Course Title:  AP-Physics: Mechanics
 
2 Semesters – 10 credits – 5 class periods per week
 
Course Description:
AP Physics: Mechanicsis in an in-depth, calculus-based study of physics. It covers physics with less breadth but greater depth than standard physics. The ultimate goal of the course is for students to pass both the AP Physics-C Mechanics exam and the AP Physics-C Electricity & Magnetism exam. Use of calculus increases as the year progresses.
 
The first semester is a study of Newtonian mechanics. The year begins by introducing basic mathematical and science-related topics like standard international units, unit conversions, scientific notation, and vectors. The first unit of physics deals with kinematics in one and two dimensions, including projectile motion. Next, students consider Newton’s three laws of motion. Included in this study of Newton’s laws are frictional forces and centripetal force. Students progress from force to work, energy, and power.  Then they deal the work-energy theorem, conservative forces, potential energy, conservation of energy, and power.  From work-energy, the students derivemomentum and impulse (which presuppose an understanding of the center of mass). After students have mastered linear momentum, they are introduced to the concepts of angular momentum, circular motion, torque and rotational kinematics, dynamics, and statics. The first semester concludes with a study of simple harmonic motion, which includes pendulums and springs, coupled with gravitation and the motion of heavenly bodies.
 
The second semester is a study of electricity and magnetism. The semester opens with electrostatics and the study of point charges, field lines, Coulomb’s law, Gauss’ law, and electric potential. Conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics are the natural step moving forward from electrostatics. From there, the course expands from static to dynamic or current electricity, including the study of R circuits, C circuits, and RC circuits. After current electricity, the focus shifts to magnetism including magnetic fields, force carriers, and the Biot-Savart and Ampere’s laws. The year concludes with the topic of electromagnetism, where the study of induction, Faraday’s law, Lenz’ s law, and Maxwell’s equations are highlighted.
 
Laboratory work in AP Physics ranges from traditional hands-on experiments to modernized experiments using computer software in conjunction with sensors and probes.  Labs are constructed to maximize the students’ problem-solving skills by allowing them to change factors in the experiments in order to observe changing effects. Students will also participate in projects that allow them to create objects that achieve specific goals.
 
Key Course Objectives:
Students will be able to
1. use mathematical models for ordinary physical occurrences.
2. derive formulae used in solving basic and complex models.
3. use critical thinking in order to solve problems interacting with real scenarios.
 
