PHYSICS AP SYLLABUS
Chapter 1: Introduction and Mathematical Concepts (Sep 9-11)
Reading:
Chapter1
Scalars and Vectors
Vector Addition and Subtraction
Components of a Vector
Resolve Components in Two Dimensions
Lab Activities:
Simple Pendulum Experiment- finding g at the place
Chapter 2: Kinematics in One Dimension (Sep 14- 17)
Reading:
Chapter 2
Displacement
Speed & Velocity
Acceleration
Kinematic Equations
Freely Falling Bodies
Graphical Analysis of Velocity & Acceleration
Lab Activities:
Instantaneous Speed vs. Average Speed
Position, Velocity, and Acceleration
(Using a Motion Sensor)
Chapter 3: Kinematics in Two Dimensions (Sep 18-24)
Reading:
Chapter 3
Displacement, Velocity, & Acceleration
Equations of Kinematics in Two Dimensions
Projectile Motion
Relative Velocity
Interactive Physics: Simulation 4 Three Cars Racing
Simulation 5 A Boat Crossing the River
Lab Activities:
Bombing Run Finding Range
Projectile Motion Using Photogates
Chapter 4: Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion (Sep 25 – Oct 9)
Reading:
Chapter 4
Concepts of Force and Mass
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Vector Nature of Newton’s Second Law
Types of Forces
Gravitational Force
Normal Force
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces
Tension Force
Non equilibrium Applications of Newton’s Laws of Motion
Interactive Physics:
Lab:
Simulation 15 Two Blocks and a Pulley
Simulation 16 A Block Moving up a Hill without Friction
Simulation 20 Pulling Three Crates
Acceleration Down an Incline
Atwood’s Machine
Chapter 5: Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion (Oct 13- 22)
Reading:
Chapter 5
Uniform Circular Motion
Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal Force
Banked Curves
Vertical Circular Motion
Satellites in Circular Orbits
Apparent Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity
Interactive Physics:
Simulation 25 Uniform Circular Motion in a Horizontal Plane
Lab Activities:
Centripetal Acceleration
Chapter 6: Work and Energy (Oct 23-29)
Reading:
Chapter 6
Work Done by a Constant Force on a Body
Work- Energy Theorem
Kinetic Energy
Gravitational Potential Energy
Conservative Forces
Non- Conservative Forces
Power
Work Done by a Variable Force
Interactive Physics:
Lab Activities:
Simulation 14 A Crate Pulled Along a Floor
Simulation 18 A Block Moving on a Hill with Friction
Work- Energy Theorem
Chapter 7: Impulse and Momentum (Oct 30 – Nov 9)
Reading:
Chapter 7
Impulse and Momentum
Impulse- Momentum Theorem
Law of Conservation of Momentum
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Collisions in One and Two Dimensions
Interactive Physics:
Lab Activities:
Simulations 24 A Ball Thrown up that Hits the Ceiling
Impulse and Momentum in Collisions
Chapter 10: Simple Harmonic Motion ( Nov 10-17)
Reading:
Chapter 10 (10.1 and 10.4)
Ideal Spring and Simple Harmonic Motion and Reference Circle
Spring Force
Spring Constant
Potential Energy Stored in a Spring
Simple Pendulum
Interactive Physics:
Simulations 31,33,38
Lab Activities:
Simple Harmonic Motion- Mass on a
Spring
Chapter 16: Waves and Sound (Nov 18-23)
Reading:
16.1-16.3, 16.5, 16.9
Nature of Waves
Periodic Waves
Speed of Wave on a String
Nature of Sound
Speed of Sound
Doppler Effect
Lab Activities:
Measuring the Speed of Sound Using a Resonance Tube
Chapter 17: The Principle of Linear Superposition and Interference
Phenomena (Dec 1-8)
Reading:
Lab Activities:
17.1 - 17.6
The Principle of Linear Superposition
The Constructive and Destructive Interference of Sound Waves
Diffraction
Transverse and Longitudnal Standing Waves
Resonance
Beats
Waves on a String
Chapter 18: Electric Forces and Electric Fields (Dec 8-19)
Reading:
18.1-18.8
Static Electricity
Charged Objects and Electric Forces
Conductors and Insulators
Coulomb’s Law
Electric Field
Electric Field Lines
Electric Field Inside a Conductor: Shielding
Chapter 19: Electric Potential Energy and the Electric Potential ( Jan 3-12)
Reading:
19.1, -19.5
Electric Potential Energy
Electric Potential Difference
Electric Potential Created by Point Charges
Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to Electric Field
Energy Stored in Capacitors
Electric Field in Capacitors
Chapter 20: Electric Circuits (Jan 15 –22)
Reading:
Lab Activities :
20.1- 20.4, 20.6-20.9, 20.12
Electromotive Force and Current
Ohm’s Law
Resistance and Resistivity
Electric Power
Series and Parallel Combinations
Internal Resistance
Joule Heating
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Circuit Analysis
Chapter 21: Magnetic Forces and Magnetic Fields (Jan 23-30)
Reading:
21.1-21.5, 21.7
Magnetic Fields
