ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 1
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): 
    
    To have the students oriented to the increased requirements of the 
      Advanced Physics Class over the introductory (first year) class. 
 
Strategies/activities: 

    Hand out syllabus and discuss class requirements.  

    Briefly review the material which they need to know from their 
      previous physics class. 

Evaluation(s): 
    
    Friday-quiz on previous material.

Reference(s):

    Teaching notes - Page 1.


ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 2
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): Refresh the students' understanding of vector mathematics. Recognize the difference between vector cross and dot products. Understand the concept of a mathematical function. To become familiar with and understand the concept of a mathematical limit. Strategies/activities: Review vector addition and subtraction. Introduce the Right Hand Screw Rule. Review the usage of the vector multiplication symbols. Review standard mathematical notation relative to the concepts of an independent verses a dependent variable. Demonstrate that, under many conditions, the value of a function is undefined at a point but that it approaches, in the limit, a finite value as the variable approaches the point of interest. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 2. Mechanical Universe - 5
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 3
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): The students will be able to find the slope of an equation at a point using the Limit definition of the slope. The students will be able to expand a binomial using Pascal's triangle to find the coefficients. The students will be able to generalize the definition of the slope to include the process of finding the mathematical derivative of a function. Strategies/activities: Introduce practice problems, starting with linear and quadratic equations, where the slope can be easily found by graphing. Have the students expand a higher power equation using the standard rules of algebra. (i.e. expand (A+B)6) Show the students how to use Pascal's triangle. Use the definition of slope (the limit as dx approaches 0 of df(x)/dx ) to derive the process of finding the derivative of a function (i.e. if f(x)=Axn then the derivative of f(x) is f'(x)=Anxn-1) Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 4 & 5. Mechanical Universe - 3
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 4
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): The students will be able to quickly find multiple derivatives of single valued functions of any power. The students will understand the inverse derivative function (integration). The students will see how this type of mathematics directly applies to the principles of physics. Strategies/activities: Present practice problems. Find the area 'under' a function by counting squares and/or weighing the cut out part of a graph. Introduce the concept of an infinite sum of infinitely small pieces. Review previously learned physics principles and show how these principles are tied together by the mathematics just learned. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 4 & 5. Mechanical Universe - 7
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 5
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand previously learned physics concepts and equations in terms of the students' newly learned mathematical abilities. Strategies/activities: Present practice problems. Review linear mechanics and show applications where the newly learned mathematics applies. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 6, 7 & 8.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 6
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To reinforce the understanding of previously learned Newton's Laws of motion. Strategies/activities: Present practice problems. Review linear mechanics and show applications where Newton's Laws apply. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday lab quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 10. Mechanical Universe - 2 & 6
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 7
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understanding Simple harmonic motion. Strategies/activities: Derive the equation for an oscillating spring. Demonstrate that the equation matches the experimental results. Show how a pendulum comes close to following the laws for simple harmonic motion. Derive the general equation for simple harmonic motion. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Mechanical Universe - 16 & 17
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 8
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To agree on a common notation for rotational motion. To understand the concept and use of cross and dot products. To understand and solve rotational motion problems using torques. To understand the experimental techniques and procedures to be used in the first set of experiments. Strategies/activities: Present the problem of describing rotational motion from various views and show why clockwise and counterclockwise do not uniquely express the results. Define the right hand screw rule in terms of how one uses their right hand to express rotation, show how the result is independent of location and is unique. Define torque and use a modified meterstick as a Jensen bar to show how equilibrium can be maintained. Calculate the torques and forces on all parts of the bar. Introduce the first set of experiments by describing the proper experimental procedure for each experiment. Students select their own lab partners with groups of 2 or 3. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - observe each student's lab procedure and evaluations. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 14, AP lab manual and IIT lab manual. Mechanical Universe - 20
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 9
