AP Physics C Mech. Syllabus
Room
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Mrs. LaBarbera
207
dlabarbera@vcmail.ouboces.org
http://www.vcsd.k12.ny.us//Domain/248
TUE. – FRI.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course we will cover the AP Physics C Mechanics curriculum. This class is the equivalent of a firstyear college physics course. Students are prepared for, and expected to take, the AP Physics C
Mechanics exam in May.
There are two prerequisites for this course. First, students must have completed Regents Physics
successfully. Second, students must have taken (or currently be taking) AP Calculus or Math 12R/AD
(pre-calculus). This course requires the understanding of differentiation, integration, and algebra that you
gain from your math class.
We meet every day for 40 minutes with an additional 40 minute lab period every-other day. At the
completion of this course students should have a strong conceptual understanding of mechanics and be
able to design and complete physics laboratory experiments.
COURSE UNITS
1. Vectors.
2. Kinematics in one dimension
3. Kinematics in two/three dimensions
4. Newton’s laws of motion
5. Newton’s laws applications
6. Work and kinetic energy
7. Potential Energy and energy conservation
8. Momentum, impulse and collision
9. Rotational Kinematics.
10. Rotational Mechanics
11. Equilibrium
12. Universal Gravity
13. Simple Harmonic Motion
RESOURCES AND HELPFUL LINKS
University Physics, 12th edition, by Hugh D. Young, 2007, Addison-Wesley.
http://prettygoodphysics.wikispaces.com/
http://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/physics/
www.academicearth.org/courses/physics
http://www.masteringphysics.com/physics/
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category
http://apphysicsb.homestead.com/
/physics
http://www.ucopenaccess.org/course/
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AP Physics C Mech. Syllabus
Mrs. LaBarbera
COURSE EVALUATION
Category
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Tests & Exams
60%
40%
60%
60%
Lab
Class work/ Participation
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Homework
20%
20%
20%
20%
Midterm Exam
20%
Course Grade
Students will receive a course grade that is an average of their grade for each of the four quarters and
their score on the final project. The first four quarters are weighted as 110% and the Final Exam is
weighted as 100%. The maximum grade is 108 for the year.
Midterm
The physics department administers a district-wide midterm exam during "Midterm Week" in January.
This exam includes Regents level questions and will count for 20% of the student's second quarter grade.
Tests and Exams
A test is a 25 point assessment with a blend of multiple choice and extended response questions. Tests
are typically given in the middle of a large unit of instruction. An exam is given at the end of each unit and
is a two part assessment. Part One of the assessment will consist of 25 multiple choice questions. Part
Two of the assessment will consist of 25 points worth of extended response questions. The two parts of
the exam carry equal weight to each other and to all other tests and exam parts given in the same
quarter. All tests are built using questions from past AP exams and/or questions based directly on AP
exam questions.
Lab
All labs will be documented in a personal lab-notebook which will be kept in the classroom. The labs will
be subjected to strict grading criteria and will be important in teaching students how to produce high
quality lab reports.
Class work / Participation
Class work includes any formal or informal assessment of student work or preparedness for class. Most
of the class work grades will consist of "Do Now's", "Exit Slips", and "Activities". Participation includes
attendance, attentiveness to tasks during class and ability to work well with others. Participation grade
heavily rewards effort on the part of the student.
Homework
Homework is assigned from your textbook or from the http://www.masteringphysics.com website.
