Cypress Creek High School
AP PHYSICS C − Mechanics ∙ 2011 - 2012
COURSE OUTLINE
Instructor: Marcien Dentey
Office: Room H109
Phone: (407) 852-3400 Ext.2387 Email: marcien.dentey@ocps.net.
Course Information: There are two categories of AP Physics - AP Physics B and AP
Physics C. AP Physics B is equivalent to Algebra and Trig based introductory physics
courses taught at colleges and universities. It is primarily designed for students who
do not plan to major in Science nor Engineering; yet their majors still require
intermediate level physics knowledge. AP Physics C is equivalent to Calculus based
Introductory Physics that colleges and Universities offer Physics and Engineering
Majors. AP Physics C is further divided into two parts – the first part is called
Mechanics and the second part is known as Electricity and Magnetism. Typically,
Mechanics is taken during the first semester, followed by Electricity and Magnetism.
This course teaches the first part – Mechanics.
Course Focus: For students planning to major in Physics and Engineering the focus
is not about memorizing laws, concepts, theories, formulas, etc., and making good
(A) grades on tests and then forget everything they have learned; rather, an
introductory physics course – especially classical mechanics - is the foundation upon
which all subsequent physics and engineering courses are built. In light of this,
emphasis is placed on developing the student’s skills in all aspects of scientific
investigation and engineering practice. ’Activity Before Concept’ approach will be
used as much as possible to get the students thinking as scientists and the
‘Engineering Design Cycle’ model will be adopted in finding solutions to problems.
Prerequisites: As discussed above, Physics C is Calculus-based, consequently, a
student enrolled in Physics C must have already taken, passed, and have a adequate
understanding of basic to intermediate differential and integral Calculus. A student
who has not already taken Calculus can take and do well in Physics C, provided that
this student is taking Calculus concurrently.
Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers 6th Edition, by Serway & Jewett.
Calculator: A graphing or scientific calculator is required for this course. A graphing
calculator is recommended; however, a scientific calculator is adequate.
Schedule of Topics: Six content areas are covered in AP Physics C – Mechanics.
Kinematics Systems of Particles and Linear
Newton’s Laws of Motion Momentum
Work, Energy and Power Circular Motion and Rotation
Oscillations and Gravitation
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These content areas are covered using a block format as shown in the table below:
(Note: “ALL” beside a chapter means all sections will be covered.)
Chapters
Week Block Traditional Exploratory
Topics in
# # Laboratory Laboratory
Textbook
Measurements: Measurements
Standards of
Lab.
length, Mass,
Time.
Length, mass,
1 0 Dimensional 1 (ALL)
Time
Analysis
Significant figures, Volume, Density.
uncertainties and
errors.
Uniformly
Rectilinear Motion: accelerated
Unaccelerated motion
motion Air track and photo
Constant gates. Motion
2 2 (1 – 5)
acceleration Plot v vs t graphs; Graphs.
Acceleration obtain a from slope;
changing with obtain x from area
under the v vs t
1 time.
graph.
Rectilinear Motion:
Free-Fall
Kinematic Free Fall
3 Equations derived 2 (6 – 8)
from Calculus
Laboratory.
Problem-Solving
Strategy.
Formative/Summative assessment – Block 0 and Blok 1
Curvilinear Motion:
Frames of
reference –
Coordinate 3 (ALL) Vectors:
systems. Vector
4 Graphical
Vectors Properties
Position, 4 (1) Analysis
Velocity,
Acceleration
vectors.
2
Curvilinear Motion:
2-d motion with
constant Uniformly
acceleration accelerated
Projectile Motion. Projectile
5 4 (2 – 6) motion
Uniform Circular Projectile motion
Motion.
motion.
Tangential and
Radial
Acceleration.
2
Relative Velocity
and Relative
Acceleration.
Formative/Summative assessment – Block 2
Newton’s Laws:
The concept of
force
Newton’s 1st, 2nd, Force table.
5 (ALL)
and 3rd Laws. Newton’s
6 Inclined plane.
Applications of Law in 2-d.
newton’s Laws. 12 (1 – 3)
Friction.
Static
Equilibrium
Circular Motion and
Other Applications
of Newton’s Laws:
3 Newton’s 2nd
Law applied to
Uniform Circular
Motion. Centripetal
Motion in Force and
Centripetal
7 accelerated 6 (ALL) Uniform
Force.
Frames. Circular
Motion when Motion
Resistive Forces
are present.
Numerical
modeling in
particle
dynamics.
Universal
Gravitation:
Newton’s Law of
Universal
Gravitation.
