Organization of the Notebook

Expectations and Procedures 2011-2012

AP Physics C

Detailed below are the expectations and procedures that will be followed in our class. Please read them carefully and share them with your parent(s)/legal guardian(s).

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

A copy will be on the class website. Return to me a signed and dated signature page (the last page of this document). The signature page asks for both your signature and the signature of a parent/legal guardian. By signing, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood the expectations and procedures and agree to follow them.

Please note that AP Physics is a two semester (year long) course tied to the AP Physics C curriculum from the College Board. The course is listed on your transcript at AP Physics C: Mechanics for the first semester and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism for the second semester. It aims to prepare you for the AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exams given on Monday May 12th, 2012 at noon and 2 pm respectively.

Thanks.

Dr. Gaw 314-415-5668 [email protected]

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 1 2011-2012 Table of Contents

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 2 2011-2012 Class Web Site  The class website is now part of the Parkway School District system. The direct URL is: http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/north/homepages/home.cfm?userid=jgaw  The website can also be accessed via the North High directory of teacher websites accessed off the main page of the school website. You can also connect to the class site through Infinite Campus.  The announcement section of the homepage of the class site is changed on a daily basis. Students should get in the habit of checking it routinely.  The unit schedule (which includes the unit’s reading and homework assignments plus a lab schedule) and handouts can be accessed through the links on the right hand side of the homepage.  If there is an urgent matter to communicate, I will use Twitter to push the information to you. Students should follow the Twitter account: PNHapp. No Twitter account is needed to follow the class account. Students (and parents) can “Fast Follow” the account by sending the following text to 40404 “Follow PNHapp”. This does not create a Twitter account. It simply tells Twitter to send tweets from the class account to your cell phone via text messages. I will have no knowledge of who is following the account or the student’s cell phone number. (Sending “STOP PNHapp” to 40404 will turn off the tweets). Students can also read the latest tweet on the class homepage. If the student has a Twitter account and follows the class account with their account, then I would be informed by Twitter that they are following the class account. Go to Twitter.com for more details. Under no circumstances will I directly communicate with a student except through the school’s email system.

Infinite Campus Portal and Posting of Grades  Grades and assignment references will be available via the Infinite Campus Portal to both parents and students in a timely manner.  WebAssign (WA) grades will be reported in Infinite Campus in chunks of 5 assignments (equivalent to two weeks of class). The grade for each chunk of WAs will be posted within 1 week of the final due date of the chunk (which allows students to make up late work).  Once the unit test retakes are done, no late work for that chunk will be accepted.  Quiz grades will be posted within 1 week of them being given.  Unit Test scores will be posted within 1 week of the test being given.  Formal lab report scores will be posted within 3 weeks of the due date.  Quiz and unit test problem retake scores will be added to the original score.

Contacting Dr. Gaw  The best way to contact Dr. Gaw is through email ([email protected]).  My school telephone number is 314-415-5668. The ringer volume is off during the school day. But feel free to call and leave a message.  If you need to reach your student during the day, please call the school office school at (314)-415-7600 and request that a note be sent to your student. In the case of an emergency, the office can immediately contact me over the intercom in the classroom and lab.  Students should feel free to contact Dr. Gaw through email to get help on homework or to seek clarification of a concept. Email is generally answered until 9:30 pm.

Course Basics  AP Physics C is a calculus based year long course. The first semester covers Newtonian mechanics and the second semester covers Electricity and Magnetism (E&M). It will be listed as AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism on your transcript.  This course is equivalent to the typical calculus based college level first year physics course taken by science and engineering majors.  The course will prepare you for both the AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exams offered by the College Board. That’s right – two exams. Of late, most students have taken the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam and a few have also taken the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam. This course does not prepare you for the AP Physics B exam (it covers more material but in much less depth).

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 3 2011-2012  If you plan on taking the SAT Physics subject area exam, then you will need to ensure that you know and understand Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (topics not covered in Honors or the AP Physics C curriculum). Check with your instructor for advice and help.

