AP Physics B Course Syllabus
2013-2014
Course Overview:
The AP Physics B course is the second year of physics for most students in the class. Class meets every other day for
one 82-minute block. All AP Physics B topics will be covered by Mid-April to allow for approximately two weeks of
review before the AP exam. Due to the large amount of content covered in such a short period of time, the pace of
this class will be rapid. Topics covered in the first year of physics will be condensed to allow more time for new
topics. The time remaining after the AP exam will be spent on additional topics such as relativity and/or independent
study projects.
Course goals include developing insight, creativity, and exploratory skills to do the following:
(abbreviated from the 2008-2009 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 mathematic reasoning in a physical situation or problem
· Perform experiments, interpret the results of observations and communicate results, including uncertainty
assessment
The course consists of 15 units (listed below) with a test given after the completion of 1-3 units (depending on the
length of the units). Each test consists of 35 multiple choice questions and 3 free response questions, all of which are
taken from previously published AP exams. Homework is assigned every class day, consisting primarily of several AP
free response questions and occasional questions from the textbook. Students are expected to read ahead in the
textbook prior to relevant coverage in class. Depending on time constraints, 15-20 labs are preformed throughout the
year when the objectives correspond with topics being covered. The majority of the labs are presented with a
question or a problem, and the students are led through guided discussion to the formulation of a hypothesis. The
students are expected to design and carry out and experiment to test their hypothesis. They make observations,
collect data, and draw conclusions. Their results are reported in a type lab report and must include an error analysis
and suggestions/improvements for the lab. Students are sometimes required, but always encouraged to use Excel for
graphing and best fit analysis. On non-lab days, class time is primarily structured with a problem review (review of
homework and/or a Do Now), 35-45 minutes of lecture with demonstrations, and discussion of real life applications.
The remaining time is use to complete a wrap up assignment that emphasizes critical thinking skills to solve problems
associated with the lecture/demonstration.
Textbook:
Giancoli, D. (1991). Physics: Principles with Applications, 3rd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Course Outline:
The following is an outline of course topics, each with assigned lengths of time.
Newtonian Mechanics (10 weeks)
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics (1 week) – Chapter 1
1.1 Systems of measure and basic units
1.2 Scientific notation and Greek prefixes
1.3 Equations and concepts
A. Dimensional analysis, converting units
B. Estimations and guesses
C. Precision, significant figures in calculations
1.4 Problem solving strategies and procedures
1.5 Vectors and scalars, graphical solutions, components and resultants
Lab experiments – Mass of air in a room: determine the mass of air in a room and estimate the uncertainty in the
measurement.
Unit 2: Kinematics (2 weeks) – Chapters 2, 3, 5
2.1 Motion in one dimension
A. Position-time and velocity-time graphs
B. Equations of motion under constant velocity or speed
C. Equations of motion under constant acceleration
2.2 Motion in two dimensions
A. Projectile motion
B. Circular motion
Lab experiments – Back and forth motion: qualitatively analyze the motion of objects that move back and forth;
analyze and interpret back and forth motion in kinematics graphs
Unit 3: Motion and Force (2.5 weeks) – Chapters 4, 5
3.1 Static Equilibrium
3.2 Dynamics of a single particle
3.3 Systems of two or more bodies
3.4 Static and kinetic friction
3.5 Law of gravitation
3.6 Kepler's laws
3.7 Applications
A. Inclined planes
B. Atwood's machines
Lab experiments –
1) Acceleration on an inclined plane: determine the mathematical relationship between the angle of an incline and
the acceleration of an object on an incline; Determine the value of free fall acceleration.
2) Atwood machine: Determine the relationships between the masses on an Atwood's machine and the acceleration
3) Terminal velocity: Determine the relationships between the resistive force on stacked coffee filters and their
terminal velocities.
Unit 4: Work, Energy, Power (1 week) – Chapter 6
4.1 Work – kinetic energy theorem
4.2 Conservative forces and potential energy
A. Gravity
B. Springs, Hooke's law
4.3 Total mechanical energy
4.4 Non-conservative forces
4.5 Power
Lab experiments – Conservation of energy: measure energy changes during different types of motion and account for
energy losses.
Unit 5: Linear Momentum (1 week) – Chapter 7
5.1 Conservation of linear momentum
5.2 Impulse
5.3 Two dimensional collisions, center of mass
Lab experiments – Coefficient of restitution: Determine the coefficient of restitution of several objects
Unit 6: Rotational motion (1.5 weeks) – Chapter 8
6.1 Angular quantities, kinematics of rotation
6.2 Rolling motion
6.3 Torque, rotational dynamics
6.4 Rotational kinetic energy
6.5 Angular momentum
Lab experiments – Forces on beams, torques, and diving boards: investigate how forces vary as weight moves on a
beach and how the angle at which a force is exerted relates to the size of the torque.
