Course Syllabus - AP Physics C
2015-2016
Instructor:
H. Scott Wiley
Email: scott.wiley@stisd.net
Website: www.wileyphysics.com
Room 214
Conference Periods: 3A, 2B
Course Description:
AP Physics C is a year-long, intensive study of two of the main branches of physics: mechanics and
electricity/magnetism. It is a second-year course in that students must have successfully completed a year of either PreAP Physics or AP Physics 1. Additionally, they should have completed or be currently enrolled in AP Calculus with
strong math skills. An emphasis is placed on the development of problem-solving ability and conceptual
understanding. The calculus is used throughout the course, as well as the mathematics of algebra and trigonometry.
This course follows the typical 1st year university physics sequence required of science and engineering majors.
Successful students will be prepared to pass both of the AP Physics C exams.
Textbook:
Tipler, Paul A., Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th ed. New York: W.H. Freeman, 1999
Although this course will NOT use a textbook, this book is available for checkout upon request.
Classroom Materials:
Each student is required to bring paper, pen/pencils, physics notebook, and a scientific calculator to class every day.
Composition notebooks or loose-leaf paper/binder are suggested.
Class Website:
A class website will be maintained. This site will allow students to check due dates for assignments, download class
handouts, read important announcements, view homework hints, and otherwise support the learning environment.
Students who are absent are well advised to check the site for activities and assignments missed.
Assessment:
A variety of assessments, both formative and summative, will be utilized. They will include oral discussion, peer
tutoring, guided practice, classwork, homework, quizzes, and laboratories. These assessments will help shape the
process of learning BEFORE a TEST is given.
Grades:
Nine weeks grades will be weighted as follows:
Cumulative Exam 1
25 %
Cumulative Exam 2
25 %
Homework
25 %
Lab, Quizzes, Participation, Other 25 %
Cumulative Tests will be given approximately every three to four weeks and will be from 45 to 80 minutes in length.
Tests will be similar in format to the AP Exam (multiple choice and free response) and will include material covered
since the beginning of the year. A scale similar to that used by College Board will be used to assess a numerical grade.
Homework (UT Quest) will be assigned almost every day and will be given a due date/time. If you have difficulty
with them, come in and see me before they are due. Typically, a free 1 day extension will be granted, if requested the
day the homework is due. Assignments that do not meet the online submission deadline must be turned in on paper and
are subject to a late penalty of 5% per day up to the last day of the grading period. Students missing assignments may
be given lunch and/or tutorial detention until they are current.
Laboratory activities will be performed throughout the year, typically on a class basis. They will involve hands-on
set-up, data taking, analysis, and evaluation.
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Quizzes may be given at any time and may not be announced. Typically, these will happen towards the end of a
lecture/discussion to assess the knowledge acquired.
Grade Recovery: Students are provided opportunities and support for maintaining a passing grade throughout the
year. These include (but are not limited to) homework completion, tutorial, partial credit, test corrections, and curved
grading. Failure to take advantage of these opportunities will make the student ineligible for any post-grading
period credit recovery. Do not wait until it is too late, there is NO extra credit.
Cheating:
Cheating infractions are taken seriously and dealt with accordingly. Zeros are given and makeup work is not allowed.
In many instances, i.e. homework, I encourage students to help each other. Copying is not allowed, and when
discovered, all parties are penalized. It is your responsibility to see to it that this does not happen.
Tutorial:
I will make myself available as much as possible to help you be successful in this class. This includes before school,
lunch, and after school (check with me for specifics on this). I will expect to see your notes on the topic when you
come for help. Take advantage of this time. If you don't understand something in class, I am more than happy to try to
explain it another way. Please ask before it is too late.
Classroom Rules:
I have 3 basic non-negotiables:
 SAFETY is NOT AN OPTION.
 PARTICIPATION (including homework) is NOT AN OPTION.
 PROFANITY will NOT BE TOLERATED.
Aside from these, the most important thing is to HELP ME HELP YOU LEARN! This really boils down to showing
RESPECT: for yourself, for your classmates, and for me. No food or drink allowed in classroom. No sleeping. No
doing homework for other classes. No reading other books/ magazines/etc. No listening to music. No game playing.
Come to class ready to learn, and do, PHYSICS!
Cell Phones:
When correctly used, cell phones can be useful learning devices. Unfortunately, they can also be enormously
distracting. In this class, cell phones are strictly prohibited during quizzes and exams, and can otherwise only be used
for the purpose of recording information during demonstrations, discussions, and labs. Students using cell phones
inappropriately will be given a verbal warning first, and if the problem continues, the cell phone will be confiscated
and turned in to the administration.
Other Comments:
As an AP course, one of the primary goals is success on the AP exam given in May by the College Board. A high
score on this exam may allow the student to receive college credit (up to 8 hours) for University Physics. Although
this is a very desirable goal, it is neither the only nor the most important goal. Rather, this course aims to provide the
student with a broad base of knowledge and understanding about the way things work in the world and an ability to use
this knowledge and understanding in analyzing and solving novel problems.
It is very important for students to actively participate in discussions and ASK QUESTIONS when they do not
understand. Remember, there are no dumb questions. (I will strive not to give dumb answers!)
Teacher………………________________________
H. Scott Wiley
Principal…………….._________________________
I. Castillo
Student………………________________________
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Parent/Guardian……..________________________
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