AP Physics / Physics Syllabus
Course Overview:
AP Physics 1 / PHYSICS meet five days per week. AP Physics 1 / PHYSICS is a yearlong algebra-based course . The class is equivalent to an introductory level physics
class. This course is conducted using inquiry- based instructional strategies that
focus on experimentation to enhance and develop the students’ conceptual
understanding of physics. The class will consist of lectures, group problem- solving,
individual problem- solving, and laboratory work. Emphasis will be placed on the
development of critical thinking and problem solving skills through an
understanding of physics phenomena.
Text:
AP PHYSICS: Giancoli
PHYSICS: Holt Physics by Serway and Faughn
EMAIL: rkainth@nlmusd.org
Materials: 3 subject notebook , lined papers, composition notebook ,graph papers,
glue, pens, pencil, ruler, scientific calculators, protractor, flash drive, science poster
boards, pocket folder, highlighter, gloves.
Evaluation: Tests and Quizzes (65 %) Lab Notebook (20%) Homework and
Classwork (10%) Notes 5% Behavior 50 points
Homework Policy:All homework assigned must be completed and turned in on
time (generally, the following day). Homework is due at the beginning of the class
period. Late work will not be accepted. Class work/Homework be assigned from
Monday through Friday.
Assignments that do not meet the standards of high school will not be graded. Grades will be based on
the total points possible and applied to the following scale:
Assignment Makeup: Late work due to excused absence will be accepted without a
penalty. Students have one day for each day absent to turn in homework. Quizzes
and Tests will generally be required to be made up the day of return to school. If
you fail to make up a quiz or test or turn in an assignment on time, you will receive a
“zero” or an “F”.
Labs have to be made up to maintain grades. Online assignments and independent reading will
be assigned at times and would require access to the internet and printer.
Extra Credit Assignments. Several opportunities will be provided to students to earn extra-credit points
by volunteering to participate in projects that include recycling and campus beautification at school or
beach clean-ups in the community.
Class Presentations
All students are expected to present to the class, individually or in groups during the school year. Any
difficulty in presenting to the class or within the group should be brought to the attention of the instructor in
advance via email or by appointment.
All students are expected to clear the Internet Policy at the school library with necessary paperwork and
have a school ID on them at all times. Reference material, Internet access and printing facilities are
available at the school library at different times and students might have to access them without prior
notice.
Course Outline:
Semester 1
Unit 1. Kinematics (CR2a)
 Kinematics in one dimension 
 Vectors: vector components and resultant 
 Kinematics in two dimension: projectile motion.
 Unit 2. Dynamics (CR2b)
 Forces, types and representation – Free Body Diagrams 
 Newton’s First Law 
 Newton’s Third Law 
 Newton’s 2nd Law and its Application 
 Friction 
 Interacting objects : Ropes and Pulleys 
Unit 3. Circular Motion and Gravitation (CR2c) 
 Uniform Circular Motion 
 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion 
 Universal Law of Gravitation 
Unit 4. Energy (CR2f) 
 Work 
 Power 
 Kinetic Energy 
 Potential Energy: Gravitational and Elastic 
 Conservation of Energy 
Unit 5: Momentum (CR2e) 
 Impulse 
 Momentum 
 Conservation of Momentum 
 Elastic and Inelastic Momentum 
Semester 2:
Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion (CR2d)
 Linear restoring forces and simple harmonic motion 
 Simple harmonic motion graphs 
 Simple pendulum 
 Mass-spring systems 
Unit 7: Rotational Motion(CR2g) 
 Torque 
 Center of mass 
 Rotational Kinematics 
 Rotational Dynamics and rotational inertia 
 Rotational Energy 
 Angular momentum 
 Unit 8: Mechanical (CR2j) 
 Traveling Waves 
 Wave Characteristics 
 Sound 
 Superposition 
 Standing waves on a String 
 Standing sound waves 
Unit 9: Electrostatic (CR2h) 
 Electric charge and conservation of charge 
 Electric force: Coulomb’s Law Unit 10: DC Circuits (CR2i) 
Electric resistance
 Ohm’s Law 
 DC Circuits 
 Series and Parallel connections 
 Kirchoff’s Laws 
Instructional Methods and Student Learning (Pedagogies): New topics are
introduced to students initially in lecture format, but students are encouraged to ask
questions and solve problems with the assistance of the instructor as well as with
the assistance of other students in the class during the lecture portion of the course.
Lectures are broken up by student problem solving, during which time students are
encouraged to work with their peers and exchange ideas. The instructor is available
to answer questions, but students are encouraged to use their own knowledge to
communicate their questions to their peers and to the instructor. Hands-on
investigations (described in the Laboratory section below) allow students to
become actively engaged in the learning process. The instructor acts as a guide to
help students in their collaborative development of their physics knowledge.
Laboratory: Labs are placed throughout the course of the year. All lab
experiments are hands-on and encourage students to work together in their lab
groups. The course utilizes guided inquiry in most of the labs that require students
to come up with a way to solve a problem themselves, using provided materials.
Students are required to document all of their work in a lab notebook. The lab
notebook includes a written report for each lab experiment.
Unit 1: Kinematics
1. Project Match the graph – Relationship of position, speed, velocity and
acceleration versus time
2. Egg Drop Free Fall Investigation – Compare the acceleration of egg package
designs dropped simultaneously
3. Vector Addition – Determine the value of the resultant vector using graphical and
analytical methods
4. Rocket and Glider Projectile Motion - Relationship between angle and range
Unit 2: Dynamics
5.Coefficient of Friction – Determining coefficient of friction on an inclined plane
6. Newton’s Second Law- Determining the variation of acceleration of dynamic cart
in two scenarios: (1) total mass of the system is kept constant while net force varies,
(2) net force kept constant and total mass of the system varies.