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To continue to understand the experimental techniques and procedures to be used in the first set of experiments. To understand how to properly perform experiments. To understand how to properly write-up experiments, including a full error analysis. Strategies/activities: Each group performs three experiments. Each group writes up three experiments. Introduce the concept of an error analysis and how this should apply to all 'real world' activities. Collect and grade one experiment from each student - return for correction(s) if necessary. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. All students will turn in at least one acceptable experiment. Reference(s): AP lab manual and IIT lab manual.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 10
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To continue to understand the experimental techniques and procedures to be used in the first set of experiments. To understand how to properly perform experiments. To understand how to properly write-up experiments, including a full error analysis. Strategies/activities: Each group performs three experiments. Each group writes up three experiments. Introduce the concept of an error analysis and how this should apply to all 'real world' activities. Collect and grade experiment(s) from each student - return for correction(s) if necessary. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. All students will turn in at least one acceptable experiment. Reference(s): AP lab manual and IIT lab manual.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 11
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To review static linear equilibrium. To understand static rotational equilibrium. To understand the two conditions required for equilibrium. To be able to apply those two conditions to equilibrium problems. To understand that an object does not need to be stationary to be in equilibrium. Strategies/activities: Review the conditions for static equilibrium learned in the introductory course. (sum{F}=0) Define rotational equilibrium and show what is required to maintain that equilibrium. (sum{torque}=0) Show how equilibrium can be maintained even if the object is both moving linearly and rotating (NO acceleration!). Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 10, 11 & 12. Mechanical Universe - 4
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 12
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand rotational dynamics. To understand how to determine the moment of inertia for a rotating object. To understand the linear-rotational equivalences. Strategies/activities: Allow a ring and a disk to roll down an inclined plane. Discuss why all rings roll the same, all disks roll the same (but different from the rings) and all spheres roll the same (but different from either a ring or a disk). Show how to determine the radius of a sagging bar from its inertia. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 20 & 21. Mechanical Universe - 19 & 20
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 13
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand frictional forces in relation to equilibrium. To understand the difference between sliding, rolling and viscous frictional forces. To understand how to properly set up and perform the next set of experiments. Strategies/activities: Review the definition of the coefficient of friction (mu). Present examples of each of the three types of friction. Demonstrate that the envelope of the graph of the three types of frictional forces is different. Explain each of the seven experiments in the next set. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 13. AP lab manual and IIT lab manual.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 14
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To Properly perform three experiments. To understand that a linear equation properly explains the graphs obtained from a frictionally damped oscillator. Strategies/activities: Each group performs three experiments. Each group writes up three experiments. Derive the equation(s) for the frictionally damped oscillator and show that the linear equation obtained matches the experimental evidence. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. All students will turn in at least one acceptable experiment. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 13. AP lab manual and IIT lab manual.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 15
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To Properly perform three experiments. To understand how e-x properly explains the graphs obtained from a viscous oscillator. Strategies/activities: Each group performs three experiments. Each group writes up three experiments. Derive the equation(s) for the viscous frictional case and show that e-x matches the experimental evidence. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. All students will turn in at least one acceptable experiment. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 13. AP lab manual and IIT lab manual.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 16
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To reinforce the understanding of the terms Work, Power and Energy. To complete the second set of experiments. Strategies/activities: Present review problems. Allow time for the students to write up and ask questions about the experiments. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. All students will turn a complete set of acceptable experiments. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 15.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 17
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To reinforce the understanding of the conservation laws. Strategies/activities: Present review problems. Work examples from the texts. Demonstrate collision problems. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 16 & 17. Mechanical Universe - 13, 15 & 19
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 18
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understanding the principles and equations of centripetal dynamics. Strategies/activities: Swing a string on a rope and let go and discuss what direction it went. Rotate a pail of water over a student's head and show that, if it is kept swinging, it will not spill. Demonstrate the 'Eskimo YoYo'. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 18. Mechanical Universe - 9
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 19
