COURSE OVERVIEW
Advance Placement Physics 2 is an accelerated science program, offered by the College Board, that is designed for the student who has advanced skills in math and science and intends to pursue a post-secondary education in the fields of Science, Pre-Medical, Engineering or Mathematics. This is a second-year course in college physics. Topics covered include fluids, thermodynamics, electromagnetic applications, modern physics, light and optics. The student should have been successful in Precalculus, concurrently enrolled in and have the approval of the science department. Evaluation would be based upon homework, tests, quizzes, laboratory work, midyear and final exams.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Class meetings generally would take three common forms, lab/activity, interactive lecture discussions, or problem solving/review. The design as such would allow students to experience and engage the subject conceptually, actively, and analytically. Individual classes may contain multiple elements of these models to suit the topic. Lab activities would be of two varieties: investigation or application. Investigation labs and activities allow students to do just that – investigate a physical phenomenon, and draw conclusions from their measurements and observations. Application labs and activities would provide students with the opportunity to conduct experiments that involve the concepts they may study. These labs would frequently be open-ended or contain an open-ended component challenging students to solve a problem by utilizing both their potential understanding of the topic as well as their critical thinking skills. Problem solving would use strategies and concepts learned and reviewed by the class as a whole, or smaller group workshop sessions enabling peer interactive learning, facilitated by the instructor.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To utilize real-world experience to understand physical phenomena
2. To participate in a controlled laboratory experience in order to understand physical phenomena
3. To gain an understanding of how the physical world works and to be able to express that understanding in terms of:
a) written/spoken language
b) graphical diagrams
c) mathematical analysis
4. To develop observational problem solving and critical thinking skills that will benefit you for any vocation