AP Physics B Objectives

Links:

College Board Topic IV:
Waves and Optics

Topics:

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

Time Range:
6 hours of night lectures

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• A few students may have seen wave topics elsewhere, such as 10th grade Physical Science or chemistry. We have had to drop much of this material from the regular class due to time constraints, but there are labs and handouts available should the topics be treated in class and not night lectures for AP test-takers.
• For waves, demonstrate wave types with a slinky stretched out on the floor. It can show reflection and also standing waves. If done in class, set up lab groups with ripple tanks to see various wave properties.
• Doppler effect is easily demonstrated by twirling a tuning fork on a string.
• Superposition can be illustrated with Halliday & Resnick Java simulations, with beats demonstrated using 880 and 883 Hz tuning forks and Vernier microphone probe attached to computer.
• Demonstrate light diffraction using laser beam and diffraction grating - have students predict maxima locations.
• Show standing waves in pipes using tuning fork above double-tube with water so that pipe length can be easily changed to show and later predict harmonic locations.
• Geometric optics best demonstrated using large lenses, etc. from Blackboard Optics kits, with students following along in constructing ray diagrams. If done in class, use Rive ray boxes and matching mirrors and lenses to study those concepts. Also use large concave and convex mirrors, and hand out boxed lens sets to study lens types.

Aligned Resources:

• Slinky, wave springs, microphone probe and Vernier LoggerPro software, ripple tanks, overhead projector ripple tank, tuning forks, clear acrylic pipe set, singing tubes
• Laser, diffraction grating
• Halliday and Resnick Java Simulation software
• Physics By Pictures software
• Blackboard Optics Kit
• Seven Rive ray boxes with mirrors and lenses
• Old-fashioned meterstick optic benches with lens and mirror holders, etc.
• Large mirrors, boxed lens sets

Revision Date:
November 2001