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understanding the applications of centripetal dynamics. Strategies/activities: Explain why race tracks and curved roads are banked. Work out the 'no hands' speed for the Dan Ryan expressway. Demonstrate the parabolic surface of a rotating liquid. Explain dynamic mirror surfacing in terms of the rotating liquid surface's shape. Discuss critical velocity. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Pages 18 & 19.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 20
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understanding Kepler's laws of Planetary motion. Strategies/activities: Discuss critical velocity in terms of a satellite's orbit. Show how to draw an ellipse with a string and two pins and discuss Kepler's orbital path law. Show Kepler's equal area law. Derive Kepler's law of planetary motion. (T2 proportional to R3) Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Page 19. Mechanical Universe - 21
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 21
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the concept of a field. To understand how static electricity is produced. Strategies/activities: Define the term field. Produce static charges through friction. Show the effects of high voltage on logic circuits. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 1-3. Mechanical Universe - 25
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 22
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the equations for static electrical charges. Strategies/activities: Show the electrical forces involved with static charges. Calculate the magnitude of the forces involved. Draw field lines for various charge distributions. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 4. Mechanical Universe - 26
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 23
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the concept of capacitance and capacitors. To understand how to calculate the equivalent capacitance of a capacitor network. To successfully calculate the charge and voltage on each capacitor of a capacitor network. Strategies/activities: Demonstrate an experimental and physical capacitor. Define the equations for a capacitor. Calculate simple series and parallel capacitor circuits. Calculate all of the parameters involved in a capacitor network. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of a quiz on the material.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 24
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the terms voltage (VOLT), current (AMPERE), conductance (MHO) and resistance (OHM). To understand the circuit symbols for various electrical devices. To be able to read the resistance of a resistor from the color bands painted on it. Strategies/activities: Define the terms VOLT, AMPERE (amp), MHO and OHM. Discuss nerve signals and the magnitude of the electrical currents involved. Demonstrate the effects of various voltages and currents. Draw various circuit symbols and compare the symbols to the actual physical devices making special note of the difference between a capacitor and a battery or cell. Explain the resistor color code. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 5.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 25
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand how to calculate resistance using the voltmeter- ammeter method. To successfully calculate the resistance, current and voltage for a resistor network. Strategies/activities: Demonstrate how to measure resistances and check the measurement against the resistor color coding. Demonstrate resistors in series. Demonstrate resistors in parallel. Calculate the various parameters of a resistor network. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful participation in the assigned experiments. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 6.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 26
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand Kirchoff's loop rule. To understand Kirchoff's junction rule. To successfully calculate various unknowns in a network by using Kirchoff's laws. To be able to draw and calculate various parameters of any type of bridge circuit. Strategies/activities: Draw a resistor network, calculate all of the parameters and then show how Kirchoff's loop and junction rules are derived. Demonstrate a circuit where neither series nor parallel equations work and Kirchoff's laws must be used. Calculate the various parameters of a network using Kirchoff's laws. Wire and demonstrate various bridge circuits. Wire and demonstrate a Wheatstone bridge. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful participation in the assigned experiments. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 7-8.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 27
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand how a current can exist in a circuit when there is no power supply. To understand the theory of a RC circuit and how Kirchoff's laws must be used to express its operation. To understand the mathematics behind the natural number e. To successfully calculate the parameters of an RC circuit and its associated time constant. Strategies/activities: Demonstrate that there is a current in a circuit created by a capacitor. Draw the graph of the voltage across the resistor vs. time. Draw a graph of ln(V/Vo) vs. time, finding both the slope and time constant. Derive, using Kirchoff's laws, the RC equation. Plot the theoretical graph for the circuit from class. Compare the actual values to the theoretically calculated values. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful participation in the assigned experiments. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 9.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 28
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the molecular structure of a semiconductor. To understand the physical process of doping and P-N junctions. To understand how an oscilloscope can be used to display varying voltages. To understand how a rectifier works. To understand how a transistor works. Strategies/activities: Demonstrate an oscilloscope display. Discuss p-type and n-type doping of group VIII elements. Display V vs t for an AC circuit on an oscilloscope. Display V vs t for a half wave rectifier. Display V vs t for a full wave bridge rectifier. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of the assigned experiments. Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 10.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 29
