Download Physics Honors and AP Syllabus

AP Physics B
Textbook: Physics: Principle with Applications
Sixth Edition by Douglas C. Giancoli
The Advance Placement Physics B is an algebra-based
course that is equivalent to an introductory college physics class. Objectives and
standards are designed by the College Board. The first semester is labeled
Honors Physics and the second semester AP Physics B. The emphasis in the
two semesters is on understanding of the five major content areas of physics
(listed below) and skills at using the concepts and formula to solve problems. In
addition to these lecture topics, laboratory skills are also an integral part of the
two semesters in preparation for the exam. Students are influenced to not focus
on memorization as much as understanding the application of the knowledge.
1- Newtonian Mechanics
2- Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics
3- Electricity and Magnetism
4- Waves and Optics
5- Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Grading Policy:
Assessment- 40%
Unit assessments consist of
Tests made up of
o Multiple-choice questions
o Free-response problems
o Challenge problems of difficult concepts
Assessments are also used to prepare students for the taking of the AP exam.
Students are allowed to use calculators to take the test. Test question format
models the AP test to further train student in test-taking skills.
Lab-based questions from activities, laboratories, or simulations
conducted during the unit.
Major projects on chosen content for more detailed research
Laboratories- 20%
Labs are conducted during class time and completed at home. The
students set up the apparatus, gather data, construct tables and graphs, analyze
results and make conclusions for every lab. Labs are maintained in the students’
notebook for future reference. Labs can be either structured, open-ended,
inquiry, or computer simulations. TI-83s and CBL materials are utilized when
possible, but most labs are conducted with equipment and technology is
available for graphing/tabulating results. Students are actively engaged in
practicing and processing what they learn within the context of varied real-life
situations, performing authentic tasks to gain an understanding of how the
information applies in everyday life. Labs are designed to help students explore,
test, and seek their own answers, often with the help of learning partners or small
groups. Students learn teamwork and cooperation by working together to solve
problems. In the process, they can develop tolerance toward others through
developing the skills required for coping with a real life filled with human diversity.
Thus, an experience-rich education can provide students with esteem-building
experiences to enable them to act as independent, contributing citizens.
Class work/Homework- 25%
Assignments labeled class work/homework are problems or content that
do not involve lab equipment but focus on content. The work could be
supplemental problems, review of material or application of real-life situations.
Through class work/homework assignments, new knowledge and new units of
study are deliberately and specifically connected with students’ prior knowledge
or past learning so that the new learning builds on prior experience.
Notebook/ Journals- 15%
Student notebooks are mandatory and graded for completion and
accuracy in the following areas:
Journals- This is a question written on the board as students come into
classroom to review material from last class. This enables instructor to
help students individually and small groups to work together on content to
get a better understanding. Students are encouraged to reflect on their
work and future questions they would need to know.
Lab Reports- Lab reports are graded and maintained to allow for future
reference and review of material. Students may also need lab notebook to
supply evidence to their college of choice.
Notes- Lecture is approximately 20 minutes of note taking after journal
time and is mandatory for students to copy and interact during. Lecture
notes serve the students as supplemental material to their textbook.
Sample problems are normally worked through as a whole group to
provide students with an initial glimpse of topics. This can give them
confidence to battle problems individually later.
Course Timeline
The following timeline lists duration of lesson and percentages given by
college board for the Advanced Placement Exam.
