Download AP-Physics-C-10Syllabus-16-17

AP Physics C Course Syllabus
Course Description
There are two types of Advanced Placement courses that are offered in physics,
level B and level C. Level B is a comprehensive course which covers all aspects of
physics. The math requirements are algebra and trigonometry. Colleges will usually give
subject and unit credit for this course. Chemistry, Engineering or Physics majors will
usually need physics level C to get subject credit. Level C is a calculus–based course that
concentrates in the two areas of Mechanics and Electromagnetism. We will cover the
Mechanics part of it only.
Course Objectives
The purpose of this class is to prepare you to the mechanics part of the AP Physics
Level C exam given in mid–May. This class is oriented toward the serious science
student. Heavy emphasis is given on critical thinking, problem solving, research, as well
as hands on lab experience. Many of the concepts are introduced by using inquiry based
experiences, more formal lab experiments, and demonstrations. In addition, you will be
required to write papers exploring areas of current research where application of the
principles of mechanics is of central importance. The expectation is that all students will
take the AP exam and pass it with a grade of three or better. The rationale for doing
mechanics only is that for most students AP physics is a first high school physics course
and a fraction of the class will be taking calculus concurrently. This approach will allow
ample time for problem solving and lab sessions , as well as to cover the topics in more
depth.
Prerequisites
Students need to have taken Calculus or be concurrently enrolled in it. Students
who are enrolled in calculus concurrently have found the two classes to work together
nicely, and have benefited tremendously from the experience. I start the course with a
short unit with most of the calculus you will need.
Course Format
Each semester is divided up into approximately 5 units, each of which roughly
corresponds to a chapter of the book. Each unit will begin with either a hands on activity ,
discussion , a lecture, problem solving sessions and two more formal laboratory
experiences. There will usually be a practice test before the unit exam, which will be
discussed in class on the day prior to the in class test. On average there will be two labs
per unit. Each unit is designed to take approximately three weeks to complete.
Academic Honesty Policy
Please refer to your student handbook for the UCHS academic honesty policy. The
first time a student is caught cheating, a grade of zero will be entered for that exam or
homework assignment, the student’s parents and counselor will be informed of the
incident, and the student’s citizenship grade will also be lowered. The second time a
student is caught cheating, that person will be removed from the course with an “F, U”
for the semester.
Textbook
The textbook you will be using for this class is PHYSICS for Scientists and
Engineers by Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr 7th edition . We will also use
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS by D. Halliday, R.. Resnick, and J Walker .Grading
Grades are determined by a composite score, which is made up of:
20% Homework
20% Labs
50% Unit Tests and Quizzes
10% Final Exam (a released AP exam )
The grades are determined from a standard percentage of the total possible composite:
90% and above is an “A”
80% to 89.9% is a
“B”
70% to 79.9% is a
“C”
Below 70%
“F”
Test Policy
Unit tests will be closed book, closed notes. Some equations will be posted on the
board and some you will have to memorize. I encourage students to work together on
practice tests that will be either take home or in class tests given a couple of days before
the test. As mentioned earlier, we will go over these test the day before the unit test. The
semester final exams will be a selection of multiple choice and free response questions
from released AP exams .
Citizenship Policy
The Citizenship grade is largely based on student participation. An “E” student is
never disrespectful to another student, asks insightful questions, and participates in all inclass activities. A “G” student pays attention, does not disrupt class, participates during
in-class activities, but may not ask any questions. “N” students show excessive classroom
disruptions and/or don’t participate during in-class activities. Any student whose
behavior is worse than this will be removed from the class.
Attendance will affect a student’s citizenship grade according to UCHS policy. Use of
cell phones in class will also affect citizenship grade.
Homework policy
Homework will be due by the start of class on the due date that is written on the
board or given to you verbally. Late homework will be awarded half credit and will only
be accepted before the start of class the next day. I do not accept sloppy homework. If
you have poor penmanship, work on it. If your homework is not in the following format,
you will not get credit for the assignment:
Lab Experiments
A vital component of this class is the laboratory experiences. The goals are to
expose you to the application of the scientific method; manipulating of equipment,
recording, analyzing , and communicating your conclusions using the scientific writing
style. We will do some experiments using low tech equipment , which will force you to
have a clearer understanding of the meaning and reliability of the measurements. For
some labs we will use newer technology ; probe-ware , computer analysis ,etc. The
disadvantage of this is that students with little or no experience conducting physics
experiments, miss out on the understanding of the measuring process, data gathering and
analysis. Lab reports will be both individual and group reports, depending on the lab
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Unit
Duration
5 Topic
Math
sessions
9 Review ( Trig,
Introdu sessions
Vectors And
ction and
Calculus ).
