Download AP Curriculum Syllabus Physics 1

AP-Physics 1 Syllabus
Course Overview
The course meets for ten classroom periods in a two-week rotation. Each period lasts 59 minutes.
Laboratory work is performed during one of two double (94 minute) blocks. Lab work includes
both inquiry (or open-ended) and guided investigations. The labs listed are all conducted by the
student.
The course emphasizes multi-step problem solving and encourages students to construct meaning
from observation and data. Student assessment is based on examinations, employing problem
solving and conceptual questions; and laboratory work.
Text:
College Physics, 10th Edition, Raymond Serway and Chris Vuille
Big Ideas for AP Physics 1:
Big Idea 1: Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may have
internal structure.
Big Idea 2: Fields existing in space can be used to explain interactions.
Big Idea 3: The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces.
Big Idea 4: Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems.
Big Idea 5: Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws.
Big Idea 6: Wave can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the
permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other
phenomena.
Big Idea 7: The mathematics of probability can be used to describe the behavior of complex
systems and to interpret the behavior of quantum mechanical systems
Unit Descriptions
Unit 1: One and Two Dimensional Kinematics
Big Ideas: 3, 4 [CR 2a]
Chapter 2, 3
Course Sequence
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Kinematic Variables
Kinematics in One
Dimension
Vector components and
addition
Kinematics in Two
Dimensions
Projectile Motion
Student Labs and Activities
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Data Analysis Lab – Hammer and Puck (OI)
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This investigation introduces data analysis – students
swing a hammer from several heights and measure the
distance traveled by a wooden puck. Students are asked
to analyze the data and determine the relationship
between the two variables.
[SP 5]
Measurement Lab
Toy Car Speed Lab Activity
Instantaneous Velocity on an Incline
Acceleration on an Incline
Acceleration due to Gravity
Acceleration in Spring Loaded System
Reaction Time Lab
Analysis of Traffic Behavior
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Projectile Range – Horizontal
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Ball in the Cup Lab (OI)
Students are asked to predict where to place a cup so
that a marble which is rolled off of a lab bench will land
in the cup.
[SP 2 & 6]
Projectile Range at Different Angles
Analysis of Field Goal Kicking
Walk Around the School
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Unit 2: Dynamics
Big Ideas: 1, 2, 3, 4 [CR 2b] [CR2c]
Chapter 4
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Common Forces and Free
Body Diagrams
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Newton’s First Law
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Newton’s Second Law
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Newton’s Third Law
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Applications of Newton’s
Second Law
Friction
Inclines
Rope & Pulley Problems
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Newton’s 2nd Law Lab (GI)
Students first vary the force acting on a dynamics cart
and measure resulting accelerations. Students then vary
the mass of the cart, keeping the force constant, and
measure the resulting accelerations. Students are asked
to draw conclusions about the relationships between
acceleration and force and between acceleration and
mass.
[SP 5]
Force Table Investigation
Equilibrium Round Robin
Coefficient of Static and Kinetic Friction Lab (GI)
Students vary the mass of friction blocks and pull them at
constant velocity to generate force vs time graphs.
Students then calculate the coefficient of static and
kinetic friction from the graphical data.
[SP 5 & 6]
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Atwood’s Machine Lab
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Determination of Coefficient of Static Friction for
Running Shoes (OI)
Students are given a variety of running shoes and must
determine which shoes provide the best traction by
determining the coefficient of friction between the shoe
and the floor. Students must develop their own
procedure and perform their own analysis based on their
understanding of friction.
[SP 4 &6]
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Determination of Mass of Car using Newton’s 2nd Law
Unit 3: Energy
Big Ideas: 3, 4, 5 [CR 2f]
Chapter 5
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Work
Power
Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy
Conservation of Energy
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Investigation of Work on and Inclined Plane
Conservation of Energy in Pendulum System
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Hooke’s Law Lab (GI)
Students add mass to several springs and measure the
resulting displacement. Students analyze the
relationship between the applied force and the
displacement of the spring using graphical analysis.
Students also determine the spring constant and analyze
the energy stored in the spring using area under a curve.
[SP 2, 5 & 6]
Determination of Spring Constant for Projectile Shooter
Determination of Power Output for Students on Stairs
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Computer Simulation – Conservation of Energy
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Ball on a Ramp Lab
Unit 4: Momentum
Big Ideas: 3, 4, 5 [CR 2e]
Chapter 6
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Impulse
Momentum
Conservation of
Momentum
Elastic and Inelastic
Collisions
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Inelastic Collisions on Air Track
Explosions using Dynamics Carts
Coefficient of Restitution for Various Balls (OI)
Students are asked to do some research on the coefficient
of restitution and connect it to conservation of energy in
collisions. Students will then be asked to develop a
procedure and perform an experiment to determine the
coefficient of restitution for various balls.
[SP 1 & 7]
Conservation of Momentum in Ball Bearing Collisions
Ballistic Pendulum Lab
Determination of Force in Throwing a Baseball
Unit 5: Rotational Motion and Law of Gravity
Big Ideas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 [CR 2c, 2g]
Chapter 7, 8
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Uniform Circular Motion
Dynamics of UCM Centripetal Force
Law of Universal
Gravitation
Torque
Center of Mass
Rotational Kinematics
Rotational Dynamics
Rotational energy
Angular Momentum
Conservation of Angular
Momentum
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Centripetal Motion Lab (GI)
Students vary the centripetal force (via the hanging
mass) acting on a whirling object and analyze the effect
of force on the velocity of the spinning object.