I. Newtonian Mechanics ( 35%)
10 WEEKS
A. Kinematics (7%) (including vectors, vector algebra and components,
coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, and acceleration)
1. Motion in one dimension
2. Motion in two dimensions, projectile motion
B. Newton’s laws of motion (9%)
1. Static equilibrium (First law)
2. Dynamics of a single particle (Second law)
3. Systems of two or more bodies (Third law)
C. Work, energy, power (5%)
1. Work and work-energy theorem
2. Conservative forces and potential energy
3. Conservation of energy
4. Power
D. Systems of particles, linear momentum (4%)
1. Center of mass
2. Impulse and momentum
3. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions
E. Circular motion and rotation (4%)
1. Uniform circular motion
2. Torque and rotational statics
F. Oscillations and gravitation (6%)
1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships)
2. Mass on a spring
3. Pendulum and other oscillations
4. Newton’s law of gravity
5. Orbits of planets and satellites
a. Circular
II. Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics (15%) 4 WEEKS
A. Fluid Mechanics (6%)
1. Hydrostatic pressure
2. Buoyancy
3. Fluid flow continuity
4. Bernoulli’s equation
B. Temperature and heat (2%)
1. Mechanical equivalent of heat
2. Heat Transfer and thermal expansion
C. Kinetic theory and thermodynamics (7%)
1. Ideal gases
a. Kinetic model
b. Ideal gas law
2. Laws of thermodynamics
a. First law (including processes on pV diagrams)
b. Second law (including heat engines)
III. Electricity and Magnetism (25%)
8 WEEKS
A. Electrostatics (5%)
1. Charge, field, and potential
2. Coulomb’s law and field and potential of point charges
3. Fields and potentials of other charge distributions
B. Conductors and capacitors (4%)
1. Electrostatics with conductors
2. Capacitors
a. Parallel plate
C. Electric circuits (7%)
1. Current, resistance, power
2. Steady-state direct current circuits
3. Capacitors in circuits
D. Magnetic Fields (4%)
1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields
2. Forces on current-carrying wires in magnetic fields
3. Fields of long current-carrying wires
E. Electromagnetism (5%)
1. Electromagnetic induction (including Faraday's law
and Lenz's law)
IV. Waves and Optics (15%)
4 WEEKS
A. Wave motion (including sound) (5%)
1. Properties of traveling waves
2. Properties of standing waves
3. Doppler effect
4. Superposition
B. Physical optics (5%)
1. Interference and diffraction
2. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum
C. Geometric optics (5%)
1. Reflection and refraction
2. Mirrors
3. Lenses
V. Atomic and Nuclear Physics (10%)
2 WEEKS
A. Atomic physics and quantum effects (7%)
1. Photons, the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, x-rays
2. Atomic energy levels
3. Wave-particle duality
B. Nuclear physics (3%)
1. Nuclear reactions
2. Mass-energy equivalence
Laboratory
The laboratory experience can enrich and supplement lecture. The
following is a list of labs conducted throughout both semesters of physics class
and the objectives focused on.
Area of study
Lab Title
Objectives
Strategy/ Time
Mechanics
First Day Activities
Review of process skills
Inquiry
* scientific notation
Student hands on
* dimensional analysis
* accuracy/precision
Time: 90m
*trigonometry skills
* measuring/unit conversions
Kinematics
Kinematics
Graphical Interpretation of
To analyze the motion of objects moving
Velocity/Speed Activity
at constant speed and at uniform
CBL/technology
accelerated motion.
Time: 45m
Acceleration Due to
To determine the acceleration due to
Guided
Gravity
gravity
Student hands on
Technology
Time: 45m
Kinematics
Vector Resolution
To compare the experimental value of a
Inquiry outside
resultant of several vectors to values
Student hands on
obtained through graphical and analytical
methods.
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Projectile Motion
To determine the initial velocity of a
Student hands on
projectile and the angle at which the
Kinematics
Hole in One
maximum range can be attained.
Time: 45m
To determine factors that affect projectile
Computer simulation
motion
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Force Table
To determine/compare experimental value Inquiry
of a resultant of several force vectors.
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Atwood’s Machine
To determine the acceleration of a system
Guided
and the tension in the string
Student hands on
Technology
Time: 45m
Kinematics
Friction Lab
To determine static/kinetic coefficients of
Inquiry
friction using two different methods
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Kinematics
Centripetal Force
To determine the variables that influence
Inquiry
centripetal force
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Kinematics
Kepler’s Laws
To plot a planetary orbit and apply
Guided
Kepler’s Laws
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Hooke’s Law
To determine the spring constant of the
Open-ended
spring, the elevation of the extent to which
Student hands on
the change in PEg is equal to change in
Kinematics
Powerful Lab
Pee
Time: 45m
To determine your personal power output
Inquiry
and power, estimated cost of common
Student hands on
appliances
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Rollercoaster Project
To determine conservation of energy and
momentum.
