AP / Gifted Physics 1st Semester 2003 / 2nd-4th, 6th Periods

Instructor: Jon Crymes Text: Physics: Cutnell & Johnson

Dacula High School / Science Dept. Room: 1.266 (book cost: $118.24)

Course Description:

Gifted / Honors Physics is a challenging laboratory course designed to stimulate interest in science and develop skills necessary to continue in the study of science. Students will be asked to think creatively, guide independent research, and manipulate simple formulas. This course of study will include motion, dynamics, gravitation, rotational motion, energy, and momentum. Students involved with the gifted curriculum will be asked to communicate with complex responses, frequently use analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, recognize complex interrelations, and use creative concepts to solve problems. All students will also be expected to complete and master all the skills defined in the physics section of the Gwinnett County academic knowledge and skills handbook.

MATERIALS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS EVERYDAY:

  1. Writing utensil
  2. 3-ring notebook with paper and dividers
  3. Text: Physics: Cutnell & Johnson, Wiley © 2001 (cost: $118.24)
  4. Scientific calculator (graphing preferred but not mandatory)

    Course Outline for the Year

    Newtonian Mechanics Table Percentage Goals for AP Examinations Physics B

    I. Newtonian Mechanics 35%

    A. Kinematics (including vectors, vector algebra, 7%

    components of vectors, coordinate systems,

    displacement, velocity, and acceleration)

    1. Motion in one dimension

    2. Motion in two dimensions including projectile motion

    B. Newton's laws of motion (including friction and centripetal force) 9%

    1. Static equilibrium (first law)

    2. Dynamics of a single particle (second law)

    3. Systems of two or more bodies (third law)

    C. Work, energy, power 5%

    1. Work and work-energy theorem

    2. Conservative forces and potential energy

    3. Conservation of energy

    4. Power

    D. Systems of particles, linear momentum 4%

    1. Impulse and momentum

    2. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions

    E. Circular motion and rotation 4%

    1. Uniform circular motion

    2. Angular momentum and its conservation

    3. Torque and rotational statics

    F. Oscillations and gravitation 6%

    1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships)

    2. Mass on a spring

    3. Pendulum and other oscillations

    4. Newton's law of gravity

    5. Orbits of planets and satellites

    a. Circular

    Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics Table Percentage Goals for AP Examinations Physics B

    II. Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics 15%

    A. Fluid Mechanics 5%

    1. Hydrostatic pressure

    2. Buoyancy

    3. Fluid flow continuity

    4. Bernoulli's equation

    B. Temperature and heat 3%

    1. Mechanical equivalent of heat

    2. Specific and latent heat (including calorimetry)

    3. 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)

    Electricity and Magnetism Table Percentage Goals for AP Examinations Physics B

    III. Electricity and Magnetism 25%

    A. Electrostatics 5%

    1. Charge, field, and potential

    2. Coulomb's law and field and potential of point charges

    3. Fields and potentials of other charge distributions

    a. Planar

    B. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics 4%

    1. Electrostatics with conductors

    2. Capacitors

    a. Parallel plate

    C. Electric circuits 7%

    1. Current, resistance, power

    2. Steady-state direct current circuits with batteries and resistors only

    3. Capacitors in circuits

    a. Steady state

    D. Magnetostatics 4%

    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 5%

    1. Electromagnetic induction (including Faraday's law and Lenz's law)

    Waves and Optics Table Percentage Goals for AP Examinations Physics B

    IV. Waves and Optics 15%

    A. Wave motion (including sound) 5%

    1. Properties of traveling waves

    2. Properties of standing waves

    3. Doppler effect

    4. Superposition

    B. Physical optics 5%

    1. Interference and diffraction

    2. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum

    C. Geometric optics 5%

    1. Reflection and refraction

    2. Mirrors

    3. Lenses

    Atomic and Nuclear Physics Table Percentage Goals for AP Examinations Physics B

    V. Atomic and Nuclear Physics 10%

    A. Atomic physics and quantum effects 7%

    1. Photons and the photoelectric effect

    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

    VI. Review for the AP Examination in Physics B ~10 days

    VII. Laboratory Work After the AP Exam ~14 days

    Part of your assessment will involve writing assignments, which will include, but not be limited to conclusion/analysis of labs, essay questions on tests, explanation of answers on homework problems.