Measuring the
Cavendish
Gravitational Acceleration
Constant. Experiment.
due to gravity
Free-Fall (photo gates
8 4 Acceleration and 13 (ALL) Gravitational
or spark Orbits.
the Gravitational
timer
Force.
Kepler’s Laws
apparatus)
and the motion
of planets.
The Gravitational
Field.
Gravitational
potential Energy.
Formative/Summative assessment – Blocks 3 and 4.
3
9 Review and Comprehensive Test (Blocks 0 – 4)
Work, Energy, and
Power:
Work done by a
constant Force.
The Dot (scalar)
Product of two
vectors. Connected
Atwood
10 Work done by a masses on two
7 (ALL) machine inclines.
variable force.
Kinetic Energy
and the Work-
Energy Theorem.
Conservation of
Energy.
Power
5 Potential Energy:
Potential Energy
of a System.
Conservation of
Mechanical
Energy. Elastic
Conservative and Potential
Nonconservative Energy:
11 forces. 8 (ALL) Energy
Relationship stored in a
between compressed
Conservative spring.
Forces and
potential Energy.
Energy diagrams
and Equilibrium
of Systems.
Formative/Summative assessment – Block 5
4
Linear Momentum
and Collisions:
Impulse and
Momentum.
Conservation of
linear
momentum. Collisions and
12 6 Collisions in one 9 (ALL) Conservation Collisions
dimension.
of Energy
Two dimensional
collisions.
The Center of
mass.
Motion of a
system of
particles.
Formative/Summative assessment – Block 6
Rotational
kinematics and
dynamics:
Angular position,
velocity, and
acceleration.
Rotational
acceleration:
constant angular Torque as a
acceleration. Physics of Ice
13 10 (ALL) vector in
Angular and Skating
equilibrium.
Linear
quantities.
Rotational
kinetic energy.
Torque
7 Work, Power and
Energy in
Rotational
motion.
Angular
Momentum:
The vector
product and
torque.
Angular Moment of
14 Momentum. Basic Torque
Inertia.
Angular (L) 11 (1 – 4)
Momentum of a
Rotating rigid
Body.
Conservation of
L
5
Formative/Summative assessment – Block 7
Oscillatory Motion:
Motion of an
object attached
to a string.
Mathematical
representation of
Simple Harmonic Simple Spring and
Motion. Pendulum. Pendulum.
16 8 Energy of the 15 (ALL)
Simple Harmonic Hooke’s Law Damped
Oscillator. and SHM. Oscillator.
SHM versus
UCM.
The Pendulum:
Damped and
Forced
Oscillations.
Formative/Summative assessments – Block 8
17 Comprehensive review (Blocks 0 - 8)
18 Semester Exam – Comprehensive (Blocks 0 – 8)
Laboratory: There is a laboratory component to this course. Laboratory work
involves both traditional and demonstration/exploratory laboratories. Physics
Curriculum’s Exploration of Physics simulations will be utilized in the
demonstration laboratories.
For the traditional labs, a lab report is required for each experiment. This report
must contain the following pages and sections:
Page 1: Title Page. This page must show the course name, the experiment number
and title, your name, lab partners (if any) and the date the report is written.
Subsequent pages: The subsequent pages must show the following sections in the
order shown. Each section must be clearly labeled:
(i) Introduction: Must include the purpose of the experiment and all relevant
theory behind the experiment.
(ii) Equipment: List all relevant apparatus and give a brief description of each.
(iii) Procedure: Describe in your own words how the experiment was conducted.
(iv) Data Analysis and Graphs: Include all data collected and show all
calculations. Also include graphs, diagrams and charts as applicable.
(v) Conclusion: Indicate whether you have accomplished your goal in performing
the experiment as stated in the introduction. Identify sources of error and
uncertainties in your experiment and calculate % errors as appropriate.
The subtitles (i) through (v) above must be clearly shown and underlined.
Due dates for Lab Reports: Due dates for lab reports will be announced in class.
Homework, Quizzes, and Tests: Homework and all quizzes will be done on Maple
TA. Some homework and all tests will be done with paper and pencil. Students are
required to show all their work for such homework assignments and tests. The
quizzes and homework done on Maple TA are designed to provide practice on
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Multiple choice type questions on the AP Exam while homework done on paper and
tests provide practice for the Free Response type questions on the AP exam.
Final Grade Computation:
Final grade for the course is computed as follows:
Homework 20%
Quizzes 30%
Laboratory 20%
Tests 30%
Total 100%
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