Learning Intentions by Unit
UNIT 1: Mathematics Skills Check
1.1: Significant Figures
Unlike in math class, physics and chemistry depend on precision and accuracy. This is represented in the concept of significant figures, affectionately referred to as sig figs. Learn the basic rules of significant figures and apply them to basic arithmetic operations, including scientific notation. Perform calculations and represent final calculation in correct units and with proper significant figures
1.2: Vector Addition
Graphically demonstrate combinations of vectors (vector addition) to determine the resultant vector and evaluate the resultant magnitude and direction. Use right triangle trigonometry to determine vector magnitudes and direction.
1.3: Physicist
Interview (either verbally or by email) a physicist about their research and its larger impact on society and the scientific community.
UNIT 2: 1-Dimensional Kinematics
2.1: Velocity in 1D
Velocity is best described as the rate of change of distance over time. Thus, velocity is the slope of the distance-time graph. We will only concern ourselves with average velocity for this course because finding the instantaneous velocity requires calculus. Use time, distance, and velocity to perform velocity calculations with motion in 1-dimension.
2.2: Acceleration in 1D
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, or the second derivative of distance-time graphs. Since acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, the value of acceleration is the slope of the velocity-time graph. Use time, distance, velocity, and acceleration to perform acceleration calculations in 1-dimension.
2.3: Free-Fall Acceleration (Gravity)
A vertical free-fall (ignoring air resistance) is the same concept as acceleration in one direction. Use Earth's gravity (9.8 m/s/s) to perform kinematic calculations during free-fall.
UNIT 3: 2-Dimensional Kinematics
3.1: Kinematics in 2-Dimensions
Time to put those vector skills to use. Movement in two directions means that you need to consider the movement as a vector of two components (x-component & y-component). Use the Equations of Kinematics with Constant Acceleration to perform calculations involving distance, velocity, acceleration, and time.
3.2: Projectile Motion
Projectile motion models the motion of an object that is either thrown, shot, or projected. It utilizes the same concepts of PHYS.3.1, with the main difference in that there is no acceleration in the x-direction and the acceleration in the y-direction is the gravity.
Use the concepts from Kinematics in 2-Dimensions to model projectile motion and perform calculations to find distance, velocity, time, and acceleration
UNIT 4: Forces
4.1: Free-Body Force Diagrams
The forces in a physics situation can be quite complex at times and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep track of all of those forces. Modeling the forces with a free-body diagram helps scientists better understand the interplay between forces and, thus, an understanding of the overall movement of the object.
4.2: Newtons' Laws of Motion
Isaac Newton discovered three fundamental laws governing the physics of movement. Use Newton's Laws of Motion to create a mathematical relationship (equilibrium and non-equilibrium) of the forces involved in a given context, including those not at right angles.
4.3: Friction
You know what grinds my gears? FRICTION!
Friction is so much more than just a force. The amount of friction between two surfaces depends on several factors, including the type of friction involved. Explore the concept of friction from the perspective of static and kinetic friction. Include calculations involving the coefficient of friction.
UNIT 5: Harmonic Motion & Waves
5.1: Harmonic Motion
Any motion resulting in an oscillation is referred to as harmonic motion, which looks like a wave when graphed. The peaks and valleys of the wave as well as the distance between the peaks have real-world meanings. Use the equations of simple harmonic motion and the Reference Circle to relate frequency, period, angular frequency, spring constant, distance, and velocity. Include Hooke's Law as part of this investigation.
5.2: Energy of Springs
In previous targets, you examined potential and kinetic energy. When an object is oscillating with a spring, it has elastic potential energy and kinetic energy. To understand the energy of springs, we must take into consideration all the energy involved in the spring. Relate the amount of work done by a spring by calculating the total amount of energy in the spring (mechanical, rotational, gravitational potential, and elastic potential)
5.3: Pendulum
A pendulum is free-hanging mass suspended by a string or bar. Gravity is the only force acting on a pendulum. The physics equations related to simple pendulums can seem overwhelming but ultimately relate back to the period and frequency of harmonic motion.
Perform calculations of the motion of pendulums to relate frequency, gravity, length, and period.
UNIT 6: Thermodynamics
6.1: Linear Thermal Expansion
We all know that heating an object makes it expand and, similarly, cooling an object makes it contract. When using wood for furniture, it is important to understand how wood moves with changes in temperature and humidity. When designing bridges, architects and engineers must consider the expansion of the bridge materials. But just how does certain materials expand?
Investigate the linear expansion of materials considering the thermal expansion coefficient.
6.2: Volume Thermal Expansion
In PHYS.6.1, you explored how an object expands in one direction. In this target, you'll investigate how an object expands or contracts in three directions. A common demonstration for this target involves a brass ball and ring. The brass ball easily fits inside the brass ring at room temperature. However, by increasing the temperature of the brass ball by just a small amount expands the ball so it doesn't fit inside the ring.
What would happen though if we heated the ring? Does the diameter expand? Would the brass of the ring expand in multiple directions thereby decreasing the diameter of the hole? Explore this concept deeper to find out!
6.3: Specific Heat Capacity & Latent Heat
Specific heat capacity of an object is essentially the amount of energy needed to increase a kilogram of that object by one degree Celsius. You may have noticed that water takes a long time to boil and remains warm for quite some time after removing it from the heat. Yet, an empty aluminum pan gets hot quickly, and thus also cools off quickly. What does this tell us the specific heat capacity of these two materials? How does the physics of thermodynamics work with specific heat capacity and latent heat?
UNIT 7: Electricity
7.1: Coulomb's Law and the Electric Field
Similar to Newton's gravitational constant equation for forces (F = Gm1m2/r^2), Coulomb discovered that the attraction between to charged particles can be represented in much the same way. Coulomb's law relates the charges (q1 & q2) to find the force of attraction between them (F=kq1q2/r^2). The main thing to remember here is that the force of attraction is the same as the force of repulsion. If the charges are the same charge (i.e. +1 & +1) then they will repulse each other with the same attraction force as two charges with different charges (i.e. -1 & +1).
Use Coulomb's Law to determine the force and acceleration of objects based on their charges. Then use this to determine forces involved in an electric field.
7.2: Potential Difference and Electric Energy
When most people think of electricity they immediately think of volts. But where do these volts really fit in the larger picture of physics? It starts with the potential difference within an electric field. Electricity can best be described as the flow of charged particles. Since these charged particles are moving, there must be a force (electrical force) being applied to move them a certain distance. Thus, work has been done on the charged particles, giving the particles energy. The work done now creates a change in the electrical potential energy (EPE) of the particle, which results in a change in voltage.
Explore more on potential differences and electric energy. Use your information to calculate the potential differences and electric energy.
7.3: Ohm's Law
This is perhaps the most important piece of understanding circuitry for electronics. Ohm's Law is a simple relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. We also represent simple circuits using a circuit diagram. Understanding Ohm's Law is the difference between properly working electronic equipment and a charred piece of plastic. It's all about understanding how much current can pass through a circuit and using just the right amount of resistance to slow that current down to the value we need.
Make necessary calculations using Ohm's Law and draw circuit diagrams for a given situation.
7.4: Series and Parallel Circuits
You may remember these circuits from ICP.5.4. The reality is that the calculations involving parallel and series circuits are way more complex than what was presented in ICP.5.4. Time to jump in and hone those fraction skills through calculations of Ohm's Law with parallel and series circuits.