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AP Physics Mechanics Syllabus

Course Outline

 This is a two-semester course designed to prepare you for the College Boards AP Physics C exams.  It is assumed that you have already taken a year of physics and are reasonably familiar with the fundamental ideas.  This course will cover mechanics and in much greater depth and with greater sophistication (‘which means using calculus) than your previous physics course.  

Textbook

 Physics for Scientists and Engineers (With Modern Physics), 3rd Edition, Douglas C. Giancoli. 

Grading and Scores

The course is broken down by the following grading system.

Kinematics

Lab:  None

Lab:  Kinematics: The look of Motion:

            Making qualitative interpretations of motions from graphs

Lab:   Kinematics:  Analyzing Motion

            Graphing with changing Velocities.  The introduction to the derivative.

Topics: -

-Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration,

-Instantaneous Velocity and Acceleration

-The difference between constant acceleration, and changing acceleration

-Introduction to Calculus:  The Derivative, and the Integral

-Vectors, Scalars

-Unit Vectors

-Projectiles

-Uniform Circular Motion

-Centripetal Acceleration

-Graphing reasoning

Dynamics

Lab:  Dynamics: Forces as Vectors and Newton's Third Law   

            Vector Addition using spring scales

Lab:  Dynamics:  Atwood’s machine

            Measuring Gravity

Topics: -

-Newton’s 3 Laws 

-Forces

-Free Body diagrams

-Friction (kinetic, static), Normal Force, Centripetal force

-Static Equilibrium

-Terminal Velocity

-Drag Forces as a function of velocity

-Two Equations, Two Unknowns

Gravitation

Lab:  None

Topics: -

-Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation 

-Introduction to the Field Concept

-Gravitation Field

Work & Energy

Lab:  Work and Energy:  Work and Energy on an inclined plane

            Investigating work with Potential and Kinetic energy

Lab:   Work and Energy:  Energy in springs

Investigating the changing force in a spring, the integral, and work done by a spring. 

Topics: -

-Work

-The Dot Product

-Work done with a varying force

- The Definite Integral

-Kinetic, Potential Energy, Conservative Forces

-Work-Energy Principle

-Mechanical Energy

-1^st of Three Conservation Laws

-Conservation of Energy

-Power

Momentum & Collisions

Lab:  Momentum and Collisions:  Changes in Momentum

            Investigating Momentum changes in a collision

Lab:  Momentum and Collisions:  Conservation of Momentum

            Investigating Momentum conservation in a collision

Topics: -

-Linear Momentum

-2^nd of Conservation Laws

-Conservation of Linear Momentum

-Collisions (elastic, inelastic)

-Impulse

-Center of Mass of Rigid Bodies (2 dimensions)

Rotation

Lab: Rotation:  Uniform Circular Motion

            Investigating Centripetal Force on a Stopper

Lab: Rotational Dynamics

Relating linear and angular velocity

Lab: Torque

Torque and angular acceleration

Lab: Conservation of Angular Momentum

Inelastic collisions

Topics: -

-The Radian

-Angular Velocity & Acceleration

-Right Hand Rule

-The Cross Product

-Torque

-Rotational Inertia,

-Newton’s Second Law for Rotation

-Angular Momentum

-Third Conservation Law

-Conservation of Angular Momentum

-Rotational Kinetic Energy

-Conservation of energy with translational and rotation energy problems

-Parallel and perpendicular axis-theorems

Oscillations

Lab:  Simple Harmonic Motion

Mass on a Spring

Topics: -

-Simple Harmonic Motion

-Simple, Physical Pendulums

-Resonance

-Differential Equations

Test and Quizzes:

We will have a test after each unit and a final exam for each trimester.  We will also have a quiz each week on Friday if there is no exam scheduled.  The quiz will consist of one free-response problem, and several multiple choice questions.   Each test will be taken from questions from past AP Exams.

Retakes of Tests:  One unit test may be retaken, 1 week before the final.

Problem Sets:

For each unit there will be a problem set.  They will consist of problems from past exams, and from problems assigned from our text book.

Labs:

We will do several labs throughout the semesters.  Formal lab write-ups will be completed on a word processor.

Objectives for Laboratory Experiments:

Identify questions and problems that can be answered through scientific investigations.

Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions about the physical world.

• Create testable hypotheses
• Identify variables.
• Use comparisons when appropriate.
• Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
• Collect and record data.
• Organize data into charts and graphs.
• Analyze and interpret data.
• Communicate findings.

Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence to:

• Explain observations.
• Make inferences and predictions.
• Explain the relationship between evidence and explanation.
• Communicate results, including suggested ways to improve experiments and proposed questions for further study.

Warning and Encouragement:

AP physics C is a college physics class is very difficult.  It is modeled after a first-year course for science majors.  Very few people succeed in such a class in college, even fewer in high school.  The fact that you are in the class is something of which you should be proud.  Realize, though, that success in AP physics will require a lot of hard work over a long period of time.  My job is to help you through this difficult class.  Some of you will get a “B” or “C” for the first time in your lives, yet you will find it one of the most interesting and enjoyable classes you will ever take.  I am looking forward to it, and I hope you are as well!

The AP Exams:

You should expect to take the AP physics exams in early May of 2007.  There are two exams, each half the length of a standard AP exam, and scored separately.  The first exam is mechanics, which we will cover in the first part of the course, and then review before the exam.  The second exam is Electricity & Magnetism, which we will cover in the latter part of the year.

Classroom Procedures and Policies:

-Making up work that you missed due to absence for any reason is your responsibility.  If you miss a test or a quiz, you are required to have a conversation with me so that a make-up time can be established. 

-If any special "retake" or "make-up" arrangements need to be made due to illness, a conversation must occur before the day of any graded assignment is due (tests, quizzes, lab reports).  No accomodations will be made if the conversation does not take place.

-If you miss a lab, you must make it up within one week of missing it after school or during enrichment in order to receive full credit.

-If an assignment is due, but you had an excused absence on that day, then it is due the next school day.  Full credit will then be awarded.

-Anyone endangering other students or lab equipment by violating or disregarding lab safety rules will be removed from the class.

Resubmissions

Resubmissions for assignments are granted as a learning opportunity.  If a resubmission is to occur, the assignment is deemed incomplete, and an "Incomplete" is issued as a grade for the course (since the requirements for the course have not yet been completed).  When a resubmission occurs, the student will have opportunity to fix the error, but they must write a concluding statement explaining the error and the remedy.  Full points can be earned if the conclusion comprehensively explains what the error was, how is was corrected and an explanation what was learned from the process.  Half points lost can be earned back if no conclusion is completed but the problem is re-solved.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is strictly prohibited in this course.  On homework sets, you are permitted to work with other students on figuring out difficult problems or concepts.  Under no circumstances may you copy or submit somebody else’s work as your own.  Ideas and solutions may contain similarities, but it MUST be your authentic work.

You will also be working together on lab reports, and you will be sharing data.  The only item that will be identical to your partner's report is the data.  EVERYTHING else will be your own authentic work. Be sure that you have read and understood this section.  Plagiarism is a serious offense, and it will not be tolerated.