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
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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. |
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 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 √ √
C. Electric circuits 1. Current, resistance, power √ √ 2. Steady-state direct current circuits with √ √ batteries and resistors only a. Steady state √ √ |
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 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 |
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II Mechanics Unit 6- Fluid Mechanics (2 weeks -
test) Unit 7- Thermodynamics (3 weeks) 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 √ √ |
Unit 8 Continued C. Work,
energy, power
III. NEWTONIAN MECHANICS - What we didn't do 1st year
E. Circular motion and rotation F. Oscillations
Unit 11 Review for AP Test
- B or C, student option END OF YEAR
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