A.P. Physics Syllabus and Curriculum Map
Course Outline
The following is a course content outline with a suggested time line. The percentages are
those listed in the AP Physics Course Description for coverage on the AP Exam.
Chapters relate to our textbook, College Physics 8th Edition by Serway/Vuille and
published by Cengage (Brooks/Cole). Any review for the May 14th AP PhysicsExam
takes place in the seventh period (after school). Review generally consists of released
exams.
Textbook: Serway, Raymond, Vuille, Chris, Faughn, Jerry; College Physics 8th Edition;
Belmont, CA; Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning; 2009
And Conceptual Physics by Paul G. Hewitt Boston, Massachusetts; Pearson; 2009
This book is used to aid in understanding concepts for the multiple choice exam section.
0.) Scientific Method of Investigation
Academic Expectations (NGSS – HS-PS 2-6)
2.1 Students understand scientific ways of thinking and working and use those methods
to solve real-life problems. (2 Weeks) (End of Aug) C.P. Chap 1
0) Laboratory SAFETY and Measurement
1) Defining the Problem (Mentos Fountain Experiment)
Science Practice 2-7 Open Inquiry 1: Students will design an experiment to test one
variable that effects the height of a Mentos Diet Cola Geyser.
2) Reading and Using Research and Observations to support a Hypothesis
3) Writing a Hypothesis
4) Writing a Procedure with Constants, 1 Variable, and a Control Group.
5) Graphing Data
6) Writing a Conclusion to answer the problem or support a hypothesis based on research
and data.
Assessment: Portfolio Analytical Report (Writing for Publication)
I. Newtonian Mechanics (NGSS HS-PS2-2)(1.2.1, 2.3.1, 4.6.1, 4.6.4, 4.6.6)
Big Ideas 1-4
A. Kinematics ..1.2.1..B.I. 3............................................................................7%
(including vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems,
displacement, velocity and acceleration)
1. Motion in one dimension — Chapter 2 p25 CP Ch 3& 4 (2.5 wks Mid Sept)
Labs: Students will run a 40 yd dash while filmed. Data collected every 5 yds
will be used to calculate velocity and acceleration. Formulas will be calculated in MS
Excel and a graph will be developed simultaneous while viewing the film to discuss how
running form affects velocity and acceleration. An analytical report for the portfolio
will be written to assess competency. Science Practice 1
2. Motion in two dimensions p.54
A Virtual Applet computer program of aircraft and wind speed will be
manipulate by students after making calculations.
a) Projectile motion — Chapter 3 (2.5 wks End of Sept) CP Ch 5
“Shoot the monkey” demonstration Students will engage in Scientific
Argumentation about where to aim a projectile that is shot at the same time as a
target is dropped. Guided Inquiry 3
Lab: Students will calculate speed of a potato cannon using the angle of
trajectory and range. Actual speed will be given using a CBL and Photogate
B. Newton’s Laws of Motion — Chapters 4and9 CP-Ch6
p83.......1.2.1....
(including friction and centripetal force) (3 wks - Oct 21)
1. Static equilibrium — 1st law p85
2. Dynamics of a single particle — 2nd law p86 (Science Practice 6)
Inquiry Lab: A photogate will be used to measure the acceleration of a cart as
mass or force increases. The date will be plotted on TI-84s and direct and inverse
relationships observed. (Guided Inquiry 4) (NGSS HS-PS2-1)
3. Systems of two or more bodies — 3rd law p92 CP – Chap 7
Lab a force table is used requiring equilibrium of 3 forces by calculating a single
th
4 force (Science Practice 2).
C. Work, energy & power - Ch 5, CP-Ch9 (3.5 wks Thanksgiving Break).Big Idea 3-5
4.6.1 4.6.4..5%
1. Work and the work-energy theorem: p119 Open Inquiry Lab 5: Students will use
the length of the skid marks from another students car to calculate the original speed of
the car relating the work done by friction and setting it equal to the kinetic energy of the
car. (NGSS HS-PS3-2 and PS3-3)
2. Conservative forces and potential energy: p141 Guided Inquiry Lab 6 Using a sonic
ranger CBL, students will -1 measure the affects of surface area, mass and air density on
air resistance (NGSS HS-PS3-3)
3. Conservation of energy: p141 Lab: Students will use CBL photogates to calculate
Kinetic energy of a pendulum and note the conservation from the original Potential
Energy (Open Inquiry Lab 7) Crosses 2 Enduring Understandings (L.O. 5.B.4.2
and L.O. 4.C.1.1) (NGSS HS-PS3-1)
4. Power - p143 Lab: Students will calculated work and power to climb stairs while
running and walking
Lab: Students will calculate Mechanical Advantage and efficiency of pulleys and
levers using various configurations. (NGSS HS-PS3-3)
D. Systems of particles, linear momentum — Chapter 6 ..(2.5 wks – Winter break)..4%
1. Center of Mass: demonstrations: tricks listed in Hewlett’s Conceptual Physics Ch11
2. Impulse and momentum p161 CP – Ch8
Big Idea 3-5
3. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions p166 176 (NGSS HS-PS2-1 and 2-3)
Lab: Using an air track and collision carts: students predict the speeds of carts
after an elastic and inelastic collision. Dual photogates & Logger Pro used to collect data.
