Naperville North High School AP Physics 1 Syllabus 2025-2026 - Common Syllabus - Department Chair Jim Konrad

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler

Naperville North High School’s AP Physics 1 common syllabus outlines course goals, teaching approach, and assessment expectations for 2025/2026. AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based introductory college-level course emphasizing systems, fields, force interactions, change, and conservation through classroom study, inquiry-based labs, and student investigations. It specifies textbook and online resources, follows College Board standards with a 1–5 grading scale, and organizes semester units across mechanics, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillations, and fluids. Grading uses weighted averages with final exams capped at 15%.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Course Overview

District Mission

Department Mission

Course Description

Course Textbook & Resources

Course Standards & Weights

Units of Study

Semester 1 Units

Semester 2 Units

Assessment and Grading

Evidence of Learning and Practice

Grade Calculation Definitions

Grading Disbursement

Grading Practices

D203 AI Belief Statement

Naperville North High School AP Physics 1 Syllabus 2025/2026 COMMON SYLLABUS Department Chair: Jim Konrad | District Mission | To educate students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers, and community contributors. | | | --- | --- | --- | | Department Mission | At Naperville North High School, our mission is to provide high-quality, innovative, and engaging science education that fosters deep understanding, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for scientific inquiry.
Grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards ( NGSS) , our curriculum and teaching approach empower students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We are dedicated to nurturing curiosity, collaboration, and scientific literacy, preparing our students to become informed citizens who can contribute to solving local and global challenges through the application of scientific principles. | | | Course Description | AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, and conservation. The AP Physics 1 course will include student-conducted laboratory investigations that provide an experience comparable to introductory college-level physics laboratories. This course is intended for self-motivated students with strong mathematical skills who enjoy scientific inquiry and are interested in a variety of physics topics. | | | Course Textbook & Resources | Textbook: College Physics: a strategic approach (AP Edition) by Knight, Jones and Field-3rd edition (print)
Lab: PIVOT interactives (online)
Homework: Positive Physics (online)
Canvas will be used to post agendas/calendars, notes, homework, video resources | | | Course Standards & Weights | This course follows the College Board AP Physics 1 standards and will offer the opportunity to take the AP Physics 1 exam atthe culmination of the class.
Students will be scored on written work (exams and labs) on a 1-5 standards based scale, which is based on the AP grading scale. | | | Units of Study: | Semester 1
● Unit 1 : Kinematics ( Constant Velocity & Constant Acceleration)
o Projectile Motion
● Unit 2 : Force & Translational Dynamics ( Balanced & Unbalanced Forces)
o Circular Motion & Gravitation Semester 2
● Unit 3 : Work, Energy & Power
● Unit 4 : Linear Momentum
o Energy Momentum Transfer
● Unit 5 : Torque & Rotational Dynamics
● Unit 6 : Energy & Moment in a Rotating System
● Unit 7 : Oscillations
● Unit 8 : Fluids | | Naperville North High School AP Physics 1 Syllabus 2025/2026 COMMON SYLLABUS Department Chair: Jim Konrad | Grade Calculation Deﬁnitions | Students will be provided with multiple and varied opportunities to demonstrate mastery of learning standards. Although varied in content, all courses will include examples of practice and evidence of learning:
● Evidence of Learning: Tasks or assessments where feedback is provided to the student and considered evidence of a student’s level of proficiency on a given standard or skill. This may include, but is not limited to formative tasks that provide insights on areas for growth as well as summative tests, projects and/or performances. In this course, specific examples include: Unit Tests, Quizzes and Labs
● Practice: Tasks that are connected to course standards and learning targets that promote the development of skills and/or knowledge that will be assessed, but where feedback is not provided. This may include, but is not limited to daily readings, note taking, practice exercises and tasks essential to the learning process. In this course, specific examples include: daily homework checks, whiteboard presentation, lab completion checks, Formative re

FAQs

What kind of course is AP Physics 1 in this syllabus?

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. It develops understanding through classroom study, in-class activities, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work.

Which units are covered in Semester 1 and Semester 2?

Semester 1 includes Kinematics and Force & Translational Dynamics, leading into Projectile Motion and Circular Motion & Gravitation. Semester 2 covers Work, Energy & Power through Fluids, including torque/rotation, oscillations, and energy in rotating systems.

How are grades calculated and what portion do final exams represent?

Semester grades are calculated by a weighted average. Final exams/projects do not exceed 15% of the semester grade, and coursework makes up 85% with evidence-of-learning weighted higher than practice.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler