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Philhour

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." - Mark Van Doren

AP Physics C 2006-07 / 1st Semester

Most recent update December 18, 2006 11:19 AM

Schedule

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  • Week of Friday, August 25th -- Unit I: Kinematics
    • Day 1 (Activity Schedule)
      • Introduction to course; distribution of syllabus

      • TA responsibilities and sign-ups

      • Activity: derivatives as instantaneous slope
      • graph the y(t) function for an object thrown up from some height
      • choose (wisely) the range and divisions on your y and t axes by doing a quick calculation
      • take derivatives to determine velocity -- compare to measured slopes
      • take second derivatives to determine acceleration
      • Reading HW: Hecht Ch 1 [in particular, check out Example 1.2, Table 1.2, Figure 1.7, Table 1.5] and check out my AP site
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 1 Discussion Questions (DQ) #s 11 & 12 , Multiple Choice (MC) #s 7 & 10, Problems (P) 42 & 64 --note that these problems are assigned homework that will not be collected; you must do these if you aim to do well on the quizzes and exams
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 1 # 26 -- note that these problems are assigned homework that will be collected or checked; for these, I want you to write up an excellent solution, a beautiful AP-level masterpiece -- and get your syllabus signed and finish the graph we began in class

 

  • Week of Monday, August 28th -- Unit I: Kinematics
    • Day 1
      • Activity: continue working from our graph from Friday: measuring slope and calculating velocity in this way
      • Graphing velocity vs. time
      • Introduction to the antiderivative
      • "Area under a curve" as the geometric interpretation of the anti-derivative
      • Reading HW: Hecht Ch 2 (first half) [in particular, check out Example 2.2, Figures 2.3 to 2.5, Example 2.6]
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 2 MC #s 7, 8, 10
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 2 P # 50ac
    • Day 2
      • Activity: continue working from our graph from Day 1; measuring area under a velocity vs. time curve and calculating position in this way
      • Geometrical interpretation of the first of the big three equations
      • Unit vectors
      • Two-dimensional kinematics -- using projectile motion and relative motion as examples
      • Reading HW: Hecht Ch 2 (second half) [in particular, check out Figures 2.26, 2.35, 2.46, and Example 2.15]
      • Practice HW Probs: none
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 MC #s 1-5
    • Day 3
      • Continue two-dimensional kinematics: graph the position of a projectile; draw in properly scaled velocity vectors at various points.
      • Practice problems mixed with TA Training for HW Parties (to begin next week)
      • Here are the finalized TA hours for the 1st semester
      • Reading HW: Hecht Ch 3 (first half) [in particular, check out Figure 3.9]
      • Practice HW Probs: none
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 P #s 36 & 37 (and be sure to do the assigned reading!!!)
    • Day 4
      • HW Check -- have all required HW problems completed and in "masterpiece" form by today
      • Continue work on projectile motion problem
      • Hand out practice test (not for grade) covering some of the material so far
      • Reading HW: Hecht Ch 3 (second half) [in particular, check out Figure 3.12, 3.14,  and Example 3.16] -- also, be sure to review the "Core Material & Study Guide" that ends each chapter
      • Practice HW Probs: study for Exam on Day 1 of next week.
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 P # 133 (and be sure to do the assigned reading!!!)

 

  • Week of Tuesday, September 5th -- Unit I: Kinematics and Unit II: Newton's Laws
    • Day 1 (Activity Schedule)
      • Exam: Unit I part 1/2: kinematics; in particular, the use of the "Big Three" equations of motion (under constant acceleration) to solve one and two-dimensional problems; the use and addition of vectors in relative velocity problems; the integral relationships between x, v, and a for situations where the acceleration is not constant; graphing and interpreting the slopes of graphs
      • Reading HW: Read the 'Suggestions on Problem Solving' for each of Chapters 1, 2, and 3
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 MC #s 6, 7, 9, 11
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 P # 18
    • Day 2 (Activity Schedule)
      • Brief lecture: figuring out relative accelerations in pulley problems by taking second derivatives of a fixed length
      • Practice problems in-class: Hecht Ch 3 P #s 40 & 44
      • Reading HW: Begin Hecht Ch 4 (we'll finish it by the end of next weekend) -- remember that the figures are just as important as the text
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 P #s 67, 94, 112
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 3 P # 45
    • Day 3 (Activity Schedule)
      • HW Check -- have all required HW problems completed and in "masterpiece" form by today
      • Practice problems in-class: Hecht Ch 3 P # 73, 130; MC # 18; DQ # 20
      • Reading HW: Continue Hecht Ch 4 -- finish it by the end of the weekend
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 8, 9, 20, 54, 89
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P # 18 & MC #s 3 - 6

 

  • Week of Monday, September 11th -- Unit II: Newton's Laws
    • Day 1
      • (Pass out solution key for Ch 3 # 130 from last week)
      • Lab: Newton's Laws review Day 1/2 -- writeup will be due Day 1 of next week
        • Form groups of three and locate a force probe for the Lab Pro.
        • Calibrate the force probe in Logger Pro by going to Experiment -> Calibrate
        • You'll need to hang two known weights from the force probe to calibrate it. Enter their weight in Newtons when prompted.
        • Verify your calibration by hanging a third known weight.
        • Using a pulley, low-friction cart, range finder and force probe, and a variety of weights, verify Newton's "2nd Law" relationship between instantaneous force and instantaneous acceleration
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 10, 14 , 22
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P # 32
    • Day 2
      • Lab: Newton's Laws review Day 2/2 -- writeup will be due Day 1 of next week
        • For writing up your laboratory results: Be sure to check out the lab write-ups at my hall of fame for a guide. in the past, I found that many of the lab-writeups were "2" level at the start of the year and only got to "4" level near the end. Try to hit the ground running by being verbose, accurate, and complete. Imagine giving your lab write-up to yourself 6 months ago. Would you, as you were 6 months ago, be able to follow and describe exactly how the experiment went? Include all relevant parameters that the you would need. Include a data table, graph, or some other way of organizing the important data so the reader can verify if you made a mistake. Include a portion where you formally write-up the solution to the equations that you are experimenting with. Include in your conclusion some discussion of experimental error. If you make a claim of 'human error,' be sure to explain why the human who made the error didn't just correct it. Include a sketch or photo of the experiment to help your reader visualize what went on.
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 55, 56
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P # 47
    • Day 3
      • HW questions?
      • Demo: how to make 'best fit' lines and analyze data using the Vernier Logger Pro and Graphical Analysis
      • Brief lecture: Revisiting Newton's Laws with calculus (F = dp/dt = m(dv/dt) = ma)
      • Sample problem: calculating terminal velocity as well as the function v(t) for a drag force F = -bv
      • Here are my notes for today on calculating terminal velocity
      • In-class work: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 44, 45 & 46
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 90, 91
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 51 & 53 and check out the notes for today (above)
    • Day 4
      • HW Check -- have all required HW problems completed and in "masterpiece" form by today
      • Brief lecture: Two-body problems (the quick way -- making use of the fact that two objects connected by a string act like "one object" in certain situations)
      • In-class work: Hecht Ch 4 P #s 85 (note that if you use 10 instead of 9.8 for g, the problem is unsolvable! neat!), 87, 108
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P # 113
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 P # 84 & finish write-up of your Newton's Law lab & study for exam & quiz on Monday. This test will act as (1) part II of the Unit exam for Kinematics (so, study the last test and the practice problems from last week!) and as (2) a quiz on the material from this week (so, study & work the assigned problems) -- see you on the Public Folder!

 

  • Week of Monday, September 18th -- Unit II: Newton's Laws
    • Day 1
      • Exam & Quiz: see HW from Day 4 of last week for description
      • Reading HW: Begin Hecht Ch 5 -- finish by Day 1 of next week (remember to concentrate on the figures)
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 5 MC #s 1, 2, 4
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 # 128 [turn in Day 4]
    • Day 2
      • Grade update and quiz review (with weight & spring gauge)
      • In-class practice test (not for grade, but turn in Day 4): summer physics Newton's Laws final exam -- note that these are at the level of regular physics, I'm just having you do these to make sure everybody is up to speed before rocketing ahead
      • Reading HW: Finish Hecht Ch 5 by Day 1 of next week
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 5 P #s 1, 2
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 # 134 [turn in Day 4]
    • Day 3
      • In-class practice problems for centripetal motion -- ditto note above: these are below the level of the AP exam, but meant as review & practice before moving on [due Day 1 of next week]
      • Reading HW: Finish Hecht Ch 5 by Day 1 of next week
      • Practice HW Probs: Hecht Ch 5 P #s 27
      • Required HW Probs: Hecht Ch 4 # 97 [turn in Day 4]
    • Day 4  

Keep your calendar clear for the evening of Wednesday, October 4th. Berkeley Prof. Alex Fillipenko will be speaking about dark energy and the accelerating universe at Foothill College at 7 PM. I'll pass out permission slips soon. Bring your parents -- it is a nontechnical lecture! The event is free, but parking will cost $2. AP Physics and Astronomy students will be invited to come.

