AP Physics B Curriculum

This course follows the recommended course outline published by the College Board. AP Physics B is a college-level course taken at the high school setting and follows the recommended course outline published by the College Board for the trigonometry-based Physics B test. The course is appropriate for the advanced math/science student who is considering a major in the sciences or engineering. Students will learn to apply math principles to scientific theory. Class topics will include kinematics, dynamics, energy, and electricity and magnetism. Optional studies of thermodynamics, wave mechanics, geometric optics, and modern physics will also be offered. Students who complete this course and attend 4th quarter night lectures are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Physics B Exam.

1. One or more units of science
2. Must have completed College Algebra/Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus Honors OR may be concurrently enrolled if approved by physics instructor

• Course Objectives - Summary Document (251 kB)
  
  1. Newtonian mechanics
     1. Kinematics (including vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, and acceleration)
     1. Motion in one dimension
     2. Motion in two dimensions, including projectile motion
     2. Newton's laws of motion (including friction and centripetal force)
     1. Static equilibrium (first law)
     2. Dynamics of a single particle (second law)
     3. Systems of two or more bodies (third law)
     3. Work, energy, power
     1. Work and work-energy theorem
     2. Conservative forces and potential energy
     3. Conservation of energy
     4. Power
     4. Systems of particles, linear momentum
     1. Impulse and momentum
     2. Conservation of linear momentum, impulse
     5. Circular motion and rotation
     1. Uniform circular motion
     2. Torque and rotational statics
     6. Oscillations and gravitation
     1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships)
     2. Mass on a spring
     3. Pendulum and other oscillations
     4. Newton's law of gravity
     5. Circular orbits of planets and satellites
  2. Fluid Mechanics and Thermal physics
     1. Fluid Mechanics
     1. Hydrostatic pressure
     2. Buoyancy
     3. Fluid flow continuity
     4. Bernoulli's equation
     2. Temperature and heat
     1. Mechanical equivalence of heat
     2. Specific and latent heat (including calorimetry)
     3. Heat transfer and thermal expansion
     3. Kinetic theory and thermodynamics
     1. Ideal gases
     1. Kinetic model
     2. Ideal gas law
     2. Laws of thermodynamics
     1. First law (including processes on pV diagrams)
     2. Second law (including heat engines)
  3. Electricity and magnetism
  1. Electrostatics
  1. Charge, field, and potential
  2. Coulomb's law and field and potential of point charges
  3. Fields and potentials of planar charge distributions
  2. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics
  1. Electrostatics with conductors
  2. Parallel plate capacitors
  3. Electric circuits
  1. Current, resistance, power
  2. Steady-state direct current circuits with batteries and resistors only
  3. Capacitors in steady-state circuits
  4. Magnetostatics
  1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields
  2. Forces on current-carrying wires in magnetic fields
  3. Fields of long current-carrying wires
  5. Electromagnetic induction
  4. Waves and optics
     1. Wave motion (including sound)
     1. Properties of traveling waves
     2. Properties of standing waves
     3. Doppler effect
     4. Superposition
     2. Physical optics
     1. Interference and diffraction
     2. Dispersion of light and the electromagnetic spectrum
     3. Geometric optics
     1. Reflection and refraction
     2. Mirrors
     3. Lenses
  5. Atomic and nuclear physics
     1. Atomic physics and quantum effects
     1. Photons and the photoelectric effect
     2. Atomic energy levels
     3. Wave-particle duality
     2. Nuclear physics
     1. Nuclear reactions (including conservation of mass number and charge)
     2. Mass-energy equivalence)
• Core Labs - Summary Doc. (81 kB)  |   Process Skills Checklist (421 kB)
  
  1. One-Dimensional Motion Lab
  2. Vectors Lab
  3. Forces and Acceleration Lab
  4. Inertial Balance
  5. Mass and Acceleration
  6. The Law of Inertia
  7. Friction Lab
  8. Linear Momentum Lab
  9. Circular Motion Lab
  10. Work Lab
  11. Power
  12. Ammeters and Voltage Meters; Ohm's Law Lab
  13. Resistors & Series Circuits Lab
  14. Parallel Circuits Properties
  15. Magnetism
  16. Electromagnetic Induction
• Textbook
• BHS Physics Website
• Obsolete Curriculum Map