Pre7
Introduction to
Assessment sessions
inquiry activities
Kine
12 sessions and lab
matics in one
design
Frame of
dimension
reference, Position,
and
displacement
Spe
K
ed and Velocity (
inematics in
Calculus)
Unifor
two
mly accelerated
dimensions
motion with
applications
Newton’s
Displacemen
laws of
t , Velocity, and
motion, Stat
Acceleration in 2ic
D
Equations of
equilibrium
kinematics for
(first
Uniformly
law) Dyna
Accelerated
mics of a
Motion
Projectile
single
motion
Free
particle
body
(second
diagrams Normal
law) Syste
Force Tension Sta
ms of two or
tic and kinetic
more objects
friction
(third
forces Equilibrium
law)
and noon
equilibrium
applications
Laboratory
Assessments
Pr
Experiences
Sp e test Lab
inning tubes inquiry report HW
activity
Density problem set Quiz 1
lab
Test 1
Quiz 2
design
“Galileo
Test 2
HW
’s Inclines” Inquiry problem set
Lab
Lab
Analysis of reports
motion using motion
Quiz 3
Quiz
detectors (predict
4
Test 3
HW
and construct x vs. t , problem set
Lab
v vs t , and a vs t
reports
Quiz
graphs)
Determin 4
Quiz 5
Test
ation of “g” using air 4
HW problem
tracks and
set
Lab reports
photogates ( Use an
inclined air track to
determine g
measuring x and t
)
Graphical
analysis ( Slope and
area under curves:
calculus)
Projecti
le motion inquiry
lab
Projectile
motion lab using
probe ware (predict
and measure the
horizontal range of a
ball bearing that is
released from a ramp
and transitions to a
horizontal track prior
to following
projectile
motion)
Vector
representation of
equilibrium
conditions: Inquiry
lab Air track inertia
investigation (predict
and test the behavior
of a glider on an air
track under balanced
and unbalanced
forces) .Newton
second law lab using
air tracks and photogates ( Test F=ma
varying the mass and
the applied
fore) Atwood
machine
lab Determination
of static and kinetic
coefficients of
friction (place an
object on a surface
with variable
inclination to
determine s. Pull
and object at
constant speed
varying the mass to
determine k )
9
Centripetal
Uniform circular
Quiz 6
Quiz
Uniform
sessions
Acceleration,
motion lab using
7
Test 5
HW
Circular
Centripetal
rubber stoppers and problem set
Lab
Motion
9
Forces.
Banked spring scales (
reports
sessions
Curves and Conical Determine
Quiz
12 sessions pendulums
Vertic centripetal
8
Quiz 9
Test
al Circular
acceleration and
6
HW problem
motion
Kepler’s force on a stopper of set
Lab
Laws
Newton’s unknown mass and reports
Quiz
Law of Universal
predict the mass
10
Quiz
Gravitation
Gravitation Satellit from a F vs a graph , 11
HW
es ,Circular
explain
problem set
Test
Orbits
Rotation discrepancies
7
Lab reports
al
between real and
Kinematics: Compa predicted mass
ring Angular and
)
Conical
Tangential
Pendulum
(Translational)
Lab
Inquiry
Variables
Rotatio Activity: analysis of
nal Kinematics:
astronomical
Comparing Angular data
Inqui
and Translational
ry Lab :
Variables
Forces Determination of
Rotation
and Torques on
Moment of Inertia
Rigid Bodies:
for an Unknown
Newton’s Laws
Object
Evaluatin
Revisited
g Equilibrium
Work done by a
Conditions for
Constant
Pulleys with Varying
Force
The Work- Radii
Energy Theorem and Lab
.PE-KE
Kinetic
investigation using
Energy
Gravitatio air tracks and probe
nal Potential Energy ware ( test
Work, energy,
Conservation of conservation of
power
Mechanical Energy : energy for gliders
Conservative and
going down an
Non-Conservative inclined air track
Forces
Non)
Work done by
Conservative Forces a Non-Parallel Force
and the WorkLab
Work done
Energy
by Air Resistance :
Theorem
Power Coffee Filter
(Calculus) Hooke’s Lab
6 sessions
Systems of
particles :
Center of
mass,
Impulse and
momentum
Oscillations
Practice
Tests and
Review
6
sessions
4 sessions
Law :Work done by
a Variable Force
(Calculus)
Systems of
Inquiry Lab:
Quiz 12
Quiz
Particles and Center Finding Center of
13
HW problem
of Mass
The
Gravity for
set
Test 8
Lab
Impulse –
Irregularly Shaped reports
Momentum
Objects
.Elastic
Theorem
Conserv and inelastic
ation of Linear
collisions lab using
Momentum
Colli air tracks and photosions in One and
gates ( test
Two Dimensions
conservation of
momentum by
measuring speeds of
gliders undergoing
elastic and inelastic
collisions)
Ballist
ic Pendulum
Lab
Simple harmonic
motion(dynamics
and energy
relationships)
Mass on a
spring
Pendulum
and other
oscillations
Practice
test 1 /
Review
Practice
test 2/ Review
Inquiry Lab:
Variables that affect
period of a
pendulum
Deter
mination of spring
constant using
equilibrium
condition ( hang
known masses on a
spring and measure
its displacement
from equilibrium to
find k )
Analysis
of mass-spring
system using air
tracks and probe
ware ( determine
period of oscillation
and use it to
determine k ,
compare both
methods )
Quiz 14
Quiz
15
HW problem
set
Test 9
Lab
reports
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