Orange High School AP Physics 1 Syllabus – Ms. Varner
The classroom norms, procedures, and consequences for my classroom are intended to keep the
classroom environment safe, orderly, and productive. This is to maximize learning time together.
Parents or guardians are expected to read and discuss these agreements and sign with their child
at the designated position below to indicate understanding and agreement. If you have any
questions, feel free to contact me at varnerji@orange.k12.nj.us
AP Physics 1 Course Outline
Unit 1. Kinematics
a. Decomposition of vectors
b. Composition of vectors
c. Motion in one dimension
d. Motion in two dimensions (Independence of perpendicular components)
e. Displacement in two dimensions
f. Velocity in two dimensions
g. Acceleration in two dimensions
h. Projectile motion
Unit 2. Dynamics
a. Newton’s Laws
b. Free body diagrams in two or three dimensions
c. Determining the net force due to forces acting at arbitrary angles
d. Decomposing forces into perpendicular components
e. Friction when an applied force is at an arbitrary angle
f. Elastic force
Unit 3. Circular Motion and Universal Gravitation
a. Circular Motion
b. Law of Universal Gravitation
c. Net force due to a banked curve
Unit 4. Energy
a. Work, Energy and Power
b. Work when force and displacement are at arbitrary angles
c. Applying Law of conservation of energy
Unit 5. Impulse and Momentum
a. Impulse and momentum
b. The effect of impulse at an arbitrary angle to initial velocity
c. Collisions: Perfectly elastic, perfectly inelastic, inelastic
d. Perfectly inelastic collisions of objects moving in arbitrary directions
e. Perfectly elastic collisions of objects moving in arbitrary directions
f. Inelastic collisions of objects moving in arbitrary directions
g. Conservation of linear momentum with objects moving in arbitrary directions
Unit 6. Simple Harmonic Motion
a. Simple Harmonic Motion
b. Mass-spring Oscillating System
c. Simple Pendulum
d. Oscillation and Energy Transformation
e. Resonance
Unit 7. Waves & Sound Waves
a. Mechanical Waves (Longitudinal and Transverse)
b. Wave Interference and Diffraction
c. Standing Waves
d. Sound
e. Sound Resonance
f. Beats and Beat Frequency
g. Doppler Effect
Unit 8. Rotational Motion
a. Rotational Kinematics and Kinematics Equations
b. Torque and Angular Acceleration
c. Moment of Inertia
d. Rotational Energy
e. Angular Momentum
f. Conservation of Energy and Angular Momentum
Unit 9. Electrostatics
a. Electric charges and their interaction
b. Electric field intensity
c. Potential and Voltage
d. Capacitance and Capacitors
e. Adding electric fields at arbitrary angles
f. Motion of a charged particle traveling at an angle to an electric field
Unit 10. Electric Current and Simple DC Circuits
a. Introduction to Current, Potential Difference, and Resistance
b. Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws
c. Joule’s Law
d. Electric Power
e. Analyzing Simple, Series, and Parallel Circuits using Ohm’s Law and Kirchoff’s Laws
Items Needed
Each student will need a composition journal for lab, a one subject notebook for class, and a 1”
binder for handouts. A black or blue pen or pencil will be needed every day. Students are
expected to have comfortable and safe clothes and shoes.
Classroom Norms
In order for the classroom to be a respectful and safe space for students to express their ideas, the
following rules will be followed by everyone in the classroom.
Attentive Listening: To pay close attention to one another’s expression of ideas, opinions and
feelings; to check for understanding; and to let others know that they have been heard.
Show Appreciation/No Put-Downs: To treat others kindly; to state appreciation for unique
qualities, gifts, skills and contributions; to avoid negative remarks, name calling, hurtful gestures
and behaviors.
Right to Pass/ Right to Participate: To have the right to choose when and what extent one will
participate in a group activity; to observe quietly if not participating actively; and choose
whether to offer observations later to a group when invited to do so.
