AP Physics B Syllabus

Course Description: This course includes topics in both classical and modern physics. A thorough study of Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermal physics, electricity, magnetism, waves, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics is included. The course is equivalent to a two semester introductory physics course for majors. It is expected that students who take an AP course in physics will seek college credit, college placement, or both. All students are required to take the College Board AP Physics exam. Text: Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics: Principles with Applications. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ; Pearson Prentice Hall.

Grading Policy: Tests-50% Tests are administered after each unit. Each test consists of three sections: 1. Multiple-choice questions 2. Free-response problems 3. Lab-Based question Labs - 25% Students are required to complete many labs during the year and document these in their lab notebook. Most labs require the use of a computer with data collection software. Many labs are open-ended: the students are given an objective and a list of equipment. Students design their own procedure, data gathering, and data analysis. A formal lab report is completed in a lab notebook outside of class. An average of one hour of in-class lab time is allotted per week. Homework and Quizzes - 25% Homework assignments are given from the textbook, worksheets and from AP released exams. Homework varies from easy one step problems to multistep solutions to a complex problem. Quizzes may contain question and/or problems from the homework, reading assignments, or recently covered material. Homework problems consisting of three to five problems are assigned daily and collected weekly.

AP Physics B Syllabus
Topic Outline: I. Mechanics (1/2 year) A. Kinematics 1. Motion in one dimension Chapter 2 2. Motion in two dimensions Chapter 3 3. Hands on Labs: a. Constant Motion: Analyze the motion of objects moving at constant speed b. Accelerated Motion: Analyze the motion of objects moving at uniform accelerated motion c. Projectile Motion: Analyze an object moving in two dimensions d. Projectile Practicum: Determine the initial velocity of a projectile and calculate where it will land

B. Newtons Laws of Motion Chapters 4 and 9 1. Static equilibrium 1st law 2. Dynamics of a single particle 2nd law 3. Systems of two or more bodies 3rd law 4. Hands on Labs: a. Force of Gravity Lab: Determine the relationship between mass and the force of gravity on objects. a. Newtons 2nd Law (Modified Atwoods): Determine the acceleration of a system and the tension in the string. b. Newtons 3rd Law: Verify Newtons Third Law using force sensors C. Circular Motion and gravitation Chapter 5 1. Uniform circular motion 2. Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation 3. Rotational kinematics and dynamics 4. Angular momentum and its conservation 5. Hands on Labs: a. Circular Motion: Determine the velocity of a flying toy and the tension in the string. D. Systems of particles, linear momentum Chapter 7 1. Impulse and momentum 2. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions 3. Hands on Labs:

AP Physics B Syllabus
a. Conservation of Momentum: Determine the velocity of each glider before and after a collision. E. Work, energy and power Chapter 6 1. Work and the work-energy theorem 2. Conservative forces and potential energy 3. Conservation of energy 4. Power 5. Hands on Labs: a. Hookes Law: Determine the spring constant. b. Conservation of Energy: Using a pendulum, verify the conservation of energy. II. Electricity and Magnetism (4 1/2 weeks) A. Electrostatics Chapter 16 1. Charge, field, and potential 2. Coulombs law and point charge field and potential 3. Hands on Labs: a. Static Electricity Investigation: Make qualitative observations of the behavior of an electroscope when it is charged by conduction and by induction. b. Coulombs Law: Determine the charge on two spherical polystyrene balls. B. Conductors and capacitors Chapter 17 1. Electrostatics with conductors 2. Capacitors Parallel plates C. Electric Circuits 1. Current, resistance, power Chapter 18 2. Direct current circuits Chapter 19 3. Hands on Labs: a. Ohms Law: Find relationship between voltage, current and resistance b. Series and Parallel Circuits: Investigate the behavior of resistors in series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits. c. Circuits with capacitors: Investigate what happens in a circuit when a capacitor is added. Measure the voltage across capacitors when in series and in parallel.

