AP Physics 1 & 2 Course Syllabus - Dr. Zook

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler

AP Physics 1 & 2 course syllabus outlining seven 42-minute periods with two extended 84-minute lab blocks across a five-day cycle. The curriculum aligns with six Big Ideas from the AP Physics 1 and 2 Curriculum Framework, emphasizing properties of objects and systems, fields, forces, interactions, conservation laws, and wave-based energy and momentum transfer. Assessment is based on homework, problem sets, inquiry-based labs, quizzes, and exam-style tests. Topics span chapters on motion, kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, work and energy, momentum, rotation, equilibrium, fluids, vibrations, waves, and sound.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Course Overview

Textbook

Course Schedule and Structure

Big Ideas

Grading Criteria

Topics Covered

Chapter 1 - Introduction, Measurement, and Estimating

Chapter 2 - Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension

Chapter 3 - Kinematics in Two Dimensions

Chapter 4 - Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Chapter 5 - Circular Motion; Gravitation

Chapter 6 - Work And Energy

Chapter 7 - Linear Momentum

Chapter 8 - Rotational Motion

Chapter 9 - Static Equilibrium

Chapter 10 - Fluids

Chapter 11 - Vibrations and Waves

Chapter 12 - Sound

AP Physics 1 & 2 Course Syllabus – Dr. Zook Textbook: Giancoli, Douglas. Physics Principles and Applications. 6th Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2009. About this course: The AP Physics 1 & 2 course will meet seven periods during the five day cycle. Each class period will meet for 42 minutes. The two lab periods will meet for 84 minutes each. Lab work is integral to the understanding of the concepts in this course. The AP Physics 1 & 2 course has been designed by the College Board as a course equivalent to the algebra-based college level physics class. At the end of the course, students will take the AP Physics 1 Exam and AP Physics 2 Exam, which will test their knowledge of both the concepts taught in the classroom and their use of the correct formulas. The content for the course is based on six Big Ideas found in the AP Physics 1 and 2 Curriculum Framework: 􀁸 Big Idea 1 – Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may have internal structure. 􀁸 Big Idea 2 – Fields existing in space can be used to explain interactions. 􀁸 Big Idea 3 – The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces. 􀁸 Big Idea 4 – Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems. 􀁸 Big Idea 5 – Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws. 􀁸 Big Idea 6 – Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other phenomena. Grading Criteria: All grades will be based on total points from the following categories: 􀁸 Homework – consisting of conceptual questions to review the principles for each chapter. 􀁸 Problem Sets – consisting of problems from each chapter designed to build and develop the skills required to solve complex physical scenarios. 􀁸 Labs – consisting of student centered and inquiry-based, college level laboratory exercises to investigate and analyze physical principals and present results in a formal, written format. 􀁸 Quizzes – consisting of multiple choice questions similar to those found on the AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 Exams. 􀁸 Tests – consisting of free-response questions similar to those found on the AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 Exams. Topics Covered: 􀁸 Chapter 1 – Introduction, Measurement, and Estimating o Significant Figures o Vectors/Scalars 􀂃 Chapter Review – 34-36,39,41,44,46,49,51 􀁸 Chapter 2 – Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension (Big Idea 3) o One Dimensional Motion o Graphing Position, Velocity, and Acceleration 􀂃 Chapter Review – 57,58,60-63,69,74 􀂃 Labs – position-time graphs, constant acceleration 􀁸 Chapter 3 – Kinematics in Two Dimensions (Big Idea 3) o Projectile Motion o Relative Velocity 􀂃 Chapter Review – 53,55,56,60,64,71,75 􀂃 Labs – vector addition, projectile motion 􀁸 Chapter 4 – Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion (Big Ideas 1, 2, 3, and 4) o Newton’s Laws of Motion o Forces 􀂃 Chapter Review – 67,68,70,72,82,83,85 􀂃 Labs – inertial and gravitational mass, coefficients of static and kinetic friction 􀁸 Chapter 5 – Circular Motion; Gravitation (Big Ideas 1, 2, 3, and 4) o Circular Motion o Universal Gravitation 􀂃 Chapter Review – 66,68,70-73,76,79,82 􀂃 Lab – uniform circular motion 􀁸 Chapter 6 – Work And Energy (Big Ideas 3, 4, and 5) o Work o Energy o Conservation of Energy o Power 􀂃 Chapter Review – 72-74,77,79,84,91,93,94 􀂃 Lab – elastic potential energy 􀁸 Chapter 7 – Linear Momentum (Big Ideas 3, 4, and 5) [Chapters 1-7 – 2 weeks] o Impulse and Momentum o The Law of Conservation of Momentum 􀂃 Chapter Review – 65,67,69,70,73,77 􀂃 Labs – conservation of liner momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions 􀁸 Chapter 8 – Rotational Motion (Big Ideas 3, 4, and 5) [1 week] o Rotational Kinematics o Torque and Rotational Dynamics o Rotational Energy o Angular Momentum

FAQs

How is the AP Physics 1 & 2 course scheduled and structured?

The course meets seven periods during a five-day cycle. Each regular period is 42 minutes, and the two lab periods meet for 84 minutes each.

What grading categories are used to determine students’ grades?

Grades come from homework, problem sets, labs, quizzes, and tests, calculated using total points from these categories.

Which six Big Ideas guide the AP Physics 1 & 2 content?

The syllabus bases the course on six Big Ideas: properties of objects/systems, fields for interactions, forces describing interactions, system interactions changing systems, conservation constraints on changes, and waves transferring energy and momentum while serving as models.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler