s third law of planetary motion
Fluid Learning Objectives
 Apply the relationship between pressure, force, and area
 Apply the principle that a fluid exerts pressure in all directions
 Apply the principle that a fluid at rest exerts pressure perpendicular to any surface that it contacts
 Determine locations of equal pressure in a fluid
 Define atmospheric pressure, gauge pressure, and absolute pressure, and the relationship among these terms
 Apply the relationship between pressure and depth in a liquid
 State and apply Pascal’s principle in practical situations such as hydraulic lifts
 State and apply Archimedes’ principle to calculate the buoyant force, density of materials or another unknown force
 Demonstrate proficiency in drawing and labeling free-body diagrams involving buoyant force and other forces
 State the characteristics of an ideal fluid
 Apply the equation of continuity in solving problems
 Understand that Bernoulli’s equation is a statement of conservation of energy
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving changes in depth and/or changes in pressure and/or changes in
velocity
Temperature & Heat Learning Objectives
 Understand and apply the mechanical equivalent of heat
 Describe the condition for thermal equilibrium and define temperature
 Define the coefficient of linear expansion and apply the equation to calculate linear thermal expansion
 Analyze what happens to the size and shape of an object when it is heated
 Calculate how the flow of heat through a slab of material is affected by changes in the thickness or area of the slab, or the
temperature difference between two faces of the slab
 Explain the mechanisms of heat transfer: conduction, radiation, and convection
Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics Learning Objectives
 State and apply the gas laws: Boyle’s, Charles’s and Gay Lussac’s
 Apply the Ideal Gas law to solve problems involving changes in volume, pressure, and temperature
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Explain qualitatively how the model explains the pressure of a gas in terms of collisions with the container walls, and
explain how the model predicts that, for a fixed volume, pressure must be proportional to temperature
State the postulates of the kinetic theory
Understand that the average translational energy of molecules in a gas is directly proportional to the absolute temperature
Define and illustrate the four thermodynamic processes: isothermal, adiabatic, isovolumetric, isobaric process
Calculate of the work done by calculating the area under a PV graph
State and apply the first law of thermodynamics
State and understand the implications of the second law of thermodynamics to determine whether entropy will increase,
decrease, or remain the same during a particular situation
Describe a typical heat engine and be able to compute the maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine and actual
efficiency
Understand a Carnot engine and how its efficiency is expressed in terms of the Kelvin temperatures between which it
operates
Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems related to thermodynamic processes
Electrostatics Learning Objectives
 Define electrostatics and the nature of an electric charge
 Describe polarization and induced charges
 State Coulomb’s law and its equation to calculate the electrostatic force between two charges and analyze the motion of a
particle of specified charge and mass under the influence of an electrostatic force
 Define the permittivity of free space
 Define the electric field and derive for a single point charge
 Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field produced by two or more point charges
 Calculate the magnitude and direction of the force on a positive or negative charge placed in a specified field
 Describe electric field lines as means to depict the electric field
 Analyze proficiency in solving problems involving electric charges in an uniform electric field
 Define and apply the concepts of electric potential energy, electric potential, and electric potential difference
 Calculate the work done on a charge to determine the speed of a charge that moves through a specified potential
difference
 Determine the direction and approximate magnitude of the electric field at various positions given a sketch of
equipotential
 Understand that equipotential lines are perpendicular to electric field lines
 Calculate the potential difference between two points in a uniform electric field, and state which point is at the higher
potential
 Calculate how much work is required to move a test charge from one location to another in the field of fixed point charges
 Calculate the electrostatic potential energy of a system of two or more point charges, and calculate how much work is
required to establish the charge system
 Apply a relationship between the electric field and the potential difference in a parallel plate configuration
Conductors & Capacitors Learning Objectives
 Explain the charging of an object by contact and by induction
 Distinguish between conductors and insulators
 Understand the distribution of charge in a conductor
 Explain the mechanics responsible for the absence of an electric field inside a conductor
 Explain why a conductor must be an equipotential and apply this when analyzing what happens when conductors are
connected by wires
 Define capacitance and apply the equation to calculate the total charge
 Understand and apply the fact that the capacitance depends on the geometry of the capacitor: area and separation between
the plates
 Calculate the equivalent capacitance of capacitors connected in series and in parallel
 Determine the energy stored in a parallel plate
 Describe the electric field inside the capacitor, and relate the strength of this field to the potential difference between the
plates and the plate separation
Electric Circuits Learning Objectives
 Define electric current as the rate of flow of charge
 Understand some reasons for the conventional direction of electric current
 Explain the term emf (electromotive force) and what is a source of emf
 Define resistance and the factors affecting the resistance of a conductor including length and cross sectional area
 State and apply Ohm’s law
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Understand and apply the equation of electric power as the rate of energy transferred in the form of heat
Draw schematic diagrams of circuits, including measuring devices such as ammeters and voltmeters
Analyze series and parallel circuits and demonstrate proficiency in calculations of equivalent resistance, current, and
voltage drop
Calculate the terminal voltage, taking into account the internal resistance of a battery
State and apply Kirchhoff’s laws to solve complex networks
Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a series or parallel combination
Describe how stored charge is divided between capacitors connected in parallel
Determine the ratio of voltages for capacitors connected in series
Calculate the voltage or stored charge for a capacitors connected to a circuit consisting of batteries and resistors
Magnetism Learning Objectives
 Describe the magnetic fields created by magnets
 Calculate the magnetic force exerted on a moving charge and determine the direction of the magnetic field, the velocity of
the charge, and the magnetic force by using a right-hand-rule
 Describe the paths of charged particles moving in uniform magnetic fields