Force that a Magnetic Field Exerts on a Moving Charge
Motion of a Conductor in a Magnetic Field
Magnetic Field Produced by a Current Carrying Rod or Wire
Magnetic Field Produced by a Coil with n Turns
Chapter 22: Electromagnetic Induction (Jan 31-Feb 7)
Reading:
Lab Activities:
22.1 - 22.5
Induced Currents and Voltages
Motional EMF
Magnetic Flux
Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction
Lenz’s Law
Induction- Magnet Through a Coil, Lenz’s Law
Chapter 24: Electromagnetic Waves (Feb 8)
Reading:
24.1 – 24.3, 24.6
Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Speed of Light
Polarization
Chapters 25: Reflection of Light - Mirrors (Feb 9- Feb 17)
Reading:
Chapter 25
Wave Fronts and Rays
Reflection of Light
Images Formed by Plane and Spherical Mirrors
Mirror Equation and Ray Diagrams
Magnification
Spherical Aberration
Lab Activities:
Reflection – Plane and Curved Mirrors
Chapter 26: Refraction of Light - Lenses (Feb 18-23)
Reading:
26.1- 26.3, 26.5 – 26.8
Index of Refraction
Snell’s Law and Refraction of Light
Total Internal Reflection
Dispersion of Light
Prisms and Rainbows
Formation of Images by Lenses
Thin Lens Equation and Ray Diagrams
Magnification
Lab Activities:
The Prism
Snell’s Law
Total Internal Reflection
Refraction- Concave and Convex Lenses
Apparent Depth
Focal Length of a Thin Lens
Chapter 27: Interference and the Wave Nature of Light (Feb 24-Mar1)
Reading:
Lab Activities:
27.1 – 27.3, 27.5, 27.7
Principle of Linear Superposition
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
Thin Film Interference
Diffraction
Dark Fringes for Single Slit Diffraction
Diffraction Grating
Double Slit Interference
Diffraction Grating
Chapter 29: Particles and Waves (Mar 2-9)
Reading:
Chapter 29
The Wave Particle Duality
Black Body Radiation and Planck’s Constant
Photons and Photoelectric Effect
The Momentum of a Photon
Compton Effect
The de Broglie Wavelength and Wave Nature of Matter
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Lab Activities:
The Simple Pendulum: Period and Centripetal Force
Chapter 30-31: The Nature of the Atom and Nuclear Physics ( Mar 10-15)
Reading:
30.1 – 30.2, 30.7, 31.1-31.4
Nuclear Atom
Line Spectra and Energy Level Transitions
X-Rays
Nuclear Structure
The Strong Nuclear Force
The Mass Defect
Nuclear Binding Energy
Alpha Decay
Beta Decay
Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Chapter 12-14: Heat (Extra Session)
Reading:
12.2, 12.7 – 12.8
13.2
14.2 – 14.3
The Kelvin Scale of Temperature
Heat and Temperature Change
Specific Heat Capacity
Heat and Phase Change
Latent Heat of Fusion and Vaporization
Conduction of Heat
The Ideal Gas Law
The Kinetic Theory of Gases
Thermodynamics
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics
Thermal Processes
Isothermal Expansion or Contraction
Adiabatic Expansion or Compression
PV Diagrams
Isochoric and Isobaric Processes
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Heat Engines and Efficiency
Entropy
Lab Activities:
Calorimetric Experiments
Chapter 11 : Fluids ( Extra Session)
Reading:
11.1- 11.10
Mass Density
Pressure
Pressure and Depth in a Static Fluid
Absolute Pressure and Gauge Pressure
Pascal’s Principle
Archimedes Principle and Buoyancy
The Equation of Continuity
Bernoulli’s Equation
Applications of Bernoulli’s Equation
Lab Activities:
Bernoulli’s Principle
AP Physics Course Organization
Tests
One of the major goals of this course is to improve your ability to synthesize and
integrate concepts as you analyze physical systems. As a result, it would be
counterproductive to give you lots of short tests. There will be AP style examinations
towards the next of the year, as they require a three-hour time block. These will be
comprehensive in nature and should give you a taste of what to expect on the AP exam.
Problem Sets
Problem sets will be assigned from the textbook and from test banks on a regular
basis (about one per week). These will be graded and will add to the term grade. At the
end of each major section, Free Response Problems will be assigned to you. This will
significantly increase your problem solving skills.
Additionally, homework problems will be assigned on a daily basis and the answers will
be discussed.
Lab and Interactive Physics Activities
Labs will be assigned every week and the reports will be subsequently graded.
You will be expected to work on the labs with prior preparation based on the directions
given in the folder. You may be required to design experiments, observe and measure real
phenomena, organize, display and critically analyze data, draw inferences from
measurements and communicate results.