Unit 7: Equilibrium (1 week) – Chapter 9
7.1 Statics, conditions of equilibrium, solving problems
7.2 Muscles and joints
7.3 stability, balance, elasticity
Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics (5 weeks)
Unit 8: Fluid dynamics (2 weeks) – Chapter 10
8.1 Density and specific gravity
8.2 Pressure in fluids and Pascal's principle
8.3 Buoyancy and Archimedes' principle
8.4 Fluid dynamics
A. Bernoulli's equation
8.5 Surface tensions
Lab experiments – Buoyancy forces: Investigate the buoyancy forces on objects submerged in water.
Unit 9: Thermal Physics (3 weeks) – Chapters 13, 14, 15
9.1 Temperature and thermal energy
A. Mechanical equivalent of heat
B. Heat Transfer and thermal expansion
1) Linear, area, and volume expansion
C. Calorimetry
9.2 Kinetic theory, ideal gases, gas laws
9.3 Joule's experiment
9.4 Phases of matter, change of phase
9.5 Thermodynamics
A. 1st and 2nd law
B. PV diagrams and adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric, and isometric processes
C. Entropy
D. Carnot cycle
9.6 Heat engines and efficiency
Lab experiments – expansion of water: investigate the expansion of water by observing its change in volume with
changes in temperature
1) Boyle's law and compressed air: investigate the compressibility of air under pressure
2) Heat of fusion: determine the heat of fusion of water
Electricity and Magnetism (6.5 weeks)
Unit 10: Electrostatics (1 week) – Chapters 16, 17
10.1 Electric charge, properties of charge
10.2 Insulators and conductors
10.3 Electrical induction
10.4 Electric force and Coulomb's law
10.5 Electric fields and Gauss's law
10.6 Electric potential energy and electric potential
10.7 Capacitance
A. Charge vs. voltage graphs
B. Capacitors in series and parallel
10.8 Applications
Unit 11: Current electricity (2 weeks) – Chapters 18, 19
11.1 EMF, current, resistance, electrical energy, power
11.2 Resistivity
11.3 DC circuits
A. Series and parallel circuits
B. Batteries and internal resistance, terminal voltage
C. Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules
D. Voltmeters and ammeters
E. Capacitors in circuits
F. Applications
Lab experiments –
1) Resistivity of Play-doh – Determine the resistivity of Play-doh
2) Electrical equivalent of heat: investigate how electrical energy is changed into heat energy
Unit 12: Electromagnetism (3.5 weeks) – Chapters 20, 21
12.1 Forces on moving charges in B-field
12.2 Forces of a current carrying wire in B-field
12.3 Fields of straight and coiled wires
12.4 Torque on a current carrying loop
12.5 Electromagnetic induction
A. Magnetic flux
B. Faraday's law and Lenz's law
12.6 Applications
A. Mass spectrometers
B. Motors, generators
Lab experiments – The magnetic field in a slinky: investigate the relationship between the magnetic field and both
the current and the number of turns of a solenoid.
Waves and optics (5 weeks)
Unit 13: Vibrations and waves, sound (1.5 weeks) – Chapters 11, 12
13.1 Properties of waves
13.2 Hooke's law
13.3 Simple harmonic motion
13.4 Energy in an oscillator
13.5 Superposition and interference
13.6 Properties of sound waves
13.7 Energy and intensity of sound waves
13.8 Doppler effect
13.9 Resonance and beats
Lab experiments –
1) Resonance tubes: investigate resonance of sound waves and determine the speed of sound in air
2) Sound waves and beats: measure the frequency, period, and amplitude of sound waves from tuning forks;
Observe beats between the sounds of two tuning forks
Unit 14: Optics (3.5 weeks) – Chapters 23, 24, 25
14.1 Geometric optics
A. Reflection, refraction, Snell's law, internal reflection
B. Images formed by mirrors, lenses
C. Ray diagrams and the think lens/mirror equation
14.2 Physical optics
A. Diffraction and interference
1) Single slit
2) Double slit
B. Dispersion
14.3 Optical instruments
Lab experiments –
1) Diffraction and interference of light: Determine the wavelength of a coherent light source by means of a diffraction
grating
2) Lenses: Determine the focal length of convex lenses
Atomic and Nuclear Physics (2 weeks)
Unit 15: Modern Physics (2 weeks) – Chapters 27, 30, 31
15.1 Atomic physics and quantum theory
A. Photons, photoelectric theory
B. Compton scattering
C. Electron energy levels
D. Wave particle duality, wave nature of matter
15.2 Nuclear physics
A. Atomic mass, mass number, atomic number
B. Mass defect and nuclear binding energy
C. Nuclear processes
1) Radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma)
2) Fission
3) Fusion
D. Mass-energy equivalence and conservation of mass and energy
Lab experiments – Atomic Spectra of H, He – Determine the wavelengths of the spectral lines of hydrogen and
helium.