AP Physics C: Mechanics plus Electricity and Magnetism

Syllabus for 2016-2017

InstructorDr. Rebecca McGowan Jensen

BookRandall Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Google Classroombiav9gq

Materials

You will need a graphing calculator, a spiral for physics notes only (70 or 120 pages, depending on your note-taking), and a 2- or 3-inch binder or folder or portfolio for this class. If you choose a binder, dividers should be handouts and exit tickets, homework, practice quizzes, quizzes, and exams.

Learning Process(25% of your grade)

(Required) Active participation in class, starting at the beginning of class, including note-taking, completion of example problems, and exit tickets. Exit tickets will be graded, but you will have a chance to redo and correct them.

(Required) Minimal homework: You will have 2-3 homework assignments per unit. For Quest HW submitted online by the deadline, your score is the % you get right, regardless of how many attempts it takes. You may turn it in on paper by the exam day for 70%. After the exam day, homework will not be accepted. Other homework is graded on effort for full credit if turned in on time or for 70% if turned in by the exam day.

(Semi-optional) Practice quizzes: Practice quizzes have answers (but not full solutions) on them. Practice quizzes turned in on quiz day will be graded on effort on a 0/70/100 basis. After the quiz, full solutions will be put in the binder and a student’s practice quiz grade will be equal to his or her exam grade on that topic or their practice quiz grade, whichever is higher.

(Optional) Read recommended sections and examples in the book, or work extra practice problems. See the calendar for recommendations.

(Optional) Come to tutoring.

Opportunities for Help

  • I will be tutoring at C lunch and by appointment in the afternoons from 4:15 to 5:15.
  • After the due date for the electronic homework, you may access solutions online. Please see me if you need more help. We will also go over homework in class.
  • Extra calendars will be kept in Room 308 and via Google Classroom. See me to get an extended due date on electronic homework if you are absent for more than one class day.

Assessment

Exams 60%

Quizzes 10%

Learning Process 25%

Participation/Trek/TAG-IT 5%

  • A typical six weeks will have 5-7 homework assignments, 4-5 practice quizzes, and several exit tickets. These make up the “Learning Process” grade.
  • Quizzes will count for 10% of the six weeks grade. If there are at least 3 quizzes, one can be dropped. You will get two “lifelines” per quiz.
  • There will be two exams per six weeks, counting a total of 60% of the six weeks grade.

Cell phones and electronic equipment such as iPods must be turned off and put away during the school day. Cell phones will be taken up on exam days.

Instructions

  • Read the syllabus.
  • If you’ve forgotten your electronic ID (EID) at the University of Texas at Austin go to
  • Add yourself to the class roster online by accessing the website: and using course number TAG05.
  • Fill in (or ask your parent to fill in) the parent contact info.
  • Sign the last sheet of this packet and have your parent sign it, too.
  • Keep the rest of the syllabus but turn that page in by the third class day. It counts as part of your participation grade for the first six weeks. Not turning this page in will count against you.

When you sign the last page, you are affirming that you have read and discussed this material with your teacher and your parent(s). In particular, you have read the Learning Process section and you understand how your grade will be determined. In addition, you have added yourself to the course roster online.

Information for Parents

AP Physics C Rebecca Jensen

I am glad to have your daughter or son in my AP Physics C class. I believe that this is a challenging, fun class that is beneficial whether or not your student decides to pursue a career that uses physics. (Of course, if they want to pursue science, I won’t tell them “no.”) In this class, we will focus on problem-solving techniques, organizing information, and writing clear and concise solutions—all useful skills for a variety of jobs. We will hopefully also make the connections between science and mathematics that will support the content covered in calculus class. Plus, we will work on organizational skills (see the “assessment” section above for information about the notebook requirement) that will be useful for all students regardless of college major.

The AP Physics C exam is on May 8, 2017. I expect every student to take and pass it, with your support and my help.

How to get information about AP Physics C:

  • Ask your daughter or son if you can see the calendars I send home for each unit. They are also accessible via Google Classroom, and they give homework due dates and dates for practice quizzes, quizzes, and major examinations.
  • Email me at school () or home () if you have questions.
  • Please visit during parent conference nights: October 10 and January 19.

What you need to do

  • Tear off this sheet and keep it.
  • Fill out the parent contact information on the next page.
  • Sign and return that page.

Parent Contact Form

AP Physics C

Parents’ names: ______

Email(s): ______

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Phone number(s): ______

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(Please list any numbers – home, cell, or work – that you would like me to have.)

Preferred means of contact: ______

Our signatures below indicate our receiving a course syllabus for this class and access to the associated classroom and campus discipline management plan.

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Student’s Printed Name

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Student’s SignatureDate

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Parent’s Printed Name

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Parent’s SignatureDate