Download AP Physics C Syllabus

AP Physics C
New Century Technology H.S Room 214
2016-2017
Course Description:
This year-long science course offers students a college-level, calculus based introduction into
Physics. This course focuses on two main content areas, each taking up one semester of the
course. The first semester is titled AP Physics C: Mechanics, and focuses on the ideas of motion
and forces among other things. The second semester is titled AP Physics C: Electricity and
Magnetism, and gives students a chance to explore the ideas of electrostatics and circuits along
with several other topics.
Instructor:
Mark Cromer
Room 214
[email protected]
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns!
Appointments/conferences can be scheduled after contact via email.
Textbook:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach – Randall D. Knight
Course Overview:
The following overview gives students an idea of the topics we will be discussing during the
length of the course. It is divided into two sections, one for each semester.
AP Physics C: Mechanics Overview:
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Kinematics
o One- and Two-dimensional Motion
Newton’s Laws of Motion
o Static Equilibrium, Dynamics, and Multi-object systems
Work, Energy and Power
o Work and work-energy theorem
o Forces and Potential Energy
o Conservation of Energy
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o Power
System of Particles and Linear Momentum
o Center of Mass, Impulse and Momentum, and Conservation of Momentum
Circular Motion and Rotation
o Uniform circular motion
o Torque
Oscillations and Gravitation
o Simple Harmonic Motion
o Springs
o Pendulums
o Orbit of Planets
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
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Electrostatics
o Charge and Coulomb’s Law
o Electrical Fields/Electric Potential
Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics
Electric Circuits
o Current, resistance, power
o Circuits with batteries and resistors
o Circuits with capacitors
Magnetic Fields
o Forces on moving charges
o Forces on wires with current
o Fields of long current- carrying wires
o Biot-Savart law and Ampere’s law
Electromagnetism
o Electromagnetic induction
o Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law
o Inductance
o Maxwell Equations
Assessment:
The following percentages will be assigned to each type of assignment given in the class:
Tests/Major Assignments – 60%
Classwork/Homework (including Labs & Quizzes) – 40%
MasteringPhysics:
This course will use the MasteringPhysics platform to assign students homework. This platform
can be accessed by going to www.masteringphysics.com. MasteringPhysics was developed to
follow alongside with the textbook for this course and gives students immediate help and
feedback when solving Physics problems. Students will be given access codes and will conduct
an introductory activity in class to better understand how this platform works.
Expectations:
The AP Physics C course and exam is challenging and aims to prepare students for the rigor of a
college level science course. Students are expected to be on time and prepared for class every
day. In addition, students are expected to complete any assigned readings and homework
before it is due in class. Students are expected to participate in class discussions and lab
experiments. Students should be prepared to work plenty of physics problems, as this is the
only way to master the techniques they will be tested on for the AP exam.
Suggested Materials:
Physics is in many ways a math course disguised as science. Students should expect to work
many Algebra-based physics problems in order to be successful in the class. It is advised for
students to bring to class with them their school assigned Laptops (loaded with the textbook)
and a notebook and pen/pencil (for note taking and problem-working). It is also strongly
advised that students bring with them a scientific or graphing calculator. Cell phones may be
permitted to be used as calculators during regular class periods but WILL NOT be permitted for
use during tests. The calculator a student chooses to use in class should be the SAME calculator
they use for the AP exam!
About the AP Exam:
There are two AP exams for this course, and students will be expected to take either of the
exams or both at the end of the year. The exams are broken up the same way as the course is.
There is an AP Physics C: Mechanics exam and an AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam.
Each AP Physics C exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes long and is divided equally between a multiple
choice section and a free response section. The multiple choice section consists of 35 multiple
choice questions. The free response section usually consists of 3 free response questions, but
there could be more.
Saturday Study Sessions:
Saturday Study Sessions have been scheduled by Huntsville City Schools to help students
prepare for the AP Exam. These sessions are all scheduled for the Spring Semester and will
occur on the following dates:
Science [AP Biology / AP Chemistry / AP Physics / AP Environmental Science]
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Sat. 02/04/17—1st Prep Session
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Sat. 03/04/17—Mock Exam
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Sat. 04/01/17—2nd Prep Session