7. Mousetrap Car – Design and build a car solely powered by a regular mousetrap
and travel a 30o incline.
8. Bridges – Design a bridge with specific specifications that will carry maximum
load
Unit 3: Circular Motion and Gravitation
9. Flying Toy – Determine the tension in the string and the centripetal acceleration
of the flying toy.
10. Galileo’s Ramp – students use ramps at different angles to determine what
happens to the acceleration .
Unit 4: Energy
11. Roller Coaster Investigation – Design a simple roller coaster using provided
materials to verify if the total energy is conserved if no external force is applied.
12.Work on an Inclined Plane – Calculate work done to move a mass
Unit 5: Momentum
13. Air Track - Conservation of Momentum
14. Torque – Determine an unknown mass using translational and rotational
equilibrium
15. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions – To investigate conservation of energy using a
pendulum to determine type of collision
Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion
16. Springs: Use Hooke’s law to analyze the spring constants of different springs
17.Pendulums - Determine the influence of mass, length, angle, and gravity on the
period of a pendulum
Unit 7: Rotational Motion
18. Prosthetic Arm – To design and build an apparatus that replicates the forearm
and biceps muscle system and be able to do tasks such as throwing and relocating
objects and determine the tension when holding different masses.
19. Conservation of Angular Momentum – To investigate how
the angular momentum of a rotating system, respond to changes in in rotational
inertia.
Unit 8: Mechanical Waves
20. Mechanical Waves – To model the two types of mechanical waves with a spring
toy to test whether or not these characteristics affect the speed of a pulse.
21. Speed of Sound: Determine the speed of sound with a tuning fork and a column
of water
Unit 9: Electrostatics
22. Static Electricity Interactions – students use sticky tape and a variety of objects
to make qualitative observations of the interactions when objects are charged,
discharged and re charged.
Unit 10: DC Circuits
23. Voltage and Current- To determine the relationship between the current
through a resistor and a voltage across the resistor
24.Series and Parallel Circuits – Construct electric circuits to verify Ohm’s Law
Unit 11: Electric and Magnetic Field
25. Magnetic Field and Electric Field – To draw the lines of the magnetic field lines
26. Solenoid – To enhance the electromagnetic field
construct and test an electric motor.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Classroom Rules: /Consequences:
27. Electric Motors – To
1. Respect everyone inside and outside the classroom in words and action at all
times. (Phone Call/ Parent Conference / Dean)
2. 100% attention is expected during directed teaching.( Warning + Talk with
Mrs. Kainth /Detention)
3. Ask permission at all times.( Warning/Detention)
4. Full cooperation is a must in doing group activities.(Warning/Lose credit,
Detention)
5. Be punctual in everything. (Warning /Detention/Lose Credit)
6. Cleanliness, neatness and orderliness should be observed in accomplishing all
work.
(Warning, repetition of work, Detention)
7. Safety rules should be strictly followed.(Detention, Lose Credit, Referral)
8. Ask questions and respond politely.( Warning, Detention/Referral)
9. Complete and submit all assignments and projects on time.( Lose Credit/
Detention )
10. Bring the necessary materials daily. All backpacks must be placed under the
desk. (Warning, Lose Credit )
11. Honesty is a must at all times. (No cheating - Lose credit, Detention)
12. Compliance with school policies is mandatory (warning, detention,
confiscation, referral)
13. Copy of Agenda, HW and Reflection (teaching practices and lessons learned)
in your composition notebook, are required as passport for dismissal.
14. Respect, compliance with rules and completed work are mandatory in order
to earn credit from the Substitute Teacher. (Lose credit , Detention, Referral).
15. Use Computer, IPAD, Graphing calculators and other technology responsibly.
All use should only be school related.
Consequences:
1) Warning and Seat / Group change
2) Talk with Mrs. Kainth
3) Behavior Reflection/Phone Call Home/Blackboard
4) Lose EXTRA Credit Behavior Points- 2%
5) Lowers Citizenship Grade consistently after warnings
Materials :
Black/ blue pens
Red pens for correcting
# 2Pencils for tests
3 Subject Notebook –FLT, Agendas
Cornell Notes , HW list and reflection
Lined Papers
Scientific Calculator
Graphing paper
GLUESTICK
Flash Drive
Composition Notebook for Lab oratory
work
Composition Notebook for Projects
Display Board for Projects
Hand Gloves for experiment
SCIENCE PROJECT FORMAT
Title Page
Table of Contents
Abstract
Purpose
Scope
Background Information
Physical Phenomena
Experimental Procedures
Materials & Procedures
Data Table ( at least 3)
Graphs
Analysis and Conclusion
Difficulties and Problems
Recommendation
Acknowledgements
Appendix
Glossary
Ca Standards
Drawings/ Diagrams with label and
Measurements
Pictures
Formulas and Mathematical Calculations
TEACHING PRACTICES
Read with partners
Cooperative Learning
Discussion and Oral Presentation
Technology
Cornell Notes
Organization
Use of Immediate Feedback Techniques
(White Board, True or False, ABCDE
letter choices)
Reflection
Scientific Method- Problem Solving
Hands On Activities- Experiments
Team Projects
Competitions
Student Consultation – Before and After
School and Lunch Time if necessary
Immediate Grade Feedback
GRADING SYSTEM
NOTEBOOK – 5%
HW/CW – 10 %
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT AND
PROJECTS – 20%
QUIZZES AND
TESTS-/ BENCHMARKS -65%
EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR –EC 2%
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Mrs. Ruhan Kainth, LA MIRADA HIGH SCHOOL