    Grading System:

    A 90 – 100

    B 80 – 89

    C 74 – 79

    D 70 – 73

    F 0 - 69

    Tests ……………….. 30 %

    Labs………………... 25 %

    Home/Classwork..…. 15 %

    Projects…………….. 10 %

    Final Exam…………. 20%

    Assessments will involve several writing assignments, which may include, but will not be limited to: test essay questions, current event reactions, formal laboratory write-ups, and essay projects.

    A copy of additional classroom policies will be given out and should be kept in the student's notebook with this course syllabus. Behavior rule violation and tardy consequences will follow the Gwinnett County and Dacula High School guidelines. Parents will be contacted if necessary.

    HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    We will be using an on-line homework service called WebAssign. The cost per student will be $6. Please turn this money in by August 15th, as our first assignment will be due soon after that.

    All coursework corresponds to the objectives listed in the College AP Board Acorn Book.

    **Teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus if necessary.

    Class Policies and Expectations

    • Please note that a student has only 2 days to provide their grade level Attendance Office with an excuse note. After that, the absence is unexcused and a zero has been earned for any assignment that was due that day. Work that is missed due to an absence will be accepted up to five days after an excused absence. It is the student's responsibility to find out about any work missed during an absence.

    • LATE WORK POLICY- Please read carefully. Late work will be accepted with a 20-point deduction. After a progress report has been e-mailed out, the student has 1 week to turn in any new assignments appearing on the report. For those persons who do not have email access their child must request a hardcopy. No late work will be accepted after this period.

    • Students should respect the rights of others and not talk:

      *while the teacher is talking *when another student is talking

      *when independent work has been assigned *during announcements

    • Students are expected to follow all county and school rules as listed in the student handbook.

    • Any copied work will result in both parties receiving a zero.

    Laboratory Policies

    • Absolutely no horseplay in the laboratory.

    • Students should follow all directions from the teacher and in the laboratory handout.

    • The faucets and gas valves should not be touched unless directed by the teacher.

    • At the end of class the lab stations should be cleaned and left as they were found.

    • The use of common sense can greatly reduce any accidents that could occur. Please use your best judgment.

    • Any accidents or injuries must be reported to the teacher immediately.

      Any infraction in any of these classroom or laboratory policies will result in the following discipline:

      1st offense - Warning

      2nd offense - 30 minute detention

      3rd offense - 45 minute detention / call to parent

      4th offense - referral to the administration

      * More severe action will be taken for any major school violations.

      ** The teacher reserves the right to make changes to meet the needs of the individual or class.

      PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN:

    I have read the Course Syllabus, Classroom Policies, and Laboratory Safety handouts for AP Physics and understand the requirements, evaluation procedures, and student expectations. Please also provide an email address for communication and grade reports, if available.

    Student Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent's email address(es) (please print or send it to me at jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us)

    Email #1:____________________@_____________ Email #2: ________________@__________

    PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN:

    I have read the Course Syllabus, Classroom Policies, and Laboratory Safety handouts for AP Physics and understand the requirements, evaluation procedures, and student expectations. Please also provide an email address for communication and grade reports, if available.

    Student Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent's email address(es) (please print or send it to me at jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us)

    Email #1:____________________@_____________ Email #2: ________________@__________

    PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN:

    I have read the Course Syllabus, Classroom Policies, and Laboratory Safety handouts for AP Physics and understand the requirements, evaluation procedures, and student expectations. Please also provide an email address for communication and grade reports, if available.

    Student Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent's email address(es) (please print or send it to me at jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us)

    Email #1:____________________@_____________ Email #2: ________________@__________

    PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN:

    I have read the Course Syllabus, Classroom Policies, and Laboratory Safety handouts for AP Physics and understand the requirements, evaluation procedures, and student expectations. Please also provide an email address for communication and grade reports, if available.

    Student Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent Signature _____________________ Date ___________

    Parent's email address(es) (please print or send it to me at jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us)

    Email #1:____________________@_____________ Email #2: ________________@__________