AP Physics 1 Course Description and Policies

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to AP Physics 1!  In this course you will learn about forces, energy, and matter -- the things that make up and control our universe, our world, and our selves.  This class should challenge and intrigue your intellect and at the same time help prepare you for life in an increasingly technological society.  This course description is about expectations -- what I can expect of you and what you can expect of me.  

Grading

Homework, Tests, Lab Exercises, etc. all give you the opportunity to earn points.  Your grade at any time is the percentage of points you have earned out of the total possible points.  If and only if you sit for the AP Exam then 5% will be added to the final average (Knox County policy).   Final averages will be rounded to the nearest whole number, and letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A:  90 – 100, B:  80 – 89, C:  70 – 79, D:  60 – 69, F:  0 – 59

Homework - 50 points

For each unit of study there will be one fairly large homework assignment.  To receive credit on the homework assignment all problems must be written out so that the method of solution is evident.  Circle or box your answer.  It must be apparent, in writing, how you arrived at your answer.  In most cases this means showing calculations, equations, and/or algebraic operations -- no matter how simple these may be!  Your solution does not have to be correct to get credit as long as you have made a reasonable attempt to work the problem.

Quizzes – 10 to 50 points

At the instructors discretion there will be quizzes at any time announced and/or unannounced.

Tests - 100 points

Each unit of study will end with an exam covering the stated objectives.  Tests are graded on correctness but partial credit will be given when it is appropriate.

Midterm Exam - 100 points

Final Exam - 15% of total points for the term

The midterm and final are comprehensive exams and will be similar to the unit tests.

Lab Exercises - 40 to 50 points each

There will be many lab exercises during the year.  The point value will be determined by the amount of work required in the reporting of the lab activities.  You will receive more information on lab write-ups at a later date.  At Farragut High School, lab safety is our top priority.  Students will be required to provide and wear long pants that cover the ankle, closed-toe shoes that adequately cover the foot, and splash-proof goggles when lab procedures include glassware, heat, dissection tools and/or the use of chemicals. The science department will not provide lab safety gear to individual students.  The teacher will tell the students a minimum of one day in advance when safety equipment is needed in class for lab.  If a student does not come prepared for lab by following these basic lab safety rules and procedures, a grade of a zero can result for the lab.

Optional Assignments – 25 to 100 points

Students may choose to do certain additional assignments that are alternate forms of assessment.  The value of these assignments will add to the total points possible for that student (and it is therefore not extra credit).  More information can be found online at the website.

Extra Credit - 0 points

I do not believe in giving extra credit.  I think that extra credit renders the grading scale meaningless and encourages the student to be irresponsible.  I do believe in giving extra help.  If you are having trouble making the grade in the class I will be very willing to help you.  Please do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

LATE WORK

Assigned work will have a due date.  Work should be ready to turn in at the beginning of the class period before the bell.  Work turned in after the bell will have 10% deducted.  Work received one day late after the due date will have 20% of the possible grade deducted.  Work received beyond one day late will have another 10% deducted for each additional school day late -- up to a maximum deduction of 40%.  For this purpose the day ends when class begins.  If you are absent from school on the due date or the day before, the due date for you will be extended beyond your return to class the number of consecutive days you were absent.

MAKING UP WORK

You may make-up a test or a lab activity in the case that you have an excused absence from class.  If you are present on the day of the test you must take the test unless you have missed the previous 2 or more days in a row.  It is your responsibility to see me to arrange for the test or lab to be made up.  You have three days upon your return to arrange the make-up.  Failure to do so may result in a score of zero on the missed work.  Preparing and grading make-up tests is a pain for me.  For this reason rescheduling make-ups will be permitted only in extreme cases. 

 TARDINESS

If you are not in your seat when the bell rings you are late to class.  If this happens to you, sign the Attendance Log located near the door.  Do not interrupt class!  If you feel you have a good reason for being late, either see me after class or give me a note from a faculty member.  The policy for unexcused tardies is explained in the student handbook that you received at the beginning of the year.

CHEATING

All tests will be closed book, closed notes.  Calculators are permitted but only for purposes of doing calculations. Homework and Labs are not to be copied!  It is fine to work with a partner or partners on such assignments but in the end it should be your own work that is turned in.  Any student caught cheating will be subject to parent notification and permanent school documentation.  Knox County Schools policy:  Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s ideas, research, or opinion as your own without proper documentation, even if it has been rephrased.  It includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Copying verbatim all or part of another’s written work;

2. Using phrases, figures, or illustrations without citing the source;

3. Paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source;

4. Using all or part of a literary plot, poem, or film without attributing the work to its creator.

Plagiarism is a form of stealing and academic fraud.  Students who are found guilty of plagiarism will have the option of either redoing the assignment within a specified time period and accepting a grade letter drop or taking a zero on the assignment.  Parents should be involved in making the decision.

BEHAVIOR

I expect you to be honest, courteous, tolerant, respectful, and responsible.  There is to be no food or drink in the room at any time.  There should be no cell phones, i-pods, etc visible or audible (will be taken up).

GETTING HELP!