Daily Expectations  Students are expected to arrive in class on time ready to begin work.  Students are expected to have completed their assigned reading and homework problems.  Students are expected to bring a pencil and pen, their Physics Lab Notebook (Quadrille Ruled Composition Notebook), Physics Homework and Class Notes Notebook (Spiral Notebook) and a scientific calculator to class each day.  Backpacks, books, and purses are to be placed at the back or side of the room so as to keep the floor clear for easy movement.  Students are expected to be alert and engaged.  Students are expected to treat each other with respect.  Students are expected to be responsible with lab equipment and mindful of their own and fellow classmates safety.  Students are expected to follow all of the procedures of the classroom.  Except for the day of a test, students can expect daily homework.

Supplies  Each student is to have the following: o Quadrille Ruled Composition Notebook. These are available in the school bookstore or most stores selling school supplies. This notebook is hardbound and contains graph paper usually 5 squares per inch. Avoid the notebook that has purple lines (it is too hard to read). o Spiral notebook for text homework problems and class notes. o Pencil and pen. o Scientific Calculator (graphing is a good idea)

Snow Days  In order to cover the material and perform the labs of the AP curriculum, the class schedule is very tight and has very little room for modification. Snow days must therefore have a minimum impact on the schedule. Homework assignments (reading and problems) will not generally be changed due to missed school. Naturally, labs will be rescheduled.

Homework Reading Assignments  Reading assignments typically cover material that has already been discussed in class. Since class time is divided between lecture, labs, and problems, class discussions on some topics will not be as detailed or complete as required for complete understanding of the topic. The reading will provide the necessary depth. It is impossible to perform well in AP Physics without doing the reading.  Occasionally, the reading will cover material that has not, and will not be discussed in class. The student, however, is still expected to master the content.  Class time will be used to develop an understanding of the concepts discussed in the textbook and to practice using the concepts in problems.  An excused absence does not excuse the student from doing the assigned reading.

Homework Problems  There are two types of homework problems – problems from the textbook and handouts. The majority of homework problems will be textbook (end of chapter) problems that you will complete on line at www.webassign.com (these problems will be referred to as WA). Students will each receive their own account to the site. The WA assignments will sometimes include GO tutorials. Numerical problems will have randomly generated numbers.  All WA problems can be printed out and worked off-line. They should be worked out in a spiral bound notebook and then inputted into the on-line system.

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 4 2011-2012  All WA problems are due on the class following their assignment. They should be done by class time, however, the computer system will accept answers until 6 pm.  The grading details for WA are: o Number of answer attempts per question is: 5 o Tolerance: the tolerance level for numerical problems has been set to 2 % (may need to change based on our experience with the system) o You gain credit for: correctly answering a question o Penalty for incorrect answer: none (nada, zip). If there appears to be random guessing, then a penalty for incorrect answers will need to be introduced. o You lose credit for: if you do not answer the question correctly within the number of allowed attempts you do not get any points. o Significant Figures: if you input the “correct” answer but incorrect number of significant figures on problems requesting correct significant figures, then you will receive 50% credit for the problem o Hints: some questions will have hints, feel free to use them o Tutorials: some questions are actually walk through tutorials on how to solve the problem o Solutions: you may view solutions after you have completed the assignment and the due date has passed o Automatic extensions: when requested, late extensions are automatically granted (but you will not get any credit if you have already viewed the solutions). You will pay a late penalty for new submission (10% per extension). Each late extension lasts 24 hours. Only 5 extensions granted per assignment. No extensions once the homework is a week over due. o Late submissions penalty: reduce credit for correct answers to un-submitted problems, 10% taken off new points for each late extension. Never more than a 50% late penalty.  Handout problems should be answered on the provided sheets and kept for later use in studying for the exams.  An excused absence does not excuse a student from doing the assigned homework problems. The on-line homework deadline will be extended and missed free-response questions will need to be done and turned in. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the instructor and reach a mutual agreeable date for the missed homework to be turned in.  All WA homework is due at 6 pm on the class day immediately following the date it was assigned. The WA system will be set up to allow students to submit late homework minus a 10% late fee for each day that the work is late. Never more than a 50% late penalty.  All handout homework will be due on the class day immediately following the date it was assigned. Late homework must be turned in by the unit test and will be charged a 10% late penalty per day late (not to exceed 50%).  A small amount of extra credit may be added to WA assignments submitted by class time.