 

  • Week of Monday, September 25th -- Unit II: Newton's Laws
    • Day 1
      • Turn in centripetal motion worksheet from Day 3 of last week
      • Practice test on Newton's Laws (multiple choice will be scored & returned in-class; for the free response section I will pass out a key tomorrow)
      • Practice HW Probs: Ch 5 P # 12
      • Required HW Probs: finish today's practice test, due Day 2
    • Day 2
      • HW Questions?
      • Turn in free response section of practice test from Day 1 in exchange for a key
      • Even more Newton's Laws practice problems (turn in at start of class tomorrow)
      • Practice HW Probs: Ch 5 MC #s 6, 7, 15
      • Required HW Probs: Ch 5 P # 24
    • Day 3
      • Retreatants: you will take next week's exam on Day 4 instead of Day 1
      • HW Questions!!!
      • Work this spacecraft orbits worksheet (finish as homework, but please skip #4)
      • Required HW Probs: finish orbits worksheet from above and prepare homework and other questions for a Q&A session on Day 4
      • Reading HW: briefly check out the chaos pendulum (chaos, or nonlinear behavior, happens when a small change in initial conditions (say, you hold the thing at 31.5 degrees instead of 31.7 degrees, leads to huge changes in final outcomes (the path of the pendulum is totally different) ... the classic example is the butterfly beating his wings in Brazil and this small change in pressure leads to a totally different storm system somewhere else.)
    • Day 4
      • Retreatants: you will take next week's exam on Day 4 instead of Day 1
      • HW Check: Ch 5 P # 24; dot and cross product worksheet from last week; #s 8 and 9 on the Mixed Newton's Laws problems worksheet from last week; also, turn in the spacecraft orbits worksheet from yesterday
      • Exam Review Day -- we'll have an exam on Day 1 of next week
      • Today will be a Q&A session -- please bring good questions from the homework & other assignments from this unit. Big exam on Day 1 of next week!
      • HW: prepare for exam on Day 1 -- remember my AP Physics C prep page has lots of exams (SI ID and password required)
      • Reading HW: begin reading Ch 6 over the weekend -- you'll finish by the end of the next week. Remember that when doing these reading assignments, the best strategy is to begin by only reading the figures and example problems -- come back to the text only if you need to.

 

  • Week of Monday, October 2nd -- Unit II: Newton's Laws
    • Day 1
      • Exam on Newton's Laws (retreatants: you will take your exam on Day 4)
      • Practice HW Probs: Ch 6 MC #s 1, 9, 11, 15, 19
      • Required HW Probs: Ch 6 P #s 1, 78, 99
      • Reading HW: continue reading Ch 6
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
      • Lecture: review of energy and momentum concepts from Physics Honors
      • In-class work: begin practice exam from summer physics (due Day 1 of next week)
      • Required HW Probs: study for tomorrow's exam or continue work on practice exam (above)
      • Reading HW: continue reading Ch 6
    • Day 4
      • Optional Newton's Laws makeup exam (here are Version A and Version B) for all students in AP Physics (not optional for retreatants)
      • Students not taking the makeup exam can work on the practice exam for conservation laws (above)
      • Required HW Probs: finish the practice exam (above)
      • Reading HW: finish reading Ch 6

 

  • Week of Monday, October 9th -- Unit III: Conservation Laws
    • Day 1
      • Important notice: your midterm exam next week will constitute your FINAL exams for Units I and II
      • Brief lecture: escape velocity (deciding where to set PE = 0 ... on surface of Earth, or at infinity?)
        • A new equation for gravitational potential energy (U = -GMm/r) , and why it "matches" the old equation (U = mgh) as long as you remain very near the large mass
        • Calculating the escape velocity on Earth, on Mars, and on the Moon. To escape Mars do you need to bring more fuel than when you escape the Moon?
      • In-class work: work Ch 6 P #s 73, 95 & DQ # 14
      • Hand out Midterm Exam Review Packet
      • Show how to print out & create the Unit I: Kinematics flash cards and Unit II: Newton's Laws flash cards (these are correctly oriented now!)
      • Required HW Probs: Ch 6 P # 117
      • Reading HW: Begin Ch 7
    • Day 2
      • Important notice: your midterm exam next week will constitute your FINAL exams for Units I and II
      • Calculus: work as the integral of F dot dx which (if F doesn't depend on x) is just F times delta-x
      • I will work two problems in class: Ch 6 #s 16 & 22
      • For lifting objects, the force is mg for constant speed -- I will use this to answer Ch 6 #25 -- this is how we derive mgh for the amount of work needed to lift something
      • For a spring, F = -kx so W = 1/2 kx^2 to compress it
      • Power as the time derivative of work
      • Practice HW Probs: Ch 6 MC #s 5, 6, 16
      • Required HW Probs: Ch 6 P #s 34 & 134
      • Reading HW: Continue Ch 7
    • Day 3
      • Important notice: your midterm exam next week will constitute your FINAL exams for Units I and II
      • Reminder of calculus: force is the (negative) derivative of potential energy for conservative (non-dissipative) forces; note that this is just the inverse of the definition of work we provided on Day 2
      • Brief lecture: Newton's spherical symmetry within a uniform gravitating object; use this to derive the potential energy function inside and outside an object
      • Begin Work, Energy, and Force packet (finish by end of class Day 4)
      • Required HW Probs: Begin Midterm Exam Review Packet and print out and bring to class (on Day 4) the Kinematics flash cards and the Newton's Laws flash cards
      • Reading HW: Continue Ch 7
    • Day 4

