Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions (2014-15)

The AP Physics 1 curriculum is composed of PH424 and PH426:

PH424 Advanced Physics

This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence to help students prepare to take the AP Physics 1 exam. Students must complete both semesters successfully in order to receive an AP credit for the second semester. Both courses are taught at the same level of difficulty. The content is algebra-based; the math corequisite is precalculus. Trigonometry will be used in the course, but will be taught as needed.

Content areas included in PH424 are the study of motion, Newton’s Laws, and conservation of energy and momentum. The course focuses on developing conceptual understanding and problem-solving and laboratory skills. There is a hands-on laboratory component that emphasizes methods of measurement, analysis, and modeling.

Requirements:

Students must have access to a flat-bed scanner, as some assignments will be written on paper.
Each student must take responsibility for a loaner lab kit with equipment for doing hands-on labs.

Corequisite: Precalculus

Required Weekly Webinar: Tuesday, 9-10 PM

Required Sunday WebEx sessions (1-4 PM): Oct. 12, Nov. 16

PH426 AP Physics 1

This is the second semester of a two-semester sequence to help students prepare to take the AP Physics 1 exam. Students must complete both semesters successfully in order to receive an AP credit for the second semester.

Content areas included in PH426 are rotational dynamics, gravitation, oscillations, waves, electric force, and simple electrical circuits. The course focuses on developing conceptual understanding and problem-solving and laboratory skills. There is a hands-on laboratory component that emphasizes methods of measurement, analysis, and modeling.

Requirements:

Students must have access to a flat-bed scanner, as some assignments will be written on paper.
Each student must take responsibility for a loaner lab kit with equipment for doing hands-on labs.

Corequisite: Precalculus

Prerequisite: Successful completion of PH424

Required Weekly Webinar: Tuesday, 9-10 PM

Required Sunday WebEx sessions (1-4 PM): Mar 1, May 3

For reference, here is the description of the AP Physics 2 curriculum to be offered in 2015-16:

AP Physics 2 (offered in 2015-16)

AP Physics 2 is the second course in a 2-year sequence. Content areas included in AP Physics 2 are fluids, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Each student will receive and must take responsibility for a loaner lab kit for hands-on labs.

Students must have access to a flat-bed scanner, as some assignments will be written on paper.

Prerequisite: Completion of AP Physics 1 with a course-ending grade higher than B-.