AP Physics B Course Syllabus 2015-2016
Mrs. April Glover
Room 338
Email: april.glover@springbranchisd.com
Website: http://ssh.springbranchisd.com/Faculty/Teachers/Science/AprilGlover/tabid/29991/Default.aspx
Textbook
Physics: Principles with Applications Seventh Edition by Douglas C. Giancoli Prentice Hall, 2014
Supplemental Material
Quest Online Homework Service – https://quest.cns.utexas.edu/
This is an online homework service that has a large database of physics problems, including those associated with several
standard textbooks and old physics AP test questions.
Giancoli Text Companion Website: http://cwx.prenhall.com/giancoli/
This site is a companion to your textbook.
National Repository of Online Courses: NROC:
http://www.hippocampus.org/HippoCampus/Physics
This website contains useful supplemental lessons and videos.
Georgia Public Broadcasting Videos: http://www.gpb.org/chemistry-physics/term/physics
Supplemental video lectures and Note Taking Guides may be used for viewing prior to class to prepare students for
interactive problem solving throughout course.
Khan Academy: http://www.khanacademy.org/
Problem solving aid. Use as needed.
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Physics 1 exam. The class meets for 90 minutes every other day. Students
should expect to have homework every night and be prepared to finish labs after school when needed. Students enrolled in this
course should have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Pre-Calculus . Previous completion of Pre AP is optional; however, AP
Physics 1 is designed as a second year Physics course. All students will take practice AP exams in the spring and are strongly
encouraged to take the actual AP exam.
Course Requirements
1. Homework – 30% of the six weeks grade
a. Giancoli Textbook and Handouts: Students will be assigned problems either from the book or additional work for every topic
covered in class. These problems will be done at home. Problems where no work is shown will receive no credit. Typically,
homework will be collected or checked the day it is due. However, I reserve the right to ask for homework up until the unit test.
Students are responsible for keeping tabs on their completed assignments.
b. UT Online Homework - Quest Online Homework Service: Students will register for the class on the UT Homework Online service.
Students will have at least one online assignment due every Thursday. These will consist of old AP Exam questions and more
challenging problems. Each student will have similar problems with different numbers and are encouraged to work together to
apply the concepts taught in class to the challenging problems on the assignment. Typically, these assignments (because of their
importance to success on the AP exam) will be counted as two homework grades.
c. AP Problem Quizzes: Students will take several quizzes per unit as a way to assess learning prior to the end of unit written exam.
Quizzes will count as three homework grades.
2. Labs/Projects – 20% of the six weeks grade
a. Lab Notebook: Generally, four or more labs will be assigned for each Unit. Students will be given time during class to work on the
lab. If additional time is needed, the students will finish the labs after school. Labs will include student directed hands-on labs,
inquiry labs and computer simulation experiences.
b. Lab Report: Each Unit, students will select ONE lab to do a college level write up. Guidelines will be provided.
4. Exams – 50% of the six weeks grade
There will be two exams given for each unit: Multiple Choice and Free Response numerical problems. These exams are typically
given on the same day, though scheduling may necessitate that the two parts are split between two class periods. The assessment
questions will be an ‘AP styled’ exam. Evaluation will be based on the correctness of the answer and the completeness of the work
shown. Each exam will be timed 45 minutes.
5. Final Exam – 20% of the semester grade
A final exam will be given each semester. This test will count for 20% of the semester grade. The test will be written at the same
level of difficulty as the AP exam and will be graded in a similar manner as the AP exam is graded.
Practice AP exam(s) will be given in March in preparation for the AP Physics 1 exam which will be taken on Tuesday May 3, 2016 in
the afternoon. Everyone will take the practice exam and the grade will count as part of your six weeks grade. The second semester
final is a 1.5 hour, comprehensive exam that can be waived if you take the AP 1 Exam.
Tests and Quizzes:
 I will announce the test date at the beginning of each unit so you will have plenty of time to come in for tutoring and
review.
 Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced.
Labs:
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Lab worksheets will be due at the completion of the lab.
For some labs you will also receive a Lab Quiz grade.
Data tables are generally not provided for AP. You and your partner will decide the best way to present the data you collect
using tables, graphs, etc. Bring your own graph paper. I will only provide a trivial amount.
Tutoring:
 Official tutorial times for my physics classes are Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7:15 to 7:40am
 After school tutoring is available some afternoons and mornings from 3:00-3:20 pm and 7:15-7:40.
Homework:
 Homework is your responsibility! I will check your homework for completion and/or accuracy. When covering select
homework problems in class, you should correct your own. You should have every problem completely correct in your
notes. Come prepared to check your work and ask questions.
 Another component of homework will be online assignments through the Quest Online Homework Service. There will be
weekly online assignments for each unit. Assignments will be due at midnight on the due date. Once assignments are
locked you may print a complete answer key. You will receive directions on signing up in the next week.
Make-up Work:
1. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for obtaining and completing any missed assignments. All extra copies of
handouts are kept in the Make UP bin by the door.
2. School district policy states that if you are absent for one day, you have one day to make up any missed work.
3. It is best to find a buddy in class that will bring you missed assignments that day, because with block scheduling, it is easy to
get behind quickly. If you do not understand an assignment, ask for help!
4. If you miss a major test or lab, you must be prepared to come in and make it up the day you return. Science Make Up Tests
are Tuesdays, starting at 3:05 pm. The proctors leave at 4:00 pm, so you need to be prompt. I will announce where they are
being given each week. You will schedule your make up time with me. Failure to make up the test within the district’s policy
of ten days will result in a zero test grade being entered into the grade book.
5. The make up quiz or test will not be the same test taken during the assigned class period.
6. A missed lab must be made up within one week of the absence. Science Make-ups are Tuesday after school. If you know
you cannot make it by the one week time – please see me to schedule.
7. If you miss a class due to an extracurricular activity you are responsible for all work missed the day you return to class.
Lab:
1. Safety in the classroom is imperative! Follow safety warnings given by the teacher. Horseplay in the lab or tampering with
equipment will not be tolerated.
2. A safety agreement must be signed by your parents and returned to me in order for you to participate in a lab.
Late Work:
1. Work is late if it is not turned in by the TARDY BELL
on the day it is due.
2.
No late work is accepted.
Semester 1
Unit 1
Kinematics
Unit 2
Dynamics
Unit 3
Circular and Gravitational Forces
Unit 4
Energy
Unit 5
Momentum
Unit 6
Simple Harmonic Motion
Semester 2
Unit 7
Torque and Rotation
Unit 8
Mechanical Waves and Sound
Unit 9
Electric Charge and Electric Forces
Unit 10
DC Circuits
Unit 11
Review for AP Physics 1 Test
Unit 12
Project