Excused Absences  Upon returning to class, students are expected to turn in work that was due during their absence. It is imperative that the student meet with the instructor and agree upon a schedule as to when missed work will be due. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate this conversation. o Missed reading assignments must be completed as soon as possible. o Missed homework problems must be completed and turned in. The student must request an extension for on-line work directly from the instructor (the student and instructor will determine an appropriate date). The student must also complete and turn in other missed homework. o Quizzes must be made up. o Missed Unit Tests must be made up within one week of returning to school. o Missed labs must be made up within one week of returning to school (if the materials are still available).  Extra help is available before and after school as well as during academic lab.  Make up versions of tests may be different from the original test. Ideally, these should be made up during academic lab.  Missed class problems should be made up (these are not graded) so as to be fully prepared for the exams.

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 5 2011-2012  Occasionally, it may no longer be feasible to run the lab after a prolonged absence (i.e., the required materials are no longer available), in this case the student will be expected to obtain the data from another student (or from the teacher) and to work up the data and answer the post lab questions.  If a student knows that they will be absent on a day that a Unit Test is being given (e.g., an excused absence such as a field trip) and they inform the instructor of the situation prior to the excused absence, then they may take the same test as the rest of the class either before they are absent or when they return.

Unexcused Absences  If the student has an unexcused absence, the student will receive a zero for all work missed during the absence.  It is not possible to make up labs, homework, reading quizzes, or unit tests that occurred during an unexcused absence.  Excessive unexcused absences will result in a detention for the student and notification of student’s parents/legal guardians. The student will also receive a citizenship grade of an “I”.

Tardy Arrival to Class  Students are expected to be in class on time.  Excessive unexcused tardies will result in a detention for the student and notification of student’s parents/legal guardians.  Missed quizzes will be counted as a zero for an unexcused tardy. Missed quizzes must be made up for an excused tardy.

Food and Drink  Food and drink are not allowed in the classroom or lab. Water in a closed container is OK in the classroom but not the lab.

Calculator Games  Students found playing calculator games during a class period will forfeit the calculator for the remainder of the period and it will be placed in the “electronic junkyard”. No substitute calculator will be available for their use.

Smart Phone/Cell Phones/iPods/MP3 players/Headphones/CD players/DVD players/Radios  Use of Smart Phones/Cell Phones/iPods/MP3 players/Headphones/CD players/DVD players/Radios is not permitted in the classroom. Such devices must be stored out of sight in a book bag or purse. Cell phones should be either turned off or set to a setting (such as vibrate) that does not disturb others.  Students found “texting” during class will be asked to “hand over” their phone. Failure to do so will result in a detention. Confiscated cell phones will be turned over to the appropriate grade level administrator at the end of the day. Repeated use of the cell phone during class will result in a phone call home and detention for the student.  Recording (video or audio) of the teacher or students during class is prohibited. Students found doing so will have their recording device confiscated and turned over to the appropriate grade level administrator.  If a parent or guardian needs to contact their student, they should call the school (314)-415-7600 and send a message to the class. In an emergency, the office can contact the class over the intercom.

Posting of material on the Web  Students are not permitted to post any material from the class on the Web.  Occasionally, class handouts or material will be posted by the teacher to the class web site and will need to be downloaded by the student.

Restroom Passes  Students should attempt to use the passing period for required restroom trips.  If a student requires an emergency restroom trip during the class, it will be allowed. Only one student will be allowed to be out of the class on a restroom trip at a time.  No restroom trips will be allowed in the first and last 10 minutes of the class.

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 6 2011-2012 Quizzes  Quizzes will be scheduled periodically within each unit. They will consist of two or three free response questions and will be graded like unit test free response problem.  Missed quiz free response problems may be re-taken and full credit earned.

Unit Tests  At the completion of a unit, there will generally be a unit test. Occasionally, multiple units will be combined in a single test.  The unit test will follow the format of the AP exam. There will be a multiple choice section (no calculator allowed) and a free response section (scientific calculator allowed). When appropriate, actual AP questions from released previous AP exams will be used. Although the questions will focus on the recently completed unit, the test will be comprehensive in nature.  Students will have access to the AP formula sheet during unit tests.  The end of first semester final will be an actual AP Mechanics exam. Various practice AP Mechanics and E&M exams will fill the roll of a final for the second semester.  Missed free response problems may be re-taken and full credit earned.