 

  • Week of Monday, October 16th: Midterm Exam Week
    • Important notice: your midterm exam will constitute your FINAL exams for Units I and II
    • Reading HW: Continue Ch 7; finish both Ch 6 and Ch 7 by the time we return
    • Required HW Probs during break: finish the Impulse worksheet from Day 4; also take this Gravitational Force and potential energy practice test; both of these will be turned in on Day 1 when you return

 

 

  • Week of Monday, October 23rd -- Unit III: Conservation Laws & Unit IV: Laboratory Methods
    • Day 1
      • Handout objectives worksheet and mixed energy / centripetal motion worksheet and grade reports, all DUE DAY 4
      • Begin Unit IV Lab (these labs will be graded at Step 3 for Unit IV -- like an exam!) Writeup due DAY 1 of next week
        • Time limit: we will spend no more than 20 minutes per station per group per day to ensure everyone has a chance at all of them
        • Station 1: we are going to predict and then measure the acceleration of a cart and pulley system on an air track of negligible friction; your analysis will include both Newton's Laws and energy considerations; available equipment: air track, weights, air track cart, two photogates, a yardstick, and a force sensor. Some things to consider and investigate:
          • is there any tilt or bow to the air track? how should it affect the measured acceleration?
          • does the mass of the string matter? how should it affect the measured acceleration?
          • does the mass of the pulley matter? how should it affect the measured acceleration?
        • Station 2: we are going to measure the coefficients of static and kinetic friction between various surfaces: glass on glass, glass on wood, and wood on wood. All teams must report their measurements to the instructor by Friday of this week -- the results will be tabulated and posted over the weekend. Then, your group would use the entire data set (with all groups measurements) to compute a meaningful average. Available equipment: block of wood, flat wood board, two flat glasss, force probe, protractor, string, tape
          • Willy, Kelsey H., Thomas, Brian, Haldavid:
            • wood on wood: 0.2980 static, 0.2405 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.3150 static, 0.2580 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.5239 static, 0.5841 kinetic
          • Jeffrey, Brendan, Matt:
            • wood on wood: 0.286 static, 0.212 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.143 static, 0.131 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.334 static, 0.195 kinetic
          • Katherine, Gar, Dan, David:
            • wood on wood: 0.2702 static, 0.2281 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.1872 static, 0.159 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.2773 static, 0.1324 kinetic
          • Elliot, Kelly:
            • wood on wood: 0.246 static, 0.161 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.26 static, 0.25 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.224 static, 0.163 kinetic
          • Drew, Scott, Andrew :
            • wood on wood: 0.592 static, 0.315 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.475 static, 0.417 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.238 static, 0.230 kinetic
          • Kelsey M., Marianne, Joel:
            • wood on wood: 0.414 static, 0.265 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.450 static, 0.443 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.248 static, 0.176 kinetic
          • Peter, Ryan, Roy:
            • wood on wood: 0.296 static, 0.271 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.398 static, 0.303 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.190 static, 0.165 kinetic
          • Chris, Craig, Jason:
            • wood on wood: 0.35 static, 0.205 kinetic
            • wood on glass: 0.56 static, 0.36 kinetic
            • glass on glass: 0.367 static, 0.265 kinetic
        • Station 3: we are going to measure the impulse delivered to a heavy book in order bring it to a stop. The force plate measures force as a function of time (you can use Analyze - Integral to get the area under the curve). Verify that the impulse delivered to the book is that needed to stop it when dropped from a height h. (You'll need to use energy considerations to determine the speed just before hitting the force plate.) Available equipment: force plate, Gravitation by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler, two gym weights, and a yardstick. Some things to consider and investigate:
          • is the collision entirely inelastic? If not, how could we determine the "rebound" momentum?
          • is the force plate calibrated? how can we calibrate it?
        • Station 4: we are going to compare the potential and kinetic energies of the pendulum at different points in its swing; we expect energy to be conserved. Available equipment: pendulum, photogate, yardstick, and protractor. Some things to consider and investigate:
          • is energy being dissipated at the pivot point of the pendulum? If so, how much?
          • where in the hanging mass should we measure its height from? does it matter?
          • how can we determine its initial height from a measurement of angle?
        • Station 5: we are going to predict what the spring gauges will read BEFORE unveiling them, then unveil them and compare prediction to reality. Available equipment: spring gauge systems, protractor, yardstick. Some things to consider and investigate:
          • do the gauges themselves weigh anything?
          • do the string masses matter?
        • Station 6: [please exercise extreme caution with the swinging slug] we are going to verify the prediction of Newton that an object moving in a circle has a net force acting on it, pointing towards the center of the circle, with magnitude mv^2/r. We'll do this with a horizontal circular motion (using tension gauge and stringed slug); we'll also do this with a vertical circular motion, using the force probe, motion detector, and pendulum apparatus to verify that the centripetal force is equal to T - W (tension minus weight) at the lowest point in the swing. Available materials: as described here, plus a yardstick and stopwatch. Some things to consider and investigate:
          • does friction play a role in either of these experiments? If so, in what "direction"? (That is, would it make the tension seem too LOW or too HIGH?, etc.)
          • can you eliminate from your analysis the angle the string & slug system makes with the horizontal? (That is, can you make it really small?)
      • Required HW Probs: begin objectives worksheet and mixed energy / centripetal motion worksheet DUE DAY 4
    • Day 2
      • Come straight to the lab room - Continue Unit IV Lab
      • Required HW Probs: error analysis problems DUE DAY 4 (Unit IV)
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Collect HW from this week
      • Come straight to the lab room - Finish Unit IV Lab
      • Reading HW: Read Ch 8 over the weekend -- as usual, begin by just reading the FIGURES, BOXES and EXAMPLES -- note that Ch 8 is often considered the most difficult material of the 1st semester
      • Required HW: write up INDIVIDUAL labs for this week; writeups should be NEATLY written or TYPED. All sections should include a rational discussion of error; methods sections; equipment descriptions; etc. Each lab should look like the lab manual students can use next year to learn how to do the experiment and how to get the results. Take nothing for granted in your reader except a familiarity with the course material of these units. Also, if you have time, get going on the in-class worksheet for Day 1 (see below) so you aren't too stressed out trying to finish it

