Download AP® Physics B – Syllabus #2

AP Physics B /ECE
School code: 070756
Course Overview
The AP class has run since it was first offered in 1994 and has evolved to include covering AP C
topics and as of the fall of 2005 part of the University of Connecticut Early College Experience.
Classes meet for forty two minutes, eight times a week for the entire school year. Students who
elect to register for the UCONN ECE program can receive credit from the University of
Connecticut for Physics 1201Q and 1202Q. The AP/UCONN ECE course is designed as a
second year course and virtually all the students enrolled have already taken Honors Physics. The
UCONN syllabus and the AP B syllabus are very similar. Topics that are UCONN ECE specific
are covered after the AP exam. Although this course is officially considered a non–calculus
course many of the concepts are presented using calculus. In Mechanics almost all of the AP C
topics are covered. Each year a few students elect to take the AP Physics C exam instead of the B
exam. Students that elect to take either or both AP C exams must have taken AP Calculus AB,
and most concurrently take Calculus BC. The Calculus teacher includes the solution of
differential equations and other Physics C specific math in Calculus class. Students interested in
taking the E&M exam are given independent assignments to fill in the few gaps in the
curriculum. Students have been very successful with this arrangement with everyone having
received a 3 or better on the AP C Mechanics and or E&M exam.
The syllabus that we use for the course is based on the 38 page course objectives from The
Teacher’s Guide to Advanced Placement Courses in Physics by Naomi Martin which was issued
by the College Board in the 1980’s. The syllabus has been modified to reflect the most recent
course description including a new unit on Fluids and changes in Special Relativity.
Homework is assigned almost every night. Homework problems are taken from the text book
along with past AP Physics B and C released exam questions. Test questions are normally past
AP C and B released free response questions. Released AP multiple choice questions ( B&C ) are
included as part of review assignments prior to the AP exams.
The objective of the course is to have students develop skills and intuition to be able to
understand physics problems, and along with mathematical reasoning, to be able to solve college
level physics problems. The lab experiments parallel and support the core concepts of the course
curriculum. The lab component is intended to provide students with the analytical skills required
for the analysis of physical phenomenon.
The course is focused on developing conceptual understanding and intuition about the physical
world. As the course progresses through the year multi-conceptual problems are the norm.
All homework is reviewed the next day. Labs are done at a time to best reinforce the
relationships and concepts currently being studied. Informal assessment of understanding is done
on a daily basis. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on the concepts and method of
solution or analysis, and less on the actual final product or answer.
Textbook
Primary textbook:
Serway/Faughn (2006). College Physics, 7th ed. 10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA.:
Thomson Brooks/Cole. ISBN 0-534-99723-6
Reference textbook:
Serway/Jewett (2004). College Physics, 6th ed. 10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA.:
Thomson Brooks/Cole. ISBN 0-534-40842-7
Course Outline
* Indicates AP C topic which is included in the course but requires additional
independent study if the student is to take the AP C exam.
INTRODUCTION
(½ week)
A. Data collection and analysis
I. NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Kinematics
(2 weeks)
A. Motion in One Dimension
1. Position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs
2. Equations of motion under constant acceleration
3. Free fall
B. Motion in Two Dimensions
1. Projectiles
2. Vector addition
a. Graphical methods
b. Algebraic methods
Newton’s Laws
(1.5 weeks)
A. Static Equilibrium (First Law)
1. First Condition – translational equilibrium
2. Second Condition – rotational equilibrium (torque)
B. Dynamics of a Single Body (Second Law)
C. Systems of Two or More Bodies (Third Law)
D. Applications
1. Inclined planes
2. Atwood’s machines and their modifications
3. Static and kinetic friction
Work, and Energy
(1.5 weeks)
A. Work and Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
B Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
1. Gravity
2. Springs
C. Conservation of Mechanical Energy
D. Power
Systems of particles, Linear momentum
(1.5 weeks)
A. Impulse = change in momentum
B. Center of mass
C. Conservation of Linear Momentum and Collisions
1. Inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions
2. Two-dimensional collisions
D. Conservation of Angular Momentum (for a point mass)
Circular Motion and Gravity
( 1.5 weeks )
A. Centripetal acceleration
B. Gravitation
C. Applications
1. Keplers Laws
2. Horizontal and vertical circles
3. Planetary motion
Rotation
( 2 weeks )
A. Rotational Kinematics
1. Angular and linear quantities
B. Rotational Dynamics
1. Torque and angular acceleration
2. Moment of inertia
3. Conservation of energy with rotational motion
4. Conservation of angular momentum
Waves
( 1 week )
A. Description and characteristics of waves
B. Standing waves and harmonics
1. Waves on a string
2. Waves in a tube (open and closed)
3. The Doppler Effect (in one dimension)
4. Sound intensity, power and relative sound intensity
