AP PHYSICS 377 Syllabus

 

Hampton Roads Academy

Instructor: Dr. Robert Williams

Office: Room 21

Contact: 884-9126 (office)

                249-1362 (home)

E-mail: RWilli@hra.org

Web:  http://www.hra.org/~rwilli

 

 

Textbook:  Serway & Faughn: College Physics, 6th Ed., Saunders College Publishing

 

Course Description:

A college level physics course exploring the relationships between matter and energy in nature with applications in daily life.  The emphasis is on problem solving and lab data interpretation. Topics include: mechanics, gravitation, light, sound, waves, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, special relativity, atomic, and nuclear physics.  Students will perform experiments and write lab reports interpreting their lab experiences.

 

Course Objectives: 

·         To guide students into an exploration of the cause-effect relationships in nature manifest in physical laws

·         To encourage students to recognize physics in their daily lives (sports, weather, cell phones, cars, etc.)

·         To provide a broad base exposure to modern scientific theories and their technological applications

 

Methods of Instruction:

·         Lectures covering major concepts with simple problem solving examples and strategies.

·         Classroom discussions and interactive problem solving activities

·         Lunch time help-sessions (available for one-on-one instruction with students in all sections).

·         Use of audio-visual equipment (computer screen projector, laserdisk, videos, etc.).

·         Use of demonstrations (including virtual demos: internet java physics sites).

·         Laboratory experiments to reinforce concepts behind abstract mathematical formalism.  

 

Grading/Student Evaluations:

Students will be evaluated based on their cumulative Lab, Quiz, Test and Exam averages.

The weighting of each course component has been adjusted so that in the first Semester, a maximum of 40 points are earned in each grade period (quarter), with the mid-term exam worth 20% of the Semester I grade. In AP physics there is no final exam (the end of year AP exams do not affect course grades), so the Semester II grades are weighted with a maximum of 50 points  in each (3rd and 4th) quarter (see below). The final course grade will be determined from the average of the Semester I and Semester II grades. The precise method of determining the grades is summarized below:

 

Quarter%  = (0.1*Homework% + 0.1*Lab% + 0.1*QuizAve% + 0.1*Test% )/40*100

 

Semester I 

Semester I Grade%  = 0.4*(1st Quarter% + 2nd Quarter%)  + 0.2*MidTermExam%

 

Semester II

Semester II Grade% = 0.5*(3rd Quarter% + 4th Quarter%) 

 

 

Final Grade% = ½  (Semester I Grade% + Semester II Grade%)

 

++ Lab grades will be determined based on the quality of  lab reports  in each marking period. Guidelines for lab reports will be discussed in class. Lab reports are due exactly one week before the last day of each marking  period.

 

 

 

 

                                                AP Physics Quiz/Test/Exam Dates

 

 

1st Quarter:     Quiz 1.1           Sept. 18

Quiz 1.2           Oct. 12

 Test 1              Oct. 20

 

2nd Quarter:    Quiz 2.1           Nov. 15

Quiz 2.2           Dec. 1

 Test 2               Dec. 11

 

Mid Term Exam: Thursday, Dec. 14th

 

 

3rd Quarter:     Quiz 3.1           Jan. 26

Quiz 3.2           Feb. 22

 Test 3              Mar. 1

 

4th Quarter:    Quiz 4.1           Apr. 2

Quiz 4.2           Apr. 30

 Test 4              May 4

 

 

***** AP Physics Exam: Monday, May 14th *****

 

 

AP Physics 377 Lab Schedule

Semester I

 

1st Quarter:            Reports Due Friday, October 13

 

Lab 1.1                 Vector Nature of Forces: Static equilibrium of coplanar forces;

                                    Graphical and algebraic construction of vectors.

 

Lab 1.2                 Newton’s 2nd Law: Air track/Atwood machine.

 

 

2nd Quarter:           Reports Due Tuesday, December 5

 

Lab 2.1                 Conservation of Energy and Linear Momentum: (2-Dim Elastic Collision).