 

  • Week of Monday, October 30th -- Unit III: Conservation Laws
    • Day 1
    • Day 2   Halloween!
    • Day 3
      • Begin Unit V: Rotation (we'll use People's Physics Book Ch 9 to begin with)
      • Lecture: torque balance; statics problems; torque as acting on the center of mass
      • Balance beam problems: weighing a yardstick
      • Torque as a cross-product
      • "Ladder up against a wall" problems
      • Required/Recommended HW: PPB Ch 9 #s 10ab, 13, 14 (note these are required unless you did them this summer in summer school; most honors students did not cover this material last year)
    • Day 4
      • Questions?
      • Lecture: nonequilibrium torque problems; angular acceleration -- "the analogy table"
      • Rotational inertia for simple objects (flash cards in preparation!)
      • Pulley problems revisited
      • Required/Recommended HW: PPB Ch 9 #s 1, 2, 4, 10cd (note these are required unless you did them this summer in summer school; most honors students did not cover this material last year)
      • Optional HW: re-write your lab from last week; here is a copy of a high-quality lab so you can see what kinds of things I am looking for: low error, clear discussion, good diagrams that make the problem clear, transparent calculations, good flow.

 

  • Week of Monday, November 6th -- Unit V: Rotation
    • Day 1
      • Unit V (Rotation) Quiz
      • Lab makeup due (if you wish)
      • Demo: bicycle wheel
      • Lecture: rolling without slipping (and with slipping!)
      • Lecture: angular momentum, its conservation, and other similarities to momentum conservation ; energy conservation and similarities to work we've done before
      • Begin rotational motion practice exam A due Day 3 (including extra credit problem -- expect to see you all on the public folders tonight =)
      • Required HW: finish today's practice exam by Day 3
    • Day 2   Election Day
      • Lecture: finding center of mass for discrete compound objects
      • Lecture: parallel axis theorem -- using the rotational inertia about an axis through the CM to get the rotational inertia about another axis // also, a brief glimpse of the perpendicular axis theorem
      • Begin angular conservation laws practice exam B due Day 4
      • Required HW: finish today's practice exam by Day 4
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Unit V (Rotation) Exam Part 1/2
      • Reading HW: time to go back and re-read Ch 8 from Hecht -- it will make much more sense this time! Be sure to read the Core Material & Study guide on p. 337
      • Recommended HW: (if you feel you need more practice problems, try these) Ch 8 Discussion Questions 7, 9, 13; Multiple Choice Questions 1, 2, 9, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23; Problems 20, 29, 71, 76, 87, 113, 117, 142, 154, 155, 159, 165, 169, 171

 

  • Week of Monday, November 13th -- Unit V: Rotation and Unit IV: Laboratory Methods
    • Day 1
      • Short lecture: conservation of angular momentum as per our exam last week
      • Lab Day 1 of 2: rotation (this will be graded at Step III for Unit IV) writeup due Day 1 of next week
        • Station 1: The Race -- in this lab you are going to race two objects down an inclined plane. The first object is a red PASCO cart; the second object is a massive disk. You can use the range finder to measure the acceleration of each down the plane. You should predict the acceleration of each using Newton's Laws and Rotational Motion (to do this for the disk, consider the point of contact between the disk and the ramp to be the pivot point). Verify that the measured accelerations matches the theory. Then, using energy considerations, confirm that the object that "won" the race should have higher speed at the bottom of the ramp than the object that "lost".
