Download AP Physics B Syllabus

AP Physics 1 Outline
Justification:
Many colleges and universities offer credit to incoming freshmen who have received a 3 or higher on
AP exams. Students at Palisades currently have opportunities to receive college science credit in
Biology and Chemistry. Adding AP Physics is the next step in offering a full range of AP science
courses at Palisades.
Textbooks:
Primary Textbook:
Giancoli, Douglas C. 2005. Physics: Principles with Applications, 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-035257-8
Secondary Resource: (Recommended Student Purchase)
Leduc, Steven. Cracking the AP Physics 1 Exam (latest edition): New York, NY. The Princeton
Review. ISBN # (Changes)
About the AP Physics 1 Course:
The Advance Placement Physics 1 is an algebra-based course in general physics. The syllabus is adapted
from the College Board AP Physics 1 syllabi. It is equivalent to an introductory algebra-based university
level physics course. This is a first year physics course. The emphasis in the course is on understanding
of the concepts and skills and using the concepts and formulae to solve problems. Laboratory work will
be covered as an integral part of this course.
Classes meet at minimum 5 days per week for 90 minutes each day for 1 semester. About once each
week or 25% of the course will be devoted to laboratory activities. Homework is assigned daily. The
course utilizes guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical
thinking skills.
Evaluation:
Tests and Quizzes 40%
Homework 35%
Labs 25%
Topics:
INTRODUCTION
Unit 1: Math and Data Review (1.0 weeks)
Algebra review
Scientific notation, precision, accuracy
Units review and dimensional analysis
Data collection and measurement
Vectors
NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Unit 2: Kinematics (3.5 weeks)
Motion in One Dimension
Position-time and velocity-time graphs
Equations of motion under constant acceleration
Motion in Two Dimensions
Relative Velocity
Projectiles
Circular motion
Unit 3: Newton’s Laws (3.0 weeks)
Static Equilibrium (First Law)
First Condition – translational equilibrium
Free Body Diagrams
Dynamics of a Single Body (Second Law)
Friction as a Force
Systems of Two or More Bodies (Third Law)
Circular Motion
Centripetal Force & Acceleration
Gravitation
Applications
Inclined planes
Atwood’s machines and their modifications
Static and kinetic friction
Horizontal and vertical circles
Planetary motion
Unit 4: Work, Energy, Power & Momentum (2.5 weeks)
Work and Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
Gravity
Springs
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Power
Momentum
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Conservation of Linear Momentum and Collisions
Inelastic, completely inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions
Two-dimensional collisions
Unit 5: Torque, Rotation, & Equilibrium (2.0 Weeks)
See Saw
Wheel & Axel
Static Equilibrium
Second Condition – rotational equilibrium (torque)
Rotational Kinematics
Rotational Dynamics
Conservation of Angular Momentum
SHM, WAVES, SOUND
Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion (1.5 weeks)
Simple Harmonic Motion
Springs and Pendulums
Energies of SHM
SHM frequency and period
SHM Position functions
Unit 7: Wave motion and Sound (1.5 weeks)
Description and characteristics of waves
Standing waves and harmonics
Waves on a string
Waves in a tube (open and closed)
The Doppler Effect (in one dimension)
Sound intensity, power and relative sound intensity
Musical applications
Interference and path difference
Interference effects
ELECTRICITY & SIMPLE CIRCUITS
Unit 8: Electrostatics (1.0 weeks)
Coulomb’s Law
Electric Fields
Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential
Applications
Point charge distributions
Parallel plates
Cathode ray tubes
Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
Condensers, uninterruptible power supplies, tone controls
Unit 9: Current Electricity (1.0 weeks)
Electric Circuits
Emf, Current, Resistance and Power
DC circuits
Series and parallel circuits
Batteries and internal resistance
Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s rules
Voltmeters and ammeters
Resistors and Lamps in circuits
Applications
Laboratory:
All lab experiments are “hands-on” activities. Students will be required to keep a lab notebook
containing all of their lab reports in order to provide evidence to colleges. The report should include the
following:
Problem Statement
Hypothesis
Design
Procedure
Materials
Variables
Data – includes any necessary equations and calculations
Conclusion- based upon hypothesis, includes error analysis
Lab experiments:
1. Indirect measurement of inaccessible heights and distances
2. Areas, Volumes, and densities of given solids and liquids
3. Constant Velocity of a buggy- Tracker Video Analysis
4. Acceleration of a cart hanging mass system- Sonic Range Finder
5. Determination of acceleration due to gravity- Tracker Video Analysis
6. Projectile Motion Launcher – Relationship between θ and Range
7. Elastic Force in Ideal Springs & Rubber Bands – Nonlinear spring
8. Sliding Friction Block- Coefficient of kinetic friction
9. Inclined Plane – Coefficient of static friction
10. Uniform Circular Motion – Relationships between hanging mass, spinning mass, Fc and r
11. Conservation of Mechanical Energy Spring-mass system – Air Track
12. Conservation of Linear Momentum – Air Track
13. Rotational Inertia- Rolling Hoops and Discs
14. Torque- Fulcrum Balance
15. Torque- Rotational Acceleration of a Disc
16. Simple Pendulum - Photogate timer
17. Waves- Standing Waves on a String
18. Waves- Determining the speed of sound
19. Electrostatics- Investigations with positive and negative charges.
20. Electrostatics- Investigation with the Van de Graff generator
21. Electrostatics- Mapping Electric Fields I: Plotting equipotential and field lines
22. Circuits- Ohm’s Law and Internal Resistance
23. Circuits- Resistors in Series and Parallel
At appropriate points in the course, each of the above laboratory investigations will be presented to the
students in the form of a problem. Very often a demonstration of a physical phenomenon will be
presented to the class and an explanation of the event will be requested. Students will be encouraged to
discuss, confer, and debate about possible solutions to the problem – to form hypotheses. In the course
of this discussion, they are to identify the variables that are at work in the phenomenon and then to
decide how those variables may be manipulated given the available equipment and time. They are then
to develop ways of isolating and manipulating these variables so as to test their hypotheses – to design
an experiment. Groups of students may be formed to test different variables. Observations and,
whenever possible, measured data will be taken from these tests. Results will be presented to the class
and judgments will be made as to what conclusions can be drawn from the data, including possible
experimental errors and how the experiment could be improved or expanded. Lastly, the students will be
presented with the modern, “accepted” explanation or “expected” result. The students are then to discuss
possible reasons for their variation from the expected result (error analysis).