AP Physics ⚛️

1.0 credits (full year), foundation or elective science
Mr. David Buckley  david.buckley@meritacademy.org  Room 225

Course Summary

• 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.
• Students have the option to take the AP Physics 1 (algebra-based) test at the end of the year ($99, 3 science college credits).
• Students will need an account on https://apcentral.collegeboard.org for exam preparation and other tools, even if they do not plan on taking the AP exam.

Grading

This class adheres to the letter grading scale adopted here at Merit Academy.

• Labs and Projects = 50% of grade
• Tests and Final Projects = 30% of grade
• All Other Assignments = 20% of grade

Late Work and Resubmissions

• There will be time to make up assignments at the end of each unit. Please use this time. There will be no penalty for late assignments or assignment resubmissions.
• For test retakes, you can earn up to 50% of the points back by redoing the questions you missed or turning in the equivalent assignment provided. Most tests will have a short review or equation sheet that you will be allowed to use during the test, so if you prepare well and use the provided resources, you will do just fine.

Materials to Bring

• Pencil or Pen
• Calculator (optional)
• Somewhere to take notes (i.e. notebook)
• Somewhere to keep papers from class (folder, binder, etc.)

Behavior Expectations

• All policies found at https://www.meritprepacademy.org/policies will be honored. A notable change across Merit this year is the phones and electronics policy, where phones must be out of sight and silent during class. Zero-tolerance.
• Hall pass usage - one student at a time, 10 minutes at most. If you have a phone, you must trade it in for the hall pass. More than 10 minutes counts as a sluff.
• Classroom Values
1. Spirit - Exemplify high character, respect, and love.
2. Opportunity - Seize the moment to try new things.
3. Curiosity - Engage in scientific inquiry with child-like wonder.
4. Perseverance - Be resilient and finish strong!

Course Fees

There is a class fee of $20 that should be paid at the front office. This fee covers any lab materials used throughout the course including model rocket and car materials.

Optional Field Work

Part of the student experience at Merit Academy is field work, where students have meaningful learning experiences outside the class room. These are optional experiences and the dates are to be determined.