CLOVIS NORTH EDUCATIONAL CENTER______________________________________
2770 E. INTERNATIONAL AVE. FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93730 (559) 327-5000
Clovis North High School Mrs. Mushegan- AP Physics C
Instructor: Mrs. Mushegan
Email: jessicamushegan@cusd.com
Website: tinyurl.com/jessicamushegan
Remind 101 text: text @jmushegan to 559-697-6733
Room: 181
Class Description
This is a college level calculus based Physics course. All students taking this course must have either
taken calculus or be taking it this year. If you are a junior and have not yet completed calculus, I
recommend you take AP Physics next year. I expect all students who take this course to also take the
Advanced Placement Physics Exam in the spring. Accepting this challenge is a serious commitment.
Text: Serway, Raymond A., and John W. Jewett. Physics for Scientists and Engineers / Raymond A.
Serway; John W. Jewett, Jr. Australia: Thomson Learning, 2008. Print.
Recommended/Required Materials
You are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to bring the following to class:
Textbook: Physics For Scientists and Engineers
Notebook: All students are strongly encouraged to keep a notebook. This is to be a Quadrille 4x4
notebook. You can find this at your local Staples, Office Depot, or Office Max. It is to be
organized according to units covered in the text. This notebook will become an important part of
your science studies.
Scientific Calculator and Graphing Calculator
Course Outline
1st Semester Mechanics:
Unit 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3
Unit 2 Chapter 4, 5
Unit 3 Chapter 6, 7
Unit 4 Chapter 8, 9
Unit 5 Chapter 10, 11
Unit 6 Chapter 13, 15
One Dimensional Motion / Vectors
2-D Motion / Newton's Laws of Motion
Circular Motion / Work and Energy
Potential and Kinetic Energy / Linear Momentum
Rotational Motion / Angular Momentum
Gravitation / Oscillatory Motion
2nd Semester Electromagnetism:
Unit 7 Chapter 23, 24
Electric Fields / Gauss'sLaw
Unit 8 Chapter 25, 26
Electric Potential / Capacitance & Dielectrics
Unit 9 Chapter 27, 28
Current & Resistance / DC Circuits
Unit 10 Chapter 29, 30
Magnetic Fields / Sources of Magnetic Fields
Unit 11 Chapter 31, 32
Faraday's Law / Inductance
Unit 12 Review, Review, Review, Review, and more Review
Class Policies
Attendance: Regular attendance is necessary to succeed in AP Physics. Getting behind in classwork is
the number one reason why students fail this class. It is your responsibility to make up missed
assignments and notes when you are not here.
Basic Class Rules
 Be a good student: punctual, present, prepared, participating.
 Be a good human being: respectful, responsible, reliable
 Be safe: follow lab safety contract, food-free class.
Consequences
If you break a class or school rule the following steps will be followed:
1. Student/Teacher conference
3. After school Detention and phone call home
2. Lunch Detention
4. Referral to Student Services
Grade Determination
A student’s grade will be averaged according to categories Tests are worth 100 points for most subjects
and quizzes are between 15-25 points each. The final will be worth two tests. The number of labs during
a grading period varies according to the subject but I try to have one each week, each worth between 1525 points. The class participation grade includes completion of homework, active participation during
class time, and exemplary conduct during experiments. Homework is given almost daily; it should not
take much longer than an hour.
Tests
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Tests are a mixture of multiple choice and free response questions.
Only pencils and erasers will be allowed at your desk during a test. Calculators may or may not
be allowed. Bring a calculator every day.
Major tests will be announced well in advance. Every effort should be made to be here for a
major test. If you know you will be absent on test day, make arrangements ahead of time to
make-up the test.
If you miss one day before a major test, you will still be required to take the test at the regular
time.
If you are absent on test day, be prepared to take the test the day you return during class time. (An
e-mail is an excellent way to communicate an absence).
Make-up tests: In cases where you have missed many days, the student has 2 days upon returning
to school to make arrangements with the teacher to make up tests. Make-up tests are at the
convenience of the instructor. Students will lose 10% from the exam grade per day late. It is the
student's responsibility to make arrangements to make up exams. If the absence is unexcused, the
student will earn 50% of his score on the test.
Quizzes
They are composed of short answer questions. Quizzes may or may NOT be announced and will be
administered weekly or biweekly.
Laboratory Work
 The AP College Board requires that students keep a lab journal which colleges may ask to review
for AP credit. Therefore, students are required to keep a notebook. Students are expected to
follow safety guidelines at all times.
 Every student is required to sign a lab safety agreement. Failure to observe all safety rules during
an experiment will result in expulsion from the lab and a zero for the experiment.
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Experimental procedures and calculations are an important aspect of Physics and may be included
on tests.
Students work in groups to collect data but each lab report must be the student’s own work.
Copying answers to lab questions is not allowed. Copying answers will adversely affect the lab
grade and the class participation grade.
Make-up Labs
You must make arrangements for a make-up lab to avoid receiving a zero on the lab. Sometimes it isn’t
possible to make-up a lab. If this is the case, you will be given an assignment in place of the lab or you
will write the lab report using data you get from me, but will earn 1 letter grade lower. Labs are an
integral part of this course. You will need to know the skills and observations from each lab, even when
it cannot be made up.
Homework
 Homework will be assigned regularly and is due at the beginning of class.
 Homework will be graded on completion, i.e., the students has attempted at least 80% of the
problems.
