Course: Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics

Advanced Placement Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Length of Course: One Semester of Each
Grade Level: 12th
AP Exam Date: Monday, May 12, 2014 (12 pm and 2pm)
Course Description:
Each course is considered a one semester college-level course that uses calculus for problem solving and laboratory
data analysis. Both courses utilize guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster the development of critical
thinking skills and will use introductory differential and integral calculus throughout the course.
Physics C: Mechanics provides instruction in each of the following six content areas: kinematics; Newtons laws
of motion; work, energy and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; and
oscillations and gravitation.
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism provides instruction in each of the following five content areas:
electrostatics; conductors, capacitors and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism.
The students in this course are expected to take both Advanced Placement Physics C Exams in May.
General Course Objectives:
During this course, students should develop the ability to:
Read, understand, and interpret physical information verbal, mathematical, and graphical
Use the computer as a tool to gather data, simulate difficult experiments, or graph and analyze data
Explain the sequence of steps in the analysis of a particular physical phenomenon or problem
Use basic mathematical reasoning arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, trigonometric, or calculus, where
appropriate in a physical situation or problem
Texts and Resources:
Resources used
Physics for Engineers and Scientists, 3rd ed, Ohanian and Markert, WW Norton and Company
University Physics with Modern Physics, Bauer and Westfall, McGraw-Hill
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 8th ed, Serway and Jewitt, Brooks/Cole
Fundamentals of Physics, 6th ed, Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
College Physics, 3rd edition, Giambattista, Richardson, and Richardson, McGraw-Hill
Physics: Algebra/Trig, 2nd edition, Hecht, Brooks/Cole
College Physics, Serway and Vuille, Brooks/Cole
Variety of Study Guides for the AP Physics B and C exams
Physics with Vernier Lab Manual, Appel, Bakken, Gastineau, and Vernier, Vernier Software and Technology
Advanced Physics with Vernier Mechanics, Dukerich, Vernier Software and Technology
Advanced Physics with Vernier Beyond Mechanics, Dukerich, Vernier Software and Technology
AP Physics Laboratory Manual, Bilash, Cenco Physics
Quest, University of Texas, Austin, Homework Service

http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics?k
Teaching Strategies:
Class time will be used to discuss concepts, work the most difficult of the assigned problems as a group, lecture
which includes powerpoints and demonstrations, experiments, selected videos and websites, and take sample AP
tests.
Expectations:
Students must come to class prepared by reading the assigned reading and completing all work on time. Each new
topic begins with reading the section and completing problem sets. Each topic includes problems sets either out of
the text or through Quest or both. Students will complete lab experiments and keep a detailed Lab Notebook
following proper lab writing techniques.

Evaluation:
15% - Homework: students will be given a set of student outcomes each chapter/unit. At the conclusion of each
unit, students will be asked to submit a written outline of notes, formulas, and concepts which apply to each student
outcome, based on their reading of the textbook, teacher lectures/demos, and lab investigations. Students will also
be assigned a set of problems (10-20) at the beginning of each unit. Students will be asked to use a specific
problem-solving method and submit these problems in written form. Past AP problems will be added to problem
solving homework when appropriate. Students will have an account set up with the University of Texas and asked
to complete assignments online. These assignments will include concepts and mathematical review. Students will
lose points for incorrect answers, but may submit corrections for partial points.
20% - Lab Reports: each student will be required to use the Hayden McNeil Student Lab Notebook. Students will
perform 8-12 labs per semester. Approximately 25% of total class time is spent by students in the lab, performing
hands on experiments. Students advance their computer skills and graphical analysis techniques in laboratory work,
taking a large role in experimental design and learning to use computer-interface equipment, Excel spreadsheets
formula writing and graphical equation analysis. All experimental work is recorded directly into the Hayden
McNeil Student Lab Notebook. They are evaluated on thoroughness and clarity of presentation of data and
observations, as well as depth and clarity of the critical analysis.
65% - Tests: Students are tested with multiple choice question and free response problems from actual AP tests
from previous years. Weekly quizzes focus on topics covered during that week. Unit tests (4-6) are comprehensive,
covering all topics from the beginning of the semester, with emphasis on recent topics.
All percentages are for the semester grade. The Semester Final Exam is included in the 65% of grade.
PHYSICS C MECHANICS CALENDAR