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the current/field relationships in a magnetic field. To understand the cross product relationships present. To be able to work with the equations of the magnetic field near various current configurations. Strategies/activities: Demonstrate the field around a straight wire using a dip angle needle. Demonstrate the field around various coils using a dip angle needle. Derive the equations for the above demonstrations. Work example problems. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Friday - quiz Reference(s): Teaching notes - Part 2 - Page 10 Mechanical Universe - 27
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 30
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To review for the quarter exam on electricity and magnetism.. Strategies/activities: Work example problems. Review those Mechanical Universe tapes deemed the most significant for this section. Review the demonstrations presented this quarter. Work example problems. Evaluation(s): Successful completion of the third quarter exam.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 31
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the definitions and concepts related to the five principles of wave motion. Strategies/activities: Use the Bell wave machine to demonstrate transverse, longitudinal and torsional pulses and waves. Divide the class into thirds and have each third demonstrate a different type of wave. Demonstrate reflection (from both fixed and free ends). Demonstrate interference and superposition. Demonstrate standing waves and resonance. Use a resonance tube to show the resonance of a tuning fork and organ pipes. Evaluation(s): Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 32
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand reflections from plane and curved surfaces. To successfully recognize and solve problems of each of the six cases of curved mirrors. Strategies/activities: Use the door window as a large plane mirror, demonstrating virtual images and that a person only needs a mirror one half their height to see their entire height. Use large concave and convex mirrors to demonstrate the difference between a real and a virtual image. Derive geometrically both of the image equations (1/f=1/so + 1/si and hi/ho=si/so) Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 33
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand refraction and the term index of refraction. To understand Snell's law. To understand refractions at plane and curved surfaces. To successfully recognize and solve problems of each of the six cases of lenses. Strategies/activities: Use the large water tank and laser to demonstrate refraction at a plane surface. Derive geometrically Snell's law (n1sin(theta)1=n2sin(theta)2) Use the same tank to demonstrate Snell's law and to calculate the speed of light in water. Demonstrate the critical angle. Use a light pipe to transmit light. Use large concave and convex lenses to demonstrate the difference between a real and a virtual image. Demonstrate that the same image equations apply for a lens as a mirror (1/f=1/so + 1/si and hi/ho=si/so) Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 34
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand diffraction and interference. To understand how a hologram stores its image. Strategies/activities: Use the laser and a diffraction grating to demonstrate defraction and interference. Derive geometrically Young's double slit equation (wavelength=(d sin(theta))/l). Use the double slit hologram and a laser to reconstruct the slits. Demonstrate a hologram. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 35
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the proper methodology for taking the A.P. Physics exam. To start to review the material and equations for the A.P. exam. To understand what is required to successfully perform the required experiments on Physics Day at Great America. Strategies/activities: Discuss the psychological requirements of the A.P. exam. Review several old exams. Hand out and explain the experiment requirements and accelerometers needed to perform the experiments on Physics day. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of the review exams. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 36
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand the proper psychology for taking the A.P. Physics exam. To complete the review of the material required for the A.P. exam. To understand what is required to successfully complete and write- up experiments from Physics Day at Great America. Strategies/activities: Work individually with each student to help them complete the Physics day experiments. Review several more old exams. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful completion of several experiments from Physics day. Successful completion of the review exams. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 37
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To understand what is required in the way of materials and supplies for the final exam. To understand the grading of the final exam. To have each student chose their own final exam within the guidelines presented in class. Strategies/activities: List the materials needed for the electronic kits: soldering pencil wire cutters two screw drivers needle nose pliers Describe the grading of the exam, if it works the first time tested, the grade is an A, if it works the second time, its a B, etc. List the kits currently in inventory. Evaluation(s): Continual participation by all members of the class. Successful selection of a kit. Successful completion of the weekly quiz.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 38
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Objective(s): To successfully complete the final exam. Strategies/activities: Each student constructs and tests their own electronic kit. Evaluation(s): Successful completion of the electronic kit.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS
WEEK 39
OBJECTIVES/TEACHING STRATEGIES/EVALUATION
Strategies/activities: None - class is seniors and have graduated.



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