Download AP Physics syllabus-2013 - Phoenix Country Day School

Phoenix Country Day School
Advanced Placement Physics B-2013
Instructor: Mr. Michael Swingler
[email protected]
Course Description
Advanced Physics is a non-calculus approach to the principles of general physics. The
first semester (Fall) covers Newtonian mechanics with the second semester (spring)
covering Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics. Students will apply
mathematical concepts from Algebra I, Algebra II and trigonometry to problem
situations. The AP class adds to this material the concepts of Electricity, Magnetism,
Nuclear, modern physics and the review of all material from the Advanced physics class
(both semesters) and the AP class in order to prepare for taking the AP exam in the
Spring.
Prerequisite: Students taking this course need to have completed Algebra
II/Trigonometry or be taking Pre-calculus.
Course Objectives:
Upon completing this class students will be able to;
1) Effectively communicate qualitative and quantitative information orally and in writing.
(I-X)
2) Explain the application of fundamental physical principles to various physical
phenomena. (I-X)
3) Apply appropriate problem-solving techniques to practical, rigorous and
meaningful problems using graphical, mathematical, and written modeling tools. (I-X)
4) Work effectively in collaborative groups. (I-X)
5) Where: I = Linear Motion
II = Non-linear Motion
III = Force & Momentum
IV = Work, Energy Storage and Transfer
V = Properties of Matter
VI = Electromagnetism
VII = Geometric Optics
VIII = Electric fields and circuits
IX = Magnetism
X = Nuclear & Modern Physics
Prerequisite: Students taking this course need to have completed Algebra
II/Trigonometry or be taking Pre-calculus.
Text: College Physics, 9th edition, Volume 1, 2012 by Raymond Serway and Chris Vuille.
Text ISBN 9780840068484
I-Book ISBN 9781133386148
Materials: You will need the text, paper, pencil and a scientific calculator for this
course. Desired calculator functions include logarithms, exponentials, and trigonometry.
Bring these items with you to every class and laboratory session.
Grades:
The semester grade (pre-final exam) is calculated on a total points basis. Tests (100
points each), quizzes (20 points each), laboratory reports (15-25 points each) and
homework checks (5 points each) will make up the sources of the points. Tests and
quizzes will comprise the bulk of the points. The final exam each semester will count as
25% of the final semester average.
Homework
Physics is a problem solving class. The only to master the material is by working
problems. The more problems you solve the better you will get at the process.
Laboratory
Labs are hands on experiences. Vernier Lab interfaces are used in roughly a third of the
lab investigations. Labs quite often are presented with open questions such as “Using the
equipment you are given and crushed ice find the Latent heat of fusion of water”.
Students are required to keep a lab notebook containing all of their experiments. The lab
write up contains the Lab objective, materials, hypothesis, data, graphs, calculations,
error analysis and a conclusion. Each student will need a 3 ring loose-leaf notebook in
which to keep finished lab reports.
New Topics Covered
I. STATIC ELECTRICITY
A) Coulombs Law
B) Law of charges
C) charging by induction
D) pith balls/electroscope/coulomb
E) electric fields-direction
F) electric field lines
G) capacitors
H) Millikan Experiment
I) fields inside conductors
II. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY, VOLTAGE & CAPACITORS
A) Define voltage and electric potential energy
B) Differentiate between point charges and constant field situations
C) Equipotential surfaces
D) Conservation of energy-KE to U, U to KE
E) Electron volt
F) Capacitance definition
G) Structure of capacitor
H) Energy of capacitor
I) Series and parallel capacitors
III. DC CIRCUITS
A) Concept of electric current
B) Short/complete circuit
C) Ohms Law
D) Resistance
E) Resistance of a wire/coefficient of resistivity
F) Power in electric circuits
G) Series circuits
H) Parallel circuits
I) Series-parallel circuits
J) Kirchhoff’s laws
K) Network circuits
L) Analyze and solve all circuits for Drops, currents, power and equivalent
circuits
M) Concepts behind amp and volt meter/use to use in circuits.
IV. MAGNETISM
A) Magnets, the earth’s magnetic field, magnetic field lines/Tesla
B) Magnetic force on moving charge
C) Right hand rule
D) Vector cross products
E) Force on current carrying wire
F) Mass spectrometer
G) Magnetic field produced by a current carrying wire Biot & Savat Law
H) Loops of wire /solenoids/toroids
I) Induced voltage
J) Electric motors/electric generators
K) Magnetic Flux
UNIT FIVE-NUCLEAR & ATOMIC PHYSICS
I. ATOMIC
A) Dual nature of light.
B) How atomic spectra produces
C) Electron energy level diagrams
D) Calculate wavelength of photon emissions in electron transitions
E) DeBroglie wavelengths
F) Compton effect
G) X-ray production
H) Threshold Frequency, stopping potential & work function
II. NUCLEAR
A) Size and structure of nucleus.
B) Mass defect & binding energy
C) E = mc2
D) Types of radiation: alpha, beta and gamma
E) Half life, decay constant & nuclear activity
F) Nuclear equations
G) Chain reaction, critical mass & nuclear pile
H) Megatons
I) Nuclear reactors and fission process
J) Nuclear fusion and containment