AP Physics B Objectives

Links:

College Board Topic V:
Atomic and Nuclear Physics

Topics:

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)

Time Range:
6 hours of night lectures

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• Cover this topic in optional night lectures for AP test-takers; these topics are part of the in-class Chemistry I and Chemistry II AP curriculum.
• Alpha particle scattering and Bohr model removed from topics list, but they and the still-present photoelectric effect can be demonstrated using Physics By Pictures and other simulation software.
• Demonstrate atomic energy levels by demonstrating and calculating spectrum of hydrogen.
• Demonstrate radioactivity using radioactive samples and Geiger counter, including demonstration of shielding to give some interest to the nuclear reactions topic.

Aligned Resources:

• Borrow hydrogen spectrum tubes and spectroscopes from chemistry
• Physics By Pictures software
• Halliday and Resnick Java Simulations CD-ROM
• Radioactive samples, Geiger counter, etc.
• Videotape: Clint Sprott's Wonders of Physics demo of photoelectric effect

Revision Date:
December 2003