Instructor: John Davis

AP Physics B

Instructor: John Davis

Email address:

Room: T-219

Website:

Materials needed: Loose-leaf paper, pen or pencil, paper, calculator, various project construction materials, Physics book (supplied), cm ruler, protractor

Textbook: Giancoli Physics, 6th ed. Is the primary text for this course.

Course Information: This is an advanced placement course in physics. The material in this course will be presented as if it were a college level algebra/ trig based physics class. A high level of problem solving, reasoning, inquiry-based laboratory and communication skills will be developed and the student will be expected to produce college-level work. As such, the student should expect a higher level of homework problems, both in amount and difficulty. This course and your individual study will prepare you for the AP “B” exam.

Prerequisite: Although it is highly recommended that the student first take an introductory course in physics, it is not required and may be taken as a first year course. Refer to the campus handbook to find current district-mandated requirements.

Grading: Grades are calculated per district mandate by the following division:

Tests 50% Homework/ Daily 20% Labs 30%

Students are encouraged to record their grades for personal record keeping. Progress reports will be distributed every three weeks, and grades will be posted on the Internet for your secure viewing at any time. You will be required to keep your lab reports for submission to your university as proof of your lab participation. All work is expected to be your own original work.

Safety: This is a laboratory-intensive course, and safety will be emphasized. Students are required to keep records of their lab experiences for presentation to their university if laboratory credit is desired. No student will be allowed to participate in lab activities until a parent-signed safety sheet is on record with the instructor. Unsafe actions in the lab may result in removal from any remaining labs and a score of zero for each lab.

Absence policy: MISD policy will be followed. It is your responsibility to check with the instructor after an absence, and to retrieve any work passed back or assigned when you missed.

Participation: Your participation is mandatory, and lack of participation will result in lower grades. No late work will be accepted.

19 TAC Chapter 112.47 (TAKS Descriptor): This course satisfies therequirements of a physics course in the state of Texas and exceeds the TAKS requirements.

Tentative schedule: (subject to change)

We will spend approximately the following number of days covering the following topics:

Topics Covered

5 Days / Introduction to AP and Math Skills / 45 Days / Electricity & Magnetism
Review of Math Skills / Coulomb's Law
Data Collection and Presentation / Electric Fields
Capacitance
60 Days / Newtonian Mechanics / Current, Resistance, Power
Motion In One Dimension (linear motion) / Circuits
Motion In Two Dimensions (projectile motion) / Ohm's Law, RC Circuits
Circular Motion / Magnetic Fields
Newton's Laws / Magnetic Deflection
Frictional Forces / Induction
Work and Energy
Conservation of Mechanical Energy / 20 Days / Waves & Optics
Simple Harmonic Motion / Waves, Harmonics
Momentum / Sound Waves, Acoustics
Collisions and multiple-body systems / Geometric Optics, Lenses
Universal Gravitation / Geometric Optics, Mirrors
EM spectrum
20 Days / Fluids & Thermal / Interference
Density, Pressure
Buoyancy / 10 Days / Atomic & Nuclear
Fluid Flow and Continuity / Photons and Photoelectric Effect
Temperature / Wave-Particle Duality
Calorimetry / Nuclear Decay
Ideal Gas Law, Kinetic Theory / Conservation of Mass- Energy
Laws of Thermodynamics
Heat Engines

This schedule allows at minimum 5 days for review.

(*The actual number of days we spend on each topic may change to ensure a proper level of understanding and an appropriate level of problem solving skills in each area.)

We will emphasize each topic in accordance with its relative importance on the AP exam.

Lab Listing: The following is a listing of some of the labs and projects we will perform in AP Physics. (This listing does not include informal lab activities demonstrations, or quick field investigations.)

Lab Listing: / Project Listing:
Graph Matching / Rockets
Determine g on an Incline / Rat-Trap Racer
Terminal Velocity / Trebuchet
Toy Car Velocity/ Acceleration / Paper Roller Coasters
Atwood's Machine / Instrument Design
Dart Gun Lab/ Projectile Motion / Electric House
"Mu-Shoe" Lab (determine coefficient of friction)
Centripetal Motion
Hooke's Law
Density of an Object
Mini-Heat engine
Van de Graff Generator Investigation
Hand-Crank Generator Investigation
Christmas-Light Ohm's Law
CircuitBuilding
Magnetic Field
Build a Simple Motor
Determine Focal Length of Lenses
Mirror Images
Double-Slit Interference
Determine Index of Refraction
Half-Life Pennies
Dominoes Chain Reaction
Inquiry-Design Independent Investigation (Peer Presented)

Class Structure: Generally, we will try to have a minimum of one to two formal labs each week, one major test every two weeks, a major project every two-three weeks, and quizzes occasionally. Homework assignments will come from both the textbook and instructor made problem sets. While homework is to be completed by the individual, problem sets to be completed in a group setting and grading will be dependant on the entire group’s understanding of the material. We will use a variety of online resources such as University of Texas’ Quest system, but paper versions will be available. Tests will be composed primarily of AP or AP level questions with scoring commensurate with AP scoring. Student-led learning and inquiry investigations will be the primary form of instruction.

Each unit (sometimes each section) will have a written exam or exams as well as an individual or group project. Announced and unannounced quizzes should be expected. In order to receive the extra ten points, the AP test must be taken.

Study time, groups, and extra materials: It is recommended that the student planning to take the AP Physics B exam purchase a commercially available study guide, but this is not necessary to pass the course or the exam. I will provide the students with study packets and make alternate college level textbooks available for classroom use. Students are encouraged to form study groups. Each student should be prepared to spend a minimum of one hour per night studying in addition to time allotted for homework.