AP Physics 1
Instructor: Mr. Kuffer
Course Overview
Prerequisites
1. 80% or higher in Honors Algebra 2 (3202); or higher level math course; or 90% or
higher in Academic Algebra 2 (3103).
2. 80% or higher in Honors Chemistry (4610) or 90% or higher in Academic Chemistry
(4911).
3. Recommendation of prior year's Science Teacher.
Textbook
Cutnell & Johnson Physics 9e
Big Ideas for AP Physics 1
Big Idea 1: Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may
have internal structure.
Big Idea 2: Fields existing in space can be used to explain to explain interactions.
Big Idea 3: The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces.
Big Idea 4: Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems.
Big Idea 5: Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation
laws.
Big Idea 6: Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another
without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the
description of other phenomena.
The Big Ideas for AP Physics 1 are correlated to the content of the course and to the lab
and inquiry-based investigations done throughout the school year in the attached syllabus.
The attached syllabus can be found on the College Board website.
2
NA Course Description
AP Physics 1
No. 4062
Full Year/Full Time AP Wt.
Grades 11, 12 Phase IV
Credit 1.0
This course is designed to meet the demands of the AP Physics 1 syllabus as published by
the College Board. The topics covered include Classical Mechanics, Waves and Sound,
and an introduction to Electric Circuits. This course is equivalent to a one–semester
terminal physics course at the college–level. The course is valuable to the student in two
ways. The experience of having taken a college–level science class in high school will be
a tremendous help when the student is in college. Secondly, the student can earn college
credit by taking the AP Physics 1 exam at the end of the year. This of course depends
upon how well the student does on the exam and the college and major in which the
student enrolls. Please contact the specific college or university for more information.
Mathematics, including trigonometry, geometry, and algebra will be used extensively in
this course to solve problems and develop relationships between physical quantities.
Although it is beneficial to have had Honors Physics or Academic Concepts of Physics
prior to AP Physics 1, it is not required. This course meets five periods each week. Please
note that the science department will be offering AP Physics 2 as a stand-alone course
beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Topics of study in AP Physics 1 will include:
-
Kinematics
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Torque
Rotational Motion & Angular Momentum
Gravitational and Circular Motion
Work, Power & Energy
Linear Momentum
Oscillations, Mechanical Waves & Sound
DC Circuits
Throughout the year students can expect to employ critical thinking and reasoning skills
as they investigate the topics of study (listed above). Observations obtained from these
inquiry-based experimentations will be supported by physical models.
This course requires that 25% of the instructional time is spent on laboratory work, with
an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to
demonstrate the foundational physics principles. - College Boards
Students should also expect that traditional classwork (homework, quizzes, tests, etc…)
will also be employed and used as a primary assessment tool.
3
Required Materials
Item
Textbook
3-Ring Binder
Description
Cutnell & Johnson Physics 9e
Items handed out will be 3-hole-punched. All items are
expected to be included in your binder.
-
Classroom Notes & Discussion
Homework
Lab Activities
Unit Packet
Equation Sheet
Supplemental Handouts
Lab Notebook
9 ¾ x 7 ¼ Lab Notebook
Calculator
Lab notebooks are instrumental in developing and
demonstrating an understanding of physical concepts
investigated throughout the year.
One of the following calculators:
Other Materials
-
TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver
TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver, TI-83 Plus C Silver
TI-85
TI-86
TI-89, TI-89 Titanium
-
Pencils
Erasers
#2 Pencils
Colored Pencils
Pens
Ruler
4
General Course Outline Courtesy of the College Boards
5
6
7
8
9
10