Simple Harmonic Motion
A. Period of Springs and Pendulums
B. Energy and SHM
C. Acceleration and velocity as function of displacement
D. Position, velocity, and acceleration as function of time
( 1.5 weeks )
Fluid Mechanics
(2 weeks)
A. Density and pressure
1. Density and specific gravity
2. Pressure as a function of depth
3. Pascal’s Law
B. Buoyancy – Archimedes’ Principle
C. Fluid flow continuity
D. Bernoulli's equation
E. Applications in fluid mechanics
Thermal Physics
(3 weeks)
A. Temperature and Thermal Effects
1. Mechanical equivalent of heat
2. Heat transfer and thermal expansion
a. linear expansion of solids
b. volume expansion of solids and liquids
3. Calorimetry
B. Kinetic Theory, Ideal Gases & Gas Laws
C. Thermodynamics
1. Processes and PV diagrams
a. isothermal
b. isobaric
c. isometric
d. adiabatic
e. cyclic
2. First Law of Thermodynamics
a. Internal energy
b. Energy conservation
c. Molar heat capacity of a gas
3. Second Law of Thermodynamics
a. Directions of processes
b. Entropy
4. Heat Engines and Refrigerators
Semester II
ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
Electrostatics
(3 weeks)
A. Coulomb’s Law
B. Electric Fields and Gauss’ Law*
C. Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential
E. Capacitance
1. Graphical description of capacitance
a. area – charge stored
2. Capacitors in series and parallel
D. Applications
1. Point charge distributions
2. Parallel plates
3. Cathode ray tubes
4. Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
Current Electricity
(2.5 weeks)
A. Electric Circuits
1. Emf sources, Current, Resistance and Power
2. DC circuits
a. Series and parallel circuits
b. Batteries and internal resistance
c. Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s rules
d. Voltmeters and ammeters
e. Capacitors in circuits (RC circuits)
3. Applications
Electromagnetism
( 3.5 weeks)
A. Magnetostatics
1. Force of a magnetic field on a moving charge
2. Force of a magnetic field on a current carrying wire
3. Torque on a current carrying loop
4. Magnetic fields due to straight and coiled wires
5. Ampere’s Law
*
B. Electromagnetic Induction
1. Magnetic flux
2. Faraday’s Law
3. Lenz’s Law
4. Inductance *
C. Applications
1. Mass spectrometers
2. Motors
3. Generators
OPTICS
( 2.5 weeks )
A. Geometric Optics
1. Reflection, Refraction and Snell’s Law
a. Reflection and refraction at a plane surface
b. Total internal reflection
2. Images formed by mirrors
3. Images formed by lenses
4. Ray Diagrams and the thin lens/mirror equation
B. Physical Optics
1. The electromagnetic spectrum
2. Interference and path difference
3. Interference effects
a. Single slit
b. Double slit
c. Diffraction grating
d. Thin film
Modern Physics
(2.5 weeks)
A. Atomic Physics and Quantum Effects
1. Photons and the Photoelectric effect
2. X-ray production
3. Electron energy levels
4. Compton scattering
5. Wave nature of matter
B. Nuclear Physics
1. Atomic mass, mass number, atomic number
2. Mass defect and nuclear binding energy
3. Nuclear processes
a. modes of radioactive decay (α, β, γ)
b. fission
c. fusion
4. Mass-Energy Equivalence and Conservation of Mass and Energy
Labs
Because virtually all of the students in the AP course have taken Honors Physics, a point is made
to not repeat lab experiments that students have already completed and understand. Labs are
generally open-ended. Students are given an objective or task, and they work as a group to
complete the task or goal. The use of the scientific method is often incorporated in the lab design.
Ultimately most of the lab experimental designs lead to the collection of data which is analyzed
through graphical methods. Many labs include the use of Pasco hardware and software or Calculator
Based Lab modules with TI graphing calculators to collect and analyze data. Most labs use more
traditional methods of collecting and analyzing data. Students work in groups during labs, but each
student must submit their own lab report. Group projects require only one lab report submission per
group, but require a presentation to the class. Students keep their lab reports in case the college of their
choice requires evidence prior to awarding college credit for physics.
Lab List
Study area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
Fluids
Mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics
E&M
E&M
E&M
E&M
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
E&M
E&M
E&M
Optics
Waves
Modern
Fluids
Fluids
Specific Topic
Measurement
Kinematics
Dynamics
Circular motion
Energy
Energy
Momentum
Momentum
Rotation
Fluid static’s
Static’s
SHM
Electrostatics
Capacitance
DC circuits
DC circuits
DC Circuits
Magnetism
Magnetism
Lenses
Interference
Energy levels
Fluid Dynamics
Fluid Dynamics
Lab Title
Measurement and Analysis
The Great Graphing Race
The Atwood Machine
Centripetal Force
Changes in Potential Energy
Conservation of energy with a projectile
Impulse = change in momentum
Conservation of momentum in two dimensions
Moment of Inertia
Archimedes’ Principle
Equilibrium of a rigid body
Simple Harmonic Motion
Projectile Launcher Project
The Electric Field
Capacitance
Electric circuits
The Wheatstone Bridge and specific
Resistance
Voltmeter and Ammeter design
Magnetic Field Around a Coil
Mass of an Electron (Tuning Eye)
Combination of Lenses
Double-slit Interference
Spectral
Laminar Fluid Flow and drag force
Turbulent Fluid Flow and drag force
Type
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Time(min
60
90
90
60
60
60
60
60
90
45
60
60
120
60
75
60
60
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45
60
45
60
45
45
45
45