 

Lab 2.2                 Conservation of Energy and Linear Momentum: (Video Measurement).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AP Physics 377 Lab Schedule

 

 

Semester II

 

3rd Quarter:            Reports Due Friday, February 23

 

Lab 3.1                 Thermodynamics: Calorimetry, Specific Heat, Heat of Fusion, Conduction.

 

Lab 3.2                 Thermodynamics: Ideal Gas Law (Virtual Lab).

 

 

4th Quarter:            Reports Due Wednesday, May 16 (Seniors Fri. May 4)

 

Lab 4.1                 DC Circuits: Series/Parallel Resistors & Capacitors (Kirchoff’s Rules);

Voltage, Current, Power.

 

Lab 4.2                 Thin Lens Optics: Real/Virtual Images;

Apparent Depth, Refraction/Diffraction/Dispersion.

 

 

 

Course Outline:

 

I. Newtonian Mechanics

                A. Kinematics (including vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, acceleration)

                                1. Motion in 1-Dimension (graphical representations; slope/area connections)

                                2. Motion in 2-Dimensions (projectile motion, uniform circular motion)

                B. Newton’s Laws of Motion

                                1. Static Equilibrium.

                                2. One body systems (applications of 2nd law)

                                3. Two body systems (applications of 3rd law)

                C. Work, Energy, Power

                                1. Work-Energy theorem

                                2. Conservative forces and potential energy

                                3. Conservation of energy

                                4. Power

                D. Systems of Particles/Linear Momentum

                                1. Impulse and momentum

                                2. Conservation of linear momentum (collisions)

                E. Rotation/Angular Momentum

                                1. Torque (rotational acceleration and equilibrium)

                                2. Moment of inertia

                                3. Angular momentum (conservation of angular momentum)

                F. Oscillations (Periodic Systems)/Newton’s Law of Gravitation

                                1. Simple harmonic motion

                                2. Mass on a spring

                                3. Pendulum

                                4. Universal Law of Gravitation (orbits, Kepler’s Laws)

 

II. Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics

                A. Temperature and Heat

                                1. Specific and latent heat (calorimetry).

                                2. Heat transfer (Newton’s law of cooling).

                                3. Thermal expansion

                B. Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics

                                1. Ideal gases

                                2. Laws of thermodynamics (Carnot cycle, heat engines, entropy)

 

III. Waves and Optics

                A. Wave motion

                                1. Traveling and standing waves

                                2. Doppler effect

                                3. Superposition (resonance)

                B. Physical Optics

                                1. Geometric Optics (reflection/refraction with mirrors and lenses)

                                2. Interference and diffraction

                                3. Dispersion of light and electromagnetic spectrum

 

 

IV. Electricity and Magnetism

                A. Electrostatics

                                1. Charge, field, potential

                                2. Coulomb’s law

                B. Conductors, Capacitors and Dielectrics

                C. Electric Circuits (equivalent resistance, capacitance, steady state power)

                D. Magnetostatics

                                1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields

                                2. Forces on current carrying wires in magnetic fields

                                3. Magnetic fields of long current carrying wires (Ampere’s Law)

                E. Electrodynamics

                                1. Faraday’s law of induction (AC/DC motors and generators)

                                2. Lenz’s law (polarity of induced EMF)

 

V. Modern Physics

                A. Atomic physics and quantum effects

                                1. Photons and photoelectric effect

                                2. Bohr model of Hydrogen (energy levels, transitions)

                                3. Wave-particle duality

                B. Nuclear Physics

                                1. Radioactivity and half-life

                                2. Nuclear reactions (conservation of baryon number, charge)

                                3. Electroweak unification (W+-, Zo particles)

                                4. Quarks and leptons (color, gluons, strong interactions)

                C. Special Relativity

                                1. Postulates of special relativity (universal laws and invariance of speed of light)

                                2. Length contraction and time dialation (twin paradox)

                                3. Relativistic energy and momentum

 

 

Academic Conduct/Honor Code

Students are expected to respect themselves and others at all times with appropriate behavior, dress, language, honesty, etc.  The student honor code must be strictly obeyed at all times.  Cheating or any other misconduct (eg. plagiarism) will not be tolerated.