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Class Information for AP Physics

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 B exam and the AP Physics C Mechanics exam. The Physics B exam is algebra/trig based and covers a wide variety of physics topics. The Physics C exam is said to be calculus based (although very little calculus is used), is more in-depth, 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 of each other. 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. 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 (100 test points) will consist of multiple choice questions, problems and open response questions. Tests may also have a “Lab Practicum” (10 test points) 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. During the first semester students will expand upon a laboratory report to create a “Scientific Journal Article”, this article will serve as a possible writing portfolio entry and will be worth 100 test points.

Work Points- Labs, Activities, Homework, and Notebook: (40% of class grade)
LABS: Students will design, conduct and evaluate at least one laboratory activity per unit. Labs will often involve the use of technology (70-100 Work Points). Each unit may also include shorter hands-on activities (20-50 Work Points).

INTERNET HOMEWORK: At least one set of graded problems will be assigned for each unit (70-140 Work Points) Some of these problems will be accessible via the Internet using the University of Texas Web Homework site. (hw.utexas.edu)

Participation Points- Warmups and Participation: (10% of class grade)
WARMUPS: Warm-ups are 1 to 5 questions sometimes given during the first 5-10 minutes of class. Warmups may be scored for accuracy or good faith effort.

PARTICIPATION POINTS: Students are expected to actively participate in class and to contribute to a positive class atmosphere.

Course Outline

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

Job 1.	Web Homework Step 1- Get Electronic Identification - University of Texas EID (https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help/) Step 2- Go to https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/sign up for class number 4052__. Step 3- Log in to the Homework Service at URL https://hw.utexas.edu/ . After the UT EID login, select your class. Download your first assignment using option 2.1 - Pick up homework. Work at least one question and submit it before Monday using option 3.1 - Submit homework. Continue submitting answers until all of your questions have been answered correctly or until the due time arrives. It is your responsibility submit your homework in a timely manner. Waiting until just before the deadline to submit answers and then experiencing network trouble is not a valid excuse.
Job 2.	Buy 3 ring notebook, place this sheet in notebook - bring to class on Monday
Job 3.	If you do not already have one—buy graphing calculator (suggested TI 83,84, 86 or 89)
Job 4.	Go to https://ischool.fcps.net/login/index.php (use standard school log-in and password; enrollment key: Fizix2; you must have an AUP on file to get school log-in) Click on "Student Check - Day One Handout Sheet Choice" and verify that you have read and understand the syllabus.