First Semester

During Unit 1 and Unit 2 we will be adding content to what was learned during Physics 1 (see bold print below).  Unit 1 and Unit 2 will each take approximately 3 weeks.

I. NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Kinematics  

A. Motion in One Dimension

1. Position-time and velocity-time graphs

2. Equations of motion under constant acceleration

B. Motion in Two Dimensions

1. Projectiles

2. Circular motion

3. Rotational Kinematics (unit 1)

Newton’s Laws

 – Review+ Add
A. Newton’s 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Law

B. Static Equilibrium (First Law)

1. First Condition – translational equilibrium

2. Second Condition – rotational equilibrium and torque (unit 1)

C. Dynamics of a Single Body

D. Systems of Two or More Bodies

E. Gravitation (unit 2)

F. Applications

1. Inclined planes

2. Atwood’s machine and modified Atwood’s Machine

3. Static and kinetic friction 

4. Planetary motion (Unit 2)

Work, Energy, Power & Momentum

A. Work and Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

B. Conservative Forces and Potential Energy

1. Gravity  (Unit 2)

2. Springs

C. Conservation of Mechanical Energy

D. Power

E. Simple Harmonic Motion

1. Springs and Pendulums

2. Energies of SHM

F. Momentum

1. Impulse-Momentum Theorem

2. Conservation of Linear Momentum and Collisions

a. Inelastic, completely inelastic and perfectly elastic collisions

b. Two-dimensional collisions

3. Conservation of Angular Momentum for point (Unit 1)

II. FLUIDS MECHANICS & THERMAL PHYSICS
Unit 3-Fluid Mechanics (4 weeks)

A. Density and pressure

1. Density and specific gravity

2. Pressure as a function of depth

3. Pascal’s Law

B. Buoyancy – Archimedes’ Principle

C. Fluid flow continuity

D. Bernoulli's equation

E. Applications

1. Hydraulics

2. Effects on weather, baseballs, etc.

4. Flight

5. Plumbing

Unit 4-Thermal Physics (4 weeks)

A. Temperature and Thermal Effects

1. Mechanical equivalent of heat

2. Heat transfer and thermal expansion

a. linear expansion of solids

b. volume expansion of solids and liquids

3. Calorimetry

B. Kinetic Theory, Ideal Gases & Gas Laws

C. Thermodynamics

1. Processes and PV diagrams

a. isothermal

b. isobaric

c. isometric

d. adiabatic

e. cyclic

2. First Law of Thermodynamics

a. Internal energy

b. Energy conservation

c. Molar heat capacity of a gas

3. Second Law of Thermodynamics

a. Directions of processes

b. Entropy

4. Heat Engines and Refrigerators

III. ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
Unit 5-Electrostatics (4 weeks)

A. Coulomb’s Law

B. Electric Fields and Gauss’ Law

C. Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential

D. Capacitance

1. Graphical description of capacitance (charge vs. voltage)

a. slope – capacitance

b. area – energy stored

2. Capacitors in series and parallel

E. Applications

1. Point charge distributions

2. Parallel plates

3. Cathode ray tubes

4. Millikan Oil Drop Experiment

Second Semester

Unit 6-Current Electricity (3 weeks)

A. Electric Circuits

1. Emf, Current, Resistance and Power

2. DC circuits

a. Series and parallel circuits

b. Batteries and internal resistance

c. Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s rules

d. Voltmeters and ammeters

e. Capacitors in circuits

3. Applications

Unit 7-Electromagnetism (3 weeks)

A. Magnetostatics

1. Force of a magnetic field on a moving charge

2. Force of a magnetic field on a current carrying wire

3. Torque on a current carrying loop

4. Magnetic fields due to straight and coiled wires

B. Electromagnetic Induction

1. Magnetic flux

2. Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law

C. Applications

1. Mass spectrometers

2. Motors

3. Generators

IV. ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS Unit 8-Modern Physics (4 weeks)

A. Atomic Physics and Quantum Effects

1. Photons and the Photoelectric effect

2. X-ray production

3. Electron energy levels

4. Compton scattering

5. Wave nature of matter

B. Nuclear Physics

1. Atomic mass, mass number, atomic number

2. Mass defect and nuclear binding energy

3. Nuclear processes

a. modes of radioactive decay (α, β, γ)

b. fission

c. fusion

4. Mass-Energy Equivalence and Conservation of Mass and Energy, E=mc^2

V. WAVES & OPTICS

Wave motion and Sound (2 weeks)

A. Description and characteristics of waves

B. Standing waves and harmonics

1. Waves on a string

2. Waves in a tube (open and closed)

C. The Doppler Effect (in one dimension)

D. Sound intensity, power and relative sound intensity

E. Musical applications

Unit 9-Optics (3 weeks)

A. Geometric Optics

1. Reflection, Refraction and Snell’s Law

a. plane surface

b. Total internal reflection

2. Images formed by mirrors

3. Images formed by lenses

4. Ray Diagrams and the thin lens/mirror equation

B. Physical Optics

1. The electromagnetic spectrum

2. Interference and path difference

3. Interference effects

a. Single slit

b. Double slit

c. Diffraction grating

d. Thin film

Review for AP Exam (.5 -1 week)

Unit 10- After AP Exam (2 weeks) – Project-TBA