Mutual Respect: To affirm the value and uniqueness of each person; to recognize and appreciate
individual and cultural differences; and offer feedback that encouraged growth.
Track who is speaking, not the teacher: To look at the person who is speaking and speak to the
rest of the class, not the teacher; and wait for everyone to be looking at you before speaking so
that everyone is paying attention.
Procedures
Everyday students are expected to date their notebook and write the objective down. This will be
part of the grade for the notebooks. Lab notebooks also need to be dated before each experiment.
Homework will be assigned frequently and is due the next time class meets unless otherwise
specified. For each day homework is late 10% of the grade will be deduced. Note that if a student
waits until the next time class meets, there will be a 20% deduction.
When the teacher needs the class’ attention, the teacher will put their hand up with the peace
sign. All students are expected to stop what they are doing, raise their hand with the peace sign,
and look at the teacher silently.
Students are expected to show up every day on time. Students who show up late must sign the
late log and ask another student what they missed so far.
Students who are absent from class are responsible for figuring out what they missed by
checking the class website or asking a student or teacher outside of class time.
As per school rues, bathroom passes are available for the period except for the first and last 20
minutes of the period.
Parents/Guardians and students can check student grades on the online portal.
If a student is struggling in the class, they can come after school for extra help, but must inform
the teacher the day before.
Students need to clean up their area or lab table before the end of the bell. If lab materials are left
out, points will be deduced from the lab grade. Only the teacher may dismiss you from class, not
the bell.
Safety
This class will be very active in experimentation and building. Students need to wear closed toe
shoes and appropriate clothing. Students must follow all safely precautions. If students cannot
keep a safe environment in the lab, then the student will not be able to participate and an
alternate assignment will be assigned. No food or drink is allowed at the lab tables and must be
kept away in a bag near the desks.
Technology
This class will use the internet and other forms of communication. It is the student’s
responsibility to inform the teacher on any difficulty using the internet after school. There will be
times where cellular devices will be permitted in the classroom for academic use only. Electronic
devises should be put away for all other times.
Consequences
Homework is expected to be handed in on time and for every school day that it is late there will
be a 10% deduction.
If a student is behaving inappropriately in the lab, then the students will not be able to participate
and an alternate assignment will be assigned.
If a student breaks rules, disturbs the learning of others, or is not participating, the parents will be
contacted and a parent conference may be scheduled. The teacher can assign detention for
misbehavior or take off up to 5 points from the assignment per infraction.
If a student’s grade drops below a 75%, parent will be notified and mandatory tutoring may be
enforced after school. An action plan may be created to document recommendations from the
teacher.
Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated. Students who copy others’ work or who allow other to
copy will receive a failure for the assignment and administration may be notified. Work must be
cited correctly in APA format.
Offense
1
2
3
4
Consequence
Reminder of rules and conference with the student.
Call parents and give detention.
Conference with parent and teacher.
Referral to administration.
Grades
25% of the grade consists of tests (chapter or unit tests).
20% of the grade consists of quizzes (short assessments).
20% of the grade consists of classwork and participation (discussions, teamwork, problem
solving, daily journals, and assignments).
25% of the grade consists of Authentic Assessment (portfolios, performance assessments,
research, projects, essays, lab reports).
10% of the grade consists of Homework(assignments, checkpoints, essays, research, reading,
problem solving)
Signatures
Student Signature: By signing below, I agree that I fully understand, and will obey the rules and
policies for this class. I also agree that I will give every assignment my best effort, ask questions
when I don’t understand and make honorable choices about my conduct.
Student Signature:
Date:
Print Student Name:
Parent/Guardian Signature: By signing below, I agree that I have read and understood the rules
and policies for this class and will encourage my child to abide by them. I will contact the
teacher if I have questions or if any problem arises.
Parent/Guardian Signature:
Print Parent/Guardian Name:
Date: