This Advanced Placement Physics 1 course is equivalent to a first semester, algebra-based, introductory Physics college-level course. The rigor of this course is consistent with colleges and universities and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. Upon successful completion of the exam, students may receive college credit and will be well-prepared for advanced physics coursework. Additional details on this course from College Board can be found here: AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based.
In this course, students will explore five big ideas:
(1) Systems: Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may have internal structure.
(2) Fields: Fields existing in space can be used to explain interactions.
(3) Force Interactions: The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces.
(4) Change: Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems.
(5) Conservation: Changes that occur as result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws.
Students will investigate topics such as Newtonian mechanics, including kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, orbits and gravity, work and energy, impulse and momentum, simple harmonic motion, and rotational motion. Emphasis is placed on Conservation Laws, including energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum.
This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources and has a comprehensive lab program that meets College Board requirements. Students will perform hands-on lab work using materials from their lab kit, conduct virtual experiments, share experimental data to analyze larger data sets and participate in lab-based discussions with their peers. Students will also engage in collaborative activities, including discussions, that develop scientific literacy and connect physics principles to real-world applications and current events, in order to develop a deeper understanding of physics.
Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple choice and free response questions.
Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students. AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.
This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.