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555 AP Physics B (Level 4) - Mr. Siren
555 AP Physics B (Level 4) - Mr. Siren
Teacher: Mr. Christopher Siren
Mr. Siren's Email: csiren at IGNORETHIS gdrsd dot org
Room: 209
Text: Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics: Principles with Applications 6th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2005
Program of Studies Description
Grades 11-12 Level 4 Semester 1 Credit
AP Physics B is a course for college bound students. It is intended to be the equivalent of an overview, first year, non-calculus college physics course. Concepts will be addressed with the use of demonstrations and laboratory analysis. Some of the topics include: rotational mechanics, vibrations and waves, thermodynamics and fluids, electrical circuits, magnetism, light, optics, and elementary quantum mechanics. Students will engage in analysis of physical situations and problems, interpreting them both mathematically and verbally. As concepts are introduced, students will learn about their development in a historical context. This course relies on the same level of mathematics used in 554 Physics: algebra with right triangle trigonometry. Calculus concepts will be mentioned for those students with calculus experience but will not be relied upon.
Prerequisite: 554 Physics with a grade of B or higher or teacher recommendation. Chemistry I is recommended for this course. Course will only run if enrollment meets or exceeds 15 students.
Schedule
AP Physics requires that students purchase their own copy of the text book.
You may be able to find used copies of this book through this yearŐs AP physics students, online (through Amazon or elsewhere) or at college campus bookstores. However, used books may be of earlier editions and we will need to check to see if the problems assigned have different numbers in the older editions. If you plan on ordering a used book, please do so right away, so we can check the assigned problems before break.
Due to the amount of topics on we must address, students have an assignment on modern physics to be done over the summer and fall, before class begins in January. This assignment appears in Unit 9 above.
Course Goals
- To apply prior knowledge of laws of motion, forces and energy to new
situations involving rotation, thermodynamics, electricity and
magnetism, and nuclear reactions.
- To learn fundamental laws of thermodynamics, waves, and
electromagnetism
- To understand the world on the atomic scale through elementary
quantum mechanics and nuclear physics
- To learn about how we can apply those laws to everyday life as well
as more extreme situations such as the evolution of the solar system
and the universe.
- To learn about how scientific knowledge is acquired by designing and
carrying out experiments
- To gain laboratory skills - making measurements, using various lab
equipment, keeping a science lab book, setting up and cleaning up
experiments
- To gain valuable problem-solving skills through the process of
designing experiments and analyzing data
What To Bring To Class Daily
- Covered textbook
- Pens/pencils and scientific calculator
- 3-ring binder with section dividers
- Completed Homework, Assignments, Projects, and Lab Reports
- Lined paper and graph paper for notes, labs and quizzes.
3-Ring Binder Format
Each student is expected to have a 3-ring binder exclusively for science.
This binder should be organized into the following sections:
- List of Assignments
- Notes and handouts
- Completed Homework
- Quizzes and Tests
- Labs
- Project Work
- Miscellaneous
By having all your papers and by keeping them organized throughout the year,
you will be much more effective in preparing for quizzes and exams. To
encourage the habit of organization, your notebook may be checked by me
at any time.
Some pop quizzes will also be designated as open notebook.
Grading Policy for Each Quarter:
| Labs | 25 to 50 points each |
| Quizzes/Homework | 1 to 10 points each |
| Tests | 100 points each |
| Project | 100 points (second quarter only) |
Both announced and pop quizzes will be given frequently throughout
the year to help me evaluate your understanding of new material, lab
preparation, reading comprehension, and homework completion.
You will have tests at the end of each chapter.
You will usually have at least one lab per unit. Some of these labs will
be formal labs, requiring a formal lab report. Others will be mini-labs,
requiring a less extensive write-up.
Collaborative Learning vs. Academic Dishonesty
Please learn the difference between collaborative learning and academic
dishonesty! Collaborative learning is positive and involves constructive
discussion of homework problems and labs with your classmates. However,
what you write down for homework or in you lab notebook must be in your
own words in order to reflect your effort and understanding of
the material. Students who hand in identical work, or work that is
too similar, will experience serious disciplinary
consequences! Note that all quizzes and exams are considered
strictly independent work. While lab partners may share data and discuss
how to address the analysis questions, their final words should be
their own.
General Physics Links
- The publishers of our textbook have a page dedicated to support their text by Giancolli Their support page includes interactive
practice quizzes, additional sample problems, links and application
articles sorted by chapter.
- MIT's Opencourseware project has syllabi, lecture notes, and homework assignments from all their Physics classes. I'm particularly fond of the RealMedia videos of 1999's 8.01/8.02 classes (calculus based introductory mechanics and E&M respectively) presented by Prof. Walter Lewin.
New! 5/24/2007
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