Midterm Exam
E) Circular Motion and Rotation 4% (2 wks - Jan15) 1.2.1 4.6.1 (Big Idea 1-4)
a) Uniform circular motion — Chapter 7 p190 CP-Chap 10
b) Angular momentum and its conservation (point particles and extended bodies) Ch 8
p249 Students will spin on a revolving table using their arms to adjust their radius and
count the number of rev/sec compared to rotational moments of inertia much like an
iceskater does while spinning. CP – Ch12 Big Idea 3-5
c) Torque and Rotational statics — Chapter 8 p228 Big Idea 3-5
Lab: Students will balance torques placed at various positions on a meter stick
d) Rotational Kinematics and dynamics p246
Whole class discussion: Students will unassembled a Honda Accord engine and
transmission and discuss energy transformations and torque
F. Oscillations and gravitation — Chapter 13 and Chapter 7...(2 wks–Jan30)..2.3.1.....6%
1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships) p432 Big Idea 3,5
2. Mass on a spring Chapter 13 p425
3. Pendulum and other oscillations p439 Big Idea 3,5
Open Inquiry Lab: Using a photogate, students must determine if mass, amplitude of
swing or length of a pendulum determines the period, and develop a pendulum clock with
a period of one second.
4. Newton’s law of gravity Chapter 7 p207 2.3.1 Big Idea 1-4 (NGSS HS-PS2-4)
5. Kepler’s laws (orbits of planets and satellites) Chapter 7 p215 2.3.1 CP-Ch 14
Virtual Lab: Using http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
students will manipulate eccentricities of orbits and discuss energy conservation at
perigee and apogee.
II. Waves and Optics 15% (4.6.2, 4.6.3) NGSS HS-PS4-1,2,3,4,5
Ch13 & Ch 14 CP-Ch25 (3 wks May 19)
A. Wave motion (including sound) ….….5% Big Idea 6 4.6.2
1. Properties of traveling – Chapter 13 p443
2. Properties of standing waves p443 and p475
Demo: Using a oscillating wave generator on a string, students will change the wave
length and frequency.
A dancing flame oscilloscope will be used to measure standing
sound waves in a pipe.
3. Doppler effect — Chapter 14 p468 CP-Ch26
Students will drive past a musical instrument tuner which measures pitch while
blowing the car horn. The pitch drop will be measured and the speed of the car
determined.
4. Superposition p448 and 473
B. Physical Optics …….5% 4.6.2 4.6.3
1. Interference and diffraction — Chapter 24 p790 and 802 CP-Ch31
Inquiry Virtual and Hands On Lab: Demonstrated using a ripple tank and
Crucible Softeware on Computer.
Students can manipulate size and shape of boundary, incoming waves or slits.
2. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum — Ch 22 p742 CP- Ch27&28
A spectroscope will be used to determine the gases on the sun using emission and
absorption lines.
C. Geometric optics — Chapter 22 & 23......CPCh29&30......4.6.2.....................................5%
1. Reflection and refraction p733
Lab: Snells law is used to identify the index of refraction of various substances such as
water, glass and oil
2. Mirrors: Chapter 23 p759 CP – Ch29&30
3. Lenses: Chapter 23 p773 A lens table is used to find the focal length of a lens and
then produce real and virtual images of a candle in the lens or on a screen.
III. Fluid Mechanics, Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics 15% (1.2.1,
1.2.2, 4.6.1, 4.6.4 4.6.6 4.6.7)
A. Temperature and heat — Ch 11 & Ch 10....CP-Ch21(3 wks Feb 21)...4.6.1...4.6.6..2%
1. Mechanical equivalent of heat p352 and 324 CP-24 (entropy)
2. Specific and latent heat: p355 & 359 Lab: Students will measure the calories of energy
in snack foods using a calorimeter CP-Ch23 (Real World Connections) Science
Practice 2 (NGSS HS-PS3-4)
3. Heat transfer and thermal expansion: p328 Bimetalic strips will be demonstrated for
their used in thermostats CP-Ch22
B. Fluid Mechanics
6%
Ch 9 p276 CP-Ch20 (2 wks – March4) 4.6.1. 4.6.6
1) Hydrostatic pressure: p 276 Guide Inquiry Lab: Students will design and build a
hovercraft powered by a household device (power vac) that will lift and float a student
down the hall Science Practice 3
2) Buoyancy: p284 Open Inquiry lab: Students will discover the equality of water
displaced by a submerged or floating object& the buoyant force pushing up on the object.
