PHYSICS AP B
Edmodo: http://ecsd.edmodo.com/
Text: College Physics, Serway and Faughn: 5th Ed. Florida: Harcourt
Course Overview
Our AP Physics classes are 55 minutes long and meet five days a week. A normal class period will consist of warm-ups, note taking, demonstrations, laboratory activities, model building, question and answer sessions, and practice problem sessions. The AP Physics B is an algebra-based course in general Physics. The College Board designs its syllabus. This course is covered in two semesters. The emphasis in this course is on understanding the concepts of all areas of physics and using these concepts to formulate and solve problems.
Students spend the majority of their time working physics problems using a 5 step process that can be applied to all areas of physics. Laboratory work will be covered as an integral part of this course where students work in open-ended labs, generating their own data and proving formula relationships. Students will also be expected to participate in out-of-class computer simulation labs where data is analyzed and collected.
Students will achieve success through use of active and cooperative learning. Students will be exposed to a variety of note taking skills, reading strategies, and writing strategies that will help them succeed and gain independence within their own study time outside of class. Students will also master both analytical physics problems as well as conceptual problems.
Evaluation: Tests/quizzes 60%
Homework/Labs 40%
Course Outline The following is the course content. It follows the recommendations (and the %) of the AP Physics Course Description for coverage on the AP Exam. Review begins in early April.
I. Mechanics
A. Kinematics
1. Motion in one dimension
2. Position-time and velocity-time graphs
3. Equation of motion under constant acceleration
B. Motion in two dimensions
1. Projectile motion
2. Vectors
C. Newton’s Laws of Motion
1. Concept of Force/ First Law
2. Dynamics of a single particle/2nd Law
3. Systems of two or more bodies/3rd Law
D. Work, Energy, Power
1. Work and the work-energy theorem
2. Conservative forces and Potential Energy
3. Conservation of Energy
E. Momentum and Collisions
1. Impulse and momentum
2. Inelastic, completely inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions
F. Circular Motion
1. Centripetal Acceleration
2. Universal Law of Gravitation
3. Kepler’s Laws
4. Torque
II. Thermodynamics
A. Fluids
1. Buoyant Forces
2. Bernoulli’ Equation
3. Thermal Expansion
4. Specific heat and Linear expansion
5. Gas Laws
B. Laws of Thermodynamics
1. 1st Law of Thermodynamics (PV-area under curve-diagrams)
2. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (Carnot Engine and Entropy)
III. Vibrations and Waves
A. Vibrations and Waves
1. Hooke’s Law
2. Motion of a Pendulum
3. Frequency, Amplitude, Wavelength
B. Sound
1. Traveling and standing waves
2. Doppler Effect
3. Waves in a tube (open and closed)
4. Musical applications
C. Geometric Optics
1. Reflection, Refraction, Snell’s Law
2. Images formed by mirrors
3. Images formed by lenses
4. Ray Diagrams and the thin/mirror equations
D. Physical Optics (Light)
1. Electromagnetic Spectrum
2. Interference and path difference
3. Interference Effects
a. Single slit
b. Double slit
c. Diffraction grating
d. Thin film
IV. Electricity and Magnetism
A. Electrostatics
1. Coulomb’s Law
2. Electric Fields and Electric Potential
3. Capacitance
a. Graphical
b. Series and parallel
4. Electric circuits
a. Current, resistance, voltage
b. Applications
B. Magnetism
1. Forces
a. a moving charge in magnetic fields
b. current carrying wire in magnetic fields
2. Magnetic field of the Earth
V. Modern Physics
A. Atomic Physics and Quantum Effects
1. Rutherford Model
2. Photoelectric Effect
3. Bohr Model
4. Wave particle duality
B. Nuclear Physics
1. Radioactivity and Half-life
2. Nuclear reactions
3. Mass and Energy Effects
LABORATORY All lab experiments are “hands-on” activities. Students will be required to keep a lab notebook containing all of their lab reports. Labs performed match the required AP Course labs.
Experiments:
PROBLEM ASSIGNMENTS Problems given to students come from the textbook, other textbooks and review books, released AP Exams, and worksheets designed by the instructor. An orderly problem-solving process is stressed which is based on a process suggested by an AP workshop presenter. Real life applications are encouraged and presented.
EVALUATION Students are tested on a regular interval, usually every two weeks. Tests consist of some multiple-choice questions, problems and if applicable, released AP free-response questions. Students are allowed to use AP reference tables and calculators. Laboratory and homework scores are combined with the test/quiz grades to give an overall grade for the course. Semester exams are also given in January and June to fulfill school requirements. Students will also be exposed to a number of reading strategies and note taking skills that they must fulfill for each chapter.
Edmodo: http://ecsd.edmodo.com/
Text: College Physics, Serway and Faughn: 5th Ed. Florida: Harcourt
Course Overview
Our AP Physics classes are 55 minutes long and meet five days a week. A normal class period will consist of warm-ups, note taking, demonstrations, laboratory activities, model building, question and answer sessions, and practice problem sessions. The AP Physics B is an algebra-based course in general Physics. The College Board designs its syllabus. This course is covered in two semesters. The emphasis in this course is on understanding the concepts of all areas of physics and using these concepts to formulate and solve problems.