[SP 2 & 5]
Centripetal Acceleration of a Fan Activity
Coefficient of Static Friction on Rotating Turntable
Investigation of Weight Change in Elevator
Flying Pigs OI
Students must make appropriate measurements and carry
out the calculations necessary to determine the tension in
a string attached to a ‘flying pig’ which is undergoing
uniform circular motion.
[SP 1 & 3]
Keplers Laws of Planetary Motion Activity
Solar System Computer Simulatio
Determination of Center of Mass of Students
Angular Acceleration of a Fan
Rotational Inertia and Translational Motion
Conservation of Energy for Objects Rolling on and
Incline Lab
Balance Torque Lab (GI)
Students are asked to determine the mass of a variety of
unknowns using known masses and a meter stick as a
torque arm.
[SP 6]
Conservation of Angular Momentum Activity
Force Exerted by Human Bicep (GI)
Students are asked to determine the force exerted by the
human bicep while holding a shot put. Students must
apply the concept of balanced torque to determine the
force on the muscle.
[SP 7]
Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion and Mechanical Waves
Big Ideas: 3, 5, 6 [CR 2d] [CR 2j]
Chapte13, 14
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Restoring Forces and
Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Pendulum
Spring Mass Systems
Simple Harmonic Motion
Graphs
Traveling Waves
Wave Characteristics
Sound
Superposition
Standing waves
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SHM Using Spring Investigation
Simple Pendulum Lab
Wave Investigation using Slinkys
Standing Wave Patterns in Vibrating String
Investigation of Beats Demo
Open Resonance Tubes
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Closed Resonance Tube – Speed of Sound Lab (GI)
Students are asked to experimentally determine the speed
of sound in the room by determining the wavelength
associated with tuning forks of specific frequencies.
[SP 5, 6]
Tension and Wave Frequency Investigation
Computer Wave Simulation
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Unit 7: Electrostatics
Big Ideas: 1, 3, 5 [CR 2h]
Chapter 15
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Electric Charge and
Conservation of Charge
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Electric Force –
Coulomb’s Law
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Electric Fields
Potential Difference
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Charges on a Quantitative Electroscope
Electrostatics Round Robin Activity
Determination of Electrostatic Force between Pith Balls
Lab
Determination of Charge on Pith Ball (OI)
Students are asked to determine the charge on a pith ball
by measuring the angle formed between two pith balls on
an electroscope. Students are also asked to determine
the approximate number of electrons present on each
pith ball.
[SP 3]
Electric Field Simulation Activity
Van der Graaf Demo
Unit 8: DC Circuits
Big Ideas: 1, 5 [CR 2i]
Chapter 17, 18
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Ohm’s Law Computer Simulation Activity
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Electric Current and
Voltage
Electric Resistance
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Simple Voltaic Cells Lab
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Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law Lab
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DC Circuits
Series and Parallel
Connections
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Efficiency of an Electric Heater Activity
Series and Parallel Circuit Lab (GI)
Students wire three identical resistors in series, in
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Kirchhoff’s Laws
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parallel, and in a series – parallel combination to
investigate the current and power generated in each
combination.
[SP 5]
Circuit Simulation Activity
Illuminating the Shed Activity (OI)
Students are asked to design and construct a model of a
circuit that can be utilized to light a small shed. Students
are given light bulbs, wire, and power source as well as
single and double switches.
[SP 3 & 7]
Additional Course Information
Lab Investigations
Lab investigations support the construction understanding of physical principles as well as provide
an opportunity for students to apply all seven science practices. [CR 6]
Students spend at least 25% of class time in laboratory activities, which are hands on and inquiry
based. [CR 5] Students work cooperatively in groups but, for most investigations, must each
submit an individual formal lab report. Students are required to organize their lab investigations in
a lab notebook. [CR7]
The format for the formal lab report must include
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Introduction (Problem, Hypothesis, Discussion)
Materials
Data and Observations
Analysis
Conclusion with Error Analysis
Project Design
Students engage in hands on activities outside of the laboratory experience which support
connections to more than one Learning Objective.
Activity 1: Egg Drop [CR 3]
Students are asked to design and construct a device within specific area and mass parameters that
will allow an egg to survive a fall from a three story building. Students must employ the concepts of
impulse and stopping time in their project. Students are asked to create a brochure which extols the
virtues of their project and connects their design to impulse and change in momentum.
Learning Objectives: 3.D.1.1, 3.D.2.1, 3.D,2.4, 4.A.2.1, 4.B.1.2
Science Practices 3,7
Activity 2: Physics Capstone Project – The Physics Fair [CR 3] [CR 8]
Students are asked to design and construct a project that demonstrates one or more physics
principles. Students must present their projects in a formal manner through a physics fair, where
they present and explain their projects to visiting underclassmen. Students are asked to work
cooperatively in groups and engage in peer review of other projects.
Sample projects include resonance, catapults, projectiles, properties of light, advanced circuitry.
Learning Objectives: Many including 1.C.1.1, 3.A.3.3, 5.D.3.1, 6.B.1.1, 6.B.2.1, 6.C.3.1
Science Practices 3,7
Real World Applications
See Labs:
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Determination of Coefficient of Static Friction for Running Shoes [CR4]
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Coefficient of Restitution for Various Balls [CR 4]
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Force Exerted by Human Bicep [CR 4]
Alternative Energy Project [CR 4, CR 8]
Students work in groups to research a renewable form of energy. Students must present their
research to the entire class. Students are evaluated on the depth of their research, the effectiveness
of their presentation as well as their ability to perform a peer review of other presentations.
Learning Objectives: 5.B.3.1 5.B.4.2, 5.B.5.4, 5.B.6.1
Science Practices 1 & 7
AP Physics 1 Course Requirements