CP-Ch19
Science Practice 4
3) Fluid flow continuity p290
4) Bernoulli’s equation p293 CP – Ch20
C. Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics.......Chapter 10 & Chapter 12....4.6.6 4.6.7....7%
1. Ideal gases — Chapter 10 CP-Ch20
a) Kinetic model p.340
b) Ideal gas law: p355 Dry Ice will be used to expand a 2L bottle as temperature and
pressure rises under constant volumes. A balloon’s and syringe volume using a Pressure
probe on a CBL will be measure to graph Charles and Boyles Law relationships
2. Laws of thermodynamics — Chapter 12 p385
a) First law (pV diagrams) p388
4.6.6.
b) Second Law (heat engines) p399
4.6.7
4.6.7
CP-Ch24
IV. Electricity and Magnetism 25% 1.2.2 1.2.3.
A. Electrostatics — Ch 15 & Ch16. CP-Ch32&33....(Big Idea 1,3,5)
B. (NGSS HS-PS2-4 and PS 3-5) (1 wks – March 11).
1. Charge, field, and potential p497
2. Coulomb’s law and point charge field and potential of point charges p500 & 538
3. Fields and potentials of other charge distributions
a) Planar
b) Spherical symmetry
c) Cylindrical symmetry
4. Gauss’s Law
lab: Electroscopes will be used to measure static charges made by various
materials rubbing against another.
B. Conductors and capacitors — 1.2.2. Ch 15 and Ch 16 ..(0.5 wks March 15)....4%
1. Electrostatics with conductors p513
2. Capacitors p546
a) Parallel plates p547
b) Spherical and cylindrical
3. Dielectrics
Inquiry Lab: Using pie pans and records students will make a model of a capacitor and
briefly light a fluorescent tube
C. Electric circuits ...Ch 17& Ch 18.. CP-Ch34&35..(2 wks – April 6th)...Big Idea 1,5
1.2.2..........7%
1. Current, resistance, power — Chapter 17 p570
2. Steady-state direct current circuits with batteries and resistors only—
Chapter 18 p594
Students will design, draw schematics and make series, parallel and complex circuits and
measure the voltage, current and resistance using a multimeter comparing the readings to
their calculations of Ohms Law.
Science Practice 5 and Science Practice 7
3. Capacitors in Circuits p607
a) Steady state
b) Transients in RC Circuits
D. Magnetostatics — Chapter 19.....p626....CP–Ch36 (2 wks – April 21)..1.2.1....4%
1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields p630 & 645
2. Forces on current carrying wires in magnetic fields p633
3. Fields of long current carrying wires p633
4. Biot-Savart and Ampere’s Law
E. Electromagnetism — Chapters 20 CP-Ch37…1.2.1………......5%
1. Electromagnetic induction (including Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law) p663,666
Students will make their own electric engine and generator using a bar magnet and
copper coil and show the millivoltage produced. (NGSS HS-PS2-5)
2. Inductance (including LR and LC circuits)
3. Maxwell’s Equations
II. Waves and Optics 15% (4.6.2, 4.6.3) NGSS HS-PS 4-1,2,3,4,5
Ch13 & Ch 14 CP-Ch25 (3 wks May 19)
A. Superposition p448 and 473
B. Physical Optics …….5% 4.6.2 4.6.3
1. Interference and diffraction — Chapter 24 p790 and 802 CP-Ch31
Inquiry Virtual and Hands On Lab: Demonstrated using a ripple tank and
Crucible Softeware on Computer.
Students can manipulate size and shape of boundary, incoming waves or slits.
2. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum — Ch 22 p742 CP- Ch27&28
A spectroscope will be used to determine the gases on the sun using emission and
absorption lines.
C. Geometric optics — Chapter 22 & 23......CPCh29&30......4.6.2.....................................5%
1. Reflection and refraction p733
Lab: Snells law is used to identify the index of refraction of various substances such as
water, glass and oil
2. Mirrors: Chapter 23 p759 CP – Ch29&30
3. Lenses: Chapter 23 p773 A lens table is used to find the focal length of a lens and
then produce real and virtual images of a candle in the lens or on a screen.
V. Atomic and Nuclear Physics….. (NGSS HS-PS 1-8)
(Common Core 4.1 - 1.1.2, 1.2.3, 4.6.3, 4.6.11, 4.6.12)
Taught in Chemistry - Reviewed in Physics by May 23rd)
A. Atomic physics and quantum effects — Chapter 27 & 28 CP-Ch38&39................7%
1. Photons and the photoelectric effect p872
4.6.3
2. Atomic Energy levels Chapter 28 p894
1.1.2
3. Wave-particle duality Chapter 27 p 883
4.6.3
B. Nuclear Physics — Chapter 29 and Chapter 26 CP-Ch39&40………3% 4.6.11
1. Nuclear reactions (including conservation of mass number and charge) p927 4.6.12
2. Mass-energy equivalence p860, 862, 914 4.6.12
Laboratory and Experimental situations: 25% or more of the course time is spent in the
lab. Each examination will include one or more questions or parts of questions posed in
a laboratory or experimental setting. There will be a lab or demonstration activity for
each lettered bullet above These questions are classified according to the content area
that provides the setting for the situation, and each content area may include such
questions. These questions generally assess some understanding of content as well as
experimental skills, as described on the following pages.
Miscellaneous: Each examination may include occasional questions that overlap several
major topical areas, or questions on miscellaneous topics such as identification of vectors
and scalars, vector mathematics, graphs of functions, history of physics, or contemporary
topics in physics.
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