Course Syllabus

Welcome to AP Physics C!

This class follows the College Board's requirements for the AP Physics C - Mechanics curriculum as set forth below.  At present, the class will cover only the Mechanics portion of this curriculum.

AP Physics C: Mechanics Course Content
The AP Physics C: Mechanics course applies both differential and integral calculus and provides instruction in each of the following six content areas:
  1. Kinematics 
  2. Newton’s laws of motion 
  3. Work, energy and power 
  4. Systems of particles and linear momentum 
  5. Circular motion and rotation 
  6. Oscillations and gravitation 
Textbook
Halliday/Resnick/Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, 10th edition (2014). (E-text)
 
Learning Objectives for Laboratory and Experimental Situations
Students establish lines of evidence and use them to develop and refine testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena. Focusing on these disciplinary practices and experimental skills enables teachers to use the principles of scientific inquiry to promote a more engaging and rigorous experience for AP Physics C: Mechanics students. Such practices or skills require students to
  • Design experiments 
  • Observe and measure real phenomena 
  • Organize, display, and critically analyze data 
  • Analyze sources of error and determine uncertainties in measurement 
  • Draw inferences from observations and data 
  • Communicate results, including suggested ways to improve experiments and proposed questions for further study 
A minimum of 20 percent of instructional time is devoted to hands-on and inquiry-based laboratory investigations.

Grading

Term grades will be computed as follows

  • 65% = Assessments: there will be mainly shorter quizzes given online, they will be timed and taken on an honors system.
  • 30% = Labs/Projects: there will be some simple activities done in class, most labs will be analyzing data from demonstrations or online simulations/computer programs
  • 5% = Homework: problems from textbook

Office Hours

  • Thu/Fri during Grey Block (1:15-2:30): I will be in room 250 or via Zoom
  • Tue evening (7:30-8:30): I will be available via Zoom
  • Links for Zoom meetings are found on Canvas Calendar
    • note office hours are for all classes

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