This algebra-based Physics course is the equivalent to a first semester introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of Physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics; dynamics; circular motion and gravitation; energy; momentum; simple harmonic motion; and torque and rotational motion. This course requires significant instructional time be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations. The laboratory work is designed and implemented with increasing student involvement to help enhance inquiry learning and the development of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills and abilities. Students will progress from confirmation type labs to structured inquiry, guided inquiry, and then open inquiry where students develop the questions and design the inquiry. This approach provides students with opportunities to demonstrate the foundational physics principles and apply all seven science practices as they design plans for experiments, make predictions, collect and analyze data, apply mathematical routines, develop explanations, and report their work.
Note: The AP Physics exam has a significant emphasis on lab work, such that even many of the conceptual exam questions assume familiarity with experiments performed in the lab. This emphasis makes this AP exam particularly challenging for home educated students, who generally do not have regular access to a lab facility assumed by the exam. TPS has designed the rigorous lab component of this course to help home educated students with this added challenge.
Flexible Scheduling: This course may be taken with live class attendance reduced or waived (recording only) if the student has a time zone or schedule conflict. Select this option when you enroll or notify TPS for approval.
AP Exam Scores: For more information on TPS AP-certified courses and exam results, see [urlnew=https://at-tps.org/subjects/ap-courses/]this information[/urlnew].
Note: AP® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this course. This course syllabus has received College Board AP® review and approval.