Course Syllabus

 

AP PHYSICS 1 SYLLABUS

Welcome to AP Physics 1!  This is a rigorous, conceptual, mathematically-based university-level experimental science course which involves study of the world around us.  Some of the major topics are:  motion, forces, gravity, energy, mechanical waves and sound, electrostatics, and DC circuits.  This is a one year course which meets every-other-day, which will be followed by the AP Physics 1 exam in May of 2019.  There is a second course, AP Physics 2, which will be taught during the spring semester and it covers such topics as thermodynamics, fluid statics, electrostatics, more DC circuits, magnetism, optics, and nuclear physics.  This course will have a separate AP exam also given in May of 2019.  It is not necessary to take AP Physics 2 in order to take AP Physics 1.

PREREQUISITES:  A fourth math class that has Math 3 as a pre-requisite is the minimum prerequisite according to the Union County Public Schools Program of Study.  This should be Pre-Calculus Honors.  It is very helpful if the student is concurrently enrolled in Calculus as he/she will need to be able to think and explain things mathematically and conceptually!

Text:  “College Physics” 2nd Edition, by Knight and published by Pearson.   Please take good care of your assigned book.  This is a new book and costs around $150.  If you lose it or damage it you will be charged.  There is an online edition to this text which can be good!  The book will be used as a resource and will not necessarily be used daily.

 

BEHAVIOR:  I expect cooperation in maintaining an environment conducive to learning.  The following general expectations are to be followed:

  1. Be prompt getting to class and into your assigned seat.
  2. Treat others with respect.
  3. Follow directions.
  4. Only open your Chromebook when instructed.
  5. Follow school policy with regards to your cell phone.
  6. Be prepared for class. Have your book, calculator, pen/pencil, notebook/folder, etc. ready when class begins.
  7. Work together with your table group when instructed, but otherwise do your own work. Cheating will not be tolerated.
  8. Do not deface school property. Please do not write on desks, tables, etc.

ASSIGNMENTS:  I will write assignments on the whiteboard.   YOU are responsible for writing the assignment in your assignment notebook and for turning in the assignment on time.  Assignments are normally due at the beginning of class.  LATE HOMEWORK turned in within 1 day will be accepted but subject to 50% grade reduction.  Late lab reports will be docked 10% per day late.  If you are sick the day an assignment is due, it is due the next day you are in class.  If you are absent the day an assignment is given, you have 2 class days to turn it in. 

CANVAS:  I will try and post SmartBoard notes on Canvas daily.  I will also put other pertinent information there as study aides.

GRADING POLICYEach assignment will be given a point value.  Smaller assignments will be worth fewer points.  Term grades will be calculated by using the following formula:

           (your total points)/ (total possible points) X 100 = percentage grade.

Tests will comprise approximately 60-70% of your term grade.  You will also be given grades on labwork, quizzes, notebook, and classwork/homework.  Occasionally we will do a formal lab write-up.  Homework problems will be assigned worksheets and also problems from the book and released AP test items.  The homework assignment is your opportunity to practice.  An honest effort must be shown on every problem.  I do not give extra credit.

CALCULATORS: You will need a graphing calculator for this class.  A TI-84 will be fine.  You will NOT be able to borrow calculators from math teachers this year, so make sure you bring yours to class each day.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:  In addition to a graphing calculator, you will need the following:

Three ring binder (1 inch) for organizing your handouts and assignments.  You may want some dividers…

Metric ruler (15 or 30 cm)

Small plastic protractor

Composition Graph ruled notebook (has 100 sheets, 9 ¾” X 7 ½”.  I have a supply of these from the student store that we will sell for $2.00 each.   This will be your main notebook for the duration of the course.  Please leave the first page blank (front and back).  You will use this page for your table of contents.  You will need to number the pages as you go along. 

Box of Kleenex to bring to the class!  I will try and keep a box of Kleenex at the front of the room.  Hopefully we will have enough to last the semester!

GENERAL COMMENTS:  Much of this course will be guided inquiry and modeling.  This will require you to think and to work collaboratively in small groups.  The purpose of this approach is for you to develop conceptual thinking and analytical processing skills.  This is so important in a subject like physics.

I ask that each of you give your best effort in class.  I expect that you will work hard, to the best of your ability.  Please show your work to your parents as the year goes on.  Parents will be able to view their child’s progress on the Parent Assistant Module.

Extra Help:  If a student is in need of extra help, please ask during class time and/or go to other students or the textbook.  If that is still not enough, I have two official tutoring times that are open to students in any of my classes:  Tuesday AM (7:20-7:50 except when I have morning duties assigned by the administration) and Thursday afternoon (3:00 – 3:30).  If additional tutoring is requested above class time and tutoring times, there are sometimes outside tutors available who charge by the hour.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due