The final exam in Physics Honors is Tuesday, May 31st at 9:00 am. The exam will be structured as follows:
- The exam will cover only material from the second semester. While there will be some overlap with the core first-semester topics (energy conservation, motion, Newton’s Laws), they will not be the focus of the questions.
- The chapters in the textbook (Serway & Vuille: College Physics) that match this material are:
- 9.6 (Buoyancy)
- 13.1 – 13.10 (except 13.6, 13.9, 13.10)
- 14.1 – 14.12 (except 14.5)
- 15.1 – 15.6
- 16.1, 16.4
- 17.1 – 17.6 (except 17.2, 17.5)
- 18.1 – 18.4
- There will be no multiple-choice questions on the exam. The exam will have FIVE “work-em-out” questions drawn from second-semester topics: waves, sound, periodic motion, electrostatics, electric energy, circuit analysis, buoyancy.
- There will be no graphing calculators allowed during this exam. Students must bring a scientific calculator for all calculations.
- There will be a formula sheet provided for the exam, the same as that used throughout the year. No student-generated note sheets of any type will be allowed during this test.
- We will review in class for the three days prior to the exam (W-R-F) so please bring your questions and materials with you to class.
In order to support your efforts, here are some review materials to help you study for the exam.
- Khan Academy - this site has countless videos that explain the full breadth of physics topics. I would suggest taking a look here as a start for those topics that you feel “lost” and unable to know where to start.
- Dropbox: I have made quite a few documents available for you to use in your preparation for the exam and to access them you will have to send me an email asking for permission to use a shared folder on a cloud drive. So, if you send me an email I will send you an invitation – it’s that simple. NOTE: When you receive the invitation you will be asked if you wish to sign up (you will need to do so) and then you will be asked if you wish to install something (you do not need to do so). Just create a free account and access all of the files on the web from any computer or handheld device.
- Textbook: How old-fashioned that I suggest using the textbook! Yet there are a great many materials you can use there. First, isolate the sections of the text we have covered. Then, go to the back of the chapter and try to work problems associated with the assigned sections. The answers are posted in the “Dropbox” as well as online at the school’s SharePoint site.
- Office Hours: Drop on by and we could chat about your favorite subject. It can’t hurt, can it?
Sharing
We are coming down to the finish line and hopefully you are feeling strong! There are quite a few loose ends to tie together but that’s the way it goes with such a complex exam. I have made quite a few documents available for you to use in your preparation and to access them you will have to send me an email asking for permission to use a shared folder on a cloud drive.
So, if you send me an email I will send you an invitation – it’s that simple. When you receive the invitation you will be asked if you wish to sign up (you will need to do so) and then you will be asked if you wish to install something (you do not need to do so). Just create a free account and access all of the files on the web from any computer or handheld device.
ADDENDUM: April 24 @ 5:00 pm
I have added a number of extra documents to the file sharing folder that will help those wishing to study for the exam. These documents include expanded options for “cheat sheets” which overview everything required for the course. Also included are more practice M/C questions as well as coaching the Q4 (reaction question for the exam).
ADDENDUM: April 30 @ 12:00 pm
I will be conducting a study session on Sunday, May 1st from 3:00 – 6:00 pm in my classroom. Enter from the stairs on the basketbal courts for easiest access. The AP Exam starts at 8:00 am in the Otto Library (or the CSS).
The Cloud
I am using a new method of sharing files with my classes, one that changes how digital work can be exchanged between teachers and students. While there are a number of “cloud-based” solutions available, I am implementing the service I think has the best chance of being both powerfully useful as well as easy to use: Dropbox. OK, so accuse me of being a corporate shill and a “faddist” in love with the latest and greatest but this application has changed how I use the Internet.
Every document I have, whether it is personal or professional, is contained in a folder on my desktop on my personal computer. Any file within this folder is automatically backed up to a remote storage drive, somewhere in the cloud (I love using the term “cloud” – cloud, cloud, cloud!) When I make a change, the change is replicated and I never have to worry about losing files.
With this service comes the ability to share designated folders. When I add to the folder, then that change is replicated online. When I change a file, it changes this online. So to those with whom I share the folder, I have given complete access to these files. The benefit is that this is available through a simple web interface.
Yet the real advantage is that these are folders that already folders that I use as opposed to having to deliberately go to an external web site that holds my files. This WordPress blog does not allow such file storage, but even if it did I would always lag because it requires lots of extra steps. This way, the files are there without my extra steps because I would have moved them there as part of readying for class.
The small down side is that students who wish to join this space must sign up for a free account but there is no obligation to do so. Besides, I will always hand out a sheet of paper.
[NOTE: to ask for access to the shared folder please send me an email]
