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AP Physics 2
Course Overview
AP Physics 2 is a year long class taken Sophomore, Junior or Senior year.. Each class
meets every day for 55 minutes over 170 days. The class's curriculum is designed to
cover all the required topics of the AP Curriculum and to do applied physics projects,
utilize cooperative learning groups and allow students to investigate a variety of concepts
in the manner that best suits them. The course focuses on the interconnections between
the various strands and units contained in the course syllabus and how each contributes
to the “Big Ideas” that provide a core foundation for this science course. Problem solving
techniques and strategies are fine tuned throughout the year, and students are
continually tasked with connecting physics applications learned in different units in order
to synthesize solutions to complex problems.
The course textbook was specifically chosen due to its focus on key underlying principles
and modeling of physics phenomena in a manner similar to the “Big Ideas”. Course Text:
Knight, Randall D., Jones, Brian, and Field Stuart. 2010. College Physics: A Strategic
Approach. 2nd Edition. Pearson Addison-Wesley. San Francisco.
Course goals include developing each student's intuition, creativity and investigative
abilities. Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop critical thinking and
reasoning skills. Students have the opportunity to meet the learning objectives in a
variety of ways andto apply their knowledge to real world experiences and societal issues.
Instructional time involves a variety of student-centered activities. Students have the
opportunity to work cooperatively to solve challenging problems and to present their
solutions to the class. Throughout the year connections to the world are explored in
discussions, group projects, and class demonstrations. Laboratory work, described below,
offers frequent opportunities to work cooperatively, explore ideas, and present
information. Outside of class students read the assigned text and complete homework
assignments that support and reinforce each lesson as well as what has been learned in
the laboratory setting. Unit exams take place at the end of each block of instruction
Students spend 25% of the instructional time engaged in laboratory work and Engineering
design projects. Experiments designed by the instructor are used to demonstrate
procedural guidelines and to learn how to use specific laboratory equipment. The majority
of labs are inquiry- based where students are given an objective and a set of materials.
They are tasked with designing a procedure and collecting data to determine specific
quantities, determine the relationship between variables, and/or to derive fundamental
physics equations. Laboratory design, experimentation, data gathering, data presentation,
analysis, drawing conclusions, and experimental error analysis are elements in these lab
activities.
AP Physics 2 Course Outline
– All Chapters refer to Knight, Jones, Field “College Physics: A Strategic Approach”
Thermal Physics
Unit 1: Thermodynamics - Chapter 11 and 12 - 7 Problem sets
A. Kinetic Molecular Theory
B. Expansion of solids
C. Gas Laws
D. Conservation of Thermal Energy - Calorimetry
E. Specific heat
F. Entropy
G. Heat Engines
H. Application: Design an energy producing system for a small town.
Solids and Fluids
Unit 2: Fluid Mechanics - Chapter 13 – 5 Problem sets
A. Deformation of Solids
B. Density and Pressure
C. Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle
D. Fluid flow and Bernoulli’s equation
E. Hydraulic Activity
Electricity and Magnetism
Unit 3: Static Electricity - Chapter 20 & 21- 3 problem sets
A. Coulomb's Law
B. Electric Fields and Intensity
C. Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy
Unit 4 : RC Circuits - Chapters 21 & 23 – 6 Problem sets
A. Capacitors
B. RC Circuits
Unit 5 : Magnetic Inductance – Chapter 25 – 4 Problem sets
A. Magnetic Flux
B. Faraday’s Law
C. Lenz’s Law
D. Self-Inductance
E. Inductance Invention
Electro-Magnetic Waves
Unit 6: Reflection & Refraction of Light – Chapter 18 – 3 Problem Sets
A. Huygens’ Principle
B. Law of Reflection and Refraction
C. Total Internal Reflection
Unit 7: Lens & Mirrors – Chapter 18 & 19 – 3 Problem Sets
A. Images from Convex & Concave Mirrors
B. Images from Convex and Concave Lens
C. Application: Laser Shoot
Unit 8: Interference and Diffraction – Chapter 17 – 2 Problem Sets
A. Thin Film Interference
B. Double-Slit Interference
C. Single-Slit Interference
D. Diffraction
E. Polarization
Modern Physics
Unit 9: Special Relativity – Chapter 27 – 5 Problem Sets
A. Speed of Light
B. Consequences of Special Relativity
C. Relativistic Addition of Velocities
D. Relativistic Energy
Unit 10: Quantum Mechanics – Chapter 28 – 5 Problem Sets
A. Planck’s Hypothesis
B. Photoelectric Effect
C. Pair Production
D. Compton Scattering
E. Wave Properties of Particles
F. Uncertainty Principle
Unit 11: Nuclear Physics – Chapter 29 & 30 – 3 Problem sets
AP2 Physics Labs/Activities
1--Thermodynamics
Specific heat lab – Determine the Specific Heat of a material. Students will develop
and use a procedure of their own design.
Thermo demo lab – Describe and explain 6 demonstrations of various Thermodynamic
concepts
Keplersberg Project – Research and design an energy producing system for a small
town
2--Fluids and Solids
Deformation Lab – Determine the Youngs modulus for a rubber band.
Kiss the Floor Activity – Use the Youngs modulus for a rubber band to determine how
far a 5 Kg mass will hang off the floor.
Bernoulli Demo’s – Create and perform a demonstration of Bernoulli’s principle
Hydraulic Activity – Design and construct a device that utilizes hydraulics and
mechanical advantage to lift a 5 kg mass with a 1 kg mass.
3--Capacitance, RC Circuits and Inductance
Capacitance Lab – Investigate the behavior of capacitors in a simple RC Circuit
Magnetic Strength Lab – Develop and utilize a procedure to determine the magnetic
field strength of a bar magnet.
Research and Development – Create a device that can be used in everyday life that
utilizes magnetic induction.
4--E & M-Static – Energy of Electric Fields
Static lab – Investigate the behavior of different materials that create a static
charge.
5--Capacitance, RC Circuits
Capacitance Lab – Investigate the behavior of capacitors in a simple RC Circuit
6—Magnetic Inductance
Magnetic Strength Lab – Develop and utilize a procedure to determine the magnetic
field strength of a bar magnet.
Research and Development – Create a device that can be used in everyday life that
utilizes magnetic induction.
7--Reflection and Refraction of Light
Color Lab – Investigate the addition and subtraction of light as it relates to color.
Ray Box Lab – Investigate the behavior of light as it moves off and through various
objects.
8--Lens and Mirrors
Laser Shoot – Design and construct a setup that will pass a laser beam through various
optical devices and hit a target.
9--Interference and Diffraction of Light
Soap Bubble Lab – Use thin film interference to determine the thickness of a soap
bubble.
Cellphones and Popcorn – Discrepant event, explain how a cell phone can pop corn.
Laser Lab – Use a diffraction grating to determine the wavelength of a red laser.
10--Special Relativity
Rellabs – Conduct 4 different experiments with a computer program designed to
investigate the effects of special relativity on moving objects.
11--Quantum Mechanics
Electron Diffraction Activity – Determine the physical characteristics of an experiment
that will show electrons behaving like waves.
Photo-Electric lab – Design an experiment to verify one of Einsteins assumptions
concerning the behavior of some materials electrons when hit with photons.
12—Nuclear Physics
Research Project – Students work in groups to research and present current nuclear
research that is occurring today.