Class Information for AP Physics  - Teacher: Karen Gill
 Grading Scale: Below 65: F, 65-73: D, 74-82: C, 83-91: B, 92-100: A

This class is designed to prepare students to take the AP Physics C Mechanics exam and the AP Physics B exam. The Physics B exam is algebra/trig based and covers a wide variety of physics topics. The Physics C exam requires some calculus, is more in-depth than the B exam, and is divided into two independent sections: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism.  The scores and cost for each portion of the C exam are completely independent.   If a student is unsure about which test they should take they should contact the college they plan to attend.  Different colleges have different policies regarding AP credit. The B test is the easier exam, but often colleges only reward a general science credit for passing it and give credit for higher level physics class(es) for passing the C exam(s). Additional note- some colleges require proof of lab activities to receive lab credit-- keep your lab reports, including any labs you may have from Physics 1.

As a student in AP Physics you should be prepared to work with others, work with lab equipment, design labs, work with computers, solve complex problem and present and justify your work in front of the class. For many activities you will work with a lab group of 2-4 people; these groups will change every 6 weeks.

Textbook:
College Physics, 8th Edition

Raymond A. Serway   |  Jerry S. Faughn   |  Chris Vuille

ISBN-10: 0495386936 |  ISBN-13: 9780495386933  

Grading:
Test Points- Tests and Projects (50% of class grade)
 Tests will consist of multiple choice questions, problems and open response questions. Tests may also have a “Lab Practicum” section.  Lab Practicums involve students working together and using what they have learned to solve a physical challenge.  For example students may be asked to set up a projectile launcher to hit a given target.

Work Points- Labs, Activities, Homework, and and Participation: (50% of class grade)
PARTICIPATION POINTS:  Students are expected to actively participate in class and to contribute to a positive class atmosphere.
LABS:  Students will design, conduct and evaluate at least one laboratory activity per unit. Labs will often involve the use of technology.  Each unit may also include shorter hands-on activities.

INTERNET HOMEWORK: At least one set of graded problems will be assigned for each unit.  Some of these problems will be accessible via the Internet using the University of Texas Web Homework site.

Step 1- If you do not already have one you will need to Get Electronic Identification - (https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help/) 

Step 2- Go to  https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/ sign up for class number 000222. Have this done by the end of the day on Sunday.

 Course Outline

First Semester

Intro- 1 week

I. ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
Unit 1  Electrostatics (3 weeks-test) 

A. Electrostatics

1. Charge and Coulomb’s law √ √

2. Electric field and electric potential (including √ √

point charges)

B. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics

1. Electrostatics with conductors √ √

2. Capacitors

a. Capacitance √ √

b. Parallel plate √ √


Unit 2 Current Electricity (4 weeks-test) 

C. Electric circuits

1. Current, resistance, power √ √

2. Steady-state direct current circuits with √ √

batteries and resistors only

3. Capacitors in circuits

a. Steady state √ √
 

 Unit 3  Electromagnetism (4 weeks-test) 
D. Magnetic Fields

1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields √ √

2. Forces on current-carrying wires in √ √

magnetic fields

3. Fields of long current-carrying wires √ √

E. Electromagnetism

1. Electromagnetic induction (including √ √

Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law)

II. WAVES & OPTICS
 Unit 4-Optics (3 weeks-test)

III. ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS 
Unit 5-Modern Physics (3 weeks-test)

A. Atomic physics and quantum effects 7%

1. Photons, the photoelectric effect, √

Compton scattering, x-rays

2. Atomic energy levels √

3. Wave-particle duality √

B. Nuclear physics 3%

1. Nuclear reactions (including conservation √

of mass number and charge)

2. Mass–Energy equivalence √

END OF FIRST SEMESTER

 

Second Semester

II Mechanics

Unit 6- Fluid Mechanics  (2 weeks - test)

1. Hydrostatic pressure
2. Buoyancy
3. Fluid flow continuity
4. Bernoulli’s equation

 Unit 7- Thermodynamics (3 weeks)

1. Mechanical equivalent of heat √
2. Heat transfer and thermal expansion √
C. Kinetic theory and thermodynamics 7%
1. Ideal gases
a. Kinetic model √
b. Ideal gas law √
2. Laws of thermodynamics
a. First law (including processes on √
pV diagrams)
b. Second law (including heat engines) √

Unit 8: Review + Additional - 1st year Physics (3 weeks-test)

Kinematics (including vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity and acceleration)

1. Motion in one dimension √ √
2. Motion in two dimensions, including √ √ projectile motion
B. Newton’s laws of motion
1. Static equilibrium (first law) √ √
2. Dynamics of a single particle (second law) √ √
3. Systems of two or more objects (third law) √ √
 

Unit 8 Continued

C. Work, energy, power
1. Work and work–energy theorem √ √
2. Forces and potential energy √ √
3. Conservation of energy √ √
4. Power √ √
D. Systems of particles, linear momentum
1. Center of mass √
2. Impulse and momentum √ √
3. Conservation of linear momentum, √ √ collisions

 

III. NEWTONIAN MECHANICS - What we didn't do 1st year


Unit 9Rotational Motion (4 weeks- test)

E. Circular motion and rotation
1. Uniform circular motion √ √
2. Torque and rotational statics √ √
3. Rotational kinematics and dynamics √
4. Angular momentum and its conservation √

Unit 10 Oscillations and Gravitation ( 4 weeks - test)

F. Oscillations
1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and √ √ energy relationships)
2. Mass on a spring √ √
3. Pendulum and other oscillations √ √
G. Gravitation
4. Newton’s law of gravity √ √
5. Orbits of planets and satellites
a. Circular √ √
b. General √

Unit 11 Review for AP Test - B or C,  student option

After AP Exam -  Topic to be Announced

END OF YEAR