AP Physics 1

AP Physics 1

Course Number – 4348

Prerequisite –  Science 9/10 Honours or Science 10 with a mark of 80% or better and a teacher’s recommendation.

Text – Cutnell and Johnson, 9th Edition

Course Description

AP Physics 1 is designed to be equivalent to the first semester of an introductory college-level algebra-based physics course.  It is an algebra-based course that explores such topics as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits.  Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.

Students will receive credit for Physics 11 and will be eligible to take AP Physics 2 the next year.

Students are evaluated on regular homework assignments, laboratory activities, and occasional projects, as well as regular quizzes and tests. Tests weigh more heavily in the overall mark.

Mathematical relations often describe the laws of physics. Consequently, students need to be proficient in basic algebra and trigonometry in order to solve typical physics problems. Students must also be proficient readers since the physics textbook is written at a much higher level than the general science textbooks used in the junior science courses.

 Physics has a deserved reputation for being a challenging course and so students need to be prepared to put in considerable time and effort outside of class. An estimate of the homework load is 30 minutes of homework 3 times a week. It is easy to fall behind in a course like physics and so students need to keep on top of their assignments and study regularly. Students who rely on memorization to get them through a course will find it difficult to memorize all of the physics concepts.