AP Physics B: Curricular Requirements

• The teacher has read the most recent AP Physics Course Description.
• The course provides instruction in each of the following five content areas outlined in the Course Description:
  • Newtonian mechanics
  • Fluid mechanics and thermal physics
  • Electricity and magnetism
  • Waves and optics
  • Atomic and nuclear physics
• The course utilizes guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical thinking skills.
• The course includes a laboratory component comparable to college-level physics laboratories, with a minimum of 12 student-conducted laboratory investigations representing a variety of topics covered in the course. A hands-on laboratory component is required. Each student should complete a lab notebook or portfolio of lab reports. Note: Online course providers utilizing virtual labs (simulations rather than hands-on) should submit their laboratory materials for the audit. If these lab materials are determined to develop the skills and learning objectives of hands-on labs, then courses which use these labs may receive authorization to use the "AP" designation.*

Resource Requirements

• The school ensures that each student has a college-level physics textbook (supplemented when necessary to meet the curricular requirements) for individual use inside and outside of the classroom.
• The school ensures that students have access to scientific equipment and all necessary materials for students to conduct hands-on, college-level physics laboratory investigations as outlined in the teacher's course syllabus.