18% of the Physics C Mechanics test is based on Kinematics including the following topics: vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, acceleration.
The successful student will be able to:
-The successful student will be able to:
- add vectors graphically and trigonometrically
- resolve vectors into their components
- use unit vectors
- Understand the general relationships among position, velocity, and acceleration for the motion of a particle along a straight line so that:
o Given a graph of one of the kinematic quantities, position, velocity, or acceleration, as a function of time, they can recognize in what time intervals the other two are positive, negative, or zero, and can identify or sketch a graph of each as a function of time. (AP IA1a1) (Chapter 1 & 2)
o Given an expression for one the kinematic quantities, position, velocity, or acceleration, as a function of time, determine the other two as a function of time, and find when these quantities are zero, or achieve their maximum and minimum values (AP IA1a2) (Chapter 2)
- Understand the special case of motion with constant acceleration so they can
o Write down expressions for velocity and position as functions of time and identify or sketch graphs of these quantities (AP IA1b1) (Chapter 2)
o Use the equations
; ; and
to solve problems involving one dimensional motion with constant acceleration (AP IA1b2) (Chapter 2)
- Know how to deal with situations in which acceleration is a specified function of velocity and time so they can write an appropriate differential equation and solve it for v(t) by separation of variables, incorporating correctly a given initial value of v. (AP IA1c) (Chapter 2)
- recognize that velocity is the time derivative of position, acceleration is the time derivative of velocity and the second derivative of position, and solve problems using those relationships and position, velocity, and accelerations as functions of time. (Chapter 2)
- recognize that change in velocity is the integral of acceleration w.r.t. time and change in position is the integral of velocity or the second integral of acceleration w.r.t. time. (Chapter 2)
- Students should be able to add, subtract and resolve displacement and velocity vectors, so that they can
o Determine components of a vector along two specified, mutually perpendicular axes (AP IA2a1) (Chapter 3)
o Determine the net displacement of a peartical or the location of a particle relative to another (AP IA2a2) (Chapter 3)
o Determine the change in velocity of a particle or the velocity of one particle relative to another (AP IA2a3) (Chapter 3)
- Understand the general motion of a particle in two dimensions so that, given functions x(t) and y(t) which describe this motion, they can determine the components, magnitude, and direction of the particles velocity and acceleration as functions of time. (AP IA2b) (4.1, 4.2, 4.4)
- Understand the motion of projectiles in a uniform gravitational field so that they can
o Write down expressions for the horizontal and vertical components of velocity and position as functions of time, and sketch or identify graphs of these components (AP IA2c1) (4.3)
o Use these expressions in analyzing the motion of a projectile that is projected with an arbitrary initial velocity (4.3)
Due Date Day Assignment
1/27 Wed Do: PSMech1: Chapter 1: 18, 19, 20 (offline only)
PSMech2: Chapter 2: 71, 77, 80, 83
1/29 Fri Do: PSMech3: Chapter 3: 10, 14, 17, 27, 37, 41
2/2 Tue Lab: Projectile Motion
Do: PSMech4: Chapter 4: 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 18, 47, 49
2/3 Wed Test Unit 1 Kinematics: Chapters 1-4