AP Physics C - Mechanics

COURSE OVERVIEW

Advance Placement Physics C is a Calculus based physics course, offered by the College Board, designed to mirror an introductory mechanics course at the collegiate level. Therefore, a prospective student  should  also be concurrently enrolled in Calculus and have the approval of the science department. Students  would  develop a strong conceptual and analytical understanding of Newtonian Mechanics and  could  apply a wide variety of problem solving strategies and lab-based skills to reinforce this understanding. Lecture, discussion, guided-inquiry, and open-inquiry  would  be used both in the classroom and in the lab. Emphasis  would  also be placed on communicating an understanding of physics orally and in writing both to the instructor and peers.  Evaluation would  be based upon homework, tests, quizzes, laboratory work, midyear and final exams.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

Class meetings  would  generally take three common forms, lab/activity, interactive lecture discussions, or problem solving/review. The design as such  would  allow students to experience and engage the subject conceptually, actively, and analytically. Individual classes  may  contain multiple elements of these models to suit the topic. Lab activities  would  be of two varieties: investigation or application. Investigation labs and activities  would  allow students to investigate physical phenomenon and draw conclusions from their measurements and observations. Investigation labs or activities may  take place before any reading, or formal in-class discussion on the topic has begun in order to allow students to explore the subject and discover the principles via their own inquiry and collaborative group effort. Application labs and activities  would  provide students the opportunity to conduct experiments that involve the concepts they are studying as well as apply understanding of physics to solve practical problems. These labs will frequently be open-ended or contain an open-ended component challenging students to solve a problem by utilizing both their understanding of the topic as well as their critical thinking skills. Individual labs  may  contain both application and investigation elements. Most activities  would  require the student take their own notes and write their own procedure, observations, data, conclusions etc. All lab materials would be kept in a notebook for reference. Classes would often begin with a starter exercise, which may be a problem or a demonstration of a discrepant event, where students would then be asked to come up with an explanation. Problem solving would use strategies and concepts learned and reviewed by the class as a whole, or smaller group workshop sessions enabling peer interactive learning, facilitated by the instructor.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To utilize real-world experience to understand physical phenomena

2. To participate in a controlled laboratory experience in order to understand physical phenomena 

3. To gain an understanding of how the physical world works and to be able to express that understanding in terms of:

                        a) written/spoken language

b) graphical diagrams

c) mathematical analysis

4. To develop observational problem solving and critical thinking skills that will benefit you for any vocation

 

Text Book:

Fundamentals of Physics, Halliday, Resnick & Walker.

In addition to the textbook, the web based program UTexas Quest  would  be used to supplement and reinforce instruction, and thus many of the homework assignments  may  be web based.

APC Mech workbook


Unit & Topical Outline

Unit 1: Math and Analytical Skills

· Mathematics with Vectors

- Arithmetic operations, dot products, cross products, engineering notation

· Derivatives & Integrals . ( What is Calculus good for ? )

- Definition, graphical interpretation, computations

· Parametric Equations

· Units, Measurements, Powers of 10 & Estimation

Unit 2: Kinematics in 1D and 2D & Rotational Kinematics

· Motion in 1-D

- Constant acceleration & Free-fall motion

- Acceleration varying with time

· Motion in 2-D

- General motion in 2D

- Projectile motion

· Relative Motion

· Rotational Kinematics

- Relationship between linear and angular quantities

- Angular displacement, velocity, and acceleration

- Constant and varying angular acceleration problems

Unit 3: Newton’s Laws

· Static Equilibrium

· Dynamics of single and multi-particle systems

· Friction & Drag Forces

· Constant and Varying Forces

Unit 4: Rotational Dynamics

· Uniform Circular Motion

· Angular Momentum o Applications of conservation of angular momentum

· Rotational Statics

· Torque

· Moments of Inertia

 Unit 5: Work, Power, Energy

· Work and the Work-Energy Theorem

· Kinetic and Potential Energy

· Relating Potential Energy and Force functions

· Conservation of Energy

· Power

· Relating Work, Power, and Energy to Forces and Kinematics

· Rotational Energy 

Unit 6: Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum

· Center of Mass

· Relating impulse, momentum, and forces

· Conservation of linear momentum

· 1-D and 2-D Collisions

Unit 7: Oscillations and Gravitation

· Simple Harmonic Motion

- Dynamics and Energy of SHM

- Mass on a spring (Horizontal/Vertical)

· Pendulums and Other Oscillators

· Newton’s Law of Gravity

· Orbits of Planets and Satellites o Kepler’s Laws (Relate to Newton’s Laws)

- Circular Orbits

- General Orbits


NotesAP C mech

Exams:  AP C mech