Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Class Structure:
Class generally consists of a combination of lecture; class discussion; and problemsolving.
Anytime a new topic is introduced; discussion is encouraged as to reallife
applications. Problem solving strategies; including clear and careful presentation of
work; are stressed and demonstrated by the teacher. Students are encouraged to work
collaboratively so that different problem solving strategies can be shared between the
students. Students often present their work on the board and discuss their strategy for
solving the problem. If an interesting approach was taken on a problem; then often a
class discussion ensues led by the teacher.
Often; the class will observe computer simulations or videos pertinent to the current
topic. A class discussion is held; guided by the teacher; about what they observed and
they are asked to make predictions about what will happen when certain variables are
changed.
Often the class will be presented with an openended
lab question; such as ?Given a
flying toy; a meter stick; and a balance; find the tangential speed of the toy and the
tension in the string.? Sometimes these questions are presented in the form of a class
discussion. Other times; questions such as these are given as a homework problem;
where they have to write up an experimental procedure.
In all of these class activities (problem solving; discussion of reallife
applications; openended
labs); critical thinking skills are developed.

Laboratory Component:
All labs listed are ?handson?
and the students are required to keep a lab notebook
containing all data and analysis. A 60minute
lab involves a 10minute
discussion the
day before the lab and 50 minutes for completion of the lab.
Topic(s) Lab Title Time
Periodic Motion and Error Analysis The effect of mass; length; and amplitude
on the period of a pendulum
60 min.
Newton's Laws: Statics Calculation of the coefficient of static
friction
60 min.
Projectile Motion Determining initial velocity of a projectile 60 min.
Momentum Conservation 2D
collision and momentum conservation 60 min.
Energy and Momentum Elastic and inelastic collision of lowfriction
carts
100 min.
Vector Algebra Vector addition on a force table 60 min.
Centripetal Force Circular motion with varying tension 60 min.
Torque Rotation of a meter stick by varying
masses and lever arm distances
60 min.
Optics: Geometric Optics Determining the focal length of a lens 60 min.
Optics: Refraction Determining the index of refraction of a
material using Snell's Laws
60 min.
Optics: Interference Determining the wavelength of a light
using twoslit
interference
90 min.
Ohm's Law Calculation of current and voltages using
Ohm's Law
60 min.
Ohm?s Law Series and parallel circuits 60 min.
Fluids: Buoyancy Determining the density of an unknown
material
60 min.
Magnetic Field Mapping magnetic field lines around
various multiple poles magnets
60 min.

Timeline: (Curricular Requirements: Newtonian Mechanics; Fluid Mechanics;
Thermodynamics; Electricity and Magnetism; Waves and Optics; Atomic and Nuclear
Physics)
AP Trimester 1:
Units; Dimensional Analysis
Constant Acceleration Chapter 2
Freefall
Graphical Analysis of Linear Motion
Vectors and Scalars Chapter 3
Projectile Motion
Inertia Chapter 4
Mass; Weight
Newton?s Second Law
Free Body Diagrams
Inclined Planes and Friction
Newton?s Third Law
Uniform Circular Motion Chapter 5
Universal Gravitation
Work; Energy; and Power Chapter 6
Energy Conservation
Conservative and Nonconservative
Forces
Momentum and Impulse Chapter 7
Conservation of Momentum in 1D and 2D
Elastic; Inelastic and Perfectly Inelastic Collisions
Torque and Static Equilibrium Chapter 9
Hydrostatics Chapter 10
Archimedes? Principle
Pascal?s Principle
Equation of Continuity
Bernoulli?s Equation
AP Trimester 2:
Temperature and Heat Chapter 13; 14; 15
Thermal Expansion
Ideal Gas Law and PV
Diagrams
Laws of Thermodynamics
Heat Engines and Carnot Cycle
Electric Charge; Insulators and Conductors Chapter 16
Coulomb?s Law
Electric Field and Field Lines
Electric Potential and Equipotential Lines Chapter 17
Electric Potential due to Point Charges
Capacitance
Current Chapter 18
Resistance
Ohm?s Law
Resistors in Series and Parallel Chapter 19
EMF and Terminal Voltage
Kirchhoff?s Rules
Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Magnetic Fields Chapter 20
Forces on electric charges in B Field
B due to a wire
Mass Spectrometers
Electromagnetic Induction and Faraday?s Law Chapter 21
Transformers and Transmission of Power
AP Trimester 3:
Simple Harmonic Motion Chapter 11
Pendulum
Sinusoidal Nature of SHM
Wave Motion
Interference
Sound Chapter 12
Standing Waves
Strings
Open and Closed Tubes
Doppler Effect
Beats
Electromagnetic Waves Chapter 22
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Reflection Chapter 23
Plane; Concave; and Convex Mirrors
Refraction
Snell?s Law
Total Internal Reflection
Converging and Diverging Lenses
Wave Nature of Light Chapter 24
Doubleslit
Interference
Dispersion
Diffraction by a Single Slit
Diffraction Gratings
Thin Film Interference
Early Quantum Theory Chapter 27
Energy and Linear Momentum of Photon
Photoelectric Effect
Wave Nature of Matter including DeBroglie Wavelength
Compton Effect
Pair Production (E=mc2)
Atomic Spectra incl. Bohr Model
Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity Chapter 30
Alpha; Beta; and Gamma Decay
Conservation of Nucleon Number

School country

School state

School city

High school

School / district Address

School zip code

Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LPHY
• Physics

Approved date

Online / Virtual