Retaking Quiz and Unit Test Free Response Problems  Missed free response problems on both the quizzes and unit tests can be retaken for full credit.  Retake problems will not be the exact same problem; however, they will cover the same content.  Retakes will only be available on a fixed schedule. The last B day of each week will be quiz make up day. Quiz retakes can only be done on the week following the returning of the graded quiz. Unit retakes will be on the last B day of the week that follows returning of the unit test.  Retakes can be done before school, during academic lab, or after school on the designated day.  In order to take a retake, the student must demonstrate that they have learned the material (finishing all of the assigned homework, doing additional homework problems, doing previously assigned problems as practice, or verbal question and answer). Additionally, the student must have spoken with the instructor about the missed problems.  Finally, to schedule a retake, the student must electronically request a retake using the Problem Re-Take Form located on the website. The form will ask the student to identify which problems are being retaken and to list the evidence of work done to warrant the retake. It should be emailed to the instructor at least 3 days before the actual retake.

Labs  The labs in this course are designed to illustrate particular concepts in physics. Students will work with lab partners in performing the labs.  Each student must have a bound Quadrille Ruled Composition Notebook to be used as their Physics Notebook. The procedures regarding the use of the Physics Notebook and formal lab reports are outlined in a separate document.  The students will be provided with copies of the laboratory procedures for each experiment.  If a student has an excused absence during a lab, then the student is expected to make up the lab within one week of returning to school. Labs can only be made up before/after school or during academic lab.  Data for the lab must be kept in each student’s Physics Notebook. Failure to keep data in the lab notebook will result in the student losing 50% of the points associated with the lab. Each student is to record their data and their own independent observations in their own Physics Notebook. Pre-lab documentation is to be written in your Physics Notebook.  All students are expected to perform the labs being mindful of their own safety and the safety of others. Students are expected to wear lab appropriate clothing. Not following lab rules will result in the student receiving a zero on the lab.  If after repeated requests, a student continues to fail to follow appropriate safety procedures, then the student will be sent to the appropriate grade level principal for the remainder of the class period and will also receive a detention. The student will receive a zero for the lab in question.  All students must have a signed safety contract to perform any of the labs.

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 7 2011-2012 Lab Safety  Lab safety is taken extremely seriously.  Each student must understand and agree to follow the published laboratory safety rules.  Each student must have a signed safety contract in order to perform any of the labs

Cheating  As discussed in the Student Handbook for Parkway North High School, cheating is unethical. Students who share their work with others, as well as those who misrepresent the work of others as their own may be considered to be cheating.  In a science class, it is OK to show a fellow student how you solved a particular problem. It is not OK for a student to copy someone else’s solution to a problem and to claim it as their own work.  In our physics class, the following consequences will apply for students found to be cheating: o Students cheating on homework, quizzes, tests, labs, lab reports or any other assignment will receive a zero for that particular piece of work. o Students who cheat may receive an Unsatisfactory citizenship mark for the semester. o Parents will be notified. o In some cases, more severe consequences may be deemed necessary by the teacher. If this is the case, the teacher will confer with the appropriate principal.

Extra Credit  A series of on-line problems will be available close to the end of each semester. Whether or not these will be considered extra credit or not has yet to be decided.

Grade for the course Your grade is made up of the following components coupled with their percentage weights.

 Unit Tests (50%)  Quizzes (10%)  Final (10%)  Homework (WebAssign and Handouts) (10%)  Labs (20%)

The grading scale is the High School Honors scale used at Parkway North. Note that the Parkway School District now uses +/- to further modify the A, B, C and D grades at their extremes.

Total point percentage AP Physics 100 – 97 H 97 – 90 A 90 – 80 B 80 – 70 C 70– 60 D Below 60 F

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 8 2011-2012 Signature Page

Student: By signing below, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and will follow the expectations and procedures presented by Dr. Gaw.

______Printed Student Name

______Student Signature Date

Parent/Legal Guardian: By signing below, you are acknowledging that you are aware of the expectations and procedures presented by Dr. Gaw for the AP Physics class in which your child is enrolled.

Furthermore, I understand that the use of cell phones or MP3 players (such as iPods) or recording devices is strictly prohibited. Any use of these devices during class will result in an immediate detention for the student.

If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call the school (314)-415-7600 and ask to send a message to your student. In an emergency, the office can instantly contact any particular class over the intercom.

______Parent Signature/Legal Guardian Date

Dr. Gaw – AP Physics 9 2011-2012