Teacher: Ms. Krista Siren
Ms. Siren's Email: ksiren at IGNORETHIS gdrsd dot org
Room: 107
Text: Knight, Randall D Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Third Edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2013. (Price: approximately $200)
Grades 12 Level: AP Semester 1 Credit
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is intended to be the equivalent of a first year, calculus-based electricity and magnetism college course required for physical science and engineering majors. Concepts will be addressed with the use of demonstrations and laboratory analysis. Some of the topics include: electrostatics, electrical circuits with resistors, capacitors and inductors, magnetism, and electromagnetism. Students will engage in analysis of physical situations and problems, interpreting them both mathematically and verbally. As concepts are introduced, students will learn about their development in a historical context. It is expected that the student will take the Advanced Placement exam offered by the College Board in the spring.
Prerequisite: 554 Physics with a grade of B or higher or teacher recommendation
Corequisite: Calculus or AP Calculus
Unit 3: Gauss's Law and Electric Potential
Unit 4: Circuits
To learn about how scientific knowledge is acquired by designing and carrying out experiments
To gain laboratory skills: making measurements, using various lab equipment, keeping a science lab book, setting up and cleaning up experiments
To gain valuable problem-solving skills through the process of designing experiments and analyzing data
What To Bring To Class Daily…
• Covered textbook
• Pens/pencils and scientific calculator
• 3-ring binder with section dividers
• Completed Homework, Assignments, Projects, and Lab Reports
• Lined paper and graph paper for notes, labs and quizzes.
• Lab notebook
Lab Notebook Format
Each student is expected to have a bound lab notebook (not loose-leaf) for detailing lab procedures, collecting lab data, and so forth. The notebook must include graph paper print so that graphs and sketches may be more easily included. It can be either a standard lab notebook or a simple tablet of graph paper. There will be a lab notebook check at least once per term, graded as a 10 point assignment. The first page must include a table of contents. The pages must be numbered. All labs must be included in the main body of the notebook and listed in the table of contents. All raw data collected, unless streamed directly to the computer from probes, must be included in your notebook. Data should be collected in pen using strikethroughs rather than erasures to indicate errors to be ignored.
3-Ring Binder Format
Each student is expected to have a 3-ring binder for physics or a section of a larger 3-ring binder dedicated to physics. This binder should be organized into the following sections:
• List of Assignments
• Notes and handouts
• Completed Homework
• Quizzes and Tests
• Labs
• Project Work
• Miscellaneous
By having all your papers and by keeping them organized throughout the year, you will be much more effective in preparing for quizzes and exams. To encourage the habit of organization, your notebook may be checked by me at any time. Some pop quizzes will also be designated as open notebook and/or open homework.
Grading Policy for Each Quarter:
Labs: 25 to 50 points each
Quizzes/Problem Sets/Concept Questions: 1 to 10 points each
Lab notebook checks: 10 points each
Tests: 100 points each
Both announced and “pop” quizzes will be given frequently throughout the year to help me evaluate your understanding of new material, lab preparation, reading comprehension, and assignment completion.
You will have tests at the end of each unit.
You will usually have at least one lab per unit. Some of these labs will be formal labs (50 points), requiring a formal lab report. Others will be mini-labs (25 points), requiring a less extensive write-up.
While class time will be given for many assignments, expect to spend approximately 2 to 3 hours per week (30 – 40 minutes per night for 5 nights a week) on physics outside of that time for problem sets, reading concept questions, lab write-ups, and test preparation. Please make use of the resources that are your teacher and fellow students when working on assignments in class. Under most circumstances questions will be taken on assignments prior to their collection. Following a question and answer period, an open-assignment quiz may be given in lieu of the full assignment being collected. Late work may be accepted at my discretion, but will be assigned a 10% per late class-day penalty.
A project involving research and/or experimentation which goes beyond the general topics of the class will be due a few weeks before the end of the course. It will involve both a written report and an oral presentation.
Collaborative Learning vs. Academic Dishonesty
Please learn the difference between collaborative learning and academic dishonesty! Collaborative learning is positive and involves constructive discussion of problem sets, concept questions, and labs with your classmates. However, what you write down for assignments or in you lab notebook must be in your own words in order to reflect your effort and understanding of the material. Students who hand in identical work, or work that is too similar, will experience serious disciplinary consequences! Note that all quizzes and exams are considered strictly independent work. While lab partners may share data and discuss how to address the analysis questions, their final words should be their own.
MIT's Opencourseware project has syllabi, lecture notes, and homework assignments from all their Physics classes. I'm particularly fond of the RealMedia videos of 1999's 8.01/8.02 classes (calculus based introductory mechanics and E&M respectively) presented by Prof. Walter Lewin. New! 5/24/2007
Society of Physics Students (National Organization)