        • Station 2: The HARD problem -- in this lab we're going to verify the prediction from our problem set a few days ago that a marble breaks contact with a bowling ball when rolling down at a specified angle. The difficulty in this lab (other than making the prediction of angle) is accurately measuring the angle -- I would recommend that tonight you think of a good way to do it so you can return and finish tomorrow.
        • Station 6: The Physical Pendulum -- here you will measure the period T of the pendulum and calculate the rotational inertia I of the pendulum. Then vary the rotational inertia through the addition of mass (secured by tape) at various points on the length of the pendulum. See how the period T varies with I. Plot T vs. I and see if you can determine a mathematical relationship between T and I. You do not need to derive a mathematical relationship from first principles -- this is what we'll be doing in class after Thanksgiving. You are providing me with the raw data that we'll use to confirm these principles after Thanksgiving. If you can find a way to linearize the data, as we did in the lab handout a few weeks ago, all the better.
        • Station 8: The Ice Skater -- here we're going to explore the conservation of energy and angular momentum of a swinging mass. This problem is similar to the "horizontal" part of Station 6 last time. The difference this time is that we're going to pull down on the hanging mass with constant force (as measured with a force probe) greater than the required centripetal force in order to pull the rope shorter. Some interesting questions include: "Was the kinetic energy of the swinging mass before and after pulling the rope the same? What work was done?" "Was the angular momentum of the swinging mass before and after pulling the rope the same? What net torque was applied?" This lab is going to have some fairly large errors just due to the difficulty of measuring the forces, speeds, etc., so I am most interested here in a good theoretical discussion matched with qualitatively accurate measurements (meaning if you expected something to speed up, it did).
      • Reading HW: use Hyperphysics to explore the concept of angular momentum -- also check out this new-and-improved analogy sheet
      • Required HW: none
      • Recommended HW: begin lab writeup; see practice problems from Day 4 of last week; I may not be in e-mail contact after Thursday afternoon, so please get questions in early
    • Day 2
      • Please come directly to the lab room today.
      • Lab Day 2 of 2: rotation (this will be graded at Step III for Unit IV) writeup due Day 1 of next week
      • Recommended HW: if you need more practice with the right hand rule, angular momentum, and torque ... check out this RHR Practice Test (with answer key!)
      • Recommended HW: continue lab writeup; see practice problems from Day 4 of last week; I may not be in e-mail contact after Thursday afternoon, so please get questions in early
    • Day 3
      • (I decided to postpone the Unit IV quiz until after break)
      • Lecture: rotational motion review day
      • Recommended HW: continue lab writeup; see practice problems from Day 4 of last week; I may not be in e-mail contact after Thursday afternoon, so please get questions in early
      • Required HW: none
    • Day 4
      • BJP out Friday at School of the Americas
      • Practice problems: begin practice test for rotation D (this will not be turned in; please skip free response #1 it is not clearly written)
      • Recommended HW: study for our second rotation exam on Day 1 of next week using today's practice test (this will not be turned in) and see practice problems from Day 4 of last week
      • Required HW: write up lab for Day 1; I may not be in e-mail contact after Thursday afternoon, so please get questions in early