Homework is assigned everyday; it will take an average student about forty five minutes to an hour to
complete. Homework will be collected and graded daily. According to research, completion of homework
in high school produces a gain of about 24 percentile points.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES




Lab notebook
Binder (suggested)
Protractor with ruler
calculator
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AP Physics C Mech. Syllabus
Mrs. LaBarbera
COURSE TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Topic
Introduction
1D Kinematics
2D Kinematics
Overview of Topics
Math review
Scalars Vectors
Vector Math
Motion in 1-D
Uniform accelerated motion
Derivatives
Integral
Motion in 2-D
Parametric equations
Projectile motion
Uniform Circular Motion
Lab
Text
Chapter
Vector
addition
1
Determine
acceleration
2
projectile
3
Atwood
Machine
4
# of
Weeks
2
Test
9/12
2
Test
9/26
2
Unit
Exam
10/10
1
Test
10/17
Newton’s Laws
of Motion
Newton’s Laws
Mass and Weight
Free Body Diagrams
Applying
Newton’s Laws
of Motion
Friction Force
Tension Force
Air Resistance
Friction
5
Work, and
kinetic energy
Work
Energy (kinetic and potential)
Work-Energy Theorem
Friction 2
6
Potential
Energy and
energy
conservation
Conservation of Mechanical
Energy
Conservative and Nonconservative Forces
Work by variable forces
Spring
LauncherUse
conservation
of energy to
determine the
spring
constant of a
spring
launcher
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1.5
Unit
Exam
11/24
Momentum
Center of Mass
Impulse and Momentum
Force and Impulse
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Conservation of Momentum
Center of
mass
Conservation
of momentum
8
2
Test
12/12
1-8
12/19
Midterm Review and Midterm Test
2
Unit
Exam
10/31
1.5
Test
11/13
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AP Physics C Mech. Syllabus
Angular velocity and acceleration
Rotation with constant angular
acceleration
Relating linear and angular kinematics
Parallel Axis Theorem
Moment of Inertia
Determine
moment of
inertia of
spools
Rotational
Dynamics
Gravitation
Rotation
Kinematics
Oscillations
Mrs. LaBarbera
9
2
Test
1/16
Torque
Angular Momentum
Rotational Equilibrium
Equilibrium with rotation and forces
Tension –
measure
tension for
support cables
of horizontal
and tilted
struts
10, 11
3
Unit
Exam
2/12
Newton’s Law of Gravitation
Motion of Satellites
Kepler’s Laws
Motion of
Falling coffee
filter
12
2
Test
2/27
Simple Harmonic Motion
Spring-mass System
Simple Pendulums
Physical Pendulums
Spring and
Mass - The
effect of mass
on amplitudes
and
oscillating
speed.
13
4
Test
3/27
Review and Tests
AP Exam – Monday 5/11 at 12:00 pm
5
Final exam
Between 5/13-5/22
Project - Rube Goldberg Machine
3 or 4
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AP Physics C Mech. Syllabus
Mrs. LaBarbera
University Physics
Homework Assignments
The following table contains the homework assignments for AP physics, 2013. You should
dedicate a notebook to these problems. You notebook will be collected on the due date and
problem sets will be graded.
Chapter
Due Date
Problems
1
09/13/13
1, 3, 11,17,35,37,39,41,47,49,65,69,73,81,89
2
09/27/13
3
10/11/13
4
10/18/13
5
11/01/13
6
11/13/13
7
11/25/13
8
12/13/13
9
01/17/14
10
02/13/14
11
12
02/28/14
13
03/28/14
1,5,9,15,21,23,25,29,33,37,39,41,43,45,49,51,53,59,61,69,
75,79
3,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,27,31,33,39,41,47,49,51,53,57,
63, 67,75
1,3,5,7,9,11,13,17,19,21,23,27,29,31,33,35,37,41,43,47,51,
57,59,61
1,3,7,9,11,15,19,21,23,27,29,31,35,37,39,41,45,49,51,53,55,
61,65,81,83,91,109,111,113
3,5,7,11,13,15,17,23,27,29,33,37,41,51,53,57,59,69,71,75,
77,83,97,101
3,5,9,11,13,15,17,19,23,27,33,39,41,43,49,53,55,57,59,63,
65,67,71,77
1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,21,23,25,29,33,37,39,41,43,45,49,
63,65,67,73,77,81,87,97,103,105,109
1,3,5,11,13,15,17,19,23,25,27,29,33,35,39,41,45,47,49,53,
65,69,73,77,81,83,85,89,91
Additional homework on parallel axis/moment of inertia
will be assigned
1,3,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,25,27,29,37,39,41,43,45,47,49,53,55,
57,59,63,65,67,71,75,81
1,3,11,19,35,45,59,65
3,5,7,9,11,15,19,21,25,27,53,33,35,57,59,61,67,71,75,77,79,
81,87
5,11,13,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,33,35,37,45,47,53,55,59,61,
63,65,67,71,73,75,77,83,87,97,99
Additional assignments
Assignments from other sources will be assigned nearly every week. These assignments will be from
Mastering Physics (www.masteringphysics.com) or questions from previous AP Exams/reviews. These
assignments will be addressed in class throughtout the year.
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