 Students may collaborate on homework but copying a classmate’s homework is not allowed and
is cheating. Students discovered copying homework will get 0 points for the assignment.
 Homework grades are entered on a unit (not weekly) basis.
Grading Policy
A student's grade is calculated by averaging the total points earned from the following categories: class
work and participation 15%, quizzes 15%, labs 20%, unit tests and final 50%. Students will complete all
class notes, homework, and lab work in a spiral bound notebook. Individual assignments will be checked
on the day they are due. Late assignments will receive partial credit if completed before the notebook is
due. No late work will be accepted for credit after a notebook is graded. Grades will be posted in class
after each exam. Letter grades are assigned based on the following:
The grades will be based on the following scale:
A=100-89.5%, B= 89.4-79.5%, C= 79.4-69.5%, D= 69.4-59.5%, F= 59.4%-below
Note that all grades will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage.
Classwork and Participation
Attendance is essential in the learning process. You cannot expect to succeed if you do not participate in
the daily activities of the classroom. This is a fast moving course. Generally, the ones who participates
the most learn the most. Behaviors that will limit your learning during class time include the following:
1. Not bringing materials (especially calculator) to class.
2. Using cell phones or other electronic devices (besides which they will be confiscated and students
will be referred to students services).
3. Not being ready to work when class starts.
4. Talking when the teacher or another student is speaking.
5. Writing on tables or abusing lab equipment.
6. Not cleaning up your area when you are done (including food and water residue).
7. Not actively participating in-group activities such as labs and white boarding.
8. Work from other classes will not be allowed unless you have finished all of your class work in
my class.
9. Being tardy
Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to perform their own work on all assignments in this course. Dishonesty on an
exam, quiz, homework, classwork, or lab report will result in a grade of zero for that assignment and an
academic dishonesty report will be filed. School policy dictates that parents, department chair, and
administration will be notified, the student will receive a zero on the assignment, and administrators will
enforce other disciplinary action.
Behavior
Students are expected to behave in a mature way that does not detract from the learning environment.
Disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated. Discipline problems will be handled by one or more of the
following ways; teacher-student conference, phone call to parent, detention, teacher-parent conference,
and/or referral to the office.
Lab misbehavior (dangerous lab actions) will adversely affect a student’s class participation grade.
Electronic Device Policy
Any unauthorized electronic device use will adversely affect a student’s grade. All electronic devices
(except calculators) must be in the back of the room during tests. The penalty of a device (on or off)
found on a student during a test will be a zero on the assessment.
Cheating
Students caught cheating and/or assisting others in cheating will result in zeros and referrals for all
students involved. Repeated offenses will result in suspensions.
Homework
AP Physics is a rigorous course that requires practice. Students should expect homework daily. No late
assignments will be accepted.
Labs
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Read and study all laboratory activities to familiarize yourself with the purpose and procedures of
the exercise. You must learn and follow all safety rules. ANY SAFETY VIOLATION and/or
LACK OF PREPARATION during laboratory activities may result in an "F" grade for the
activity without make-up privileges. Hair must be tied back, loose sleeves must be rolled back,
and feet and toes must be fully covered by shoes. No open toed shoes are allowed during lab
days.
Extra Credit
 Students will not need extra credit assignments if they do the required work for the class.
 Extra credit assignments WILL NOT be given to students who are failing due to missing
assignments, late assignment, poor participation, poor attendance, or poor work ethic, and as a
result, poor performance in class.
 Extra credit assignments MAY be given as deemed necessary to enhance lessons, or to help
deepen the learning for students.
Extra Help
There will be a time in the school year where you have questions and need help. I am more than happy to
provide help with assignments, assessment preparation or to clarify any material. My office hours are
Mondays and Wednesdays during lunch. The more effort you put into the homework and classwork the
better you will do. I look forward to an exciting year with you!
Real World Physics
In order for students to become scientifically literate citizens, students are required to use their knowledge
of physics while looking at a real world problem.
 All students will be assigned to several teams, and each team will research sources of energy
(solar, fossil fuels, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, etc.) and the cost-benefit of each. Student
teams will present findings to the class and debate the merits of their assigned energy source.
In addition, students may pick one of the following assignments to complete.
 Students will pick a Hollywood movie and will point out three (or more) instances of bad physics.
They will present this information to the class, describing the inaccuracies both qualitatively and
quantitatively.
 Students will research a thrill ride at an amusement park. They will present information to the
class on the safety features of the ride, and why they are in place.
Please cut along the dotted line, sign and date below, and return to school with your student.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. During this course students will be viewing segments of the videos “Apollo 13” and “October
Sky.” The students will evaluate the movies by answering targeted questions based on what
they have learned throughout their science studies We will also view segments of Myth
Busters from Discovery Channel. Feel free to call with questions or concerns.
I ________________________ give permission for my child __________________________
to watch “Apollo 13” - “October Sky” and “Myth Busters.” I know and understand the content
of the movie and am fully aware of my child’s participation.
Parent Name:____________________________ Student Name:_________________________
Parent Signature: ________________________ Date: ________________
2. I have reviewed the syllabus, grading policies, safety, and program outline with my child. We are both
aware of the policies and consequences. I will work with my child to help him or her succeed in AP
Physics.
Signature of Parent or Guardian _________________________________ Date_____________
Student signature ________________________________________________ Date__________
Thanks,
Mrs. Mushegan