 

  • Week of Monday, November 20th -- Unit V: Rotation and Thanksgiving Break!
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
      • Turn in self-assessment sheet
      • Decompression
      • Diagnostic exam (not for grade)
      • Required HW: none over break -- enjoy -- do look over the next three weeks to see what to expect before the final exam

After Thanksgiving break: Simple Harmonic Motion! This is the last topic for the Mechanics portion of the exam.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO LEARN THE MATERIAL NEEDED TO DO WELL (3.0+) ON THESE FINAL EXAMS. Much of it you have already absorbed. Now is the time for a concerted, good faith effort making use of your textbook, the public folders, your classmates, my website and provided keys, other web resources, and every bit of your intelligence and perserverance. IT IS NOT TOO LATE, but the time is NOW. =)

  • Kinematics Unit Flashcards (pdf, doc)
  • Newtons Laws Unit Flashcards (pdf, doc)
  • Conservation Laws Unit Flashcards (pdf, doc)
  • Rotational Motion Unit Flashcards (pdf, doc)
  • Simple Harmonic Motion Unit Flashcards (pdf, doc)
  • Math and Calculus Flashcards (pdf, doc)

Save the date: optional mechanics review sessions from 7 to 9 PM on Monday, Dec 4, and Tuesday, Dec 5. Meet at flagpole.

  • Week of Monday, November 27th -- Unit VI: Simple Harmonic Motion
    • Day 1
      • Demo: mass on a spring / range finder
      • Introduce final unit for the mechanics portion: Simple Harmonic Motion
      • Begin with a mass on a spring oscillating back and forth; using the "guess" method for solving differential equations
      • Begin handout on SHM (work problems 1 - 11 by Day 2)
      • Required HW: work on SHM handout -- this will be due end of Day 4; catch up on missing concepts
    • Day 2
      • Demo: pendulum
      • Motion of a simple pendulum
      • Using the approximation that, for small angles, sin(theta) is approximately equal to theta
      • Continue work on SHM handout (work problems 12 - 16 by Day 3)
      • Required HW: work on SHM handout -- this will be due end of Day 4; catch up on missing concepts
    • Day 3
      • Demo: physical pendulum
      • Motion of a physical pendulum (general)
      • Continue work on SHM handout (work problems 17 - 20 by Day 4)
      • Required HW: work on SHM handout -- this will be due end of Day 4; catch up on missing concepts
    • Day 4
      • Gravity Train problem
      • Review / practice for exam on Day 1
      • Finish SHM handout during class -- I will check your work and provide a key for studying over the weekend (here is the key in .pdf and .swf formats -- thanks go to our junior TA Andrew M. for scanning these in!)
      • Recommended HW: practice exam from two years ago -- do only MC #s 1, 2, 4 and FR # 1

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO LEARN THE MATERIAL NEEDED TO DO WELL (3.0+) ON THESE FINAL EXAMS. Much of it you have already absorbed. Now is the time for a concerted, good faith effort making use of your textbook, the public folders, your classmates, my website and provided keys, other web resources, and every bit of your intelligence and perserverance. IT IS NOT TOO LATE, but the time is NOW. =)

Save the date: optional mechanics review sessions from 7 to 9 PM on Monday, Dec 4, and Tuesday, Dec 5. Meet at flagpole.

SAVE THE DATE: PHYSICS PARTY: Evening of FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15th, starting at 8 PM and ending at 11 PM.

