Grade/Course:
Grade 11/12- APC Physics
Title of the Unit of Study:
UNIT #1: Introduction to Physics
21st Century Theme: Making measurements, creating and interpreting graphs
CCSS Science and Technical Standards Reading:
RST.11-12.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending
to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account. (HS-PS21),(HS-PS2-6)
CCSS Science and Technical Standards Writing:
WHST.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events,
scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes. (HS-PS2-6)
WHST.11-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question
(including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when
appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject
under investigation. (HS-PS2-3),(HS-PS2-5)
NGSS/Content Standards:
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis
for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce
reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost,
risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-PS2-5)
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Analyzing data in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to introducing more detailed statistical analysis, the
comparison of data sets for consistency, and the use of models to generate and analyze data.
Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to
make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution. (HS-PS2-1)
Concepts and Skills:
1. Measurements are limited by the precision of the instruments used to make the measurements
2. Graphing dependent vs independent variables to represent relationships between measured data
3. Interpreting a graph and extract key information such as the slope and y intercept
4. How to draw conclusion based on experimental evidence with appropriate level of confidence
5. How to write a lab report
Essential Question(s):
1. What is experimental precision and how does it affect experimental measurements?
2. How do I create a graph to represent the relationship between experimental data?
3. What conclusion can I draw from a graph of experimental data?
4. How does experimental errors affect my conclusion?
Higher Order Thinking Questions:
1. How do errors in each measured parameter combine to affect the precision of the final answer
2. How can you draw a best fit straight line if not all the points fall on that line?
3. How can you claim the data is linear if some points do not fit on the line?
Learning Outcomes/Content Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Design experiments to make relevant measurements to measure density
2. Make measurements and correctly use significant figures to represent the precision of the
measurements
3. Plot the dependent and independent variables on an X/Y graph and draw a best fit line for the data
4. Use Excel to model the data and calculate the slope of the best fit line
5. Draw a conclusion based on the shape of the data on the graph
6. Write a lab report to summarize the experiment and its conclusion
Academic Vocabulary:
- Scientific Method
- lab Report section names
- accuracy vs precision
- significant figures
- dependent and
independent
variables
Content Specific
Vocabulary:
- Slope = Rise / Run
Sentence Frames:
- Y intercept
- Micrometer or Vernier
Calipers
- experimental errors
Labs/Demonstrations/Activities:
1. Dazoo activity
2. In class discussion about the strength and weaknesses of the scientific method
3. Density of paper lab
Resources:
Web quiz: http://cwx.prenhall.com/cgi-bin/binder/syl.cgi?site=giancoli
Dazoo worksheet
Lab Report Exemplar/ Graphing Scaffolding
Serway Faughn Vuille: College Physics Textbook Chapter 1
End of Unit Assessment:
Design experiment to calculate density
Create a graph and write up lab report to measure the density of paper.
Homework: see AP UNIT #1 READING / ASSIGNMENT SHEET on Haiku – see below
Lab Report: Unit #1 Lab Report
Quiz: Illuminated multiple choice summative assessment to test understanding of accuracy vs precision
and how to significant figures in compound measurements
HAIKU PAGE 1:
AP C Unit #1: INTRODUCTION to PHYSICS
Topic
Reading
1. Overview of AP Physics
SFV Chapter 1
SFV p17 Summary
SFV p(1-7)
Homework
Get/Review Textbook
HAIKU Log On
SFV p19: 1-4
2. Measurement/SI Units
Dimensional Analysis
3. Lab Skills – Unit #1
SFV p(7 - 9)
Lab Report
Significant Figures
SFV p19: 7-9
4. Unit Conversions/
SFV p(9-13)
SFV p20: 16,17, 27,32
Order of Magnitude Estimates
WEB QUIZ1
5. Unit Test
WEB QUIZ: http://cwx.prenhall.com/cgi-bin/binder/syl.cgi?site=giancoli
(Giancoli – Chapter 1 ; Practice Questions – Email results to: L_Leslie@sbcglobal.net before Friday at 5 pm )
In Class Work
Unit 1 Concept Warm Ups
Unit 1 Focus Notes
Class Participation
Max Score
10
10
10
Score