I have tried to anticipate most situations and questions in preparing this description.  However, I know there will always be some circumstances that are impossible to foresee.  Please let me know ASAP if you have some special conditions or problems that may affect your attendance or performance in this class.  I am willing to be flexible if the cause is sufficient.  Also, don't hesitate to seek me outside of class if you are having difficulties.  I care.  After all, it is my job to help you learn and that's what it's all about.  I hope we have a fun and productive year.

I am available for extra help and tutoring before or after school most days – however, the best times for me are:  mornings Tuesday through Friday, and afternoons Monday through Thursday.

Additional information, calendars, due dates, resources, etc. can be found at:

Mr. M’s World:	http://www.milliganphysics.com
Canvas:	https://knoxschools.instructure.com/login
Aspen & Parent:	https://aspen.knoxschools.org/ and https://www.knoxschools.org/aspeninfo
Farragut High:	http://farraguths.knoxschools.org/

Contact me directly at matthew.milligan@knoxschools.org or (865) 966-9775

FEES

There is a $30 AP science lab fee. This fee has been approved by the Knox County Board of Education.  Any students receiving free or reduced price meals may have this fee waived.   Having sufficient funds can have a direct impact on the quality of this course – thank you!  The amount may be paid by cash, check made out to Farragut High School, or online at:   School Cash Online.

Each AP exam costs $98 and this will be collected separately from other fees at a date later in the term.  The exam is given on a day in early May.

Course RESOURCEs

Text:  OpenStax, College Physics. OpenStax CNX. Jun 13, 2017, Paul Peter Urone & Roger Hinrichs http://cnx.org/contents/031da8d3-b525-429c-80cf-6c8ed997733a@9.78

Text:  College Physics – Explore and Apply (2^nd edition), Etkina, Planinsic, and Van Heuvelen

The following videos may (or may not) be shown at some point during the course in physics:

Physics Single-Concept Films                                    SKT Ltd., Ztek Co.

Longitude                                                                    A&E

If you do not approve of a specific resource listed in this syllabus, please make your request to me in writing and an alternative assignment and/or materials will be provided. The request should include your name, the child's name, the specific activity/materials in which you do not want your child to participate or to which you do not want them exposed, and the nature of your objection.  The Knox County School Board affirms that it is essential that the teaching about religion—and not of a religion be conducted in a factual, objective and respectful manner in accordance with the following:  1. Music, art, literature, or drama with a religious theme or basis are permitted as part of the curriculum for school-sponsored activities and programs provided it is essential to the learning experience in the various fields of study and is presented objectively;  2. The emphasis on religious themes in the arts, literature and history shall be only as extensive as necessary for a balanced and comprehensive study of these areas. Such studies shall never foster any particular religious tenets or demean any religious beliefs; and  3. Student-initiated expressions to questions or assignments which reflect their beliefs or non-beliefs about a religious theme shall be accommodated. For example, students are free to express religious belief or non-belief in compositions, art forms, music, speech and debate.

STUDENT MATERIALS

The following materials should be brought to class daily:

☐   Notebook, paper, and pencil/pen of your choice for taking notes and daily class work (Recommended:  3-ring binder)

☐   Graph Paper

☐   Graphing/Scientific Calculator

☐   Ruler with centimeter scale (Recommend:  plastic “see-through” type)

☐   Protractor

AP Physics 1 Course Outline

The course is divided into units of study as listed below.  For most units there will be a 100 pt. test and homework assignment of at least 50 pt.  Some (but not all) units will also include a lab and/or other assignments to be announced.  Each unit lasts about two weeks. 

This course correlates with the guidelines for AP Physics 1 that are established by the College Board (see AP Physics 1 - Course & Exam Description).

Kinematics

position, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration; equations and problem solving for special case of constant acceleration; graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration; significance of slope and area under the curve

Vectors and 2-Dimensional Motion

vector components, addition and subtraction; two-dimensional parametric equations (projectile motion); relative motion and frames of reference

Dynamics and Newton’s Laws

Newton’s Three Laws of Motion; free body diagrams; static and kinetic friction between solids, drag; normal force; weight and mass; forces on an incline; tension, pulleys, & Atwood’s machine 

Periodic Motion and Universal Gravitation

kinematics of circular motion, centripetal acceleration and force; Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, orbital motion; simple harmonic motion:  mass-spring systems and pendulums 

Work, Energy, and Power

work for constant force by dot product; work-energy theorem and kinetic energy; definition of conservative force and potential energy; conservation of energy; mechanical energy; power 

Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum

center of mass; Newton’s Laws for systems of particles; conservation of linear momentum; impulse, force, momentum; elastic and inelastic collisions 

Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum

fixed axis rotational kinematics: angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration; rotational dynamics: torque, moment of inertia; angular momentum, angular impulse; rotational energy; conservation of angular momentum for particles and elliptical orbits 

Electric Force and DC Circuits

charge and Coulomb’s Law, elementary charge, conservation of charge; current, resistance and resistivity, electric potential difference and voltage, DC circuits and Kirchoff’s laws 

Mechanical Waves and Sound

wave parameters: frequency, period, amplitude, wavelength, and speed;  pressure, displacement, and energy; superposition and interference; standing waves, nodes and antinodes; beats