AP Physics

Instructor: Audrey Micinski

Main Textbook: Cutnell&Johnson 5th Edition

Frequently Used Resource:AP Physics Study Guide by Hugh Henderson 2nd Edition

Cioffari’s Experiments in College Physics 8th Ed

Bernard and Epp Laboratory Experiments in College Physics 6th Ed

#1 / Introduction & mathematical concepts
Scalars & Vectors
Units & Dimensional Analysis / Chapter #1 C&J 5th Ed
4,9,12,13,19,22,25,26,
29,39,40,46,53,57
Lab- Adding vectors using the Component Method
AP Physics B Study guide
Hugh Henderson 2nd Ed
Multiple choice
#2 / Kinematics in 1 Dimension
Motion in 1 Dimension / Chapter #2 C&J 5th Ed
19,13,14,16,21,22,25,26,
35,41,47,51,58,61
Lab- Acceleration Down an Incline
Activity- Sketching position vs. time and acceleration vs. time from a given velocity vs. time
From AP- 1988B1
2006B2

AP Physics

#3 / Kinematics in 2 Dimensions
Projectile Motion / Chapter #3 C&J 5th Ed
1-8,13,16,17,19,21,23
Projectile Bingo Problems
Lab-Bungee Jump Acceleration
From APB 1994 problem #1
AP Physics Study Guide
Hugh Henderson 2nd Ed
Multiple choice
#4 / Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Atwood’s Machines
Modified Atwood’s Machines
Elevator Problems
Friction / Chapter #4 C&J 5th Ed
1-8,11,13,18,20,22,23,
28,32,34,35,36,37,39,46,
47,50,58,63,64,65,67,68,
69,72
Labs: Newton’s 2nd Law lab with probes and uniformly accelerated
Motion: The Atwood’s Machine
From APB 2003 B1
1995 B3
1993 b!
1994 B2
AP Physics B Study Guide
Hugh Henderson 2nd Ed
Multiple Choice

AP Physics

#5 / Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion
Uniform circular motion
Universal law of Gravitation
Orbital motion
Horizontal & Vertical loops / Chapter #5 C&J 5th Ed
1,2,3,6,8,12,13,14,15,17,18,
20,21,26,27,29,30,31,36,37,50
Labs: investigating the relationships among the variables affecting the motion of a rubber stopper on a string moving in a horizontal circle
Vertical loop the loop lab: the physics of a marble “roller coaster”
From APB 2001 B1
1999 B5
2000 B1
1998 B1
#6 / Work & Energy
Work
Energy
Power
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of Mechanical energy
Work-Energy Theorem / Chapter #6 5th Ed
1,3,4,7,8,9,18,20,25,26,27,29,31
32,35,36,55,56,57,58,59,68,69,
71,72,74
Labs: energy of a tossed ball & work & energy on an incline
From AP 2001 B1
1992 B1
2004 B1
AP Physics B study Guide
Hugh Henderson 2nd Ed
Multiple Choice

AP Physics

#7 / Impulse & Momentum
Linear Momentum
Impulse-Momentum
Conservation of momentum in one and two dimensions / Chapter #7 C&J 5th Ed
1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,100,12,13,16,
17,18,20,25,26,32
Lab: ballistic pendulum & conversation of momentum in both elastic and inelastic collisions
From AP 1996 B1
2001 B2
1990 B1
2004 C mech1
#8 / Fluid Mechanics
Hydrostatics
Fluid Pressure
Pascal’s Principal
Archimedes Principle
Fluid Dynamics
Continuity Equation
Bernoulli’s Equation / Chapter 11 C&J 5th Ed
5,6,10,11,19,21,23,25,26,31
,33,35,38,42,50,51,53
Lab: Archimedes’ Principle
Finding k constant of
Spring using SHM &
Then also using buoyant force method
From AP 2004 B2
2003 B6
2002 B6

AP Physics

#9 / Thermal Physics
Heat
Thermal Expansion
Ideal Gas Laws & PV diagrams
Kinetic Theory
First Law of Thermodynamics
Second law of Thermodynamics / Chapter 12 C&J 5th Ed
1-8
Chapter 14 C&J 5th Ed
1,2,5,9,10,11,28,29,33
Chapter 15 C&J 5th Ed
1-13,18-24
Lab: Electrical equivalent of heat
From AP 2004B5
#10 / Static Electricity
Coulomb’s Law
Electric Field
Electric Potential Energy
Electric Potential
Capacitors / Chapter 18 C&J 5th Ed
1,3,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,23,27
Chapter 19 C&J 5th Ed
2,4, 6, 17,23,32
Lab: Charging &discharging a capacitor
Electric Field Mapping
From AP 1998B2

