AP Physics Fall 2013/Spring 2014
Ms. Jessalyn Timson
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
jtimson@bpi.edu ; sltimson@bcps.k12.md.us
Overview of the Course
The Advanced Placement Physics B is algebra-based course in general Physics. Its syllabus is designed by the College
Board. It is equivalent introductory algebra-based university level physics course. This course will be covered in two
semesters. The emphasis in the course is on understanding of the concepts and skills at using the concepts and
formulae to solve problems. Laboratory work will be covered as an integral part of this course. Class meets every day
90 min/day for 180 days. Ninety minutes a day for a full year allows students not only extended opportunities for lab
work and cooperative learning groups, but enough time to get into the entire B curriculum and review for the AP exam.
Peer-coaching, peer-teaching and peer-review are an essential part of our course. Students are encouraged from the
first day to create or join a study group to work with in and out of class – nobody works in a vacuum.
Course Objectives:
Course goals include developing each student’s intuition, creativity and investigative skills to do the following:
(abbreviated from the 2006-07 College Board AP Physics Course Description)
•Read, understand, and interpret physical information.
•Use the scientific method to analyze a particular physical phenomenon or problem.
•Use basic mathematical reasoning in a physical situation or problem.
•Perform experiments, interpret the results of observations and communicate results, including uncertainty assessment.
Curricular Requirement: The course utilizes guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development
of critical thinking skills. The course consists of the following units (italicized in the Course Outline below), with a test
at the completion of each unit. Labs are done at a time to best reinforce the relationships and concepts currently being
studied. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed more on the concepts and method of solution or analysis, and less
on the actual final product or answer. As we get closer to May, the emphasis shifts towards preparing for the AP
Physics exam by reviewing released exams, past free-response questions and test-taking skills.
Textbooks: College Physics, Serway and Faughn
Course Outline: on a separate sheet
Materials needed: A 3 ring binder (or a section in one) with a supply of paper; a supply of pencils, erasers, ruler,
protractor, and scientific calculator
Grading Policy:
Assessments (tests, quizzes, projects)
Homework/classwork (including drills)
Labs/activities
= 50% (1st period grade)
= 30%
= 20% (HW, CW, and labs comprise 2nd period grade)
Extra Credit Policies:
 If you did not receive a perfect score on any in-class assessment (i.e. tests, quizzes), you may come talk to me
about redoing the assessment a within ONE WEEK of receiving the original grade. Your new grade will be the
average of the two assignments.
 Peer tutors: for those who have at least an 85 average. Come during coach class and work with students who
have come for help.
Late/Make-up Work Policies:
 All collected work will be accepted two days only: the day it is due and the day after it is due. Work turned in
on the due date may receive up to full credit; work turned in a day late may receive up to half-credit. No work
will be accepted after that.
 Students with documented excused absences will be given three days to get work from teacher, then seven
days to submit work. Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to make up work.
Reminder: In order to become successful in this course the students must come to class prepared at all times.
Academic honesty will be strictly enforced in this class. Copying of homework, drill, classwork, test and quiz is not
allowed and will not be tolerated. A grade of zero, for the assignment, will be given both to the person who copied and
the person who let others to copy his/her work. Habitual dishonesty will also be referred to the administrators.
Classroom rules:
1. Be respectful:
a. Respect the school
i. Follow all school rules (handbook)
ii. Respect school property (clean up messes, don’t bring food in classroom
b. Respect your teacher
i. Follow all teacher’s directions
ii. Raise hand to be recognized
c. Respect your peers
i. Give classmates full attention
ii. Be positive and helpful
2. Be prepared:
a. Have all materials and assignments ready
b. Homework is done BEFORE class
3. Be engaged:
a. Stay focused and be open-minded
b. Actively participate in group work
Consequences:
1. Verbal warning
2. Loss of participation points
3. Detention
4. Call home
5. Parent conference/ Individual behavior management plan
6. Involve administrator
Coach class: Every Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:05 AM or by appointment. Because I am the soccer coach, I cannot
hold coach class after school. I will be available to meet after school (with some warning) once the season is finished.
Website: Instructions will be passed out. http://bpi.edu/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=124916&type=u
To the student: Please keep this syllabus with the rest of your physics work; it will be your reference for grading
information, classroom policies, and my contact info. If you cannot come to coach class, please set up an appointment
to meet with me another time. I am flexible. I am happy to give help and to see your enthusiasm. Please give me lots of
reasons to give you good grades!!!
To the parents/guardians: Please review the expectations for this course carefully with your son or daughter. When
you are finished, please sign at the bottom of the information sheet, and provide contact information where I can reach
you during the year. Don’t ever hesitate to contact me either by email (jtimson@bpi.edu ), or by requesting my phone
number. I am more than happy to meet with you or answer any questions you might have.
A Final Note:
Because this is an Advanced Placement class, I will be teaching the class with an emphasis on college level work,
NOT college prep. This means that I will be putting a large amount of responsibility on the student. Students will find
that they will not have homework due every day but that does not mean that there is nothing something to do every
night. Students will be responsible for managing their time and seeking help, should they need it. The work for this
class WILL be more rigorous than other classes students will be taking this year because it is AP. The grade earned for
assessments will more closely reflect the anticipated score for the student’s AP exam. Homework, classwork, and labs
provide good practice and study for the AP exam, but tests and quizzes will provide a more accurate representation of
the student’s knowledge and readiness for the actual exam.
I’m looking forward to a great year of physics!
Sincerely,
Jessalyn Timson
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