Download AP Physics B Syllabus - Palisades School District

AP Physics B Outline
Justification:
Many colleges and universities offer credit to incoming freshmen who have received a 3 or higher on
AP exams. Students at Palisades High School 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 B Exam (latest edition): New York, NY. The Princeton
Review. ISBN 0375428925
About the AP Physics B Course:
The Advance Placement Physics B is an algebra-based course in general physics. The syllabus is
adapted from the College Board AP Physics B syllabi. It is equivalent to an introductory algebra-based
university level physics course. This is a second year physics course preceded by a Physics 1 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 20% 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 40%
Labs 20%
Topics:
INTRODUCTION
Unit 1: Math and Data Review (0.5 weeks)
Algebra review
Scientific notation, precision, accuracy
Units review and dimensional analysis
Data collection and measurement
Vectors
NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Unit 2: Kinematics (1.0 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 (1.5 weeks)
Static Equilibrium (First Law)
First Condition – translational equilibrium
Second Condition – rotational equilibrium (torque)
Dynamics of a Single Body (Second Law)
Systems of Two or More Bodies (Third Law)
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 (2.0 weeks)
Work and Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
Gravity
Springs
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Power
Simple Harmonic Motion
Springs and Pendulums
Energies of SHM
Momentum
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Conservation of Linear Momentum and Collisions
Inelastic, completely inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions
Two-dimensional collisions
Conservation of Angular Momentum (for a point mass)
FLUIDS MECHANICS & THERMAL PHYSICS
Unit 5: Fluid Mechanics (1.0 weeks)
Density and pressure
Density and specific gravity
Pressure as a function of depth
Pascal’s Law
Buoyancy – Archimedes’ Principle
Fluid flow continuity
Bernoulli's equation
Applications
Hydraulics
Effects of atmosphere
Flotation
Flight
Plumbing
Unit 6: Thermal Physics (2.0 weeks)
Temperature and Thermal Effects
Mechanical equivalent of heat
Heat transfer and thermal expansion
Linear expansion of solids
Volume expansion of solids and liquids
Calorimetry
Kinetic Theory, Ideal Gases & Gas Laws
Thermodynamics
Processes and PV diagrams
Isothermal
Isobaric
Isometric
Adiabatic
Cyclic
First Law of Thermodynamics
Internal energy
Energy conservation
Molar heat capacity of a gas
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Directions of processes
Entropy
Heat Engines and Refrigerators
ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
Unit 7: Electrostatics (1.0 weeks)
Coulomb’s Law
Electric Fields and Gauss’ Law
Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential
Capacitance
Graphical description of capacitance (charge vs. voltage)
Slope – capacitance
Area – energy stored
Capacitors in series and parallel
Applications
Point charge distributions
Parallel plates
Cathode ray tubes
Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
Condensers, uninterruptible power supplies, tone controls
Unit 8: Current Electricity (2.0 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
Capacitors in circuits (RC circuits)
Applications
Unit 9: Electromagnetism (2.0 weeks)
Magnetostatics
Force of a magnetic field on a moving charge
Force of a magnetic field on a current carrying wire
Torque on a current carrying loop
Magnetic fields due to straight and coiled wires
Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic flux
Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law
Applications
Mass spectrometers
Motors
Generators
Particle colliders
WAVES & OPTICS
Unit 10: Wave motion and Sound (1.0 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
Unit 11: Optics (1.5 weeks)
Geometric Optics
Reflection, Refraction and Snell’s Law
Reflection and refraction at a plane surface
Total internal reflection
Images formed by mirrors
Images formed by lenses
Ray Diagrams and the thin lens/mirror equation
Physical Optics
The electromagnetic spectrum
Interference and path difference
Interference effects
Single slit
Double slit
Diffraction grating
Thin film
ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Unit 12: Modern Physics (1.5 weeks)
Atomic Physics and Quantum Effects
Photons and the Photoelectric effect
X-ray production
Electron energy levels
Compton scattering
Wave nature of matter
Nuclear Physics
Atomic mass, mass number, atomic number
Mass defect and nuclear binding energy
Nuclear processes
Modes of radioactive decay (α, β, γ)
Fission
Fusion
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. Determination of acceleration due to gravity
4. Projectile Motion – Relationship between θ and Range
5. Elastic Force in Rubber Bands – Nonlinear spring
6. Inclined Plane – Coefficient of friction
7. Uniform Circular Motion – Relationships between hanging mass, spinning mass, Fc and r
8. Conservation of Mechanical Energy Spring-mass system – Air Track
9. Conservation of Linear Momentum – Air Track
10. Spring-Mass System – Force sensor/Accelerometer
11. Simple Pendulum - Photogate
12. Electrostatics- Investigations with positive and negative charges.
13. Electrostatics- Investigation with the Van de Graff generator
14. Electrostatics- Mapping Electric Fields I: Plotting equipotential and field lines
15. Circuits- Ohm’s Law and Internal Resistance
16. Circuits- Resistors in Series and Parallel
17. Circuits- Capacitors
18. Waves- Standing Waves on a String
19. Waves- Determining the speed of sound
20. Optics- Verification of the Laws of Reflection and Refraction
21. Optics- Determination of the index of refraction
22. Optics- Determination of the focal length of a lens
23. Optics- Determination of the wavelength of a laser using double slit interference
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).