Advanced Placement Physics

2010-2011

Expectations:

Everyone enrolled in this class is ready for the rigors that will be expected to be successful. Everyone should be ready to work independently to master the concepts that will be presented. It is expected that you have a complete and thorough understanding of the material presented in your first year of physics.

Book

We will be using the text Physics by Giancoli published by Prentice-Hall. I expect that these books will be used hard and should show the signs of normal hard use, not abuse, at the end of the year. This book is an EXCELLENT reference, and should be used as such. You will be expected to bring your text to class on the review days (Typically every Friday). Otherwise, you will need your text wherever you read and complete homework. Students that are successful master the use of the text.

Reading

Reading is very critical. Do not short count this element!! Much of the information I will be giving in class will NOT be from your text book (but from college texts). I will be supplementing your text from other sources. Expect exam/quiz questions based on homework assignments. This text is challenging to read, and VERY different from many other forms of reading. To assist in reading, a “Reading guide” will be available online ( see http://shoemaker.zibings.com) to assist with extracting the information from the text. This guide is not intended to be insulting, but rather to assist in developing the reading skills required in rigorous science and math classes.

Homework

Homework will be assigned as practice with quizzes to follow. Homework will be posted on the TV screen in class and on the website. You are responsible to complete these assignments in preparation for the quizzes and the tests.

Notebook

Notebooks containing all labs completed in AP physics and Level 1 physics are required by the College Board. Within the same notebook, You will also collect all tests, quizzes, and re-written class notes. This notebook will be collected and graded at the conclusion of each marking period. This notebook should be well organized and NEAT!!!

Class notes should appear in this notebook rewritten from class. I expect that you have some type of “Scratch class tablet” onto which you will take notes during class, and solve in-class problems. You will then re-write these notes into your notebook, which will be graded. This is an activity that will assist you during class as it will bring to point items from class that requires more clarification.

Tests/Exams/Quizzes

Tests will be given every 3 weeks. There will be a quiz every Thursday. The quiz will be on the week’s homework. There will be "practice AP exams" and review information from Level I physics given on Friday.

Assessment Project

Group projects are strongly encouraged, as corporate America requires you to work as a team. However, Science Fair projects are also strongly encouraged. Science Fair projects are normally required to be completed on an individual basis. See the website for details.

school email: DShoemaker@mbgsd.org This is a good way to contact me during the day if you happen to be out sick.

web page: http://shoemaker.zibings.com *note* Every student has the opportunity to access the internet. Therefore, information about class activities will be posted here

Content:

Unit I.

Optics

Time: 10 weeks

Geometrical Optics

A. Models of light

B. Reflection

C. Refraction:

D. Thin lenses

E. Ray tracing

F. Spherical aberrations

G. Lens aberrations

II. Optical Instruments

A. Human eye

B. Magnifying glass

C. Cameras and projectors; f-number

D. Compound telescopes

E. Zoom lenses

III. Wave Optics

A. Huygens' principle

B. Interference of light

C. Interference of thin films

D. Diffraction by a single slit

E. Multiple slit diffraction and gratings

F. Resolution and the Rayleigh criterion

G. Dispersion

H. Spectroscopes and the spectra

I. Polarization

Electric Charge and Electric Field

A. Electric charge

B. Coulomb's law

C. Superposition of electric forces

D. Electric fields

E. Electric flux and Gauss's law

F. Electric dipole

II. Electrical Potential and Capacitance

A. Electric potential

B. Equipotential surface

C. Capacitors

E. Electric field in a parallel plate capacitor

F. Dielectric

G. Energy storage in a capacitor

III. Direct current circuits

A. Electric current

B. Ohm's law

C. Resistivity

D. Power and energy in electric circuits

E. Short circuits and open circuits

F. Kirchhoff's rules

G. Simple resistive circuits

H. Thévenin equivalence

I. Capacitors in combination

J. Internal resistance of a battery

K. Home power distribution

I. Magnetism

A. Magnets in electric fields

B. Electric current produces magnetism

C. Magnetic forces

D. Magnetic field due to a current-carrying wire

E. Galvanometers

F. Ampere's law

III. Electromagnetic Induction

A. Faraday's law

B. Motional EMF

C. Generators and motors

D. Transformers

E. Inductance

F. Energy storage in an inductor

G. Maxwell's equations

IV. Alternating Currents

A. The RL circuit

B. The RC circuit

C. Effective values of alternating current

D. Impedance

E. The RCL series circuit

F. Resonant circuits

G. Rectifiers

H. Operational amplifiers