 Derive and apply the formulat for the radius of the circular path of a charge that moves perpendicular to a uniform
magnetic field
 Describe under what conditions particles will move with constant velocity through crossed electric and magnetic fields
 Calculate the magnetic force on a current carrying wire (or loop of wire) and determine the direction of the magnetic field,
the current, and the magnetic force by using a right-hand-rule
 Determine how the loop will tend to rotate as a consequence of the magnetic forces
 Calculate the magnetic force on a long, straight wire and determine the direction of the magnetic field, the current, and the
magnetic force by using a right-hand rule
 Using superposition determine the magnetic field produced by two long wires
 Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force between two parallel wires
 Calculate the flux of a uniform magnetic field through a loop of arbitrary orientation
 Recognize situations in which changing flux through a loop will cause an induced emf or current in a loop
 Calculate the magnitude and direction of the induced emf and current in a loop of wire or a conducting bar when the
magnitude of a related quantity such as magnetic field or area of the loop is changing at a constant rate
Wave Motion & Sound Learning Objectives
 Define and give characteristics and examples of longitudinal, transverse, and surface waves
 Apply the equation for wave velocity in terms of its frequency and wavelength
 Describe the relationship between energy of a wave and its amplitude
 Describe the behavior of waves at a boundary: fixed-end, free-end, boundary between different media
 Describe qualitatively what factors determine the speed of waves on a string
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving transverse waves in a string
 Distinguish between constructive and destructive interference
 State and apply the principle of superposition
 Describe the formation and characteristics of standing waves
 Describe qualitatively what factors determine the speed of waves in sound
 Calculate the speed of sound in air as a function of temperature
 Use boundary behavior characteristics to derive and apply relationships for calculating the characteristic frequencies for an
open pipe and for a closed pipe
 Explain the interference of sound waves and the formation of beats
 Apply the Doppler effect to predict the apparent change in sound frequency
 Apply the inverse square law to calculate the intensity of waves at a given distance from a source of specified power and
compare the intensities at different distances from the source
Physical Optics Learning Objectives
 Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and speed of electromagnetic
waves
 Describe Roemer and Michelson’s experiment to determine the speed of light
 Explain the dispersion of light and the visible spectrum
 State the conditions for constructive interference and destructive interference
 Describe Young’s double-slit experiment and apply the results of the experiment to predict the location of bright and dark
fringes
 Describe the pattern observed by the use of a diffraction grating
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving the use of a single slit, a double slit and a diffraction grating
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Explain and apply the characteristics of thin-film interference using the concepts of boundary behavior
Calculate the thickness of a film
Geometric Optics Learning Objectives
 Discuss the evidence supporting the ray model of light
 State and apply the law of reflection
 Define the following terms for spherical mirrors: principal axis, focal point, and focal length
 Demonstrate proficiency in the use of ray diagrams to find the image of an object using a converging and a diverging
mirror
 Understand how mirrors form real and virtual images
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems that use the mirror equation to calculate the focal length of a mirror, image
distance, image height, and the magnification
 Explain what is meant by spherical aberration
 Define the index of refraction and describe the behavior of refracted light
 Apply Snell’s law to the solution of problems
 Explain the concepts of critical angle and total internal reflection
 Demonstrate proficiency in the use of ray diagrams to find the image of an object using a converging and a diverging lens
and a combination of lenses
 Understand how lenses form real and virtual images
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems that use the lens equation to calculate the focal length of a lens, image
distance, image height, and the magnification
 Analyze simple situations in which the image formed by one lens serves as the object for another lens
Atomic and Nuclear Physics Learning Objectives:
 Describe Thomson and Millikan’s experiments related to the electron
 Discuss the basics of Planck’s hypothesis
 Define a photon and relate its energy to its frequency and/or wavelength
 Convert energy units: joules to electronvolts and vice versa
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving the energy of a photon and the conservation of momentum in
photon interactions
 Explain the characteristics of the photoelectric effect and define the terms “work function” and “threshold frequency”
 Given a graph of energy versus frequency, understand the meaning of the slope, the x-intercept, and the y-intercept
 Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving the calculation of the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons
 Understand the nature and production of X-rays
 Describe the results of the collision of an X-ray photon with an electron (Compton effect) and the results of the scattering
of X-rays from a crystal (Davisson–Germer experiment)
 Understand the dual nature of light and matter, and apply de Broglie’s equation to calculate the wavelength of a particle
 Describe how atomic spectra are produced
 Demonstrate proficiency in drawing and interpreting energy-level diagrams
 Calculate the energy absorbed or emitted by an atom when an electron moves to a higher or lower energy level
 Describe the structure and properties of the nucleus
 Apply Einstein’s equation of mass energy equivalence
 Calculate the mass defect and the total binding energy of the nucleus
 Understand the origin of the strong and weak nuclear forces
 Describe three types of radiation emitted in radioactivity: alpha decay, beta radiation and gamma radiation
 Understand how nuclear reactions are produced
 Define the following terms: threshold energy, chain reaction, and critical mass
 Explain the process of nuclear fission and the basic operation of a nuclear reactor
 Describe a chain reaction
 Explain the process of nuclear fusion and how magnetic and inertial confinements can provide thermonuclear power
Dear Parent/Guardian & Student,
Please read the syllabus and fill out the slip below to indicate that you have read this syllabus. Please discuss
the expectations and requirements of this course and note that you and your student can access the online
grade book at anytime to check their grade and work completed. Also, please complete the parent/guardian
contact information and return only this page by September 7th. Thank You!
We have read the syllabus, discussed expectation of this class and know that we can
access the online grade book at anytime. We understand that taking the AP Exam on
May 14, 2012 is a requirement of this course.
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