 
Course Specific Objectives:
Students will be able to…

• Recognize God’s consistency through the consistency of mathematical modeling of vectors.
• Use instruments, with the correct precision, to measure length and mass.
• Calculate error for a set of data.
• Cite the SI units for measurement as well as the greek prefixes and their multipliers.
• Write vectors in rectangular, polar and unit vector notation.(Phys 1j)
• Add vectors from any notation. Articulate how the kinematic equations indicate authorship of the physical world. (Jn 1)
• Define position, velocity and speed both verbally and analytically.
• Define acceleration both verbally and analytically.
• Describe the relationships between the graphs and functions of position, velocity and acceleration.
• Use the kinematic equations to solve for unknown variables in 1-dimensional motion with constant acceleration.
• Analyze free-falling bodies while neglecting air resistance.
• Derive the kinematic equations algebraically and through calculus.
• Convey that God is the creator through examining the consistency in the way objects move.(Jn 1)
• Identify scenarios which require 2-dimensional analysis and perform the necessary analysis. (Phys 1k)
• Calculate the properties of projectiles when air-resistance is neglected.(Phys 1i)
• Describe centripetal acceleration and explain why centrifugal acceleration is mythical.(Phys 1f,g)
• Calculate, using appropriate methods, the radial and tangential acceleration. Articulate God’s consistency through an understanding of Newton’s laws of motion.
• Cite Newton’s laws of motion and apply them correctly to appropriate scenarios.(Phys 1b,c,d)
• Draw free-body (force) diagrams that correctly label each force acting on an object.(Phys 1k)
• Identify inertial frames and determine acceleration and velocity of objects within those frames.
• Define both inertial and gravitational mass.
• Apply Newton’s laws of motion in systems with or without friction.
• Apply Newton’s laws of motion to scenarios in one, two, or three dimensions.
• Convey that God is creator through analysis of the pros and cons of resistive forces.
• Calculate centripetal acceleration and force and apply their values to problems involving tension.(Phys 1l)
• Apply Newton’s laws to circular motion whether uniform or nonuniform.
• Calculate terminal velocity of an object traveling through a resistive material.
• Determine the drag coefficient of an object traveling through a resitive material.
• Define a closed system.
• Differentiate between and calculate work done by constant forces and variable forces.
• Calculate the scalar “dot” product of two vectors.
• Cite and apply the Work-Energy theorem with or without the presence of friction.
• Calculate the kinetic energy of an object at any moment.(Phys 2a) Convey why it is necessary to be consistent discoverers of God’s truths through a study of momentum and discussions concerning car accidents and safety developments.
• Define potential energy verbally and analytically. (Phys 2b)
• Describe and apply the conservation of mechanical energy. (Phys 2c)
• Describe conservative and nonconservative forces.
• Explain the relationship between conservative forces and potential energy.
• Analyze energy diagrams.
• Calculate the momentum of an object at any moment.(Phys 2d)
• Apply the coservation of Energy and the conservation of momentum to both elastic and inelastic collisions.(Phys 2e,g)
• Cite and apply the impulse-momentum theorem. (Phys 2f)
• Determine the center of mass of an object or system of objects.
• Describe the motion of a system of particles around the center of mass. Articulate the need to be consistent discoverers of God’s truths through examining rotational kinetic energy and the conservation of energy. (1 Cor 4:1)
• Define angular velocity, acceleration and position verbally and analytically.
• Derive the rotational kinematics and apply them appropriately.
• Apply both rotational and translational equations and theorems within the same problems.
• Define torque verbally and analytically and apply it to solving problems.
• Apply the work-energy theorem to rotational motion. Convey the need to be consistent discoverers of God’s truth by examining the application of the momentum of rotating objects to technology. (1 Cor 4:1)
• Calculate the vector (cross) product of two vectors using the determinant method.
• Define angular momentum verbally and analytically and apply the equations related to angular momentum appropriately.
• Apply conservation rules to angular momentum. Convey that static equilibrium is an indicator of God’s consistent character. (Isa 55:9)
• Cite the conditions for static equilibrium and use them to solve problems.
• Determine the center of gravity of an object or system of particles. Articulate that God is creator and sustainer and that the creation obeys laws which can be described logically and analytically.(Jn 1)
• Articulate that our attempts to describe the motion of the planets must constantly be revised with additional data.(Phys 1h)
• Use the law of universal gravitation to estimate the force of gravity between objects.(Phys 1f)
• Cite Kepler’s laws of planetary motion and apply the two-body variant of the the third law to estimate the period or radius of orbit for satellites around a body.
• Apply the law of universal gravitation along side centripetal force to yield either a distance or velocity for a satellite.(Phys 1f,l)
• Determine the potential energy due to gravity at any radius from the body.
• Apply conservation of energy to satellites.
• Determine the work done in moving an object to a different radius from a heavenly body. Convey the need to consistently discover God’s truth by comparing and constrasting the properties of springs, circular motion and the pendulum.
• Describe the behaviors of an object attached to a spring.
• Apply Hooke’s Law to a spring as well as linked springs.
• Analytically describe harmonic motion.
• Determine the energy in a system involving a simple harmonic oscillator.
• Describe the motion of a pendulum verbally and analytically.

 
Textbook:
 
Bible
Serway, R and Jewett, J.  Physics for Scientists and Engineers (sixth edition).  Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing, 2004; ISBN 0534408427
 
 
Required Materials
                Textbook Physics: Principals and Problems ; ISBN 0534408427
                TI-83 or TI-84 Calculator
 
Prerequisites:
 
“B” or better in Trigonometry or Honors Trigonometry AND
Concurrent enrollment or completion with a C or better of AP Calculus AB or
Completion of Calculus (non-AP) with a B or better