AP Physics B Syllabus
2011-2012
Grady High School
Instructor: Jeff Cramer
404-524-1094
Text: Serway/Faughn, College Physics
jcramer@mindspring.com
Cost: $110.00
Weekly format: Alternating A/B days, 85 minutes each class period. Q&A on homework, new
content, practice problems, demonstrations, short lab activities.
Course Description:
The Advanced Placement Physics B is an algebra-based course in general physics. It follows the
guideline set by the College Board for content and lab experience, and is equivalent to that
covered in a typical university algebra based physics course. The course will be covered in two
semesters. The emphasis is on understanding the concepts, skills and formulae to solve
problems. Laboratory work is an integral part of the course. The prerequisite for this course is
the first year of general physics. The first year course taught at Grady is heavily lab oriented
and it is expected that students will have kept their lab notebook and can refer to it regularly
during the AP year.
Evaluation:
Homework
Quizzes
Labs
Final Exam
50%
30%
10%
10%
It is expected that all students who begin the AP Physics course will sit for the College Board
exam in May. In the unlikely event that a student is unable to take the exam, an equivalent
exam will be given and will count as the final exam for the course.
Proficiency in solving problems comes from practice. You will be assigned approximately 700
homework problems during the year. All will be graded and returned, to be kept in a notebook
for reference. Labs will be open ended, with a problem stated, materials offered and you will
be expected to discover a solution to the problem, either mathematically or graphically, by the
end of the exercise. Labs from the first year class will be referenced often.
Course Content: Access the College Board website and print the topics for Physics B. Note the
weights for each topic and compare with Physics C.
Quizzes will be given with little or no prior notice and will cover any subjects we have discussed.
Students should constantly review ideas to be ready for these tests. Midterm and final will
cover all topics for the term.
Laboratory List: Students are expected to be able to gather and analyze data for the following
concepts.
Graphing density
Graphing motion, constant velocity and acceleration
Prediction and reproduction of kinematic graphs with a motion detector
Determination of acceleration due to gravity
Projectile motion, graphing
Measurement of Hook’s Law constant for a spring
Coefficient of friction – graphical analysis
Centripetal force and Newton’s Law
Derivation of Newton’s second law from graphical analysis
Simple pendulum with a photogate
Conservation of momentum in collisions on an air track
Conservation of momentum in two dimensional collisions
Measurement of specific heat of metals
Measurement of coefficient of linear expansion in metals
Prediction of period of oscillation of a mass on a spring
Ohm’s Law in a simple circuit
Resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff’s laws
Exponential decay in a capacitor, measuring capacitance from area under a curve
Measuring the speed of a standing wave
Speed of sound from resonance in a tube
Measuring image distance for curved mirrors and lenses – ray diagrams
Determining diffraction grating constant using a laser
Investigation of mechanical waves in a ripple tank
Waves in a coiled spring
The AP Physics B exam will be given May 7th, 2012 at 12:00 noon. The exam consists of 70
multiple choice questions in a 90 minute time period. This is followed by 6-8 free response
questions in a second 90 minute slot. Students my use calculators and an equations sheet on
the free response, but not on the multiple choice portion. There is no penalty for missed
multiple choice questions, so educated guesses are encouraged.
Each student should do homework problems independently, but small groups are encouraged
to work together to discuss concepts and check answers with each other. Show all steps in the
solutions. We will try to cover all topics in the text by spring break. The time after the break
will be devoted to working sample problems from released exams. I will be available for after
school and evening group sessions the two or three weeks before the AP exam if you need to
discuss specific problem types and practice working old exams problems. Let’s work together.
____________________________________________________________________________
Student agreement ___________________________________________ Date _________
Parent agreement ____________________________________________ Date _________