3 wk

Kinematics
Coordinate systems
Vector quantities related to motion
Motion in one and two dimensions
Graphical analysis of motion

Determination of Air Drag Coefficient from Coffee Filter

Drop
Constant Velocity Tubes
Modern Galileo Experiment
Projectile Motion

2 wk

Forces and Newtons Laws of

Motion
Fundamental forces in nature
Frames of reference
Systems
Free body diagrams
Static and dynamic equilibrium
Dynamics

Determining Coefficient of Friction

Determining Acceleration with Motion Sensors,
Constructing Static Mobiles and Calculating the
Balancing Torques
Determining Forces During Collision of Carts on Motion
Table
Static and Kinetic Friction
Newtons Second Law

1 wk

Circular Motion
Uniform circular motion

2 wk

Work, Energy, Power and

Conservation Laws
Conservation of energy
Work and work-energy theorem
Conservative and non-conservative
forces
Mechanical energy
Power

PVC Rotation Device: Direct Measurement of

Centripetal Force to Determine an Unknown Revolving
Mass
Flying Pig
Using Calculator Interface Probes to Determine
Coefficient of Restitution
Using Conservation of Energy to Determine Velocity of
a Ball on a Ramp (including translational and rotational
motion)
Changes in PE: mass-spring system
Work-energy theorem spring constants

2 wk

Linear Momentum and

Conservation Laws
Center of mass
Impulse and momentum
Conservation of linear momentum
Elastic and inelastic collisions

Determining Relative Velocities Before and After

Collisions on an track from Dual Motion Sensor Traces
Calculating Unknown Velocity from Both Head-On and
Off-Center Elastic Collisions of Steel Balls
Impulse and Momentum

2 wk

Torque and Rotational Motion

Equilibrium and balanced torques
Rotational kinematics and dynamics
Conservation of angular momentum

Ballistic Pendulum with Angular Motion

Determining Rotational Inertia of a Solid Cylinder with
Smart Pulley and Turntable
Determining Moments of Inertia of Mystery Canisters

1.5
wk

Gravitation and Orbits

Gravitational forces
Circular and elliptical orbits

3 wk

Oscillations
Simple harmonic motion
Springs, pendulums and other
oscillations
Conservation laws applied to harmonic
motion
Sound, wave interference, and
harmonics
Plotting harmonic motion and
analyzing equations

Motion Sensor Analyses of Spring and Pendulum (with

Derivation of Equations)
Strobing Fan Blades to Determine Frequency of
Oscillation
Measurements Related to Standing Waves on Mechanical
Oscillator
Energy in simple harmonic motion

PHYSICS C ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM CALENDAR

Math/Calculus Review: Methods of Differentiation and Integration

Electric Field Mapping with Conductive
Electrostatics
Electric charge
Paper
Coulombs law
Using Current and Voltage Computer
Gausss law
Interface Probes to Determine Power
Electric field
Electric potentials for various charge distributions
Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics
Electrostatics with conductors
Capacitors and dielectrics
Electric circuits
Electrical energy and potential difference
Conservation of energy in circuits
Conservation of electric charge in circuits
Steady state RC circuits
Charging and discharging capacitors

Taking Measurements of Electric Current

and Potential Difference in Series and
Parallel Circuits to Make Calculations
Justifying Conservation of Energy and
Charge (Kirchhoffs Laws)
Testing and Constructing Schematic
Diagrams for Four Different Mystery
Circuits
(A) Deriving the Equations and Curves for
the Charging and Discharging of
Capacitors from Kirchhoffs Loop Rule,
and (B) Gathering Data for Charging and
Discharging to Graph the Curves and (C)
Determination of a Value for Capacitance
from Curves

Magnetic field
Earths magnetic field and production of magnetism
Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields
Fields around current-carrying wires
Biot-Savart law
Amperes law

Mapping Magnetic Fields for Various

Wiring Configurations
Constructing and Making Measurements
with a Tangent Galvanometer

Electromagnetism
Electromagnetic induction (Faradays law and
Lenzs law)
Inductance (LR and LC circuits
Maxwells equations

Measuring Input and Output Current for

Primary/Secondary Coils

Photoelectric Effect

Determination of Plancks Constant Using

Light-Emitting Diodes