AP Physics

#11 / Electrical Current
Ohm’s law
Electrical resistivity,
Power & energy
Kirchoff’s Rules / Chapter 20 C& J 5th Ed
2,7,24,26,39,41,44,48,51,53
Lab: Build a bread board
Circuit that will produce a tone
From AP 1998B4
#12 / Magnetic Fields
Magnetic force on electric current
Magnetic Flux
Electromagnetic Induction / Chapter 21 C&J 5th Ed
1,2,5,26,27,46,53,59,75
Chapter 22 C&J 5th Ed
2,7,13,16,22,32,57,64
From AP 2004B3

AP Physics

#13 / Wave Properties
Standing waves
Beats
Doppler effect
Velocity of a wave on a string
Open & Closed pipes / Chapter 16 C&J 5th Ed
4,6,8,9,13,14,34,35,82,95
Chapter 17 C&J 5th Ed
1,2,3,10,24,26,29,33,49,52
Lab: Standing Waves in a
String
From AP 1995B6
1998B5
2004B4
#14 / Optics
Reflection
Refraction
Snell’s Law
Convex & Concave lens
Convex & Concave mirrors
Geometric optics
Interference patterns
Diffraction
Electromagnetic Spectrum / Chapter 24 C&J 5thEd
2,8,13,14,15, 16,17,19,31,43
Chapter 25 C&J 5th
2,5,10,11,14,16,17
Chapter 26 C&J 5th Ed
2,9,11,25,41,42
Lab: Finding Focal length of concave mirrors & convex lenses
From AP 2001B4

AP Physics

#15 / Atomic & Nuclear Physics
Photoelectric effect
Energy & linear momentum of photon
Energy levels in an Atom
DeBroglie Wavelength
Compton effect / Chapter 29 5th Ed
5,8,10,15,17,23,24
Chapter 30th Ed
8,9,11,12,39,40,41,45
From AP 2004B6

On the next page you will find my lab syllabus. It is also alluded to in each of the above units.

AP Physics Labs- I have a total of 19 labs infused throughout my year long curriculum.

Of those lab acitivities 14 of them require a full lab write up with data analysis and calculations maintained and written up in a lab journal. The other 5 lab activities are more student directed and student driven.

The Formal labs all require one full class period of 55 minutes with the questions & calculations to be done outside of class on their own. The lab activities allow for more

student creative problem solving and are done in class as a group.

I consider the labs in my class to be invaluable. The labs always go hand in hand with the topic that they are covering in class and are meant to add to the understanding of the concepts.

Unit #1- Formal lab- Addition of Vectors. From Cioffari’s Experiments in College Phy

Unit #2- Formal lab-Uniformly Accelerated Motion –From Lab Exp in College Physics Bernard & Epps

Unit #3-Formal lab-Bungee Jump Accelerations-Vernier Lab with probeware

Unit #4-Formal lab-Newton’s Second Law Lab-Texas Instruments Labs with probeware

Unit #4-Formal lab-The Atwood’s Machine-From Cioffari’s Experiments in College Phy

Unit #5-Student Driven Activity-Centripetal Force Lab-(Each group is given a variety of stoppers, a variety of masses and a centripetal force device. The students are asked to take data to determine experimentally the factors that affect the centripetal force. They must use data and graphs to make a case for their prediction of the formula used to calculate the centripetal force.)

Unit #5-Student Driven Activity-The changing forces in a vertical circle(Each group is given 10 pieces of pipe insulation that they can cut open to make a “roller coaster” for a marble. They are given a list of requirements that their “roller coaster” marble must achieve.)

Unit #6-Formal lab-Energy of a tossed ball-Texas Instruments Labs with probeware

Unit #6 –Formal lab- Energy on an incline-Vernier Lab with probeware

Unit #7-Formal lab- Ballistic Pendulum-From Cioffari’s Experiments in College Phy

Unit #7-Formal lab-Conservation of Momentum-From Lab Exp in College Physics Bernard & Epps

Unit #8-Formal lab- Archimedes’ Principle-From Cioffari’s Experiments in College Phy

Unit #8-Student Driven Activity-Finding the k constant of a spring using simple harmonic motion ( Each group is given a variety of springs and asked to find the spring constant using the period of oscillation. I ask the students to choose what variables to change and investigate.)

Unit #9-Formal lab-Electrical Equivalent of Heat-Joule’s Law-From Cioffari’s Experiments in College Phy

Unit #10- Formal lab-Charging & Discharging of a capacitor through resistors-From Laboratory Experiments in College Physics by Bernard & Epps

Unit #10 –Student Driven Activity-Electric Field Mapping (Students investigate using conductive pens and conducting paper and then use a voltmeter to find and map out the equipotential field lines around the shapes that they choose to draw.)

Unit #11- StudentDrivenActivity-Building a metronome on a breadboard & then modifying it to generate different tones (Use basic circuit from Radio Shack’s book

Getting Started in Electronics and then the students can change around the values of the capacitors & resistors to see if they can get different tones.)

Unit #13-Formal lab- Standing Waves in a string-From Cioffari’s Experiments in College

Unit #14-Formal lab- Finding focal length of concave mirrors & convex lens-From Laboratory Experiments in College Physics by Bernard & Epps