AP Physics B Syllabus

D. Magnetism Chapter 20 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. Electromagnetic induction Chapters 21 III. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics (2 weeks) A. Fluid Mechanics Chapter 10 1. Hydrostatic pressure 2. Buoyancy 3. Fluid Flow continuity 4. Bernoullis equation 5. Hands on Labs: a. Density using Archimedes Principle: Determine the density of two unknown materials. B. Temperature and heat Chapter 13 1. Mechanical equivalent of heat 2. Heat transfer and thermal expansion C. Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics Chapter 13 1. Ideal gases a. Kinetic model b. Ideal gas law 2. Laws of thermodynamics Chapter 15 a. First law (pV diagrams) b. Second Law (heat engines) 3. Hands on Labs: a. Ideal Gas Law: Verify that the pressure of a gas at a fixed temperature is inversely proportional to the gas volume.

IV. Waves and Optics (3 1/2 weeks) A. Geometric optics Chapter 23 1. Reflection and refraction 2. Mirrors 3. Lenses 4. Hands on Labs:

AP Physics B Syllabus
a. Index of refraction: Determine the index of refraction. b. Lens Lab: Determine the focal length of a converging lens directly and the focal length of a diverging lens by combining it with a converging lens. B. Wave motion (sound and physical optics) 1. Properties of traveling and standing waves Chapter 11 a. Simple harmonic motion b. Pendulum and other oscillations 2. Doppler effect Chapter 12 3. Superposition 4. Interference and diffraction Chapter 24 5. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum 6. Hands on Labs: a. Velocity of a wave: Determine the experimental value of the velocity of wave. b. Interference: Determine the wavelength of a source of light by using a double slit and a diffraction grating of known spacing. V. Modern Physics (2 1/2 weeks) A. Atomic physics and quantum effects Chapter 27 1. Alpha particle scattering and Rutherford model 2. Photons and the photoelectric effect 3. Bohr model 4. Wave particle duality 5. Hands on Labs: a. Photoelectric Effect: Using a simulation, collect data to create a graph that will allow students to find the value of Plancks constant for three different metals. B. Nuclear physics Chapter 30 1. Nuclear reactions 2. Mass and energy effects 3. Half-Life

AP Physics B Syllabus
Laboratory Experiments: A Lab Notebook will be required of each student and will be collected and graded according to completion and correctness of the given objective and outline of each lab. a. Constant Motion: Analyze the motion of objects moving at constant speed b. Accelerated Motion: Analyze the motion of objects moving at uniform accelerated motion c. Projectile Motion: Analyze an object moving in two dimensions d. Projectile Practicum (quarter): Determine the initial velocity of a projectile and calculate where it will land e. Newtons 2nd Law (Modified Atwoods): Determine the acceleration of a system and the tension in the string. f. Newtons 3rd Law: Verify Newtons Third Law using force sensors g. Conservation of Momentum: Determine the velocity of each glider before and after a collision. h. Circular Motion: Determine the velocity of a flying toy and the tension in the string. i. Hookes Law: Determine the spring constant. j. Conservation of Energy: Using a pendulum, verify the conservation of energy. k. Ohms Law: Find relationship between voltage, current and resistance l. Series and Parallel Circuits: Investigate the behavior of resistors in series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits. m. Coulombs Law: Determine the charge on two spherical polystyrene balls. n. Velocity of a wave: Determine the experimental value of the velocity of wave. o. Lens Lab: Determine the focal length of a converging lens directly and the focal length of a diverging lens by combining it with a converging lens. p. Density using Archimedes Principle: Determine the density of two unknown materials. q. Static Electricity Investigation: Make qualitative observations of the behavior of an electroscope when it is charged by conduction and by induction. r. Interference: Determine the wavelength of a source of light by using a double slit and a diffraction grating of known spacing. s. Index of refraction: Determine the index of refraction.