AP Physics C Mechanics - Humble Independent School District

 AP Physics C MechanicsObjective of the CourseA calculus based course in physics, designed to be the equivalent of pre-engineering introductory physics course for university students. The approach to the course will emphasize theoretical derivation of concepts and deepening understanding through problem solving.Problem solving is the primary way the student will be expected to learn the material in the course, progressing from learning about physics to becoming a practitioner of it. Problems will come from the textbook, and from worksheets available from other sources or from my own academic and professional experience. Computer simulations will also be used, and students will be introduced to methods of using commonly available applications (e.g., spreadsheets) to do their own applications.Weekly laboratory work will provide a connection between the theoretical concepts and data that the students can acquire.Text and schedule The text will be the Mechanics section (Chapters 1-14 + 20) of Physics for Scientists and Engineers, by Randall D. Knight. The class will meet for approximately fifty minutes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and 90 minutes on Wednesdays (class does not meet on Thursdays). Although there may be some variation to accommodate factors external to the class, generally laboratory sessions and exams will occur during the longer Wednesday class sessions. Final GradeThe final grade will be determined through a combination of quizzes/tests (70%), homework (15%), and labs (15%). Course OutlineConcepts will be introduced through a combination of lecture, question and answer discussion during class, homework and homework presentations by the students, demonstrations and laboratory exercises. Elementary calculus will be used throughout the course where appropriate. A document will be provided on the first day which will serve as an outline and review of the mathematical concepts that will be assumed for the course.The following table is a breakdown of the topics to be covered, accompanied by the corresponding chapter(s) in the text, and the anticipated class time that will be devoted to each. (The class days are apportioned from the estimated number of 50-minute class periods available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. As indicated above, Wednesday classes will emphasize laboratory exercises and exams.)TopicChapter in KnightNumber of class daysMathematics worksheetN/A2Units, Measurement, Vectors35Motion1&25With constant accelerationTime varying accelerationTwo dimensional motion45Projectile motionNewton’s Laws5-710Force & mass1st, 2nd, & 3rd LawsFree body diagramsWeight, normal forces & friction Circular MotionWork and Energy10&115Work by constant forceWork-energy theoremWork as a scalar productPowerPotential EnergyConservation of energy1010Conservative & non-conservative forcesPotential energyConservation of energyDissipative forcesSystems of Particles and Conservation of Momentum97Center of Mass DefinitionFinding the Center of Mass of certain objects by integrationImpulse & momentumConservation of momentumMomentum and collisionsElastic & inelastic collisionsCenter of Mass Reference Frame and Rocket PropulsionRotation125Angular velocity and angular accelerationRotational kinematicsCalculating moment of inertial by integrationRotational dynamics, rotational inertia and angular momentumVector nature of rotation and the vector cross productTorque and Angular Momentum as vectorsAngular momentumTorque for a rigid bodyGravitation135Kepler’s Laws & Newtonian synthesisGravitational Potential EnergyGravitational Field, Fields of continuous objectsStatic Equilibrium125Conditions for equilibriumSolving statics problemsElasticity, stress, & strainSimple Harmonic Motion (SHM)145Oscillations of a springKinematics of SHMEnergy of SHMWave motion204Simple wave motionTransverse and longtitudinal wavesHarmonics and superposition of wavesLaboratoryLaboratory experiments will emphasize concepts taught during the lecture portion of the class. Experiments will be conducted by dividing the class into smaller groups, emphasizing cooperation and working with equipment to solve problems. Guidance in some detail will be provided for some labs; in others the students will be expected to produce their own solution to a question or problem. Although each experiment will be a group effort, each student will be required to write his/her own report and to keep a lab notebook consisting of those reports. An inventory of equipment available for the laboratory has not been developed, so the precise list of laboratory exercises cannot be developed at this time. However, a list of exercises that are most likely to be assigned is given below.Mechanics Experiments1Measurement, significant figures, propagation of errorLength measurement, calculation of volumeMass measurement, calculation of density2Analysis of motionMeasurement of motion, graphing position vs. time3GravityDetermination of acceleration due to gravityTerminal velocity4Projectile motionInitial (muzzle) velocity; range5Vectors, addition of vectors ,forcesExperimental addition of vectorsGraphical analysis6Measurement of coefficient of frictionStatic and kinetic coefficients of frictionAngle of repose for incline plane7Conservation of mechanical and potential energyDouble inclined planes8Conservation of momentum and energyAir track "explosion"Quantitative analysis of billiard ball/air table collisions9Simple pendulumPeriod measurement, lack of dependence on mass, amplitude dependence ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download