AP Physics B



TextbookWalker, James S. Physic: Third Edition. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.Course DescriptionAP Physics is the equivalent of an introductory-level college course. It is very demanding of a student’s time and intellect. The emphasis on theoretical topics, critical thinking and problem solving makes this class challenging. Mathematics is used to illuminate physical situations rather than to show off a student’s manipulative abilities. Students must be strong in both math and science to be successful in this course.AP Physics B is a yearlong survey course sequence that uses algebra and trigonometry, and covers a broad range of topics in physics. The class meets five days a week for 55 minutes per class.Evaluation1st Semester2nd SemesterHomework 5%Homework 5%Lab25%Lab25%Tests40%Tests40%Classwork5%Classwork5%Final15%Final15%Midterm5%Midterm5%Performance Assessment5%Performance Assessment5%Course StrategiesI use a constructivist approach to learning called Modeling Physics. This approach requires students to be actively engaged in their own learning. Students work in the lab and on assignments in 2-4 person groups. They design and perform labs that allow discovery of the graphical and mathematical models they use throughout the course. Group members make oral presentations before the whole class illuminating and defending experimental findings and conclusions. The emphasis is on the general understanding of the principles involved and how problems are solved rather than on the answer. C6 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: The course utilizes guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical thinking skills. C7 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: The course includes a laboratory component Students, working in 2-4 person groups, prepare and present class work and homework problems on whiteboards. Whiteboarding is an active learning process in which the teacher’s role is to probe student understanding of the material being presented and to construct strategies to bring the students to a more complete comprehension of this material. Fellow students are encouraged to participate in the whiteboard discussions, but it is a teacher directed process. In addition to the benefits of the teacher guiding the learning process as it takes place, whiteboarding allows students to clarify and define their understanding through verbalization. Course OutlineI.MECHANICS (16 weeks)ChaptersC1 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: Newtonian MechanicsA.Kinematics (including vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity and acceleration)1.Motion in one dimension2.Motion in two dimensions (Projectile motion)2, 3, 4B.Newton’s laws of motion (including friction and centripetal force)1.Static equilibrium (1st law)2.Dynamics of a single particle (2nd law)3.Systems of two or more bodies (3rd law)5, 6, C.Work, energy, power1.Work and work-energy theorem2.Conservative forces and potential energy3.Conservation of energy4.Power7, 8D.Systems of particles, linear momentum1.Impulse and momentum2.Conservation of linear momentum, collisions9E.Circular Motion & Rotation1.Uniform circular motion2.Torque and rotational statics10, 11F.Oscillations and gravitation1.Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships)2.Mass on a spring3.Pendulum and other oscillations4.Newton’s law of gravity5.Orbits of planets and satellites (circular)12, 13II.FLUID MECHANICS & THERMAL PHYSICS (2 weeks)ChaptersC2 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: Fluid Mechanics and Thermal PhysicsA.Fluid Mechanics1.Hydrostatic Pressure2.Buoyancy3.Fluid Flow Continuity4.Bernoulli’s Equation15B.Temperature and heat1.Mechanical equivalent of heat2.Heat transfer and thermal expansion16, 17C.Kinetic theory and thermodynamics1.Ideal gasesa.Kinetic modelb.Ideal gas law2.Laws of thermodynamicsa.First law (including processes on P-V diagrams)b.Second law (including heat engines)18III.ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (7.5 weeks)ChaptersC3 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: Electricity and MagnetismA.Electrostatics1.Charge and Coulomb’s Law2.Electric field and potential (point charges)19B.Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics1.Electrostatics with conductors2.Capacitorsa.Capacitanceb.Parallel plate20C.Electric circuits1.Current, resistance, power2.Steady-state direct current circuits with batteries and resistors only3.Capacitors in circuits (steady state)21, 24D.Magnetostatics1.Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields2.Forces on current-carrying wires in magnetic fields3.Fields of long current-carrying wires22E.Electromagnetism1.Electromagnetic induction (including Faraday’s law and Lenz’ law)23IV.WAVES & OPTICS (4.5 weeks)ChaptersC4 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: Waves and OpticsA.Wave motion (including sound)1.Traveling waves2.Wave Propagation3.Standing Waves4.Superposition14, 25B.Physical Optics1.Interference and diffraction2.Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum28C.Geometric optics1.Reflection and refraction2.Mirrors3.Lenses26, 27V.ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS (2 weeks)ChaptersC5-Evidence of Curricular Requirement: Atomic and Nuclear PhysicsA.Atomic physics and quantum effects1.Photons and the photoelectric effect2.Atomic energy levels3.Wave-particle duality30, 31B.Nuclear physics1.Nuclear reactions (including conservation of mass number and charge)2.Mass-energy equivalence32LaboratoryLabs are an integral component of this class. On average, students spend one day a week performing and analyzing lab activities. Students work in the lab in 2-4 person groups. They design and perform labs that allow discovery of the graphical and mathematical models they use throughout the course. Group members make oral presentations before the whole class illuminating and defending experimental findings and conclusions. Students are required to keep a record of all lab activities and conclusions in dedicated lab notebook.C7 - Evidence of Curricular Requirement: The course includes a laboratory component comparable to college-level physics laboratories, with a minimum of 12 student-conducted laboratory investigations representing a variety of topics covered in the course. A hands-on laboratory component is required. Each student should complete a lab notebook or portfolio of lab reports. MECHANICS LABSConstant acceleration Gravitational forceModified Atwood’s Machine (Newton’s 2nd) Frictional ForceProjectile Motion (2-D)Circular MotionHooke’s LawEnergy TransferMomentum & ImpulseTorqueSimple Harmonic MotionELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM LABSStatic ElectricityElectric Field MappingSimple CircuitsKirchhoff’s LawsInternal ResistanceMagnetic FieldsWAVES & OPTICS LABSWave PropertiesLaw of ReflectionSnell’s LawConvex Lenses ................
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