RED LION SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
AP PHYSICS C – MECHANICS
AP PHSYICS C – E&M
COURSE OUTLINE
Papers / Handouts: This year we will be continuing to make a concerted effort to eliminate paper whenever possible. To facilitate this, students will be able to access traditional “handouts” online. Students without Internet access will be provided paper copies as needed. All handouts are available at the instructor’s website: (www.rlphysics.net).
Parents: The best way to contact Mr. Smith is through email: . My classroom phone is 717-246-1611 x3307. My cell is 717-586-9174. You can follow class activites on Twitter @rlsmithb
AP Physics C: A complete course description approved by College Board is available on my website.
Overview: This course has been designed as an independent study. Students electing this course should expect the course to take the same time as a regular course meeting 6 periods per 6 day cycle. The instructor will attempt to meet with all students during planning periods to review materials. The course is designed to be taken after students have completed AP Physics 1 and can be taken currently with AP Physics 2. AP C – Mechanics will take place in the fall semester. AP C – E&M will take place in the spring semester.
Learning activities will consist of online modules and will be supplemented by lectures, videos, computer aids, journal articles, internet resources, and laboratory exercises. For each chapter or unit you will receive a list of assignments. You are expected to complete all assignments to the best of your ability. If a problem arises, see the teacher before or after school. You can find me in either my classroom, the TV Studio or the science department room. I will make my free periods known. Seek out help early so that a small problem does not become a large one.
Online Materials: We use a physical and digital textbook for this class. All students will be provided with a pdf copy and the opportunity to use ePub versions as well. A textbook will also be available in hard copy. Online instructional modules are taken from the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (http://www.archive.org/details/ap_physics_c). Each module consists of lecture with embedded animations and video demonstrations. There are also interactive questions that ask the student to check his/her understanding before proceeding.
Texts: Serway & Jewett, Principles of Physics, 3rd edtion. Copies are available in the classroom. Webassign problems will come from this text. In addition, there are several online texts available to help:
http://www.anselm.edu/internet/physics/cbphysics/index.html - Lots of resources to help. Note: Part 1 is Mechanics and Part 2 is E&M
http://www.lightandmatter.com/area1sn.html
Testing: The AP C exam is equivalent to a 1st year physics semester in Mechanics.
Lab Activities: Most of the lab work for the AP C courses has been completed in AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2. There will be a number of hands on mechanics based labs to be completed.
Additional Materials Needed: There are items which are recommended throughout the year: flash drive (physical or virtual through Dropbox.com), a notebook for class notes, graphing calculator (TI-84, TI-INSPIRE or TI-86 recommended), and regular ruler. If you have a TI-83 plus you will need some APPS – get these in class. An iPod touch, iPhone, iPod or Android device can replace a graphing calculator.
AP Work: Students taking this course are not required to take the AP exam. I am encouraging students to complete work in the class as if they will take the AP exam this May. As the test date approaches I will conduct review sessions in the morning. Students must sign up for the exam in February (you may elect not to take the exam but must pay a small fee around $15). You will take the practice exam prior to making your choice. PLEASE NOTE THAT AP C MECHANICS AND E&M REQUIRE SEPARATE TEST FEES.
AP Test Preparation: As this is a new course there are not a lot of practice tests. However, old physics exams will provide test preparation.
Assessments: Portions of tests and quizzes will be taken from released AP Physics C mechanics free-response questions. These problems require students to use learning from throughout the course rather than just the specific chapter studied most recently. This forces students to develop good problem-solving techniques rather than memorizing strategies to be used for specific problems. The final exam will consist of an entire released exam (multiple choice and free response sections). There is a bank of old tests available for students to use for practice.
Self-Pacing: It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to the schedule for completing homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. The suggested approach for each assignment is as follows:
· Do the reading assignment in the textbook.
· Complete the accompanying online modules.
· Do all assigned WebAssign problems. You may need to review parts of the reading assignment in order to do this.
· Meet with Mr. Smith to discuss issues involving conceptual understanding and/or problem-solving strategies for problems, as needed.
· Schedule quiz or test, if applicable.
If a student falls behind the pace shown on the table, he/she will need to do additional work outside of class in order to get back on schedule. You will need to spend a considerable amount of time outside of class in order to be successful!
Rules of the Room:
- No food or drink is allowed. The only exception is during lunch.
- No gaming. No chatting – online especially. The computers are for academic work.
- No throwing things including into the trashcan.