  • Week of Monday, December 4th -- Unit VI: Simple Harmonic Motion and Course Assessments
    • Day 1
      • Unit VI (Simple Harmonic Motion) Exam
      • Recommended HW: begin preparations for final exam; here are the RELEASED EXAMS FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD (Free Response only)
      • Recommended HW: check out the following fantastic conceptual development quizzes:
      • Required HW: print out a fresh objectives worksheet and begin filling it out (due Day 4)
      • Optional Mechanics Review Session, Monday, December 4th, 7 PM sharp, meet at flagpole -- we'll be in Room 310 -- here are the NOTES from tonight. Note that you should click on the button that rotates them (sorry) in your Adobe Reader program. Tomorrow will be more problem-intensive.
    • Day 2
      • Practice AP Physics C Mechanics Test Part 1/2 (Multiple Choice = 35 questions in 45 minutes or Free Response = 3 questions in 45 minutes; test conditions; your score on this test will be part of your grade printout at the end of the semester. Your score on the exam can only help your grade in the course.)
      • Recommended HW: begin preparations for final exam -- see Day 1 for the released exams
      • Optional Mechanics Review Session, Tuesday, December 5th, 7 PM sharp, meet at flagpole -- we'll be in Room 310 -- here are the NOTES from tonight. Note that you should click on the button that rotates them (sorry) in your Adobe Reader program. Tomorrow will be more problem-intensive.
    • Day 3
      • Practice AP Physics C Mechanics Test Part 2/2 (Multiple Choice = 35 questions in 45 minutes or Free Response = 3 questions in 45 minutes; test conditions; your score on this test will be part of your grade printout at the end of the semester. Your score on the exam can only help your grade in the course.)
      • Recommended HW: begin preparations for final exam -- see Day 1 for the released exams
      • Required HW: finish objectives worksheet (due Day 4) -- this time, average all the "big box" scores to come up with a predicted AP Exam score
    • Day 4
      • In-class grading of AP Physics C Mechanics Test and sample AP score provided; we'll compare your predicted score from the objectives worksheet to the actual score from the practice test
      • Recommended HW: begin preparations for final exam -- see Day 1 for the released exams; for those of you who are taking the Unit IV (Laboratory Methods) exam on Day 3 of next week, here is a practice quiz
      • Required HW: download and read this powerpoint document on the relationship between potential energy and force
      • Here's a practice quiz for energy and momentum conservation from Physics Honors (here's the KEY)

 

  • Week of Monday, December 11th -- Course Assessments
    • Day 1
      • Unit III (Conservation Laws) Final Exam (Free Response)
      • There were no exemptions for this part of the final exam.
      • Required HW: study for final -- see you on the public folders!
    • Day 2
      • Unit III (Conservation Laws) Final Exam (Multiple Choice)
      • There were no exemptions for this part of the final exam.
      • Required HW: study for final -- see you on the public folders! See instructions below for the Unit IV exam tomorrow.
    • Day 3
      • For any student who did not demonstrate proficiency on the two major (Step 3) labs we did this term, I'll have you take a Unit IV (Laboratory Methods) Final Exam during this period. I will ask questions involving the following two laboratory writeups:
        • Newtons Laws and Conservation Laws Lab Write-up (thanks to Roy T!)
        • Rotation Lab Write-up (thanks to Kelsey M!)
        • Exemptions from this exam are extended to:
          • 3rd period: Kelly C., Peter D., Elliot F., Chris F., Andrew H., Drew L., Scott L., Ryan M., Conor O., Kristina S., Roy T., Jason W.
          • 4th period: Marianne H., Brian L., Kelsey M., Katherine W., Johnny Y.
      • Optional Unit I or Unit II Second Chance Final Exam
      • Study period for Final Exam
      • Required HW: study for final -- see you on the public folders!

PHYSICS PARTY: Evening of FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15th, starting at 8 PM and ending at 11 PM. Meet at the flagpole.

 

  • FINAL EXAM is scheduled for MONDAY, DECEMBER 18th, at 8:30 AM. It will last 1 hour, 30 minutes
    • This will be the final exams for Unit V (Rotation) and Unit VI (Simple Harmonic Motion) -- note that the easiest thing for your teacher (and the College Board) to do is give you problems that test both of these concepts; this means you should expect at least one physical pendulum problem
    • Exemptions from parts of these exams are extended to:
      • Unit V (Rotation) part of the exam: no exemptions this year!
      • Unit VI (Simple Harmonic Motion) part of the exam:
        • 3rd period: Kelly C., Peter D., Chris F., Drew L., Ryan M.
        • 4th period: Katherine W.
  • Here's hoping you have a wonderful and refreshing winter break. You won't have any homework until we return. If you feel your confidence and interest in physics is failing, and needs a boost before next year, why don't you rent a neat astronomy documentary or science-fiction movie? I recommend 2001: A Space Odyssey (warning: this is not a film for casual viewing -- you have to devote time and a distraction-free environment; invite your parents!) Without having at least some love for a subject, it is hard to do well!

PhysicsBowl: if you are interested in being part of our PhysicsBowl team, please let Mr. Philhour know. The PhysicsBowl is a test given in the first week of April. The test is fairly short, multiple choice, and relies on classroom knowledge as well as historical knowledge. Winners can move on to regional and national exams. Here are examples of past tests. The high scorers at our school will be placed in the Hall of Fame. Physics Honors students are in Division I; AP students are in Division II. Anybody can be a part of the team -- only the top 4 scores from each division is calculated when figuring out if a school wins, so feel free to just give it a try!



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