Students spend the majority of their time working physics problems using a 5 step process that can be applied to all areas of physics. Laboratory work will be covered as an integral part of this course where students work in open-ended labs, generating their own data and proving formula relationships. Students will also be expected to participate in out-of-class computer simulation labs where data is analyzed and collected.
Students will achieve success through use of active and cooperative learning. Students will be exposed to a variety of note taking skills, reading strategies, and writing strategies that will help them succeed and gain independence within their own study time outside of class. Students will also master both analytical physics problems as well as conceptual problems.
Evaluation: Tests/quizzes 60%
Homework/Labs 40%
Course Outline The following is the course content. It follows the recommendations (and the %) of the AP Physics Course Description for coverage on the AP Exam. Review begins in early April.
I. Mechanics
A. Kinematics
1. Motion in one dimension
2. Position-time and velocity-time graphs
3. Equation of motion under constant acceleration
B. Motion in two dimensions
1. Projectile motion
2. Vectors
C. Newton’s Laws of Motion
1. Concept of Force/ First Law
2. Dynamics of a single particle/2nd Law
3. Systems of two or more bodies/3rd Law
D. Work, Energy, Power
1. Work and the work-energy theorem
2. Conservative forces and Potential Energy
3. Conservation of Energy
E. Momentum and Collisions
1. Impulse and momentum
2. Inelastic, completely inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions
F. Circular Motion
1. Centripetal Acceleration
2. Universal Law of Gravitation
3. Kepler’s Laws
4. Torque
II. Thermodynamics
A. Fluids
1. Buoyant Forces
2. Bernoulli’ Equation
3. Thermal Expansion
4. Specific heat and Linear expansion
5. Gas Laws
B. Laws of Thermodynamics
1. 1st Law of Thermodynamics (PV-area under curve-diagrams)
2. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (Carnot Engine and Entropy)
III. Vibrations and Waves
A. Vibrations and Waves
1. Hooke’s Law
2. Motion of a Pendulum
3. Frequency, Amplitude, Wavelength
B. Sound
1. Traveling and standing waves
2. Doppler Effect
3. Waves in a tube (open and closed)
4. Musical applications
C. Geometric Optics
1. Reflection, Refraction, Snell’s Law
2. Images formed by mirrors
3. Images formed by lenses
4. Ray Diagrams and the thin/mirror equations
D. Physical Optics (Light)
1. Electromagnetic Spectrum
2. Interference and path difference
3. Interference Effects
a. Single slit
b. Double slit
c. Diffraction grating
d. Thin film
IV. Electricity and Magnetism
A. Electrostatics
1. Coulomb’s Law
2. Electric Fields and Electric Potential
3. Capacitance
a. Graphical
b. Series and parallel
4. Electric circuits
a. Current, resistance, voltage
b. Applications
B. Magnetism
1. Forces
a. a moving charge in magnetic fields
b. current carrying wire in magnetic fields
2. Magnetic field of the Earth
V. Modern Physics
A. Atomic Physics and Quantum Effects
1. Rutherford Model
2. Photoelectric Effect
3. Bohr Model
4. Wave particle duality
B. Nuclear Physics
1. Radioactivity and Half-life
2. Nuclear reactions
3. Mass and Energy Effects
LABORATORY All lab experiments are “hands-on” activities. Students will be required to keep a lab notebook containing all of their lab reports. Labs performed match the required AP Course labs.
Experiments:
- Measurements of heights and distances.
- Determining the acceleration due to gravity.
- Determining the initial speed and direction of a projectile through the use of air rockets.
- Determining an unknown mass using a modified Atwood’s machine.
- Determining one’s personal power.
- Using Inclined Plane to find coefficient of friction.
- Determining the specific heat of an unknown material.
- Using Spring-Mass System-Force sensor.
- Investigate Simple Pendulum-Photogate.
- Determining Density using Archimedes Principle.
- Discovery with the Van de Graff generator.
- Investigating Resistors in Series and Parallel and Ohm’s Law.
- Investigating Standing Waves on a String.
- Exploring resonance through standing Waves for sound in a pipe.
- Determining the speed of sound.
- Using Ray diagrams and image formation with mirrors and lenses.
- Determining the wavelength of a laser beam using two-slit interference.
- Investigating electromagnetism through constructing a motor.
PROBLEM ASSIGNMENTS Problems given to students come from the textbook, other textbooks and review books, released AP Exams, and worksheets designed by the instructor. An orderly problem-solving process is stressed which is based on a process suggested by an AP workshop presenter. Real life applications are encouraged and presented.
EVALUATION Students are tested on a regular interval, usually every two weeks. Tests consist of some multiple-choice questions, problems and if applicable, released AP free-response questions. Students are allowed to use AP reference tables and calculators. Laboratory and homework scores are combined with the test/quiz grades to give an overall grade for the course. Semester exams are also given in January and June to fulfill school requirements. Students will also be exposed to a number of reading strategies and note taking skills that they must fulfill for each chapter.