Student hands on
To analyze frictional/dissipative forces on
Time: 180m
motion
Kinematics
Conservation of
To investigate the conservation of
Guided
Momentum
momentum for an elastic collision in two
Student hands on
dimensions
Time: 45m
Kinematics
Moments of Force
To use the principle of balanced torques
Inquiry
to find the value of an unknown mass
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Variable Inertia Lab
Investigate the effects mass and location
Inquiry
of mass have on rotational motion
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Kinematics
Bridge Project
Investigate the concepts of stress, strain,
Inquiry
tensile strength of building materials
Student hands on
Time: 180m
At home work with group
Fluids
Archimedes’ Principle- The
To determine the density of two unknown
Inquiry
Tip of the Iceberg
materials
Student hands on
Compare density of fresh and salt water
Time: 45m
Thermodynamics Coefficient of Linear
Expansion
To determine the coefficient of linear
Guided
expansion of two metal rods
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Thermodynamics Mystery Metal: Specific
Heat
To determine/compare the specific heat of
Guided
an unknown metal
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Thermodynamics Heat of Fusion Lab
To determine heat of fusion of ice
Guided
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Thermodynamics Discover Gas Laws
To determine the variables influencing
Teacher demos
development of gas laws
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Electricity and
Coulomb’s Law
Magnetism
To investigate the charge on two spherical Guided
pith balls
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Electricity and
Electric Fields
Magnetism
To map both the potentials and electric
Inquiry
fields around a system of two-
Student hands on
dimensional, charged conductors
Time: 30m
Electricity and
Ohm’s Law
Magnetism
To investigate the behavior of resistors in
Inquiry and guided
series, parallel, and combination circuits.
Student hands on
To verify Ohm’s Law using electrical
Electricity and
Magnetism
Magnetism
circuits
Time: 45m
To map magnetic field around bar magnet
Inquiry
and investigate magnetic effects on
Student hands on
compass
Time: 30m
Electricity and
The Capacitor
Magnetism
Investigate the relationship of the flow of
Guided
charge to time in a charging capacitor
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Electricity and
Ohm Sweet Ohm
Magnetism
To investigate the length/thickness of wire
Inquiry
as it relates to resistance
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Waves
Spectroscopy
To determine wavelength, frequency and
Guided
energy of photons of visible light from
Student hands on
spectroscopy
Time: 90m
Waves
Earthquakes
Investigate characteristics of waves using
Computer simulation
earthquake data locate and identify
Time:45m
Waves
Ripple Tank
Locate and identify epicenter, S and P
Inquiry
waves, and magnitudes wave properties:
Student hands on
reflection, refraction, diffraction and
Waves
Resonance
interference
Time:90m
Demonstrate resonance in an open tube
Inquiry
and determine the velocity of sound in air
Student hands on
Time: 30m
Simple Harmonic Pendulum
Test the effect of certain variables on the
Inquiry
Motion
period of a pendulum
Student hands on
Technology for graphical
analysis
Time:45m
Optics
Reflection
Use law of reflection to locate the image
Guided
formed by a mirror
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Optics
Snell’s Law
Determine the index of refraction of an
Inquiry
acrylic block
Student hands on
Time: 45m
Optics
Lenses
Investigate converging and diverging
Computer simulation
lenses and the images formed
Time: 30m
Modern
Photoelectric Effect
Collect data to create a graph that will
Computer simulation
allow you to find the value of Planck’s
constant for three different metals
Time: 60m
Review
As the AP Exam draws near, review consists of at least six morning AM
review sessions on the following concepts. The review sessions begin in April
after spring break and continue through until May exam date.
Motion, Forces and Equilibrium
Work, Energy and Power
Momentum and Projectiles
Heat, Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics
Electricity and Magnetism
Waves and Optics
o Nuclear and Atomic are not included in review due to being the last
topics covered in class.
The last month of in class review is made up of released AP exams.
Multiple-choice and free-response practice is given in class and graded
according to AP guidelines. Students self-evaluate their performance and focus
on the topics they are weakest in.
Review problems are assigned over winter and spring breaks to keep
students active and learning throughout the year.